New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-31
THE FIRST MEMORIAL DAY
Where the Practice Of Decorating Graves
Had Its Origin.
To The Editor OF The Tribune.

o the kdltor or / nc lTiDuuts
Sir: Many persons at different times have
made the suggestion that Memorial Day be
changed from May 20 to some Monday OF the
month. the last Monday being no doubt the
one generally in mind | would like to raise
this question again to see if there is enough
rooular interest in the idea 10 start move
mert for such a change. Most of our hoil-
days occur on varying days Of the week max
in- often bad break for schools and ousl-
ness and preventing really restful holiday
with possible trips, As might be had should
the 6av be a Monday. There IS no good rea-
son for a consistent Both for It Is not
tirthdsv nor a definite anniversary date, as
If course. are some OF the other holiday
dates. with the Monday as fixed day ap-
nropriate services could be held on the pre-
cedinr Sunday and be followed Immediately
he next day with the civic and military and
General exercises. thus connecting more
CLOSELY than now oil celebrations religious
and otherwise. associated with the day For
holiday makers 1t would be boom and' as
.boyo mentioned. for business and schools 1t
would be blessing IN many ways that are
too obvious 10 need pointing out. saving a
PERHAPS YOUR readers would be interested
r. beinc reminded Of biz Of history CON
nccted with Memorial Day. James Redpath'
NV brother. was staff correspondent Of The
Nov York Tribune during the last year OF
the war. and 1T was he who sent the first press
dsrafch through IN the North announcing
the triumphal end Of Shermsn's march to the
sea and the replacing Of the Stars and stripes
over Fort Sumter. m remained IN Charles
ton 20 aid i'm the work Of reconstruction. !
quote from letter he wrote some years ago
to "The Philadelphia Press:
81 believe that ! originated Memorial Day
and the whole machinery Of the celebration,
out hold that the humblest soldier is more
entitled to tho honor than or any one else
can he. Let me tell how its inauguration
came about: Colonel Woodford, IN 1863, IN
command Of the Union forces az Charleston
is. c.. appointed me superintendent OF schools.
One Sunday party of US went to soldiers
graveyard. which had formerly been a race
course. The long red trenches were only
PARTIALLY filed i'm and were filthy and disgust
ing. Al the head Of each grave was PLAIN
board. with the number Of the death upon It.
Cows which were grazing IN the fields near
bv were walking over the graves and there
were several people scofng at the graves. II
made our blood boil to see the way the graves
we're kent and how they were desecrated. We
formed ourselves then and there into soci-
ETY.. determined that the sacred soil should
be fenced I'm and the grounds cared for. We
did the fencing. and then 7 asked the colored
reople 10 dedicate one day each year, and
fixed Nav ! As the date, when all should bring
flowers 20 lay on the graves. The day came
and every colored clergyman took part. The
children marched around the graves first,
sang patriotic hymns and then left their
flowers. General Hartwell. at my request,
made civic and military holiday OF It."
"The Philadelphia Press" adds: Here at
Charleston, then, May I, 1865, the first Deco
ration Day was observed. II may have been
earlier that loyal women singly and individu-
ally decorated the graves o. their loved ones,
and il is certain that IN several cities Of the
South the Southern women combined IN a day
Of decoration, but this is the first time that
the different methods which are used now
were enacted
Il may be added further that u was in 1865.
a. the second reunion Of me Grand Army Of
the Republic, that a request was issued By
General John A. Logan, the commander, 10
have May 80 observed as the day for decorat-
ing the graves Of the Union soldiers, and soon
thereafter in following years this day was so
set apart by the legislatures Of the Northern
states as Memorial Day for honorng the ma
TONS dead. JOHN REDPAlH.
New York Nav q. 1916.