The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-31

Memorial Day having fallen on Sunday
this year, exercises commemorative of the
| occasion, vera held in this city to-day
and almost a thousand old soldiers and
their sons paid beautiful tribute to the
memory of onetlme comrades. The dark
days Of the rebellion are re called by every
incident and display of the day. Those
days OF rebellion arc more than matters
OF history feelings of sadness as tho
veteran thinks of those comrades who fell
by their sides under tho shadow of tho
Stars and stripes.
Each survivor of the great struggle
strives to think of tho day as time when
he may pay that tribute of respect to the
nations dead that is owing them and each
vies with the other in their efforts 10 make
the celebration as successful as possible
AMI more especially is this true since
death has become to deCimate the ranks
of the &, a. II. in whose hands the celebra.
ton Is loft and who strive to make it the
event of the year.
The day opened rather disappointing to
the veterans the sun being obscured by
heavy clouds which let down IA copious
fa!l of rain. But 1t did not daInpep tho
ardor Of the veterans to any great extern.
1 he custom of strewing flowers on the
graves of their departed comrades was not
prevented. This beautiful custom origi.
mated with Southern women during the
civil war.
Year after year during the internecine
struggle the mothers and wives and sweet
hearts OF the men who had died for tho
lost cause met in the mound.d dotted GENE,
terles that formed the landmarks of the
conflict and covered the resting places of
their dead with all the luxuriant flowers
peculiar to tho South.
When the struggle had ceased and tho
sword that had preserved intact the glo.
rlous structure reared by the heroes of the
Revolution had been thrown aside for the
ploughshare tho people of the North bor-
rOwod the custom, which gradually extend.
ed itself until 1868, when General John 4.
Logan, as COMMUNICATIVE hief Of the
Grand Army of this Republic, gave it the
impress of a national institution by ap.
pointing May 30 of each year as Memorial
Day.
In Delaware tho law provides that when
May 30th falls upon sunday, rs it did,
Memorial exercises shall be held the fol-
lowing day, and as this Is the unwritten
law In most of the States the more gener.
al celebration OF the day was to-day,
Early o guard from DUPONT, accom-.
panied by musicians visited the various
cemeteries and performed the duties of
honor at the graves of comrades.
On every mound was placed flag and q
bouquet, Returning to the post head
quarters they made preparation for the
visit to the grave of admiral $, f. DuP Point
on which trip they were accompanied by
a large number Of tho Sons Of Veterans
and the Boys Brigade of the Highlands.
The service at the tomb occupied only an
hour but the veterans did not reach tho
city until noon. Smyth Post visited Old
Swedos' cemetery Asbury and Riverview
Grant Post the Cathedral
and Sheridan Post, Wilmington
and BrandywinG cemetery.
Before the work was finished tho sun
popped through the heavy clouds and con.
tinued to shine during the day, thus glad.
duning the heats of the old soldiers.
This afternoon the general parade was
made and although it, was not as elabor.
ate as those of former years 1t was q credit |
to the departments. There We're many |
The S'ate Militia did not
participate as was announced.
The parade formed on the west side of |
Market street, between Ninth and Twelfth |
and moved at o'clock sharp The line of !
route From Twelfth and Market to |
to Seventh, to Washington, to Tenth, to
adams, to Delaware avenue, to Eleventh,
where it will form line on the south side
with right resting on Market street., and
will again move by divisions from the
eft passing reviewing officers at Eleventh
md Market and dismiss
The parade was in three divisions. Tho
lrst division was headed by Col. Daniel
Ross commander. A drum corps follow
Vi.
The second division comprised the
Grand Army of the Republic, with Eli
wood Craig in command of the division.
Then will follow tho General Smyth
Post bund General Thomas A. Smyth
Post, In command Of Lewis Hahn, post
commander; drum corps; Admiral S. f.
lu Point Post, III command of James H.
Porter. post commander,
The third division comprised the Boys
Brigade of the Highlands with Capt VIM
ialcy in command. Then followed coach.
S containing Veterans. With the cOnclu.
ion of tho parade the observance of the
ay will end.