The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-04
Letters to The Editor.
.ssx*xxsMssssssas k k FAX * sts'ss'
THE ALABAMA DEAD.
Tn Winchester Cemetery are Without
 Head Stones.
Editor The Advertiser.

Head stones.
 Editor The Advertiser.
 In your paper of September 2 Is print ed list or the Confederate dead who are buried in the Alabama lot in Winchester. Va. The third name on the list was brother of mine who was killed at New market about forty miles south of Win chester. When he was killed another brother of mine was near him. and took him to the rear and buried him. The only metal he had to mark his grave was his belt buckle which he cut of and marked his name with his knife on 1t, D. C. Rankin. Company c, 5th Alabama, and fastened 1t to a large oak tree under which he was buried. We have been try ing to find the place ever since the war not knowing the remains had been moved to Winchester. Our family will have nice stone put over our brothers grave. am in correspondence with Miss Rus sell. Secretary Stonewall Memorial As- sociation who volunteers to give her per sonal attention to the matter of having ns srsve stoftf of the Alabama of if the means are furnished her. I write you and enclose her letter and circular that you may see the great interest she is taking in the work and hope you will take hold of this matter. knowing your warm patriotic hearts will go out in this grand work: You can count on me as one who Will send contribution from this place TOT ting up fund here. Yours truly.
 Sept S. 1901.
 My Dear Mir. Rankin.
 Your letter of September 2 4duly re- ceived, and in reply to your inqutries as Co how your brothers remains happen to be buried in Stonewall' Cemetery in our city. I can only give you a short history Of this cemetery which may prove satisfactory. Out of the thousands whose remains now rest in this place no record was kept of the circumstances of each re- moval except the inscriptions found upon the grave from which they. were taken. Directly after the close of the war number of our best and most prominent business men conceived the idea that they could engage in no more patriotic work than that of gathering together the dead who fell in defense of our r. loved owed time and means and with the aid of cors tributions from our own people, went to work. and this the first soldiers cemetery cated here in Winchester. this at the time being the only cemetery set apart for the purpose. The Confederate dead for many miles up and down this valley were gathered here in one burial % ground By pany, regiment. etc. which marked the grave was .taa faithfully ,Sa and ssss con; ses'es''s board as We'll as entered in the book of record of the Association. That your brothers grave is here Is not a matter of surprise to us, although the battle of
 
 from Winchester. The travel for 15c miles along this valley over the best roads that mark any country would rem der 1t an easy matter to transport these bodies and many are here brought from a greater distance. Thero is no shadow of doubt in the Ininds of those of us who are familiar with the men and the motives that inspired them % as to the of Stonewall Cemetery. l regret that cannot give you information in detail of the removal of your brothers remains. but be assured anything l can do for you in this matter l will consider it a great privilege if you will call upon me. This work of marking all the graves of ou" brave men with substantial marble stone Is one in which l am deeply interested: Alabama now Is the only lot in Stonewal Cemetery that has not marble head stones, and I am sure if only knew how to reach the people and impress up- on them the importance of this work they would respond to my appeal. About three years ago I undertook to secure money for head stones for the Tennessee agements I finally succeeded in not only getting the stones, but we nave con- tracted for monument which will be un- yelled on the 9th of June. our next Mem orial Day, and on the same day we will also erect a monument for the Florida lot and would be so glad if you could get your people interested in this work. l will enclose you a circular that l sent, throughouI Tennessee. The same could be used as an appeal to Alabama. Can not you get some of your good Southern women to take this matter in hand and raise money for this purpose. Last sum- mer I met with an old acquaintance, d former resident of Winchester but now living In Alabama and asked him If he could not on his return try and get the people interested or at least place the matter before them so he had the list of names published in your paper.
 Believe me, very truly yours,
 Lucy w. Russell,