Year: 1878

| lFor the Dispatch.l


Cid Blandforta Church and Cemetery


Petersburg Volunteers; Monument


to their Memory---Jaek Hill.


BY REV. JOHN S. WATT.


Every time ride or walk TO Petersburg
l have 10 pass by old Blandford church. 1t
was built in the year 1735-more than one
hundred and fifty years ago. It's walls are
in good state OF preservation at the pres
ent time; strong, substantial roof has
been recently put upon them, but there is
no disposition among the people OF Peters
burg to repair the inside OF the church. 1t
is thought best to let it remain as it is-a
complete ruin, overgrown with ivy. 1t has
neither doors nor windows, nor any floor to
it, except the ground on which it was built.
Pulpit, gallery, and communicable have
long since disappeared. Standing in the
midst OF 4 graveyard, its mouderinG walls
speak with touching cloquence OF the rapid
flight OF time, and admonish all the living
Of the transitory nature OF earthly greatness
and grandeur.


1t has been surrounded with graves, no
doubt, since it was first built, but it stands
now near the entrance of BlanGford Gene
terry, which is certainly an ornament TO the
city of Petersburg, so beautiful are some OF
the monuments it contains and with SO
much taste are its smooth walks and its
broad avenues arranged. That part of the
cemetery which is near the church is too
much crowded with graves; but the ceme-
terry has recently been very much enlarged,
and will hereafter appear to much greater
advantage. Some of the monuments in it
are made OF costly and highIy-polished mar
Bile, and cannot fail to excite the admiration
OF every beholder. The monument erected
to the memory of the Petersburg volunteers
deserves special notice. 1t is a solid shaft,
or pyramid, about 12 or ID feet high, having
gilt eagle with outspread wings on the
top Of it. The names Of the volunteers are
all inscribed on the sides OF the pyramid.
In the war of 1872 they volunteered their
services, and marched to Canada. They
were at the seige Of Fort Meigs, under Gen
eral Harrison, and distinguished themselves
by their bravery and good discipline. Their
patriotism excited great deal OF admlra-
ton, and prompted others in different parts
Of the United States to initiate their exam
pie. 1t was quite an honor for many years
for any one to be able to say, II was
member of the Petersburg volunteers" 1t
was claim to patriotism that could not be
disputed. But those days have long since
past; one by one the volunteers have gone
the way whence they shall not return. Only
two OF them survive to tell the story OF the
bardships they endured and the dangers
they encountered-Mr. Thomas Fl. Bigger,
of Richmond, who was the youngest of the
company, is still active and strong for one
of his age, and Mr.. Clements, OF Peters:
burg, with whom am not acquainted.


On the day they left Richmond for the
seat Of war they marched through the
streets with drums beating and co!ors Hy-
ing, escorted by the Richmond Blues as far
as Bacon's Quarter branch. They stopped
before the house on Marshall street in
which the Governor, james Barbour, Esq,
was then living. The house had small
front yard with gate to it. When the
company halted the officers advanced to the
gate. The Governor met them with great
Ldignity and condescension in his manner,
delivered patriotic and eloquent address,
and then bade them farewell, with many
good wishes for their welfare and safe re-
turn TO their homes after the war was over.
The officers presented their thanks, the
men rent the air with their shouts, and then
marched away for the cold and inhospitabe
climate Of Canada. / was small boy at
the time, but / followed the Peters
burg volunteers through the streets to
the Governors house, and [ remember
all that took place Just as well as
if it had occurred yesterday-remember
the grand and imposing appearance OF the
Governor in his splendid uniform, and the
manly bearing Of Captain MeCrae and MS
brother-ofcers. But few OF the refers
burg volunteers lost their lives in the war,
but they have nearly all fallen before the
great enemy Death, until but two survive,
as I have already said. l was never ac-
uuainted intimately with but one OF these
yolunteers-Jack Hill, Of Amelia county.
He was wild, wicked man in his youth,
but afterwards became pious, and at The
time | knew him he was an elder IN the
PRESBYTERIAN church. He was faithful and
jealous in the performance OF all his CHRIS
tian duties, and died at last in the hope OF
GLORIOUS resurrection. But from all heard
about him he certainly may be looked upon
as Il brand plucked from the burning. On
one occasion be was engaged i'll playing
cards and drinking until late at night Win
q company Of boon companions IN coun-
trv store in which he was living at the time
rs clerk. They were not so well Off
as to have n pair of snuf1ers in the
room. and when the wick OF the can
die by whose dim light they were anus
ing themselves would become too long
they would snuff it with their fingers
and throw the wick with violent jerk be-
hind them. When they got up in the MORN
ing, after few hours Of repose, they were
horritied at seeing in the back part OF the
store an open keg Of powder with the long,
dead wicks Of the candle lying all around
it. II one Of those wicks with spark OF
fire still adhering to it had fallen into that
keg OF powder none OF those young men
would ever have played cards in that store
anv more. A kind Providence bad saved
their lives while they were gambling in such
fancied security. What became OF the rest
OF them know not, but Jack Hill lived to
repent OF bis folly and to become meek
and humble Christian. How wonderful are
the ways OF Providence!


On the wall OF old Biandford church near
the place where the pulpit once stood there
Is o tablet on which some verses are in
scribed which are worthy Of preservation.
No one knows by whom they were written.
They must conclude my notice OF this ro-
mantle and beautiful cemetery.


The Toledo weekly Blade must be re-
form paper. 1t savagely denounces "bis-
cuito as the national gastric clog, the huge
sporegerm OF seli-propogating and self.per.
petuating dyspepsia; fat soaked and iaun.
diced with soda or salaratus; more, lndi.
eestisle than the sodden tortitEas OF the
| II on n a,l