Page 138 - Arkansas Confederate Women

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ORIGIN OF CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL

ASSOCIATION.

The New York Herald contains the following contribution

from Mrs. John A. Logan, in which she says that the "Decora-
tion Day" in the North was an adoption from the South's "Mem-
orial Day."
To the Editor of the Herald

In the spring of 1868, General Logan and I were invited to
visit the battle-grounds of the South with a. party of friends. As
certain important matters kept him from joining the party,
however, I went alone, and the trip proved a most interesting
and impressive one. The South had been desolated by the war.
Everywhere signs of privation and devastation were con-
stantly presenting themselves to us. The graves of the soldiers
however, seemed as far as possible the objects of the greatest
care and attention.

One graveyard that struck me as being especially pathetic

was in Richmond. The graves were new, and just before our
visit there had been a "Memorial Day" observance, and upon
each grave had been placed a small Confederate flag and
wreaths of beautiful flowers. The scene seemed most impressive
to me, and when I returned to Washington I spoke of it to the
General and said I wished there could be concerted action of this
kind all over the North for the decoration of the graves of our
own soldiers. The General thought it a capital idea, and with

enthusiasm set out to secure its adoption.

At that time he was commander-in-chief of the Grand
Army. The next day he sent for Adjutant-General Ohipman,
and they conferred as to the best means of beginning a general
observance. On the 5th day of May in that year the historic
order was put out. General Logan often spoke of the issuing

of this order as the proudest act of his life.

It was marvelous how popular the idea became. The pa-
pers all over the land copied the order, and the observance was