The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-05-26
CARING FOR OUR DEAD.
GRAVES OF CONFEDERATES DECORA-
TED BY UNION SOLDIERS.

An appeal to che South to Assist in the
Noble Work-A Touching Tribute From
Men Who Wore the Blue.
The following letter which have
just been published explains them
selves:
To all Camps and Comrades:
Your special and immediate atten.
ton is called to the fraternal and pa.
tr;otic circular from Col. VIM. q.
Knauss, OF Columbus, O., in regard to
the second annual decoration OF the
graves Of the Confederate heroes who
died IN prison at Camp Chase, near
Columbus, O., and answer from these
headquarters, OF date April 81, which
are self explanatory.
The adjutant general of Ohio, in his
report OF 1867, said: The burial places
of the unfortunate dead are entirely
neglected and are overgrown with
weeds and briars. Some care should
be bestowed on these cemeteries, and
that at an early day, as otherwise they
will soon be entirely obliterated and
forgotten. The bitterest enmity should
stop al the edge of the grave, but the
condition of these burial places would
indicate that such is not always the
case"
AS explained By Col. Knauss, the
United States government bought the
cemetery, aud through the help of ex-
President Rutherford B. Hayes, while
governor of OHIO, Gov. J. B. Foraker
and Mr.. Briggs, it was cleared up,
cared for and the graves marked with
hea3sGones, aud q stone wall fence
built around the pot, trees planted
and last year Col Knauss. at his own
expense, aad 1900 Confederate graves
decorated, with appropriate speeches
and exercises bsf.ting the occasion,
and proposes to do the same again on
'Jure 5 next.
To assist in this he asks contrib1-
tons fron such as feel able to give,
and any balance left over will be
spent IL repairing the walls and
grounds.
It is also to be hoped that this noble
appeal viii fad s response from suf-
icieot number of our camps to enable
Col. knauss to decorate these Confed-
%rate graves upon northern soil credl-
ably, Ga the 5tn day of June, ana
leave d sum sufficient to repair the
walls and put the grounds in perfect
order.
He writes that seven southern fani.
lies gro!e tc him last year, asking il
certain relatives were buried there,
ard in each case he gave them the
dates Of death, nuYoer Of the grave,
company and regiment. He hopes
taere will b5 response sufficient to
tx up the place permanently.
Please pl2ca the matter before the
camps and al! comrades as soon as re-
cei7ed, and als0 ask for outside con-
tciouiions, SIS II is hoped and believed
thai This pathetic, 1on-sectional, patrl-
otic and holy appeal, to care for the
graves Of ''Our Dead" by our former
foes, purified through the crucible OF
war and carnsgs OF battle icto brave,
magnaninous, noble and Great Ame-
rica1s," will meet with substantial
ard immediate response in the south.
As already stated, it is our sacred
Goty, and TIE dictates CT honor require
that we. the living, shall keep green
TIE memory and graves OF those OF
our heroes whose arms are nerVeless
and Thoss families many OF them, are
helpless; who ere sleeping so far away
from home and kindred.
Contributions should De sent in i'm
meGiateiy, as the money will be need
ed by Or before June LIST, and can be
sent to these headquarters, for which
receipt will be given, and report OF
Gne names OF the generous contriou-
tors and amounts will be made to the
Nashville reunion, printed IN news.
papers and circulated amongst dele
estes; or contributions can be sent to
Gel. Wpo. 3. knauss, 81! North High
street, Columbus, O. Camps near
Columbus, O., will also please send
flowers on June Sd and 4.h to Col.
koauss, express charges prepaid
there is scarcely a doubt but that the
generous express companies will carry
reasonable quantities free.
By order OF J. B. Gordon,
General Commanding.
George MG0rman,
A5iutant General and Chief OF staff.
(OGcial.)