The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-06-02
FREE HEADSTONES
Furnished by U. S. Govern.
ment to mark graves of
| Revolutionary Soldiers.

nient to furnish headstones free of
charge laid down at the nearest
freight depot for the unmarked
graves Of all soldiers who fought
in any way for the United States.
In accordance with this Act of
Congress the War Department is
ready to send headstones upon re-
quest to any one who will locate
the graves and prove the services
, OF soldiers whether they fought in
the Revolution, War of 1912, Mex
lean War, skirmishes with Indians
or IN any way bore arms in defense
of the United States. The daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution
in this State have taken up the
work of trying to find and mark
forgotten and namelcss graves of
Revolutionary. soldiers. By res
cuing these names from oblivion
and reviving memories and tradi-
/ tion of these brave men we pay
them tardy honors which are we'll
deserved.
=. The circular of information is
sued by the War Department states
that upon application to the
: sQuartermaster General, L. S.
, Army, headstones will be furnish
edfor unmarked graves of soldiers,
sailors and marines who served in
the State Militia or the Army or
Navy of the United States during
any war whether regular or vol
/ unteer, and whether they died in
the service or since their muster
ont or discharge therefrom. These
headStoneS are of best American
white marble, SO inches long, IL
!; inches wide and 4 inches thick,
the top slightly rounded and the
portion of the stone which will be
above the ground when set is sand
fubbed; each headstone is inscrib-
81 with the name, rank (if above
pnvate), company and State regi-
xnent Or other organization to which
the deceased belonged, cut in re-
lief within a Sunken shield. No
deviation can be made from these
specifications which are prescribed
by the Secretary of War and the
law does aot provide for any ex-
spenditure for fences or for any
purpose except for the headstone
as above described; neither is it
lawful to make any money allow
gance in place of furnishing head
stone. Headstones will be shipped,
freight prepaid by the Govern
ment, only to the nearest railroad
station or steamboat landing; they
will not be delivered to street ad-
dresses or to the cemetery"
Every D. A. R. Chapter in
South Carolina should be earnest
ly and actively interested in this
noble and praise worthy work.
Battles and skirmishes were fought
all over the State from the noun
tains to the seaboard; the British
and Tories invaded all portions of
the country and almost every able
bodied man and youth had to join
the militia in defense of homes and
.families; hence there are thousands
of graves of Revolutionary soldiers
within our borders. 1t will re-
quire much time, patience and
}areful investigation to find these
5raves and obtain all the necessa-
~ information, therefore Chapters
&hould begin work at once. No
1ces should be inserted in the lead
<I[g papers of each county calling
|ktention to this liberality of the
5overnment and asking assistance
ON every one who can give in
prmation. Country churchyards
ID plantation burying grounds
lust be examined; and all tradi-
ms thoroughly sifted for the truth
II is almost sure to be found.