The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-08
SONS OF SOUTH
To BE HONORED
Tenth Anniversary Of Confed-
crate Memorial to Be Held
at Arlington Today.
HISTORY Is RECALLED
President Mckinley Demanded Equal
Care for Graves of Soldiers
of Both Sides.
HISTORY Is RECALLED

This is Confederate Memorial Day at
Arlington National Cemetery. 1t is to be
an occasion Of special interest to those
who cherish the memories Of the tragic
days Of '61-'6s, and the ennobling growth
in the passing years of mutual good will
and respect between those who fought
one another in that great war of the
States
Fifty years ago this midsummer the
war was at its fiercest. The world had
never seen the like. There had been
fghting in over half the States of the
Union. Every Southern State had been
drenched with blood. It had penetrated
North Of the Ohio River and in the West
had crossed the Kansas line. Pennsyi-
vania was being invaded, and the volun-
teeTs were leaping to join the army of
defense. The great vicksburg campaign
was at its height, day after day wit
Messing desperate assaults and equally
desperate sorties.
Day Marks Anniversary.
This day fifty years ago were mar
shaling for battles magnificently
stern array" near Washington a host
OF troopers who on the morrow were
to engage in the greatest cavalry COM
bat of modern times, when. on June 8,
1853 ove- 5000 horsemen in blue. I'M
der Pleassnton. and over 5000 cavaliers
in gray, under Stuart, flung themselves
at each other with unparalleled valor In
an aIl-day fight. which saw a series of
charges and counter charges, with
many thrilling personal clash between
the combatants. That was the battle
of Brandy Station, or Fleetwood
This day ten years ago witnessed the
q first flower adornment of the graves Of
Confederate soldiers in the National
Cemetery of Arlington. They had not
long been there The remains of Con-
federate dead had UP to 1901 been
scattered about in different burial
places in the District of Columbia and
its vicinity, but that year, by direction
of President Mckinley, the Quarter
masters Department of the United
States Army had gathered the ashes Of
these Southern dead and placed them
together in one plat Ia beautiful Ar
ington.
President Mckinley had observed the
neglected condition of Confederate graves
here and there, as compared with those
If Union soldiers. He declared he would
exert whatever authority he possessed
to the end that equal care should be
given to the graves of Confederate and
Union soldiers in cemeteries where il was
practicable for the government to do so.
The sentiment was everywhere approved.
By the early spring of 1903 the Confed-
crate section in Arlington Cemetery
looked as neatly kept as the rest of the
Cemetery. Green trees shaded and flow
sring shrubs graced the graves Of the
Southern soldiers.
On Sunday June s 1903. was observed
the first Confederate memorial service,
and the graves which had been provided
for at the instance of the. kindly,
thoughtful, and magnanimous Mckinley
were made more beautiful with heaps of
blossoms. laid upon them by thousands
, of reverent hands
Work of Mckinley.
President Mckinley lived only to see
that the work of assembling the Con-
federate dead at Arlington was well be-
gun and its completion assured. The
martyred Presidents part in the estab-
Hshment of this Southern share in the
somber glory of Arlington has given this
cemetery splendid distinction
Every June since that day ten years
ago Mr. Mckinley is remembered,
not only for this noble act, but tenderly
recolIected for the lofty manliness with
which he always spoke of those of his
seIlCw-countrymen who fought and died
for principle. 1t is now 10 more a pass
ing wCnoer that the graves of the gray
and the tlue are decked with flowers by
the same hands. And the veterans OF
both armies. who have survived the strife
Of war and the stress of years, look on
and smile and bless the good day. looking
with quickened interest toward the
Gettysburg reunion Of Union and Con
federate veterans, for whose comfort and
entertainment generous government
has been most providently mindful
The beautiful ceremony Of the unveil
ing of the Southern Cross will be part
of the memorial services TO the Confeder-
ate dead in Arlington Cemetery this aft
rrnoon.
Miss Frances Saunders. as sponsor for
the United Sons of Confederate Veterans
Camp No. 800, will unveil the cross.