Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-06-05

After The cIo.s Of The War
From Our Fils. of june ash 1856


After the Close Of the War
From Our Files of june 2sth 1866.
Yesterday being the day set apart by
the ladies Of Charlestown and vicinity,
to pay proper and deserving tribute to
the memory of the Confederate dead,
at an early hour people from the. coun-
try began pouring into town, and at the
time fixed upon for the commencement
of the memorial services, large as
semblage of the citizens of this and ad-
joining counties and States, congre-
gated upon the grounds selected for the
opening ceremonies of the occasion.
The Speakers stand was without
decoration, except a suspended por-
trait of General "Stonewall'' jackson,
appropriately draped in mourning.
The services were opened with Prayer
by the Rev. C.. N. Campbell, followed
by an Anthem by the Choir. The Rev.
Isaac Gibson of.the P. E. Church then
offered prayer, upon the conclusion of
which 4. M. Isbell. Esq, was intro
duced. and in eloquent, impressive and
touching terms proceeded to deliver
the Memorial Grafton. At the conclu-
sion of Mr.. Isabell's address, another
appropriate hymn. Will be
Done, was sung by the Choir, and
the services at the stand were concIud-
ed with prayer by Rev. Robert Smith,
of the E. M. Church.
Marshal and Assistant Marshals
Chief Marshal-W. g. Cutshaw.
Assistant Marshals- Col. R. P. Chew.
Maj. VIM. M. Lock, Capt. John w.
Rowan, Lieut. James G. Wiltshire,
Lieut.. Cleon Moore, Archie H. Aisquith,
John q. Shugart and Sewell Merchant.
The procession was then formed ac-
cording to the following program:
Chief Marshall-Gol. W. E. Cutshaw.
Gentlemen's Committees.
| Ministers, Orator, Editors, and Invited
| Guests.
Fourteen little Girls in White Dresses.
Fashioned with Black Rosettes. repre-
senting the Unknown Dead"
Fourteen Young Ladies. dressed in
White, with Black Scarfs and Notices
of Ivy and Myrtle, each representing a
Southern State.-Mr w. P. Henson,
Marshal.
Mrs. Judge l. R. Douglas and Miss
Irene Leech, President and Secretary
of the Memorial Executive Committee.
Ladies' Committee.
Ladies Choir.
Ladies Bearing Floral Offerings
Surviving members of Baylor's Cavalry
headed by their commander, Col R..
w. Baylor.
Surviving members of the "Stonewall
Brigade, Capt ]. W. Rowan, Marshal.
Members of other Commands Of late
Confederate Army. Surviving mem
bers of Company D, 18th Va. Cavalry,
handsomely mounted, and in-charge of
Capt Henry Kearney.
Survivors of Company A, 18th, Va
Cavalry, under Lieut.. S. D. Engle. also
well mounted.
Persons in Vehicles and on Horseback.
The procession proceeded to the
Presbyterian, Methodist and Episcopal
lzGraveyards, the entrances to which
were handsomely arched and festooned
with Eyergrcens and Flowers, and af--
ter paying the sad tribute to the brave
men buried in each of them, their sur
viving comrades in-arms passing with
uncovered heads, wended it way, with
silent tread, to Edge Hill Cemetery. =
The ex military having formed, with a
precision worthy of other days, on
either side Of the soldiers, square con-
| tanning the dust of the two hundred, ;,
the noble women concluded their floral
offerings to the honored and heroic dead.
The various Committees having in
charge the reinterment of these fallen
braves, and the memorial services, are
deserving all praise for the manner in
which they performed the duties devol-
wing upon them In this connection we
may mention, without detraction from
the efforts of others, and by way of
simply recording, and re-echoing
universal public sentiment, the indie
fatigable devotion and services of Mr..
Geo. Y. Sadler.
. The graves were handsomely sodded;
decorated by head ard foot boards
painted white, and marked legibly with
the name, Company and Regiment
placed at each grave. About fifteen
were unknown" but these seemed to
evoke a larger tribute of flowers
because, z=z=.
-Nameless they were,
But. brothers in the common cause.
Among those assigned prominence in
the procession we noticed the venerable
Mayor of Winchester, Joseph H. Sher-
rard, ESQ.
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