The Van Buren press., 1899-10-14
A FITTING FINALE.
After Years of Earnest, Faithful Labor
Mary Lee Chapter Sees its Work
OF Love Completed.
A BEAUTIFUL MONUMENT
Now Marks the Last Resting.Plaee OF
the Confederate Soldiers Buried
In Fairyiew Cemetery.

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A beautiful shaft of marble and
granite now mark the last resting place
of the brave men, who, for cause
they thought just, laid down their lives
at the memorable battles of Oak Hill,
Prairie Grove and Elk Horn, and
whose remains were by loving hands
laid to rest in our cemetery. For many
years their last resting-place was
marked only by few half decayed
headboards with nothing to indicate
who or what they were. The plat was
overgrown with briars and weeds, and
many of our people were not even
aware that our cemetery was the last
resting place of 460 of the fallen of the
Lost Cause. - But change came.
AS time caused the memories of the Bit
ter feeling engendered by the fratricidal
strife of 61 65 to die away, and as the
people of the South saw how generously
the Federal government decorated the
last resting-places of those who fell on
the Union side, and kept fresh the
them costly monuments, making the
cemeteries in which they lay buried
reservations of the government, they
thought why should our dead-not a
whit less brave or sincere in the belief
of the justice of their cause-lie buried
in spots forgotten and uncared-for
Then it was that the women of the
South, as in times of trial and misfor-
tune, showed their devotion and banded
themselves together for the purpose of
carrying out the same plans as they had
seen the general government of this
great country adopt toward those who
fell on the Union side. Time had al
layed the passions of war, and to be
known as an ex-Confederate was title
which no Southerner needed to be a.
fraid or ashamed to claim. SO the
women of the South thought, and they
adopted the title of the United Daughters
of the Confederacy for their order, di-
vided into local chapters and named
them after the true and brave women of
the South.
The objects of this order struck a
responsive chord in the hearts of the
ladies of Van Buren who had been
through the troublous times of the war
and their defendants, and MARY Lee
Chapter, U.D.C. was enrolled among
the list of chapters.
Then a change came over the appear
anee of the Confederate plat in our
cemetery. Under their direction the
briars and weeds were removed and on
recurring days each year loving hands
decorated the graves with flowers and
otherwise showed they appreciated the
responsibility they had assumed. Then
happy idea struck them. The graves
were only marked with rude boards and
nothing was there to indicate who it
was that lay buried under the sod. Let
us erect fitting monument to the
memory of all, that it will remind
posterity of the brave deeds of these
dead was suggested. Every member
favored the suggestion. In short time
the beginning of fund was made and
each member of the chapter put her
whole energy into helping to swell the
amount. The work was slow, but
nothing is impossible when loving hands
take hold of an object, and the fund
grew steadily and at last the ladies felt
they could let the contract. Then the
foundation was laid, and it was proud
moment, when amid impressive cere-
monies the cornerstone was put in place.
How the ladies worked in season and
out of season is we'll known to our
readers.
Finally the day arrived that was to
witness the fulfllme mt of their hopes
and the fruition Of their labors. The
monument was In place, covered only
with thin veil, ready at the touch of a
hand to reveal to the people what loving
hands can accomplish.
Tuesday, Oct. 10th, had been named
as the date on which the veil should be
removed and the monument in approp-
riate manner dedicated. Extensive
preparations had been made by the
Daughters and our citizens generally
to make the day one of historical interest
for Van Buren,. Public men, veterans
and private citizens for hundreds OF
miles around had been invited and had
signihed their intention to assist in pay
ing tribute to the valor of the dead and
unselfish efforts of the living.
The day did not dawn propitiously fol
the occasion for the first time almost
within a month the sky was overcast
and lowering clouds portented rain. In
fact slight rain had fallen the previous
night, which however proved very
acceptable az it laid the almost sitting
dust. Fears were generally entertained