The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-31
HONOR TO THE HERO
Graves of Fallen Soldiers
Decorated.
BLUE AND GREY UNIFIED
CEREMONIES AT THE FEDERAL
CEMETERY.
TIE CoNfEDtR Tt SOLDIERS TeDE PART
An Appropriate Address by Col. Z. P. Smith
The Grave Of Worth Bagley in Oak
wjod Cemetery Was Also
Decorated.

At sunset last afternoon quite Il COM
pany assembled on the grassy lawn ut
the Federal cemetery to observe
Decoration Day. The simple exercises
were under the auspices of Gen. Meade
Post No. 80, G. a. r., which is com
manded by II. NJ. Farnsworth, with \.
w. Shaffer adjutant. A number of Ra
leigh ladies, prominent eX-Confederates
of this city and the veterans from the
Confederate Soldiers Home attended.
The members of the General Meade
Post. together with The speaker for the
occasion, occupied the pavilion, which
was draped with a large American flag,
while the assembage was seated Oh
benches in front of the stand. or on the
grass under the beautiful shade trees.
Rev. DR. A. w. Curtis. in Offering the
divine Invocation, rendered thanks to
God for a reunited country, that this
day meant more now than ever before.
He praised God for the lives of those
who sleep in this cemetery and for their
brothers, who sleep in the cemetery just
across the hill. who fought for the right
as they saw it. In words portraying
deep feeling he asked the divine blessing
and comfort upon those who were suffer
ing the pangs of fresh pain for loved
ones lost in the recent war; and he
prayed for speedy termination, that
peace might be established and those
people brought into the light Of freedom
under wise and just government He
invoked blessings on the conference at
Ii hat al m Il hn ~
more.
was then sung.
Col y. T. Smith. who was First Lieu
tenant OF Company X, was introduced
to deliver the address.
Col. Smith stated that he only had a
few simple thoughts to present: Thirty
four years ago the bitter strife between
brothers, each fighting for principle held
as right. had passed away. and on each
succeeding year this day had been OBJ
served by decorating the graves of the
fallen. Please God the bitterness the
hatred and the hard feeling engcndered
by that unnatural struggle, the most
terrible in the worlds history has for
ever passed away and this is ii reunited
country, stronger and more powerful
now than ever before"
Col. Smith described the events which
led to the war with Spain. When, the
news came of the destruction of the
Maine. and death cast its pail over
nearly 300 American homes, the heart
of the whole country mourned at the
first call to arms, the North, South,
East and West went with each other
to be the first to respond. The First
North Carolina regiment, composed Of
companies from the State Guard, gath
cred in Raleigh for mobilization.
Col. Smith III pathetic words told how
the news of Ensign Worth Bagleys
death was received at the camp. The
| speaker then traced the history of the
| First North Carolina regiment from its
| mobilization. to Jacksonville, then to
| Cuba. then the return home. lie de-
scribed the anniversary of the deStruc-
ton of the Maine. when the young man
hood of New York and Texas, Wiscon-
| sin and North Carolina gathered to
scatter flowers on the graves of the vic
tins. He paid high tribute to Lieut..
Ship, who to-day, like Bagley, reposes
| in his native soil. Their lives were
given in an unselfsh war for human
|
But most pathetic of ALL" said the
| orator "are those heroes who died of
fever and other diseases in the hospitals.
| They are none the less heroes because
they were denied the honor of falling
amid the roar Of battle. the screech of
| shells and the whiz of bullets. Here in
this cemetery are five graves which
mark the resting place of five of Caro-
lina's sons. dear to some mothers heart,
who gave their lives for the Union. while
the Second regiment was here last sum,
mer."
Col. Smith described the bravery and
fortitude of the soldiers in the hospital,
and pathetcally repeated the last words
of the only member of Company IL. who
| died while the boys were in Cuba.
Those words We're: Send my money
to mother, for She will need it"
Upon the conclusion of the address,
which was literally applauded. Nearer
my God to Thee was sung and the
benediction was pronounced by Rev. y.
B. Hunter. after which all the graves
were decorated with flags and flowers.
4 committee from the Post visited Oak
wood cemetery and laid Il tribute on the
graves of Worth Bagley and the mem
bers of the Post buried there.