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Dear Folks,
As May quickly approaches, I know that several of you will be participating in Deocration Day aka Remembrance Day aka Homecomings aka Memorial Days aka May Day observations. I thought it would be fruitful to begin sharing some of the numerous 1860s accounts of how people observed and honored soldiers who died in the service of their country.
Prior to the Grand Army of the Republic's 1868 proclamation (General Order No. 11) setting an official observation in May, there were several claims (and continue to be several claims) for "the first ceremony" held to honor the fallen Civil War soldier. Some of the popularized "first claims" include:
Most of these ceremonies include a religious service, processional, speeches and oration at the cemetery, clearning off graves, laying flowers (including rosemary sprigs and wreath to represernt remembrance) and a picinic at the gravesite. There is a wealth of primary and secondary documentation recounting post-Civil War Decoration Day observation. The pre-1868 accounts are really regionalized in newspaper articles and diaries. One of my favorite accounts comes from the diary of Dr. Esther Hill Hawks. She gives a depiction of such a ceremony held on May 30, 1865 in Charleston, North Carolina.
May 30th(1) [1865, Charleston, North Carolina]. We have planned for the dedication of the bleak spot where so many hundred of our soldiers were covered in long trenches; in heaps-four short rows containing 249 of our men, the dead of less than a week. These were white soldiers-prisoners of war. The colored men have built a fence about the spot a free offering, and a fine monument is to be erected as soon as we have sufficient means. The cloudless sky and hot sun of an August morning was over us as the school children formed in procession and matched from the Morris St. School, the Club House on the race-course where the opening ceremonies are to be held. We rode slowly up King St. to the race course. There it was thronged with vehicles of every description and pedestrians of all ages, from the baby in arms to the white hairs of bent old age. All faces wore the sweetest smiles and nearly every hand bore bunches or baskets laden with beautiful flowers.
On reaching the place, found the grounds already covered with a large concourse of people. Among others I noticed Col. Gurney Post Commandant, & wife -- Gen. Hartwell-Col. Beecher & wife -- Judge Coolery(2) & wife and several other “distinguished guests.” Mr. Redpath is the animating spirit of the occasion. At 10 A.M. he got the procession formed, the school children in advance. As they passed under the flag which was stretched across the Street which led to the soldiers' graves-with their clean bright faces, neat clothes and hands laden with flowers, all singing “My Country 'tis of thee” it was a beautiful sight. As they entered the little enclosure where our poor soldiers lay, every voice was hushed and with quiet reverent steps they marched around the yard depositing their floral offerings on the new made graves -- and Mr. Redpath says the ground all about was covered. It was one of the most touching sights I every witnessed! Mothers whose loved ones lie here -- would that your hearts might all be gladened by the sight of this beautiful tribute -- to the memory of your precious dead. Would you not bless the black hands which have decked them with flowers -- and the noble men whose gratuitous labor has built about their resting place a protection from the rude hands of the thoughtless or jeering! God bless them all and grant to their hearts the prayer of a life time, that freedom which is the inheritance of every child of earth!
The cerimonies in the yard consisted in singing appropriate hymns by the choir of the Baptist Church-prayer by a colored clergyman -- and reading of appropriate passages of scripture, none but colored people officiating. It was very impressive and solemn -- and very hot! We then rode over to the ‘Club-house’ where there was speaking by several gentlemen of both colors -- Col. Beecher among others -- but it was to warm to stand outside to listen so I took it for granted they were all right and went off with some of the ladies of the “Benevolent Society,” for refreshments -- which, very unexpectedly to us, they had provided. The children danced and played about just as children will at such times and were all very happy. I saw no quarriling or unpleasant feeling anywhere. By 2 P.M. the speaking and eating were over, thus ending the impressive ceremonies of the first Decoration Days(3) and I came home with Col. B. [Beecher] and wife..,-very tired and very glad to get in doors out of the hot sun and rest.
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(1)Schwartz’s original footnote no. 180: The correct date for this entry is May 1.
(2)Schwartz’s original footnote no. 181: Unidentified. Not even the Charleston Courier, May 2, 1865, in its detailed account of the memorial observance mentioned a person of this name.
(3)Schwartz’s original footnote no. 182: The events herein described constituted the first Memorial Day observance, though the Grand Army of the Republic did not officially proclaim Decoration Day until 1868. Some credit the Drs. Hawks with having “conceived, proposed and practiced’ the custom of decorating the graves of Union Civil War veterans. Charles H. Coe, “The Late Dr. John Milton Hawks,” Daytona Beach Observer, August 30, 1941.
Looking foward to hearing what other people have uncovered.
Peace and Joy,
Yulanda
As May quickly approaches, I know that several of you will be participating in Deocration Day aka Remembrance Day aka Homecomings aka Memorial Days aka May Day observations. I thought it would be fruitful to begin sharing some of the numerous 1860s accounts of how people observed and honored soldiers who died in the service of their country.
Prior to the Grand Army of the Republic's 1868 proclamation (General Order No. 11) setting an official observation in May, there were several claims (and continue to be several claims) for "the first ceremony" held to honor the fallen Civil War soldier. Some of the popularized "first claims" include:
- Boaesburg, Pennsylvania's May 1864 memorial for Union soldiers
- Waterloo, New York's May 5, 1866 ceremony for the Civil War dead
- Belle Isle, Viriginia (near Richmond) teachers' prayers and placing flowers on Union soldiers graves on May 30, 1866
- Columbus, Mississippi women holding a ceremony and placing flowers on the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers in 1867
Most of these ceremonies include a religious service, processional, speeches and oration at the cemetery, clearning off graves, laying flowers (including rosemary sprigs and wreath to represernt remembrance) and a picinic at the gravesite. There is a wealth of primary and secondary documentation recounting post-Civil War Decoration Day observation. The pre-1868 accounts are really regionalized in newspaper articles and diaries. One of my favorite accounts comes from the diary of Dr. Esther Hill Hawks. She gives a depiction of such a ceremony held on May 30, 1865 in Charleston, North Carolina.
Our May Day Festival!
May 30th(1) [1865, Charleston, North Carolina]. We have planned for the dedication of the bleak spot where so many hundred of our soldiers were covered in long trenches; in heaps-four short rows containing 249 of our men, the dead of less than a week. These were white soldiers-prisoners of war. The colored men have built a fence about the spot a free offering, and a fine monument is to be erected as soon as we have sufficient means. The cloudless sky and hot sun of an August morning was over us as the school children formed in procession and matched from the Morris St. School, the Club House on the race-course where the opening ceremonies are to be held. We rode slowly up King St. to the race course. There it was thronged with vehicles of every description and pedestrians of all ages, from the baby in arms to the white hairs of bent old age. All faces wore the sweetest smiles and nearly every hand bore bunches or baskets laden with beautiful flowers.
On reaching the place, found the grounds already covered with a large concourse of people. Among others I noticed Col. Gurney Post Commandant, & wife -- Gen. Hartwell-Col. Beecher & wife -- Judge Coolery(2) & wife and several other “distinguished guests.” Mr. Redpath is the animating spirit of the occasion. At 10 A.M. he got the procession formed, the school children in advance. As they passed under the flag which was stretched across the Street which led to the soldiers' graves-with their clean bright faces, neat clothes and hands laden with flowers, all singing “My Country 'tis of thee” it was a beautiful sight. As they entered the little enclosure where our poor soldiers lay, every voice was hushed and with quiet reverent steps they marched around the yard depositing their floral offerings on the new made graves -- and Mr. Redpath says the ground all about was covered. It was one of the most touching sights I every witnessed! Mothers whose loved ones lie here -- would that your hearts might all be gladened by the sight of this beautiful tribute -- to the memory of your precious dead. Would you not bless the black hands which have decked them with flowers -- and the noble men whose gratuitous labor has built about their resting place a protection from the rude hands of the thoughtless or jeering! God bless them all and grant to their hearts the prayer of a life time, that freedom which is the inheritance of every child of earth!
The cerimonies in the yard consisted in singing appropriate hymns by the choir of the Baptist Church-prayer by a colored clergyman -- and reading of appropriate passages of scripture, none but colored people officiating. It was very impressive and solemn -- and very hot! We then rode over to the ‘Club-house’ where there was speaking by several gentlemen of both colors -- Col. Beecher among others -- but it was to warm to stand outside to listen so I took it for granted they were all right and went off with some of the ladies of the “Benevolent Society,” for refreshments -- which, very unexpectedly to us, they had provided. The children danced and played about just as children will at such times and were all very happy. I saw no quarriling or unpleasant feeling anywhere. By 2 P.M. the speaking and eating were over, thus ending the impressive ceremonies of the first Decoration Days(3) and I came home with Col. B. [Beecher] and wife..,-very tired and very glad to get in doors out of the hot sun and rest.
Source: Schwartz, Gerald, editor, Dr. Esther Hill Hawks' Diary, A Woman Doctor's Civil War, edited by Gerald Schwartz (University of South Carolina Press: 1984), pp. 137-139. Note: Spelling unmodified; editors original footnotes noted.
______________________________
(1)Schwartz’s original footnote no. 180: The correct date for this entry is May 1.
(2)Schwartz’s original footnote no. 181: Unidentified. Not even the Charleston Courier, May 2, 1865, in its detailed account of the memorial observance mentioned a person of this name.
(3)Schwartz’s original footnote no. 182: The events herein described constituted the first Memorial Day observance, though the Grand Army of the Republic did not officially proclaim Decoration Day until 1868. Some credit the Drs. Hawks with having “conceived, proposed and practiced’ the custom of decorating the graves of Union Civil War veterans. Charles H. Coe, “The Late Dr. John Milton Hawks,” Daytona Beach Observer, August 30, 1941.
Looking foward to hearing what other people have uncovered.
Peace and Joy,
Yulanda