The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-15

1 fantry.. c. s. A.
 Alabama Infantry, c. s. A.
 Ala5ams lf MifHn f0fantf2 TayGt c so%pany C. sl'' Alabama Infantry. c. S. A.
 Ills. c. w; Raynor. Company c. 18th 15S. J. W. Norwood, Company I, Sd Alabama Infantry, c. s. A.
 i5s: G. H; Smith. 14th Alabama h. i6o; William Wilkinson. Company F. 43d Alabama Infantry c. S. A.
 16l. J. Mcdonald. Company D. Sd Ala bama Infantry, c. S. A.
 Alsba4s ls1 G TnfaRtSy h R9yst0n, Company D. 14th Alabama Infantry, c. s. A.
 2os. Thos. McGee. 1st Alabama 1nfanr- 2o7. T. E. Thompson 5th Alabama In- ilSsfy sosi W. G' B. B. kain, Company E. 9th Alabama Infantry, c. S.. A.
 2l0. Lieut.. E. NJ. Cook, Company F, 10th Alabama Infantry. c. s: A.
 2l1. Jno. Mead. Company G, 10th Ala Alabama Infantry. c. S. A.
 255. D. L: Carroll, Company D, 9th Alsbama las Infantry. nay.So, c. s; an.nv A. at,
 
 257. J. s; Raney. Company I. 9th Alabama Infantry. c. 8. A. ~ LAiabama Infantry c. s. A.
 There are, you will see. thirty-five Alabamians, and you will also observe that there are two members Of this list AS I looked at the names of these gallant comrades of mine, and sought to recall their faces, how the memories years ago they and I were encamped together at Yorktown, Va. We were a part of the great army that had enlisted to secure the independence of the Con- federacy. The blessed women of the South. of whom you were. even then in your youth a noble type, were making still greater sacrifices than we, and there seemed to be no doubt of success. But it was not to be. We failed, and for a time hate and passion ruled the land. Thinking of this. l called to mind, as l stood looking on, that in 1883 united States soldiers were ordered to drive on the graves of such Confederates as then lay scattered about In Arlington, and to remove the wreaths that had al- ready been laid upon their tombs. Next etery.
 Tt was in the spring of 1869. A one- armed Union veteran was in charge. He had lost his arm and been captured while fighting the Sth Alabama at Salem Church. He sent his regards to Dr. Cas- ton, who had cut off his wounded arm, and to my dear wife, who was then with me he gave beautiful bouquet as we parted. Incidents like this were even then tending continually towards recon ciliation; but in truth 1t was never the soldiers who had fought the battles, but the politicians who were trading on the passions of the war, that stood in the way of peace between the sections-peace that was so indispensable to our be- loved South.
 From 1869 thirty-two years had elapsed until I could stand looking upon the graves of my dead comrades tastefulfy arranged and tenderly cared for by the great Government against which they had fought. This duty voluntarily taken upon itself, as token of respect and admiration for the valor and patriotism of the Confederate soldier. this Govern ment is to perform. year by year, in it shall endure.
 Such an act can only work for the good of all our people, North and South and more especially that section for which these gallant Confederate soldiers laid down their lives To bring about this consummaton. you. my dear Mrs. Ock- enden, Mrs Bihb. the President. and the other blessed women of the Memorial Association of Alabama. have borne your several parts. Will you be good enough to report the substance of this commu- nication to your Association. as well as to have it published in the Montgomery papers and reported to the Department of Archives and History of Alabama. And believe me, as ever.
 Yours most sincerely,
 "H. A. Herbert"