The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-17
lumber camps near Pressure Isle. was
killed Thursday night by tree falling
upon him. The body was badly crushed.
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.

THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.
TO the Editor Of the Press:
I'hope the reading of this fine passage
from President Mckinley IS address at At
Ianta has thrilled the heart of everyone
of your readers as has mine:
ssEyery soldiers grave made during the
civil war is tribute to American valor-
We have waited just third of a CEN
fury for this great truth to have official
utteranoe; let us hope that the whole
nation is now ready to follow our Presi-
DENTS righteous suggestion that hereafter
the care OF the graves of Confederate sol
.diers shall be duty of both sections OF
the country.
Doubtless many other old soldiers be-
side myself have been watching with
keenest interest the development OF this
sentiment. 1t has taken the mellowing
power of age and the Spanish war. but
let us hope it has really come at last.
Fortunately have been il correspond
enee with very large number OF soldiers
both Union and Confederate the past ten
years and it has not required rare vision
to see the evolution of sentiment and
feeling under the providence of Cod
which has been taking place.
Two years after the war visited Get
tysburg and saw its great cemetery OF.
Union soldiers "Where are the Confed-
crate deadp" inquired of boy who was
trying to tell me all he knew. 20, all
round, everywhere. /" said the boy sweep
ing his arms in every direction. lhey
haven't done any thing with them yet.
Twenty years later was there again; the
Government and the Commission had
made the great field into magnincent
park. Every Union regiment and BAT
terry had, or was soon to have, its COSTLY
monument showing where it fought ana
telling of its deeds and losses. We were
| informed that few of the Confederate
dead had been carried South, but none
had been cared for by the Government
nor were Confederate monuments allowed
on the field. We talked it over among
ourselves and wrote to my Confederate
! friends about it. Va agreed it could not
be SO much longer; the coming genera
/
of sthe enemy and his terrible charges;
/ they will want to hear both sides OF the
! tragedy, and know where Confederate
regiments stood and melted away.
A few days later was in Winchester,
Va. visiting tbs Union cemetery there
which is surrounded by high wall OF
| masonry. A large Confederate cemetery
la separated from the Union only by q
street, but to get from one to the other
requires a walk of half mile Is there
no gate?', I inquired of the keeper.
I.sNo," he replied. s'you will have to go
around; but there's box up in the cor
4 ner where you can climb up and jump
over" jumped and then began hunt
! ing for thuse things disloy al or offensive
which supposed our Government had
walled out of our enclosure / stayed
long among the wooden head boards and
countless mounds Of unknown and un-
/ cared for, all bearing mute testimony
i that the conquerors had not yet learned
to be generous It was some time before
/ found the offensive legend but it was
1 discovered at last on monument that
would be reekoned Of little size at Gettys-
burg. I copied the inscription into my
note book
ItsTo the unknown and unrecorded dead
Erected A. ID. 1879 by the people of the
South
| to the 829 unknown Confederate dead
who lie beneath this mound
/ in grateful remem brance Of their heroic
virtues
= kT..,Su 10 mfr inf
4 tion
to duty and country may never be forgot
ten.
Who they were, none know.
4 What they were. all know.
Truly this was an example Of unstinted
devotion and we all know what they
were. I should like to see the two ceme-
teries united. That is the best way to
help us all to forget the unpleasant and
to keep alive that which may never be
forgotten.
| JOHN M. GOULD.
l