" In Obedience To Law"

[65thgainf]

Anyone have that quote handy ? It goes something like, When nation called we answered....we now sleep here in obedience to law..." I know its on a marker at the Resaca Confed. cemetary. Anyone have the entire quote, who it was from and date ?

Thanks.

[Resaca]

Re: " In Obedience To Law"

Hi Jerry, I believe it is "We sleep here in obedience to law. When duty called- we came, when country called - we died." I have no idea who wrote it. It is in the Georgia section of the cemetery. I hope to get a copy of Mary Greens' journal in a couple of weeks or so, maybe that will give us a clue.

Tony Patton
Blue Ridge Mess

[Rob Weaver]

Re: " In Obedience To Law"

That's a rough paraphrase of the epitaph of the Spartans at Thermopylae. "Tell them in Laecadaemon, passer-by, that here, obedient to our word, we lie." Classical literature was still part of a good education at that time, and classical allusions are common.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: " In Obedience To Law"

I wondered about that, it sounded like a paraphrase of Herodotus...'Stranger, go tell the Spartans that here we are buried, obedient to their orders.' Translations vary slightly but that is almost certainly the inspiration for the engraving in the Resaca CS cemetary.

[Joe Walker]

Re: " In Obedience To Law"

It is on every Georgia monument with the upright monolith. Vicksburg, Gburg, Sharpsburg, etc. In my oppinion, it speaks for every Confederate who served faithfully or gave the ultimate for his country- Not unlike the Viet Nam soldier, who answered his country's call.

Joe Walker

[Edwin Carl Erwin]

Re: " In Obedience To Law"

Jerry,

Follow this link to Resaca Confederate Cemetery (page 3): www.civilwaralbum.com/misc/resaca_cem.3b.htm ,at which, the headstone in question is pictured. Click the thumbnail image for "Georgia Confederate Soldiers" to see a readable size close-up,
"GEORGIA
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS
We sleep here in obedience to law.
When duty called we came.
When country called we died."

There are also many other noteable headstones & cenotaphs pictured.

Regards,