The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-15

lof this nature on the 18th OF the same
IAN article in the Wilmington Jour
NAL of July 18th suggests that July
I21st 1.-THE day of the battle of Manassa)
Ibe set apart for decoration of confed-f
lerate graves, and speaks OF & few
ladies on a recent occasion, having
the cemetery for that purpose.
THE Journal of July 18th contained
Ian article from a lady proposing a
Injecting on Saturday, July 21st at 5
O'Clock, calling on the men and women
to attend, las a beginning of the duty
I'VE owe the dead" On the 20tn OF
July, the ladies met in the court room
lof the city hall to make wreaths. a
permanent memorial association was
proposed, in a few beautiful remarks
lby Mrs. a. ]. DeRosset, who had been
president Of the Ladies Aid Society,""
Iorganized in May 1861, and then and
there the organization was formed,
and was probably the first of the kind
i'm the state and which for thirty years,
and through difficulties and discouT-
lagements hard to be understood b
Those who have not lived through those
days and trials, has never swerved,
and never faltered from its purpose,
loficially stated to be that "of rescueing
from oblivion, the names and graves
of the gallant confederates who are
hurried in Oakdale cemetery" and the
constitution afterwards drawn up says
1.-The object and business of the asso-
lciation shall be to take suitable meas
ures for the protection of the graves
of confederate soldiers who be buried
near Wilmington; and to erect such
memorials over them, or near them as
1.-THE association may deem most proper.
How we'll these tender and devoted
souls have succeeded in the noble task
they had assigned to themselves, the
records of the association will show.
"At this meeting Mrs. Julia A. Oak
ley was chosen president, Mrs. Stacey
IVanAmringe vice president, Miss Liz
lzie Parsley (afterward Mrs. George
"A. Peck treasurer, Miss Belle Will
Hams, now Mrs. Louise Belden record
ing secretary, and Mrs. CASTOR Meares
corresponding secretary. Subsequently
Mrs. General Whiting, Mrs. James
stevenson, Mrs. Cnampe Davis. Mrs.
Anna H. VanLickle, Mrs. c. A. Full
ton and Mrs. JOS. b. Russell were
detected a board of The
ladies were assisted and advised by
%lseveral gentlemen here, among whom
WAS Hon. A. H. VanBokkelen, who
had himself given an only son to the
cause he held so dear. John Frink
lSmith VanBokkelen captain in the
Third regiment North Carolina infan-
try, whose gallant and chivalrous
lyoung life was laid upon the altar of
his country, at barely q years of age.
Mr.. VanBokkelen being mayor of the
Icity, the first elected when OWL gov
lernment succeeded martial law, and
being possessed Of more ample means
financially than most of our citizens,
was lin a position to give aid and en-
Encouragement in many ways. He did
mot hesitate to give, both of his time
land money and was from first to last
lone of the most active and efficient
assistants of the memorial association
Ito his individual efforts was largely
ldue, after nearly six years of %untirins
land unremitting effort, the erection OF
lerate enclosure at Oakdale where the
1.-THE stately bronze sentinel keeps per.
Ipetua1 watch and ward over those who
rest there.
1.-THE first celebration, as we said
took place on Saturday afternoon
July 21st, 1866 the day following tina
lon which the memorial association
was organized. The officers of the as
ISociation, accompanied by many 9th
ers, among whom were a great man!
old confederate soldiers, repaired t
lOakdale, and there, the ladies Wen
from grave to grave bringing thei1
floral tributes to the gallant dead, AM
on this occaSion a beautiful and touch
ing address was delivered by Majo
Joseph A. Englehard, and prayer of
fered by Rev. George Patterson. TIL,
following year there was no celebra
ton, because of the fact that the re
mains of many of the heroes wer
being moved to the confederate enclos
ure, which crowns a hill facing tn
Ientrance to the beautiful resting plac
and which was donated to the asso
I~ciation in perpeuity by the Oakdal
Cemetery Company, a charter havini
lhnnn obtained f~nr, fhn laOic1o ~ y.
through Major William Saunders il
Iorder that they might hold the dead
THE name OF the association, adopte
in their constitution, is "Oakdale Me
mortal Association of Wilmington
but in the charter h word oakdale
left u The meeting at which tn
resolution passed which made the git
Iof the plot of ground to the "Ladie
Memorial Association" was held on tn
18th of December, 1867 and the direc
tors present were: DR.. A. J. DeRosse
president, Edward Kidder, WilliaI
Ia. Wright, S. D. Wallace, A. H. Van
lBokkelen and B. T.. Mitchell. OF thes
mot one is now living.
1.-The removal of bodies was delaye
for some time because of want of fun
with which to prosecute it to a sue
l~cessful termination. However thi
work was completed in time for tn
observance of Memorial day in 1856
We Inc by the records that nearl
1850 bodies (exact number not stated
were removed during h year at a COS
Iof$556. This left the ladies with a bal
; lance on hand of 1922 towards payin
for the wrought iron fence around tn
lot. 1t seems however that the railin
was a a gift by generous friends
said to be principally the cadets G
Cape Fear Military academy, of whic
General Raleigh Colston was principa
land the only expense incurred by tn
association was the cost of putting
in position. At the meeting of Ma
18th 1868 the president reports tn
sum Of $1400 on hand towards the mon
Iument and hat only $1,000 more woul
be needed. This would make tn
amount proposed to be spent for tn
monument less than $500. 1t surel
must have cost more than this bu
strangely enough we fail to find an
: record of the actual amount paid on
for the memorial or it's erection, an
lomission greatly to be regretted.
In 1858 Colonel Robert H. Cowa
was the orator n prayer was offere
tby Rev. George Patterson. In 1870 tn