The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-30

them are growing old. and their line in
the procession Is shortening fast. These
old men look almost pitiful TO one who
thinks of them as they appeared in tho
sixties, if such a word as pity" should
be applied to them. They are bent with
age and limping from infirmities now. but
thirty-nine years ago they stepped as
proudly as ever men stepped 20 drum.
and | doubt if there has ever been since
or will ever be again such a comb. nation
of physical manhood with sucn a quality
ana quantity of patriotism as was found
i'm the REGIMENTS OF confederate vJlun-
teers They were as strong of heart as
they were of limb-brave true. willing
Grand survivors of the conflict
''RebeI' volunteers, old and lame
Raise your heads In pride or conscience,
For with the dead you share the fame
That was won through tribuatlon
In a loved. but short-llyed nation
Bless this day.
1t occurs to me that especially should
the noble old confederate women b. re-
membered on these memorial occasions.
1t was their part In the great tragedy To
suffer in solitude-they had not the privil-
cge TO die. They could not join in the
songs of the camp nor the excitementS OF
the battles. They could only be paSient,
patient, and suffer. suffer. as they alone
have ever known. When the children
were sick they nursed them all alone.
When the children cried for bread. it was
the part Of these women 10 hear their
cries without a hope of feeding them. II
was the fate of many OF these confederate
women to find themselves with an empty
meal tub with sick children and all alone
in the solitude of loEely places. but they
were as true as the Spartan women of old,
and they should hold Il most affectiOnate
nook In the hearts Of living people now
and forever.
What changes have the past thirty-nine
years brought?
What changes VIII the next thirty-nine
years bring?
These questions cannot be answered BY
me- but l feel In my heart that
When other thirty years have past,
And all have gone who Wore the gray,
Sweet Ittlc children with :heir flowers
Win meet and magnify this DAY
The soCths warm heart is beating yet,
And never. never. can forget
Who wore the gray.
In closing l wish 70 thank many kind
friends for their letters in connection with
Uncle Billy MOsely," of whom l wrote
briefly snort time ago. Through these
letters / find many things confirming my
opinion of his great worth. 1 can only
, give one Of these letters. and / think il
explains itself:
Troy. Ala. ApIil 9. 19Oo.-Editor Con
stitution. Atlanta. Ca: / notice IL the
issue OF yesterday an article 10y Sarge
Plunkett IN reference 10 Uncle Billy
Mosey.' | write to him and his other
friends and admirers L. let them know
that he (Rev. MOsely) IS buried ia he
| Murphree cemetery, at this place.
which was done at his own request during
| his last illness. 1t is the only grave out
side the family connection. The grave iS
not marked. but by all means should be
If the necessary funds can he provided
to purchase a suitable monument, aud IL
| Is shipped here. / will see that Il iS placed
at the head of his grave. If SARGE Plum
kett or any one elSe Will take this matter
in hand and write me | VIII ascertain the
date of his death ana let ihcm know
JOEL d MCRPHREE.
At least many people will he gla1 70
learn Of where this grand old man sleeps.
and before IL Is too late the data of his
most eventful and useful lfe should be
collected and preserved
SARGE PT.U UNKETT.