The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-05-22
One of the First
Decoration Days
Grave of Young Southerner
Scene of Service That
Drew Attention.

XXJHEN flags are huttering, bands
" playing, feet tramplng, cannon
booming. hearts swelling and
tears rising. as millions pay tribute TO
Americas war dead, on May 30, an
aged Southern woman, sitting at the
window Of her little home In Peters
burg, Va. will remember a memorial
day that antedated the famous "Order
No. II" by which Gen. John A. Logan,
as commander-ln-chief Of the @. A. r.
established the national custom, writes
Ernest Q. Pollard In the New York
World.
Miss Nora FOntalne Maury David
son, Petersburg residents claim. dec
Grating the grave Of a Southern patriot
and the sight OF the wreaths anr flags
on the Confederate graves at Peters
burg, as described by Mrs. Logan to
her husband. suggested to him the idea
he carried ont In order No. IL and
later By a bill In congress.
Mrs. Logan. In her "Reminiscences
OF Soldiers WIFE" tells the story Of
her visit TO Petersburg. and OF the re-
'AAaAtA A'AAOl VI tthtiHh A<OSaAE Ddt
she does not mention having seen or
heard OF Miss Davidson. Mrs. Logan
died but recently.
This Is the story. however. as Miss
Dayidson's friends tell II. and II is a
firmly rooted tradition OF the town.
In Spring Of 1866.
In the spring OF 1865. Petersburg.
tho hIafarla OLD NtrofpIa clfv % tnfIaa
from Richmond, the scene OF some Of
the bloodIest lighting In the Civil war,
was under martial law. and occupied
by Federal troops. One day In March
a squad OF soldiers on duty were as
tonlshed by the appearance Of the
Confederate flag at the head OF pro-
cesslon Of pretty girls. In stIffly
starched white dresses and black
sashes. marching out OF the "Confed-
crate school," select seminary for
young ladies', conducted by Miss Nora
Davidson. Miss Davidson carried the
big flag and, In addition. each girl
wore small flag on her shoulder.
Halt p ordered the officer in charge.
The fluttering line stood still. The
officer demanded the surrender OF the
big flag. Miss Davidson refused. lie
warned her that she might be arrested
and imprisoned. She merely remarked:
Come, young ladies'" and the white
gowned procession marched calmly
past the dumfounded soldiers and /
climbed Into two waiting omnibuses.
A young man. a friend Of Miss Da-
Wilson's brothers. climbed up beside /
the driver Of the first omnibus and. /
taking the flag, shouldered It himself.
The old negro driver touched his whip /
TO the horses and the buses started. 1
The commanding officer. recovering
from his astonlshment leaped upon his
horse and galloped In front Of the con
yeyance and, covering the young man
with his revolver. demanded the sur
render Of the flag. The boy refused
and the officer shot him dead. The
dag wrapped itself about his body as
be fell to the ground
The street was instantly filled with
excited citizens and the Federal sol
diers cnrried the body away and bur
led Il within the hour, without cerc-
mony, but Miss Davidson and her girls
followed II to the cemetery and when
he soldiers had left they scattered
come OF the flowers they carried on
he mound aud marked the place with
Tags and stood In circle while Miss
Davidson led In prayers II was then
ate evening, but the remaining flow-
IRIS were carried through the city again
70 the old Blandford cemetery. where
,leep 'srhe Blue and the Gray" A
hort, service was held and the graves
decorated with flowers and small tiags
Custom Continued.
The custom was thereafter contln-
led Two years later. In March. iStiS
,ol. Charles L. Wilson. editor OF the
chicago Journal. invited party con (
listing OF his niece. Miss Anna Wilson /
later Mrs. Horatio Mayl. Miss Far.
mr.. his iiancee. General Logan and :
frs. Logan. all Of whom are now dead. ,
o accompany him on visit to the I
attiefclds around Richmond.
II waS a bleak March day and snow !
ras falling when the party visited
landlord cemetery. in Petersburg. AS
hey entered they paused to let a large q
roup q school girls and their teacher l
ass out. They had seen the girls and 4
he Young woman arise from their I
nees on the damp earth where they I
ad been praying. and now they saw 1
ae graves strewn With flowers and I
utterinr little Confederate flags
As Is well known. when Mrs Logan !,
pturnea 70 Washington she told her ,
nshand % the old cemetery and the
ower.strcwn graees. and he declared
. would establish the custom as a 1
ornament one. A. csnmaujerin {
hicf II the Grand Army % the Re ]
nbiic he issued Order Ne. n. which !,
. afterward called -the proudest act !,
I my llfc.- As member of congress !
.em Illinois, be introduced the bill ;,
une - 1855 and Il was unanimously !.
ioptcd. :,
World Can Never Forget