Bi the ORIGINAL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 
 
 1311 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N,C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
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 A HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 r\ 
 
 RIGIN OF MEMORIAL DAY 
 
 AS ADOPTED BY 
 
 The Ladies' Memorial Association 
 
 , OF 
 
 V 
 
 COLUMBUS, GKORGIA, 
 
 AND PRESENTED TO THE 
 
 liizzie Rtitlierford Cliapter of tlie Daughters of 
 
 the Confederacy, Under wliose Direction 
 
 it is no\\r Pnblislied. 
 
 COLUMBUS, GEORGIA: 
 
 Thos. Gilbert, Phintkr and MANUFACTOHixef Stationeh. 
 "1898. 
 
Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1898, by 
 
 Lizzie Rutheefokd Chapter op the 
 Daughters of the Confederacy, 
 
 I In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
THE SOUTHERN SOLDIERS' GRAVES. 
 
 "Pulceris tria maniplia ad manes spargei'e.'" 
 
 "Beautiful feet! with maidenly tread, 
 Offerings bring to the gallant dead. 
 Footsteps light press the sacred sod 
 Of souls untimely ascended to God. 
 Bring Spring flowers in fragrant perfume, 
 And offer sweet prayers for a merciful di-om. 
 
 "Beautiful hands! ye deck the graves 
 Above the dust of the Southern braves; 
 Here was extinguished their manly fire. 
 Rather than flinch from the Northman's ire. 
 Bring Spring flowers! the laurel and rose, 
 And deck your defenders' place of repose. 
 
 " Beautiful eyes! the tears ye shed 
 Are brighter than diamonds to those who bled. 
 Spurned is the cause they fell to save. 
 But 'little they'll reck' if ye love their grave. 
 Bring Spring flowers! with tears and praise, 
 And chant o'er their tombs your grateful lays. 
 
 " Beautiful lips! ye tremble now, 
 Memory wakens the sleeping one's vow; 
 Mute are the lips and faded the forms 
 That never knelt down, save to God and your charms. 
 Bring Spring flowers, all dewy with morn, 
 And think how they loved ye, whose graves ye adorn. 
 
 " Beautiful hearts! of matron and maid, 
 Faithful were ye when apostlea betrayed ! 
 Here are your loved and cherished ones laid; 
 Peace to their ashes; the flowers ye strew 
 Are monuments worthy the faithful and true. 
 Bring Spring flowers, perfume their sod. 
 With annual incense to Glory and God. 
 
 " Beautiful tribute at Valor's shrine! 
 The wreaths that fond ones lovingly twine. 
 Let the whole world their ashes despise, 
 Those whom they cherished, with heart, hands and eyes, 
 Will In-ing Spring flowers, and bow the head, 
 And pray for the noble Confederate Dead! " 
 
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2011 witii funding from 
 
 University of Nortin Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/historyoforiginoOOunit 
 
PREKACE. 
 
 The mission of the United Daughters of the Confederacy is to record 
 the deeds of the true and the brave, who bore the star-gemmed cross of 
 Dixie. It is therefore meet that the first work of the Lizzie Ruther- 
 ford Chapter be a gift to tlie world of the story of the women who 
 originated that Sabbatli of tlie Soutli — Memorial Day — which the nation 
 has found so appropriate that it lias incorporated it with its holidays 
 under the name "Decoration Day," It was given to this Chapter by 
 the Ladies' Memorial Association of Columbus, Georgia, — the mother to 
 the thought, — on the thirty-second anniversary of its initial observ- 
 ance; given in the sight and hearing of thousands who, before visiting 
 the soldiers' graves on that day, had gathered to listen to the annual 
 eulogy pronounced in honor of the Wearers of the Grey ; it was given 
 under the seals of the only living witnesses of its birth and sponsors for 
 its baptism ; given in the hallowed presence of the few surviving mem- 
 bers of the Soldiers' Aid Society, who had dressed the wounds, smoothed 
 the pillows, closed the eyes, and twined garlands for the martyrs of the 
 Lost Cause. It was theirs to strew flowers for the soldiers; it is ours to 
 strew immortelles for them. 
 
 The Ladies' Memorial Association, like the Pluenix, rose from the 
 Soldiers' Aid Society, which was consumed in the fires that burnt the 
 Confederacy. The parent organization was born under the shadow of 
 the altar in tlie Baptist Church of Columbus, on May 31st, 1861, and its 
 object was to perform woman's part in the service of her country in 
 time of war. 
 
 The incomplete list, as shown on page 19 of this volume, admonishes 
 us that the time to write the record has already been too long delayed, 
 and wenow hasten to save the truth from oblivion. Note well the few 
 
6 
 
 surviving names from memory's tablet. They have been admired in 
 our country's historic past. Younger generations will adore them in 
 new strata as the Eiver of Time wears down the valley walls of the 
 future. The land of these women was neither a food-producing nor a 
 manufacturing one, yet through their pious ministrations and sacrificing 
 devotion, the hungry soldiers were fed and the destitute were clothed, 
 though aged loved ones and helpless innocent children were often left 
 in need. At first the sick and wounded were cared for in the families 
 of the members. As these multiplied, hospitals were established and 
 supported. The ladies nursed the sick, fed the hungry, and buried the 
 dead. Day by day bad grew worse, food and clothing scarce and scarcer 
 grew. General Sherman was making his march through the Southland 
 to the sea, leaving behind a desert of ashes. With homes devastated, 
 hearts broken, hopes gone, fathers, husbands, brothers, sons and lovers 
 killed, these patriotic women, with lips compressed, forced back their 
 tears, gave away the bread they needed, wrote letters to distant and sor- 
 rowing soldier mothers, sent locks of hair to far away sweethearts of 
 those whose dying hours they soothed, and with all this gave direction 
 to the practical affairs of their home life in absence of husband and 
 father. Bearing alike the burden of woman's devotion and man's care, 
 they wrecked their health and died for their country. 
 
 The last battle of the Civil War, east of the Mississippi River, was 
 fought on tlie Alabama heights overlooking Columbus, Ga., on the night 
 of April 16th, 1865. The city was assaulted and, after it fell, was sacked 
 and burned. When the smoke of war cleared away, where do we find 
 these devoted women? Where were Mary Magdalene and the other 
 Mary after the crucifixion? At the sepulcher with sweet spices. So 
 these women come to the soldiers' graves with choice plants and bright 
 flowers. One day, after a group of them had been occupied in this lov- 
 ing service, one suggested the adoption and dedication of a day, and of 
 each recurring anniversary, to the decoration of the soldiers' graves. 
 
All were pleased with the thought, and at the next meeting of the Sol- 
 diers' Aid Society it was acted upon so quickly that it seemed a simulta- 
 neous throb from the heart of each. The Soldiers' Aid Society became 
 the Ladies' Memorial Association. The 26th of April, the anniversary 
 of the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnson, was chosen and an order 
 of ceremonies arranged. The eloquent pen of the Secretary of the 
 Memorial Association inspired the press and touched the hearts of the 
 people. Like the hope that spread over the earth on the morning of the 
 Resurrection, so the soft light of this sentiment shone over Dixie, and 
 when April came. Love wreathed her roses where the soldiers sleep. 
 
 The North looked on, thought the custom good, took it to herself and 
 has hallowed it as she does her Thanksgiving obligation. April was too 
 early for her flowers, hence she set apart May 30th. In the Southwest 
 the 26th of April finds Flora past her bloom, so in that section the day is 
 earlier. 
 
 Year by year the procession of Spring, marching up from the Gulf, 
 halts at every mountain side and mead to salute the dead soldier with 
 flowers. 
 
 That future generations may know the truth as to the origin of the 
 beautiful custom, this volume, under the auspices of this Chapter of the 
 TJ. D. C, is given to the world. 
 
 ANNA CAROLINE BENNING, 
 President of Lizzie Rutherford Chapter, U. D. C. 
 
 Columbus, Georgia, July 1st, 1898. 
 
COPY OK CHARTER 
 
 OF" 
 
 ^'LIZZIE RUTHERFORD CHAPTER" 
 
 United Daughters of the Confederacy 
 
 AT COLUMBUS, Ga. 
 
 United Daughters of the Confederacy 
 Hereby authorizes and empowers 
 
 Miss Anna Caroline ("Tiny'') Benning, 
 Mrs. Samuel Spencer, 
 Mrs. Lionel C. Levy, 
 
 Miss Frances M. Levy, 
 Mrs. Andrew J. Lowe, 
 
 Mrs, Jane Ellison Ware Martin, 
 Mrs. Joseph Harrison, 
 
 Mrs. a. C. Flewellen, 
 
 And their successors, to associate themselves together under the 
 name and designation of "Columbus Chapter No. 60, United 
 Daughters of the Confederacy,'' to be located at Columbus, in 
 the County of Muscogee, State of Georgia. 
 
 The said Columbus Chapter No. 60, is authorized to perform 
 all acts pertaining to the purposes of this Association, and to 
 enact, for its own government, such by-laws as may be deemed 
 necessary; provided they do not conflict with the Charter or Con- 
 stitution of this Association. 
 
 In testimony of which, we have hereunto affixed our signa- 
 tures, at Nashville, Tennessee, this 6th day 
 ^ \"f of May, 1896. 
 
 : Seal of the United Dauijh- : - ' 
 
 ..!^'!^^.!:^^"!^:X united daughters of the Confederacy, 
 
 Mrs. John Q. Brown, President. 
 Mrs. J. Jefferson Thomas, Secretary. 
 
 (2) 
 
10 
 On back of Charter ajypears the following : 
 
 Full Names of Within Charter Members. 
 
 Miss Anna Caroline ("Tiny") Benning, 
 Mrs. Louisa Vivian Benning Spencer, 
 Mrs. Isabel Moses Levy, 
 Miss Frances Marion Levy, 
 
 Mrs. Jane Ellison Ware Martin, 
 Mrs. Sallie Martin Harrison, 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Porter Shepherd Flewellen, 
 Mrs. Emmett Ray Lowe. 
 
 Columbus, Ga., April 26, 1898. 
 Pursuant to resolution, the Columbus Chapter No. 60 of the 
 United Daughters of the Confederacy, was on this day dedicated 
 as Lizzie Rutherford Chapter, in honor of Mrs. Lizzie Ruth- 
 erford Ellis, who suggested the idea of the Confederate Memorial 
 Day. Anna C. Benning, President. 
 
 Sallie M. Harrison, Secretary. 
 
 The United Daughters of the Confederacy hereby approves 
 and ratifies the above action on the part of Columbus (Ga.) 
 Chapter No. 60. 
 
 Nashville, Tenn., this 9th day of May, 1898. 
 
 Katie Cabell Currie, President. 
 Mrs. John P. Hickman, Secretary. 
 
 Nashville, Tenn. 
 
OKKICERS AND NIENIBERS 
 
 OK 
 
 LIZZIE RUTHERKORD CHAPTER, 
 
 1898. 
 
 Miss Anna Caroline Benning, President. 
 Mrs. Isabel Moses Levy, Vice-President. 
 Mrs. Sallie Martin Harrison, Secretary. 
 Mrs. a. C. Flewellen, Corresponding Sec'y. 
 Miss Frances Marion Levy, Treasurer. 
 
 Credential Committee. 
 
 Mrs. Jane E. Ware Martin, 
 Mrs. Annie Leonard Garrard, 
 Mrs. Sarah Porter Flewellen, 
 
 Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 Charter Members. 
 
 No. 
 
 Miss Anna Caroline Benning 1 
 
 Mrs. Louisa Vivian Benning Spencer 2 
 
 Mrs. Isabel Moses Levy S 
 
 Miss Frances Marion Levy 4 
 
 Mrs. H Emmet Ray Lowe 5 
 
 Mrs. Jane Ware Martin 6 
 
 Mrs. Sallie Martin Harrison "^ 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Porter Flewellen 8 
 
 Mrs. Annie Leonard Garrard 9 
 
 Miss Annie L. Garrard 10 
 
 Mrs. Nellie Cooper Frederick 11 
 
 Mrs. Juliette Charleton Hudson Compton 12 
 
 Miss M. Theresa Griffin 13 
 
 Mrs. Bettilu Montcastle Johnston 14 
 
 Mrs. Bettie Blake Dexter Jordan 15 
 
12 
 
 No. 
 
 Mrs. Loretta R. Lamar Chappell 16 
 
 Mrs. Chas. F. Jordan IT 
 
 Mrs. Laura Beecher Comer 18 
 
 Mrs. Virginia Lindsay Woodruff 19 
 
 Mrs. Mary Blackmar Bullard 20 
 
 Miss Mary Louisa Bruce 21 
 
 Mrs. Clotilde deLauney Hines 22 
 
 Mrs. Mary Hodges Harrison 23 
 
 Mrs. Mary Murdoch Wright 24 
 
 Mrs. Mary Rutherford Jones 25 
 
 Miss Mar\^ U. Kivlin 26 
 
 Mrs. Sarah J. W. Blanchard 27 
 
 Miss Virginia Craddock Warner 28 
 
 Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Forman Dismukes 29 
 
 Miss Mary Ellison (Ellie May) Bedell 30 
 
 Mrs. Cynthia Kent Hart (" Pinkie ") Chappell 31 
 
 Mrs. Maria Byrd Nelson Woolfolk 32 
 
 Miss Corinne Worsley 33 
 
 Miss Adele Martiniere 34 
 
 Miss Mildred Lewis Patterson 35 
 
 Mrs. A. M. Allen 36 
 
 Mrs. Katherine T. Downing Mitchell 37 
 
 Mrs. Helena Moresette Dismukes 38 
 
 Mrs. Mary Clayton Lary 39 
 
 Miss Mary Howard Benning 40 
 
 Mrs. Augusta Benning Crawford 41 
 
 Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Shorter Fontaine 42 
 
 Mrs. Mary Fontaine Pou 43 
 
 Miss Bennie Bruton Fontaine 44 
 
 Miss Marie Mott 45 
 
 Miss Irene Eloise Mooty 46 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Shorter Jones 47 
 
[HE City of Columbus, Georgia, in which originated the 
 idea of Memorial Day, celebrated the day with unusual 
 interest on April 26th, 1898, and the most marked fea- 
 ture of the occasion was the special honor accorded to Mrs. 
 Lizzie Rutherford Ellis, deceased, who originated the idea of 
 Memorial Day. The ladies of the Lizzie Rutherford Chapter 
 OF THE Daughters of the Confederacy, at Columbus, have 
 determined to put in enduring fame the true account of the 
 facts, and the following formal action of the Chapter, at their 
 meeting of May iOth, 1898, was taken as authority for this 
 pamphlet : 
 
 "The subject of printing the history of Memorial Day, and 
 putting it into each of the 185 Chapters of the U. D. C. and 
 Camps of Confederate Veterans, was discussed, and the import- 
 ance realized. A motion was made to publish the History. 
 Motion carried." 
 
 The following taken from the Columbus (Georgia) Enquirer- 
 Sun of April 27th, 1898, gives the account as reported by a 
 local paper of how Memorial Day was celebrated on April 26th, 
 1898: 
 
 MEMORIAL EXERCISES TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY. 
 
 A HIGHLY INTERESTING PROGRAMME CARRIED OUT COLUMBUS HAS 
 
 AGAIN PAID FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF 
 THE GALLANT CONFEDERATE DEAD. 
 
 Memorial Day passed off very jileasantly and successfully in 
 Columbus. 
 
 During the morning a slight shower fell, but by noon the sun 
 was shining brightly. No more rain fell during the day, but 
 the weather turned off* quite cool. 
 
 The Company G, Albany Guards, arrived in the city over the 
 Georgia and Alabama road at 9:30 o'clock in the morning. 
 The company was accompanied by the Fourth Georgia Regi- 
 
14 
 
 merit band, stationed at Albany. The visitors were met at the 
 depot by the Columbus Guards and escorted to the armory. 
 The visiting company had forty men in line, officered as follows: 
 Captain O. S. Scott, First Lieutenant R. S. Eastman, Second 
 Lieutenant J. I. Gilbert, First Sergeant W. T. Ticknor, Second 
 Sergeant J. B. Monry, Third Sergeant T. M. Nelson, Fourth 
 Sergeant I. G. Ehrlick, Fifth Sergeant E. T. Carroll. 
 
 The procession formed at the Columbus Guards armory at 2 
 o'clock. Captain 0. S. Scott commanding the battalion. The 
 Fencibles had forty men, the Columbus Guards seventy, the 
 Albany Guards forty, and the Phenix City Rifles eighteen, 
 making a total of one hundred and sixty-eight in the battalion. 
 The "True Blues," under Captain Jordan, a company of small 
 boys, had sixteen men in line, with air guns for rifles. Camp 
 Benning had one hundred old veterans in line. Marshal T. 
 Jeff" Bates, with his assistants, Mr. Frank Garrard and Captain 
 W. R. Bedell, handled the procession in an able manner. 
 
 First, Mounted policemen. 
 
 Fourth Regiment Band. 
 
 Four military companies, Columbus Guards, Browne Fenci- 
 bles, Company G, of the Albany Guards, and the Phenix City 
 Rifles. 
 
 Phenix City Brass Band. 
 
 The "True Blues," small boys. 
 
 The Confederate Veterans of Camp Benning. 
 
 Sons of Confederate Veterans, mounted. 
 
 Orator of the Day in carriage with Mr. Robert Howard, 
 Mayor Chappell and Dr. Carter. 
 
 Ladies Memorial Association, in carriages. 
 
 Daughters of the Confederacy. 
 
 Citizens in carriages. 
 
 Fire Department. 
 
 After marching down Broad street to the monument, the 
 procession moved back up Broad to Twelfth, and out Twelfth 
 to First avenue, and down First avenue to the Presbyterian 
 church, where the Ladies Memorial Association and Daughters 
 of the Confederacy took their places in the line of march, which 
 moved thence to the oj)era house, where the exercises took 
 place. The order of exercises were as follows : 
 
 Music — Funeral March — Chopin — Prof. J. Lewis Browne. 
 Praver — Rev. W. A. Carter, D. D. 
 Music— "Who Will Care for Mother Now."— Octette. 
 Introduction of speaker by Mr. Robert Howard. 
 Memorial Address, by Hon. Henry R. Goetchius. 
 Music — The Vacant Chair. 
 
15 
 
 History of Memorial Day— Presented to the Lizzie Rutherford Chapter, 
 Daughters of the Confederacy, read by Mr. Frank Garrard. 
 
 Music— The Conquered Banner— Miss Marv Kivlin. 
 
 Recitation— Our Confederate Dead— Miss Maggie Martin Harrison. 
 
 Music— "Let Us Pass Over the River," Stonewall Jackson's last 
 words — Chorus. 
 
 Piano— Miss Mary Kivlin. 
 
 Cornets — Clarence Gray and Mr. Berry. 
 
 Violin — Mr. Dreyspool. 
 
 Benediction — Rev. A. M. Wynn. 
 
 ^ The composition of Mr. J. Lewis Browne's octette for Memo- 
 rial service was as follows : 
 
 Soprano— Mrs. J. E. Munn and Miss Hannah Crook. 
 Contralto— Miss Mary Kivlin and Miss L. O. Seale. 
 Tenor— J. Lee Harris and Ed R. Cargill. 
 Basso— J. Ralston Cargill and T. M Hudson. 
 
 The following is a list of those who occupied seats on the 
 stage : 
 
 Mayor L. H. Chappell, Urs. Loretta Chappell, President 
 Soldiers' Friend Society, 1861-'65; surviving members of Sol- 
 diers' Friend Society— Mrs. Clara M. Dexter, Mrs. William G. 
 Woolfolk, Mrs. George AY. A\'oodruff, Mrs. Laura Beecher 
 Comer; Mrs. Louis F. Garrard, President Memorial Associa- 
 tion, _ 1896-' 98; Mrs. Jane E. Martin, Secretary Memorial 
 Association; Miss Anna Caroline Penning, President Daughters 
 of Confederacy — Lizzie Rutherford Chapter; Mrs. Joseph S. 
 Harrison, Secretary Daughters of Confederacy; pyramids of 
 children bearing wreaths to the unknown dead. Following are 
 the names of these children: Belle Carter, Bentley Chappell, 
 Joe Woolfolk, Charles Harrison, Bessie Jordan, Annie Latimer 
 Watson, Minnie Hall, Leonard Pease, Helen Garrard, Edwin 
 Huff, Mercer Blanchard, George Jordan, Roberta Slade, Carter 
 Cook, Willie Pease, Ursa Springer, Katie Koehne, Louis Cole- 
 man, Eugene Ransom, Mary Parish, Natilu Williams, Frank 
 Foley, Clare Booth, Maggie Bedell, Jack Charleton, lone Blati- 
 chard, Vera Dozier, Alonzo Dozier, Elise Shepherd, Richard 
 Bruce, Norman Pease, Marshall Harrison, Lucile Woodruff, 
 Ameile Compton, Allen Jones, Mary Dozier, Marjory Browne, 
 A. C. Chancellor, Lucile Harrison, Sara Holt, Gertrude Chase, 
 Madge Norman, Celeste Dismuke, Alfred Lucas. 
 
 An immense crowd gathered at the opera house to witness the 
 interesting exercises. There was hardly standing room in the 
 building when the orator of the day, Hon. Henry R. Goetchius, 
 began his address, which was delivered in a clear voice, which 
 could be heard distinctly in every portion of the building. The 
 
16 
 
 speaker was interrupted by frequent rounds of applause. The 
 address in full appears in another place in this paper. 
 
 The musical feature was also greatly enjoyed, and the reading 
 of the history of the origin of Memorial Day by Mr. Frank 
 Garrard was given close attention by every one. On account of 
 the length of the exercises, a detailed account of the programme 
 cannot be given. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon when the exercises at the opera 
 house closed, after which the procession moved to the cemetery, 
 where thousands of people were in waiting. The cemetery was 
 beautifully decorated, the graves of the dead soldiers being lit- 
 erally covered with lovely flowers. The graves of officers in 
 different sections of the cemetery also received the same loving 
 attention at the hands of the ladies. 
 
 The usual salutes were fired at the cemetery. 
 
 The procession was handled by Marshal of the Day Captain 
 T. Jeff Bates and his two assistants, Mr. Frank Garrard and 
 Captain W. R. Bedell. 
 
 At the cemetery the customary salutes were fired over the 
 upper and lower soldiers' graves and over the graves of the 
 officers, and a special salute was fired over the grave of Mrs. 
 Lizzie Rutherford Ellis, which was draped with the battle-flag 
 of the Confederacy and covered with flowers. 
 
 The ladies of the Memorial Association of Columbus, Ga., 
 in their preparations for the celebration of April 26th, 1898, 
 determined to make the special feature of the day the presenta- 
 tion to the world of a true account of the origin of Memorial 
 Day. The orator of the day had been requested by the Daugh- 
 ters of the Confederacy to dedicate their chapter under the 
 name of " Lizzie Rutherford Chapter," and this was to be 
 made a feature of the speaker's address. The Memorial Asso- 
 ciation, on April 25th, 1898, took formal action on the proof of 
 the origin of the day as recorded in their minutes, and author- 
 ized the reading of the historv of the origin of the day on 
 April 26th. 1898. 
 
 This formal action was expressed in a resolution, in which 
 was stated the authenticity of the proof of the facts. The reso- 
 lution, affidavits and letter of Mrs. Williams, together with the 
 history of the day, as prepared by the Memorial Association of 
 Columbus, were read on April 26th, 1898, by Mr. Frank U. 
 Garrard, and are as follows : 
 
17 
 
 A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN OF MEMORIAL DAY. 
 
 PRESENTED TO THE LIZZIE RUTHERFORD CHAPTER OF THE DAUGH- 
 TERS OF THE CONFEDERACY, BY THE LADIES' MEMO- 
 RIAL ASSOCIATION OF COLUMBUS, GA. 
 
 Resolved, By the ladies of the Memorial Association of Columbus, Ga., 
 that the following statement, together with the affidavits of Mrs. William 
 G. Woolfolk, Mrs. Clara M. Dexter, and Mrs. Jane E. Martin, is a true 
 account of the origin of Memorial Day, as first originated in this city. 
 
 Resolved Furt/ier, That this resolution and said statement and affida- 
 vits be recorded upon the minutes of this Association as a record there- 
 of. Adopted. A. L. Garrard, President. 
 
 April 25th, 1898. Jane E. Martin, Secretary. 
 
 Columbus, Ga. , April 25, 1898. 
 Inasmuch as the Columbus Chapter of the Daughters of the 
 Confederacy have chosen this day for the naming of their chap- 
 ter "Lizzie Rutherford," we, the Memorial Association of Co- 
 lumbus, wish not only to keep alive the memory of one of our 
 purest, most unselfish, devoted Confederate women, but to make 
 this Memorial Day for all time among us a double memorial 
 day. We pause in tearful tenderness to read the simple inscrip- 
 tion on her head-stone in Howard lot, at Linnwood cemetery, 
 in this city: 
 
 "The Soldiers' Friend," 
 
 Lizzie Rutherford Ellis. 
 
 "She hath done what she could." — Mark xiv. 8. 
 
 "A loving tribute to our co-worker, 
 
 Mrs. Lizzie Rutherford Ellis." 
 
 "In her patriotic heart, sprang the thought 
 
 of our Memorial Day. ' ' 
 
 In the same lot only a few few feet away, on the head-stone 
 
 of Mrs. Charles J. Williams, we pause again to read: 
 
 "Mrs. Charles J. Williams, 
 
 In loving recognition of her memorial work 
 
 by her co-workers. ' ' 
 
 The history of Memorial Day has become a prominent feature 
 
 of the history of the South, and before all shall have passed 
 
 away of the little band who organized it, we have endeavored 
 
 to get the facts before they become tradition. The affidavits of 
 
 Mrs. William G. Woolfolk, Mrs. C. M. Dexter and Mrs. Jane 
 
 E. Ware Martin, have been obtained, and are hereto attached, 
 
 and from them and a copy of an original letter of Mrs. Mary Ann 
 
 Williams, and a letter from Mrs. Mary R. Jones, we learn that in 
 
 January, 1866, Mrs. Jane Martin was visiting Columbus. One 
 
 (3) 
 
18 
 
 afternoon Miss Lizzie Rutherford called and asked her to accom- 
 pany her to the cemetery, now Linnwood cemetery, to join some 
 other ladies in looking after the graves of the soldiers who had 
 died in Columbus hospitals and been buried under the direction 
 of the Aid Society; that they went and assisted the ladies, and, 
 returning to Columbus alone, were discussing the work they 
 had been doing. Miss Lizzie Rutlierford remarked, she had 
 been reading the " Initials,"* and thought the idea of setting 
 apart a special day for decorating the graves such a beautiful 
 one, that it occurred to her it would be a good idea for the Aid 
 Society to organize as a society for the purpose of adopting a 
 custom of this kind and set apart a particular day for deco- 
 rating and caring for the soldiers' graves. Meeting Mrs. John 
 A. Jones, Mrs, Martin suggested to Miss Rutherford to speak to 
 her about it, as she was a member of the Aid Society, which 
 she did. Mrs. Jones concurred with her, and suggested that 
 she speak to Mrs. Robert Carter, President of the Aid Society. 
 Miss Rutherford stated that as Secretary of the Aid Society, 
 she had to call a meeting for the purpose of disposing of cer- 
 tain personal property belonging to the Society, and thought 
 that it would be the best time to bring the matter up. The 
 meeting was subsequently called and met at Mrs. John Tyler's 
 (now corner Fourth avenue and Fourteenth street, in this city). 
 The ladies present were Mrs. Robert Carter, Mrs. R. A. Ware, 
 Mrs. William G. Woolfolk, Mrs. Clara M. Dexter, Mrs. J. M. 
 McAllister and Mrs. Charles J. Williams. Miss Lizzie Ruther- 
 ford was not present at the meeting, as slie was suddenly called 
 to Montgomery to the bedside of a dying relative. Her resolu- 
 tion was offered by one of her friends and unanimously 
 adopted, and the "Ladies' Memorial Association" was organ- 
 ized. The officers elected were: Mrs. Robert Carter, president; 
 Mrs. Robert A. Ware, vice-president; Mrs. J. M, McAllister, 
 second vice-president; Mrs. M. A. Patten, treasurer; Mrs, 
 Charles Williams, secretary. 
 
 No day was determined on at the meeting, but after Miss 
 Lizzie Rutherford returned to Columbus, when she and other 
 members of the Society were working at the cemetery and dis- 
 cussing the best day, she suggested April 26th, which was 
 adopted, and Mrs. Williams, as secretary, was requested to 
 write to the different societies throughout the South, asking 
 them to unite in making it a universal custom. Her beautiful 
 letter speaks for itself. How well the work was done has been 
 
 * By the Baroness Tautphoevis. (See chapter describing custom of Roman Catholics in deco- 
 rating the graves of the dead on All Saints' Day.) 
 
19 
 
 attested each year. We hope that every Southern woman will 
 teach the young of the South, not only to reverence the mem- 
 ory of the soldiers who have died for us, but we specially beg 
 the women of Columbus to instill in the hearts of their children 
 reverence for the soldiers and reverence for the women of the 
 Memorial Association who inaugurated this beautiful custom. 
 
 The Aid Society, sometimes called the Soldiers' Friend 
 Society, referred to in this statement, was an organization com- 
 posed of the ladies of Columbus, and it was organized in 1861 
 for the purpose of caring for sick and wounded soldiers during 
 the war. Its first president was Mrs. Absolom H. Chappell, 
 and she having resigned, Mrs. Robert Carter was elected presi- 
 dent. At the close of the War between the States, the Aid 
 Society, having no further duties to perform (Mrs. Carter still 
 being president, and Miss Lizzie Rutherford secretary), was 
 merged into the Memorial Association of Columbus, and this 
 took place at the meeting called at the residence of Mrs. Tyler, 
 in 1866, as referred to in the foregoing statement. The ladies 
 present at the meeting were memliers of the Aid Society, and 
 they, with the other members of the Aid Society, constituted 
 the first Memorial Association of Columbus. In addition to 
 names hereinbefore set out, this Memorial Association, as suc- 
 cessor to the Aid Society, was composed of Mrs. George W. 
 Woodruff', Mrs. Henry L. Benning, Mrs. John A. Jones, Mrs. 
 R. R. Goetchius, Mrs. L. T. Downing, Mrs. John A. Urquhart 
 (who was first secretary of the Aid Society), Miss Anna Ben- 
 nett, Miss Anna Tyler, Miss Mary Tyler, Miss Emma Tyler, 
 Mrs. John Tyler, Mrs. Anne Shepherd, Miss Mary Eliza Ruther- 
 ford, Mrs. L. E. Carnes, Mrs. M. E. Hodges, Mrs. Seaborn 
 Jones, Miss Mary Hodges, Mrs. David Hudson, Mrs. M. A. 
 Patten (who was treasurer of the Aid Society and afterwards 
 treasurer of the Memorial Association), Mrs. R. B. Murdoch, 
 Mrs. Laura Beecher Comer, Mrs. R. H. Greene, Mrs. A. M. 
 Allen, Mrs. John E. Davis, Mrs. John D. Carter, Miss Harriet 
 Torrence, Miss Matilda Torrence, Mrs. Brad. Chapman, Miss 
 Anna Forsyth, Mrs. F. O. Ticknor. 
 
 The above list does not include all members. 
 
 MRS. MARTIN S STATEMENT. 
 
 The following is the statement of Mrs. Jane E. Ware Martin, 
 as to the origin of Memorial Day : 
 
 Mrs. Martin states that she is the daughter of Mrs. Dr. Robert 
 A. Ware, who was one of the original members of the Soldiers' 
 Aid Society of Columbus, Georgia, and later of the Memorial 
 
20 
 
 Association. That in 1865-66 she was not a resident of 
 Columbus, Georgia, but a frequent visitor here to her mother's 
 family, and one of her especial friends in this city was Miss 
 Lizzie Rutherford, afterwards Mrs. Roswell Ellis; that sometime 
 in January, 1866, to the best of her recollection, she was on a 
 visit to Columbus; that she had been raised in Columbus and 
 had spent her girlhood and young ladyhood in Columbus, and ' 
 was well acquainted with the ladies of the Soldiers' Aid Society, 
 and especially with Miss Lizzie Rutherford, who was among 
 her dearest friends. That during her visit, as aforesaid, in 
 January, 1866, in Columbus, in the afternoon. Miss Rutherford 
 called by her home and requested her to accompany her to the 
 cemetery (now Linnwood cemetery), stating that she was going 
 out for the purpose of joining other ladies and doing some work 
 in looking after the graves of soldiers who had died in the 
 hospital in Columbus, and had been buried under the direction 
 of the Aid Society; that she went with Miss Rutherford and the 
 afternoon was spent in company with other ladies in looking 
 after the graves as aforesaid. On returning from the cemetery. 
 Miss Rutherford and herself, while alone, passing along what is 
 now Fourth avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, 
 in Columbus, Georgia, were in conversation about the work 
 which the ladies had been doing at the cemetery that afternoon. 
 Miss Rutherford remarked to her that she had just been reading 
 a very pretty story in which the writer had told of a lieautiful 
 custom among the Germans of decorating the graves of their 
 friends on a special day in the year, and she (Miss Rutherford) 
 stated that she thought it would be a good idea for the ladies of 
 the Aid Society to organize and continue, as a society, for the 
 purpose of adopting a custom of this kind, and set apart some 
 particular day for caring for and decorating the graves of all 
 soldiers buried at the cemetery. Mrs. Martin says that she 
 replied to the suggestion by saying that she thought it an 
 excellent idea. At this point they had reached the corner of 
 Fourth avenue (formerly Forsyth street), and Fourteenth street 
 (formerly Franklin street), and met coming up Fourteenth 
 street Mrs. John A. Jones, the widow of Colonel John A. Jones, 
 who fell at Gettysburg, and she (Mrs. Martin) stated to Miss 
 Rutherford that there was Mrs. .Jones, and as Mrs. J. was a 
 member of the Ladies Aid Society, suggested that she talk with 
 her upon the subject. She did so, in my presence. Mrs. Jones 
 replied that she thought the idea an excellent one, and Miss 
 Rutherford stated that as she had to call a meeting of the 
 Society, as Secretary, for the purpose of disposing of certain 
 
21 
 
 personal property belonging thereto, that she thought that 
 would be a proper time to bring the matter up. Mrs. Jones 
 concurred Avith her and suggested that she talk with Mrs. Robert 
 Carter, who was president of the Aid Society. 
 
 Mrs. Martin states that she afterwards learned that the Ger- 
 man story, referred to by Miss Rutherford, was the Initials, and 
 she states further that as a result of this suggestion of Miss 
 Rutherford, the ladies of the Aid Society did subsequently 
 meet at the residence of Mrs. John Tyler, which at that time 
 was on the corner of Fourth avenue and Fourteenth street, and 
 located exactly where this accidental conversation took place 
 between Miss Rutherford and Mrs. Jones; that her mother, 
 Mrs. Robert A. Ware, was present at that meeting, and out of 
 it grew the establishment of Memorial Day for the South. 
 
 Mrs. Martin states that she removed to Columbus, from her 
 home near Greenville, Georgia, in the 3^ear 1866, and has 
 resided in Columbus since that time, and has been Secretary of 
 the Memorial Association since the year 1874. That she has 
 repeatedly lieen told by her mother, prior to her death in 1894, 
 that Miss T^izzie Rutherford originated the idea of Memorial 
 Day, and that she knows, of her own knowledge, that this has 
 been accepted as a fact by the ladies of the Memorial Associa- 
 tion of Columbus since the organization of the Association. 
 
 GEORGIA, IMuscogee County: 
 
 In person appeared Mrs. Jane E. Ware Martin who, on oath, says that 
 slie has read the foregoing statement, and knows the contents thereof, 
 and that the facts stated tlierein are true, except as to such as are stated 
 on information and belief, and these she believes to be true. 
 
 Mrs. jane E. WARE MARTIN. 
 
 Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23d day of March, 1898. 
 
 [Seal.] L. H. CHAPPELL, Notary Public. 
 
 Mrs. Wm. G. Woolfolk states as follows as to her knowledge 
 of the origin of Memorial Day : 
 
 Columbus, Ga., March 18, 1898. 
 I was a member of the Soldiers' Aid Society, which was 
 organized by certain of the ladies of Columbus during the 
 Civil War for the purpose of aiding the soldiers. After the 
 war there was a sentiment among the members of this Society 
 to continue the organization as a Memorial Association, to 
 commemorate the brave deeds of the Confederate soldiers. In 
 the spring of 1866 a call was published for the ladies to meet 
 
22 
 
 at the home of Mrs. John Tyler, now the corner of Fourth 
 avenue and Fourteenth street, formerly Forsyth and Franklin 
 streets. In response to this call there were present Mrs. Robert 
 Carter, Mrs. R. A. Ware, Mrs. Wm. Woolfolk, Mrs. J. M, 
 McAllister, Mrs. Chas. J. Williams, Mrs. Clara M. Dexter and 
 Mrs. M. A. Patten. 
 
 This meeting organized the Toadies' Memorial Association of 
 Columbus, Georgia, and elected as President Mrs. Robert 
 Carter; First Vice-President, Mrs. Robert A. Ware; Second 
 Vice-President, Mrs. J, M. McAllister; Treasurer, Mrs. M. A. 
 Patten; and Secretary, Mrs. Chas. J. Williams. 
 
 All the ladies who had been members of the Ladies' Aid 
 Society, and other ladies of Columbus, at once became members. 
 
 The object of this Association was to set apart some one day 
 in each year for specially caring for the soldiers' graves and 
 decorating them with flowers. Many of the soldiers buried at 
 the cemetery (now Linnwood), had died in the hospital in 
 Columbus, which was under the care of the Ladies' Aid Society, 
 and tlie ladies had already been giving attention to their graves. 
 Members of this Aid Society, of which Miss Lizzie Rutherford 
 was an active member, had been devoting much time to the 
 work of looking after these graves, and in the spring of 1866, 
 when this sentiment had become so general of making perma- 
 nent the idea of a memorial, the above meeting was held, l)ut 
 no day for Memorial Day was then fixed. A few days after 
 the meeting, several of the ladies, while at work at the cemetery, 
 caring for the graves, discussed the suVjject of a day. I was 
 among the number, and Miss Lizzie Rutherford suggested April 
 26th of each year as a suitable day, and it was so decided. 
 Mrs. Chas. J. Williams, as Secretary of the first Memorial 
 Association, had been requested to address a letter to the ladies 
 of other Southern towns and cities requesting them to unite 
 with the ladies of Columbus, and after the day had been thus 
 determined upon, Mrs. Williams wrote the letter. 
 
 The Association elected Col. James M. Ramsey as its first 
 orator, and the 26th of April, 1866, was duly celebrated, the 
 exercises taking place in St. Luke Methodist church. I cannot 
 say who originated the idea of Memorial Day. At the time 
 the meeting was held at the residence of Mrs. Tyler there was 
 a general sentiment upon the subject among the ladies of the 
 Ladies' Aid Society. It has always been understood by the 
 members of the Memorial Association that Miss Lizzie Ruther- 
 ford suggested the idea. Of this, I am not able to speak of my 
 own knowledge. 
 
23 
 
 GEORGIA, Muscogee County : 
 
 Personally appeared Mrs. Wm. G. Woolfolk who, on oath, says she 
 has read the foregoing statement and that she knows the contents 
 thereof, and the facts therein stated are true, except so much thereof as 
 is stated on information and belief, and this she believes to be true. 
 
 Mrs. Wm. G. WOOLFOLK. 
 
 Sworn to and subscribed before me this March 23d, 1898. 
 
 [Seal.] F. M. LAND, Notary Public, Muscogee County, Ga. 
 
 STATEMENT OF MRS. CLARA M. DEXTER AS TO THE ORIGIN OF 
 MEMORIAL DAY. 
 
 Mrs. Dexter states that she was one of tlie original members 
 of the Soldiers' Aid Society which was organized in Columbus, 
 Ga. , in 1861; that soldiers who were cared for by this Society, 
 who died while under its care, were buried in Linnwood cem- 
 etery, and one lot is known as the upper lot, commonly called 
 "Columbus Guards' Lot," and the other the lower lot, com- 
 monly called "City Light Gviards' Lot." She was the chair- 
 man of the conmiittee having in charge this lower lot. The 
 ladies of the Society, after the war closed, continued to take 
 care of and look after the graves of these soldiers. Miss Lizzie 
 Rutherford was one of the members of this Society, and, in 
 common with other ladies, was active in the work. Mrs. Dexter 
 says that she has read the statement of Mrs. William G. Wool- 
 folk, dated March 18th, 1898, and giving an account of her 
 remembrance of the origin of Memorial Day, and that this 
 statement of Mrs. Woolfolk is substantially correct; that she 
 (Mrs. Dexter) was present at the meeting at the residence of 
 Mrs. John Tyler, and the account of how Memorial Day orig- 
 inated, as given by Mrs. Woolfolk, is correct; that the President 
 of the Soldiers' Aid Society, when organized in 1861, was Mrs. 
 A. H, Chappell, who resigned shortly thereafter, and Mrs. 
 Robert Carter was elected in her place. Mrs. Robert Carter 
 continued as President until the Aid Society was merged 
 into the Memorial Association, and when this was done Mrs. 
 Carter was elected President of the Memorial Association, and 
 remained so until her death, in January, 1896. Mrs. Louis F. 
 Garrard was elected her successor, and is now the President of 
 said Association. In addition to the facts as set forth in the 
 statement of Mrs. Woolfolk, Mrs. Dexter says that she is satis- 
 fied in her own mind that the idea of Memorial Day was sug- 
 gested by Miss Lizzie Rutherford, and that the letter authorized 
 to be sent out by the Memorial Association through Mrs. Charles 
 J. Williams, Corresponding Secretary, was composed by Mrs. 
 
24 
 
 Williams, and that both ladies were very active in the work of 
 the Memorial Association as long as they were in life, and in 
 recognition of their services the Memorial Association of Colum- 
 bus, in 1892, placed head-stones at their graves similar to those 
 placed by the Association at the graves of the soldiers, and on 
 these head-stones the Association ascribed to Miss Rutherford 
 the honor of originating the idea of Memorial Day, and to 
 Mrs. Williams the honor of having been a faithful co-worker 
 with the ladies of the Memorial Association of Columbus in 
 perpetuating the custom. Mrs. Dexter states that she and Mrs. 
 William G. Woolfolk are the only survivors of the ladies who 
 met at the residence of Mrs. John Tyler, in the spring of 1866, 
 for the purpose of organizing the Memorial Association and 
 establishing Memorial Day. 
 
 GEORGIA, Muscogee County : 
 
 Personally appeared Mrs. Clara M. Dexter, who, on oath, says she has 
 read the foregoing statement and knows the contents thereof, and the 
 facts therein stated are true, except such as are stated on information 
 and belief, and these she believes to be true. 
 
 CLARA M. DEXTER. 
 Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of March, 1898. 
 [Seal.] JAMES G. MOON, 
 
 Notary Public and Ex Officio J. P., Muscogee Co., Ga. 
 
 ra' 
 
 THE TEXT OF MRS. AVILLIAMS LETTER. 
 
 The following is a copy of the original letter of Mrs. Charles 
 J. Williams, as Secretary of Columbus Memorial Association, 
 to the press and ladies of the South regarding Memorial Day, 
 taken from the Columbus (Ga.) Times: 
 
 "Columbus, Ga., March 12, 1866 — Mesars. Editors: The ladies 
 are now and have been for several days engaged in the sad but 
 pleasant duty of ornamenting and improving that portion of 
 the city cemetery sacred to the memory of our gallant Confed- 
 erate dead, but we feel it is an unfinished work unless a day be 
 set apart annually for its especial attention. We cannot raise 
 monumental shafts and inscribe thereon their many deeds of 
 heroism, but we can keep alive the memory of the debt we owe 
 them by dedicating, at least one day in each year, to embel- 
 lishing their humble graves with flowers. Therefore, we beg 
 the assistance of the press and the ladies tliroughout the South 
 to aid us in the effort to set apart a certain day to be observed, 
 from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and be handed down 
 
25 
 
 through time as a religious custom of the South, to wreathe 
 the graves of our martyred dead with flowers; and Ave propose 
 the 26th day of April as the day. Let every city, town and 
 village join in the pleasant duty. Let all alike be remembered, 
 from the heroes of Manasas to those who expired amid the 
 death throes of our hallowed cause. We'll crown alike the 
 honored resting places of the immortal Jackson in Virginia, 
 Johnston at Shiloh, Cleburne in Tennessee and the host of 
 gallant privates who adorned our ranks. All did their duty, 
 and to all we owe our gratitude. Let the soldiers' graves, for 
 that day at least, be the Southern Mecca to whose shrine her 
 sorrowing women, like pilgrims, may annually bring their 
 grateful hearts and floral offerings. And when we remember 
 the thousands who were buried 'with their martial cloaks 
 around them,' without Christian ceremony of interment, we 
 would invoke the aid of the most thrilling eloquence through- 
 out the land to inaugurate this custom by delivering, on the 
 appointed day this year, a eulogy on the unburied dead of our 
 glorious Southern army. They died for their country. 
 Whether their country had or had not the right to demand the 
 sacrifice, is no longer a ciuestion of discussion. We leave that 
 for nations to decide in future. That it was demanded — that 
 they fought nobly, and fell holy sacrifices upon their country's 
 altar, and are entitled to their country's gratitude, none will 
 deny. 
 
 "The proud banner under which they rallied in defense of" 
 the holiest and noblest cause for which heroes fought, or trust- 
 ing women prayed, has been furled forever. The country for 
 which they suffered and died has now no name or place among 
 the nations of the earth. Legislative enactment may not be 
 made to do honor to their memories, but the veriest radical 
 that ever traced his genealogy back to the deck of the May- 
 flower, could not refuse us the simple privilege of paying honor 
 to those who died defending the life, honor and happiness of 
 the Southern women." 
 
 INTRODUCTORY SPEECH OF Mr. ROBERT HOWARD 
 
 ON MEMORIAL DAY, APRIL 26, 1898, PRESENTING THE 
 
 ORATOR OF THE DAY. 
 
 Ladies of the Memorial Association, Ladies and Gentlemen : A 
 fearless defender of, and a baptized believer in, the righteousness 
 of our more than righteous Lost Cause, needs no introduction 
 to a Columbus audience, for nowhere in this broad, sunny land 
 
26 
 
 of "Dear Old Dixie" does he more live in the hearts of gallant 
 men and fair, pure women, than here in the home of our 
 grand, immortal "Old Rock" (General Henry L. Benning), 
 and of those Imttle-scarred and war-worn veterans of many a 
 hard fought field, and the home of our guardian angels, Lizzie 
 Rutherford Ellis, Mary Ann ^^^illiams, Evelyn Carter, Martha 
 Ann Patten, their noble and beloved survivors and co-workers. 
 Though there has been a lapse of thirty-three years since the 
 flag of the Confederacy went down, we turn to-day to the grand 
 old emblem, and the hallowed cause it represented, with the 
 same deathless love with which we hailed its glorious birth 
 when we vinfurled it to the breezes of high heaven, and followed 
 its spotless folds through its brief and brilliant life. So long 
 as the eagle shall wing its lofty flight to Alpine heights; so long 
 as the babbling brooks shall mingle their crystal waters with 
 the mighty rivers, in their clear winding to the sea; so long as 
 the breeze shall beat the billows' foam; so long as true man- 
 hood and noble womanhood shall inspire pure patriotism and 
 exalted citizenship — so long will Dixie's brave sons and peerless 
 daughters perpetuate and religiously observe this, our Memo- 
 rial Day, in everlasting memory and love of our Confederate 
 dead. On each sad anniversary, with earth's sweetest, fairest 
 flowers we will wreathe the graves of our immortal heroes, who 
 went down to glorious death amid the shock and carnage of 
 battle in the heroic discharge of righteous duty. 
 
 Such a defender and believer as already alluded to, you have 
 in your eloquent orator of the day, and well do I know that, 
 but for his youthful years at the time, he too would have stood 
 under the matchless Lee, shoulder to shoulder with his two 
 gallant brothers, who sealed with their devotion to their 
 country's cause their heart's last, best blood. And now, 
 ladies and gentleman, I have the pleasure of presenting to you 
 our honored fellow-citizen, the orator of the day, Mr. Henry 
 R. Goetchius. 
 
 The following is the oration delivered on April, 26th, 1898, 
 in celebration of Memorial Day, and in dedicating the Columbus 
 (Ga.) Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy as 
 the Lizzie Rutherford, adopted in honor of the originator of 
 the idea of Memorial Day : 
 
27 
 THE MEMORIAL ORATION 
 
 DELIVERED AT -SPRINGER OPERA HOUSE, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, 
 APRIL 26, 1898, BY HON. HENRY R. GOETCHIUS. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : On the 26th day of June, 1862, 
 which was one of fie famous days when there was heavy fight- 
 ing about Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, a young 
 soldier charging where the fight was thickest, was struck by a 
 minnie ball. He fell, and the Colonel of his regiment being 
 near, ran to him, asking: "Are you hurt?" He replied: "Yes, 
 through the heart. Tell my mother I have fallen in the discharge 
 of my duty, and I die happy." A moment later his spirit 
 lifted itself above the scene of smoke and battle, and blood and 
 carnage, and took its flight to the Great Beyond. That young 
 soldier was a member of the Columbus Guards, of your city. 
 
 Two years later, in the memorable siege of Petersburg, a line 
 of Confederate troops of Gen. Wright's brigade were charging 
 through a wooded space and across an open field, for the purpose 
 of forcing the enemy, a part of Hancock's command, back to 
 their works. Just before this charge, and while the Confeder- 
 ates were calmly waiting, in order to give them a close volley 
 and then the charge, a young soldier, gazing intently upon the 
 advancing blue line, remarked to his comrade, " Those men have 
 nothing at stake, while we have all to lose, and we must drive 
 them back." Hardly had he spoken when there came a roar 
 of musketry, the famous yell of Southern soldiers and the Avild 
 rush which drove the enemy out of the woods and back into 
 their works and then out of them. As the young hero entered 
 the open, in this fatal charge, a rifle ball struck him in the breast 
 and his comrade, to whom he had just before spoken, hearing 
 the dull, sickening thud of the bullet, had only time to turn 
 and see the young soldier sink to his knees and then to the 
 ground — dead, with a smile upon his face. That night he was 
 buried in the trenches. The young soldier was a member of the 
 City Light Guards, of your city. These two men were types of 
 hundreds of thousands of private Confederate soldiers who fell 
 in defense of the Lost Cause. 
 
 One month ago, in the cabin of the steamer Olivette, in the 
 port of Havana, just before the vessel sailed for Key West, 
 there was gathered a group of Americans to say farewell and 
 oxtend a floral ofl"ering to the brave commander of the ill fated 
 battleship Maine. Near the flowers stood the Consul-General 
 
28 
 
 of the United States, who made the speech of presentation. In 
 response thereto the commander spoke of the Consul-General as 
 the personification of bravery and good judgment, and added : 
 "The United States has no better representative abroad than 
 gallant Fitzhugh Lee, its Consul-General at Havana." The 
 same man fought bravely for the South through the great 
 Civil War, and was one of the most gallant of her cavalry 
 leader?. He is a type of the living Confederate veteran. 
 
 All honor to such men, be they living or be they dead. The 
 last generation of the North called them traitors and rebels, and 
 now seventy millions of people, without regard to section or 
 party, honor the living traitors and are beginning to do justice 
 to the heroic dead. 
 
 Surely "truth is omnipotent and public justice certain?" 
 
 This leads us to eni^uire of the motive which, in the great 
 War between the States, led the men of the South to sacrifice 
 their lives upon the altar of their country, or, if happily they 
 escaped death, to again be willing to so ably and patriotically 
 serve the powers against which they once had fought. That 
 motive was patriotism, the loftiest sentiment for which the human 
 heart can beat, save love of God and truth. 
 
 This is the sentiment which prompts to a love of country, 
 without which there can be no human happiness. A man with- 
 out a country to love is a man without home and loved ones. A 
 man without a flag to which he can swear allegiance as the 
 emblem of his country's protecting power, is a man without 
 safety to his life, his liberty and his property. 
 
 The love of country is an ennobling sentiment. It prompts 
 to honor and to deeds of heroism and imperishable renown. 
 " Happy are they who have for the sublime and permanent basis 
 of their glory the love of country demonstrated by deeds." By 
 this noble sentiment the armies of Napoleon lifted the eagles of 
 France to mingle with the eagles of the Alps, and the French 
 standards were made to flutter in the shadow of the pyramids. 
 By this sentiment Nelson, through the mere wave of a signal 
 banner, inspired the British seamen with splendid courage as 
 they moved their battle ships into line against the advancing 
 fleet of France and Spain. By this sentiment Washington was 
 led to take command of the American army at the call of the 
 Continental Congress, when he said no pecuniary consideration 
 could induce him to accept such arduous labors. 
 
 The Spartans taught their youth that love of country was a 
 
29 
 
 sentiment before which every private and personal feeling should 
 be constrained to bow. 
 
 When the great statesman of England, William Pitt, was on 
 his death-bed, the news of the victories of Bonaparte at Ulm 
 and Austerlitz was whispered to him. He lay in silence, and at 
 last exclaimed in feeble voice, "My country. Oh, my country!" 
 These were the last words which escaped the lips of the dying 
 patriot. 
 
 As Hampden fell before the onslaught of Prince Rupert, in 
 the opening of the civil war against the tyranny of Charles, he 
 exclaimed: " 0, God, save my bleeding country!" 
 
 But history furnishes no sublimer evidence of patriotism and 
 love of country than was exhibited by the noble men of Avhom 
 we would speak to-day. The most execrated of all men, by his 
 fellow-citizens and by posterity, is he who betrays his country, 
 and the most honored of men is he who falls a blessed martyr to 
 his country's cause. It was a common thing for the enemies of 
 the South to charge against Southern soldiers the infamous 
 crime of rebellion, and they were branded as traitors. At the 
 close of hostilities the President of the Confederacy was thrown 
 into chains and into prison, to be made a vicarious sacrifice for 
 the sins of his people, and it was intended that he should be 
 hung. Similar steps were taken, happily not consummated, to 
 incarcerate the leader of the Confederate armies. Partaking of 
 this bitter and revengeful feeling, the historians of the North 
 have written and printed and have industriously circulated his- 
 tories containing these charges. Their books are to-day sold in 
 your cities, admitted into your homes, and taught in your schools. 
 In your own State of Georgia, and until recently in this patriotic 
 city, which has contributed so much of blood and treasure and 
 blessed memory to the Southern cause, the children are being 
 allowed to understand that the cause of the Confederacy was the 
 cause of traitors, and that those who fought for it were rebels. 
 Can these things be and we remain silent? 
 
 There are those in the South who say, "Let the dead past 
 bury the dead." Such are not worthy the blood which courses 
 through their veins, and, thank God, they are few. It should 
 be the solemn duty of every true son and daughter of the South 
 to refute the slander of "rebel and traitors." The cause of the 
 Southern States was a righteous cause, and those who fought 
 therefor and those who fell in its defense were patriots. The 
 people of this great section so felt when the alternative came to 
 
30 
 
 choose between their native States and the Federal power. Had 
 they tamely and willingly submitted to the assumption of power, 
 our great Republic would to-day be a despotism compared to 
 which Russia would be a land of liberty. But they did not 
 submit, and, deeming their course a proper one, they sealed 
 their sincerity with the richest treasure ever offered and the 
 noblest holocaust ever consumed upon the altar of country. 
 
 For what did the South fight? It was not for the institution 
 of slavery. That was a mere incident in the great drama. Let 
 the true answer ring from the lips of every Memorial orator for 
 generations to come. Let it be burned into the page of living 
 history, and let the present and the future ever hold it as a 
 sacred truth. She fought to avert encroachments of usurped 
 power, and to preserve the rights of States and human liberty. 
 She fought for the spirit of local self-government, which is always 
 the life-blood of liberty. I know there are some who tell us 
 that we now have no States rights. I will admit that by reason 
 of the changed conditions of the times, the methods of trans- 
 portation and communication, that geographical State lines are 
 practically obliterated, but I assert that the right of local self- 
 government in and by the individual States of this Union is not 
 only more marked and well defined than it was in 1860, but it 
 is on foundations as everlasting as are the principles of which 
 our national and State constitutions are formed. The fight was, 
 therefore, not in vain. Was our cause truly a Lost Cause ? Let 
 the answer come even from the lips of the former enemies of the 
 South; an answer made to-day, after the fires of hate have 
 sunken to embers and the generations which forced this cruel 
 wrong have been called to another world. Hear the answer 
 from the learned and the eloquent of the North. 
 
 A few weeks ago Dr. E. Benjamin Andrews, president of 
 Brown University, a leading institution of learning in a New 
 England State, in a lecture delivered in the city of New Orleans 
 upon the life and character of the General of the Confederate 
 armies, uttered this language : 
 
 "People are prone to allude to all Lee fought for as the 'Lost Cause.' 
 Yet, like Oliver Cromwell, Lee has accomplished what he fought for, 
 and more than could have been accomplished had lie been victorious. 
 At the close of the war we find the Supreme Court of the L^nited States 
 deciding the status of individual States, and the result is found to be 
 that while the Union is declared to be indestructible, each State is 
 regarded as an indestructible unit of that nation. Who would dare to 
 wipe out to-day a State's individuality? and do we not find to-day, 
 
31 
 
 instead of centralized power in Congi-ess adjudicating things pertaining 
 to the States, the States themselves settling these matters? 
 
 "Inasmuch as the war brought out these utterances with regard to the 
 States of tlie Union upon the matters then in question, who can say that 
 Lee fought in vain?" 
 
 Had President Andrews thus spoken or written within five 
 years after the surrender of the Confederate armies at Appo- 
 mattox, he would have immediately been discharged as unfit to 
 instruct students of his University, and doubtless would have 
 been arrested and tried for sedition. 
 
 He speaks here, however, what time has forced upon him as an 
 acknowledged truth. What the civilized world has long since 
 accepted as true, and what history will record as true. What a 
 spectacle, my countrymen ! An instructor of New England 
 youth, at the head of one of the largest of New England insti- 
 tutions of learning, preaching to the world that the principles 
 for which Lee fought are essential to the welfare and existence 
 of constitutional government as established by the fathers. 
 
 Surely, "truth is omnipotent and public justice certain." 
 
 Let it be remembered that the spark of this great Civil War 
 was kindled in the bosom of New England, and from thence 
 fanned into flame by the political demagogues of the North. 
 
 But hear again what this man, the cultured and thoughtful 
 New Englander, says of the great Confederate soldier who was 
 but the type of the men whom he led through the battles of 
 Virginia. Says Dr. Andrews in the same lecture, speaking of 
 General Lee : 
 
 "Great as were the achievements of this man as a General, incom- 
 parably greater than his military genius was his grand and almost un- 
 matched moral character. His unselfishness, his patience, his love of 
 justice, all his attributes conspired to make him the embodiment of 
 nobility. He held with Hamilton that there was nothing on earth great 
 but man, and nothing greater in man than mind, and, indeed, he went 
 further than the philosopher, holding that there was nothing great in 
 mind except devotion to trust and duty." 
 
 Thus comes the testimony and so grand was the character 
 here described, the matchless attributes were reflected in the 
 hearts and minds of the men who followed him. 
 
 Young men and women of Columbus, let me say to you and 
 through you to all young men and women of our Southern 
 country, to blot out from your minds the base teachings that the 
 blood which begot you was false to its country. And to you few 
 who remain of the older generation, who saw this devotion to 
 duty, let me say to you to honor the dead as an incentive to 
 
82 
 
 yourselves and to your children. You, who had the honor of 
 participating in the history of that period prove yourselves 
 worthy of that honor by teaching such history to those who are 
 to come after you. Let there be reform in your school histories. 
 Permit no compromise of the truth, but let the statement of the 
 facts be manly and fearless. Beyond what has been said, I will 
 not endeavor on this occasion to speak in detail of the causes of 
 the war between the states ; nor shall I enter into an historical 
 discussion of the great events which led up to the struggle : 
 neither is it my purpose to portray the movements of contending 
 armies and an embattled field : nor shall I speak of those terri- 
 ble days in which reason Avas affrighted from her seat and giddy 
 prejudice took the rein : when the wheels of society were set in 
 conflagration by their own motion: when many of our people 
 were tried and condemned without being judicially heard, and 
 when conclusions were drawn from passion that should have been 
 founded in proof. Let us not draw the veil which hides from 
 view those terrible years of war and desolation. Many in the 
 sourd of my voice will remember them. Then we could have 
 exclaimed in the voice of the prophet of old : 
 
 "We are orphans and fatherless and our mothers are widows. 
 "Our necks are under persecution. 
 "We labor and have no rest. 
 
 "Servants have ruled over us. There is none to deliver us out of their 
 hands." 
 
 We are not here to-day to recall these sad scenes but only to 
 speak in honor of the dead, to point to the truth and justice of 
 their cause and our cause, and to lay bright and tender flowers 
 upon their graves. 
 
 Thirty-two years ago, when the noble women of this city 
 realized that the cause for which their loved ones had fought and 
 died, and for which they had suff"ered, was but a " pathetic in- 
 heritance, in which all the grandeur and the glory of the dead 
 and the living, who survived, was to become only a sorrowing 
 memory," they established this beautiful custom of Memorial 
 Day, this annual tribute of eulogy and flowers. Eulogy and 
 flowers for great deeds which cannot die, but which with sun 
 and moon renew their youth. 
 
 The eulogy was an inspiration from the cultivated and patri- 
 otic Greek, for it was a law of the Athenians, that he who re- 
 ceived his death while fighting with undaunted courage in the 
 front of the battle, should have an annual oration spoken in his 
 
33 
 
 honor. The bringing of the flowers was an inspiration which 
 came into the heart of a daughter of Columbus, and was sug- 
 gested to her from the custom established more than a thousand 
 years ago by the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the cus- 
 tom of annually decorating with flowers the graves of departed 
 loved ones. 
 
 This day, with its eulogy and its flowers, is the monument 
 which the daughters of the South have established in remem- 
 brance of Southern valor and patriotism ; a monument which 
 will endure so long as Southern womanhood is pure and South- 
 ern manhood is strong ; a monument which tells that the "mute 
 tongue of the granite shaft is not left alone to speak a tribute 
 to their memory ;" a monument more enduring than this granite, 
 for it is a monument of sighs from human hearts and flowers 
 which spring from earth: sighs which link us with immortality, 
 and flowers — 
 
 "Those lights of God 
 That through the sod 
 Flash upward from the world beneath, 
 And tell us in each subtle hue 
 That life renewed is passing through 
 Our world, again to seek the skies, 
 Its native realm of Paradise." 
 
 Sacred is the duty to which the women of the South have 
 consecrated their use, for they keep ever green in the hearts of 
 all the memory of the departed. 
 
 "The people for whom they fought were crushed, 
 The hopes in which they trusted were shattered, 
 The flag they loved no more guides their charging lines. 
 But their fame, consigned to the keeping of that time which. 
 Happily is not so much the tomb of virtue as its shrine. 
 Shall in the years to come lire modest worth to noble ends." 
 
 And to you, ladies of the Memorial Association, you few sur- 
 vivors of that gentle band who established Memorial Day, not 
 only for the South, but for all this great country (for the North- 
 ern States have adopted the custom in imitation of the South), 
 and to you, daughters of these Memorial ladies, living and dead — 
 daughters of mothers Avho were Trojans in courage, Spartans in 
 fortitude, and Romans in faith and self-saciifice — I commend the 
 keeping of this custom. In this sacred duty you have a lofty 
 example. "It was the women of the Confederacy whose pious 
 ministrations to the wounded soldiers soothed the last hours of 
 those who died far from the object of their tenderest love. It 
 
34 
 
 was the women of the Confederacy whose domestic labors con- 
 tributed so much to supjDly the wants of their defenders in the 
 field, and whose faith in the Southern cause shone a guiding 
 star undimmed by the darkest clouds of war, and whose forti- 
 tude sustained them under all the privations to which they were 
 subjected." Such is the tribute of the first and only President 
 of the Confederacy. There is one of their number who now 
 sleeps in Linnwood cemetery, in this city. Upon her grave is 
 this inscription, placed there by the ladies of the Memorial 
 Association of Columbus : 
 
 "The Soldiers' Friend." 
 
 "A loving tribute to our co-worker," 
 
 "In her patriotic heart sprang the thought of our 
 
 Memorial Day." 
 
 The legend tells what she was and what she did. Who dare 
 invade the sanctity of the thought conveyed by these words ? 
 
 Ladies of the Columbus Chapter of the Georgia Division of 
 the Daughters of the Confederacy, you have done me the honor 
 to ask that I to-day consecrate your Chapter under the honor- 
 able name which has been selected by you that it should bear. 
 It is the name inscribed with that legend. I am told that the 
 object of your Association is to collect records and incidents of 
 the Confederate war and preserve the truth of its cause and 
 history, perpetuate the memories of the men who laid down 
 their lives in that struggle, and lay before the rising generation 
 a fair, just and impartial account of their deeds. To this patri- 
 otic undertaking, in the presence of this assembled company, I 
 now dedicate your order as "Lizzie Rutherford Chapter of 
 THE Daughters of the Confederacy." Guard sacredly your 
 trust, and under the inspiration of that name, the originator of 
 Memorial Day, preserve the memory of the dead, for truly has 
 it been said that a land without memories is a land without 
 liberty. Let the mystic chords of memory, stretching from 
 every battlefield and patriot grave to every living hearthstone 
 all over our Southern land, bind our hearts to loving service in 
 honor of the sainted dead. 
 
 "Let not their glory be forgot 
 While Fame her record keeps, 
 Or Honor points the hallowed spot 
 Where valor proudly sleeps." 
 
35 
 
 The following is an extract from the Columbus Enquirer-Sun 
 of May 1st, 1898, and gives an explanation of the personal refer- 
 ences made in the Memorial Address of xVpril 26, 1898 : 
 
 TOUCHING REFERENCE TO TWO GALLANT 
 SOLDIERS. 
 
 COLUMBUS YOUNG MEN ARE REFERRED TO BY MR. GOETCHIUS 
 
 ONE WAS LIEUT. JAMES H. AVARE, OF THE COLUMBUS 
 
 GUARDS, AND THE OTHER WILLIAM E. 
 
 GOETCHIUS, OF THE CITY 
 
 LIGHT GUARDS. 
 
 In his beautiful address on Memorial Day, Mr. Henry R. 
 Goetchius made reference in a very touching manner to the 
 death of two young soldiers from Columbus, while bravely 
 charging the enemy — one a member of the Columbus Guards 
 and the other of the City Light Guards. The Enquirer-Sun 
 understands that the member of the Columbus Guards referred 
 to was James H. Ware, while the young soldier from the City 
 Light Guards was William Edward Goetchius, a brother to Mr. 
 Henry R. Goetchius. The following appeared in the Columbus 
 Times, June 28th: 
 
 "The Sun, of yesterday, pubHshes the following dispatch: 
 "Richmond, Va., June 27, 1862. — Dr. E A. Ware: Your son James 
 was killed last evening in gallantly charging the enemy's works. His 
 body will be recovered, if possible. His last words to his Colonel were: 
 'Tell my mother I have fallen in the discharge of my duty, and die 
 happy.' Dr. Ellison writes particulars to-day. Roswell Ellis." 
 
 Captain Roswell Ellis was in command of the Columbus 
 Guards, and was afterwards married to Miss Lizzie Rutherford, 
 who originated Memorial Day. 
 
 Adjutant Ware Avas slain near Richmond, Ya. In comment- 
 ing on the dispatch quoted above, the Times says : 
 
 "Adjutant Ware was connected with the Thirty-fifth Regiment, Geor- 
 gia Volunteers. Mr. Ware was a native of our city, and was greatly 
 beloved by all who knew him. In his death our community and the 
 army have lost a young man of great promise." 
 
 The young soldier in the City Light Guai'ds, William Edward 
 Goetchius, of this city, left Oglethorpe University, at Milledge- 
 ville, Ga., to enter the army as soon as the war opened, being 18 
 years of age. He served through the war until the date of his 
 death, and without a furlough, fighting in all the heavy battles 
 
B6 
 
 in Virginia and at Gettysburg. At this last battle he saw his 
 oldest brother, John, left on the field mortally wounded. He 
 was instantly killed in a charge at Petersburg, June 22d, 1864. 
 Mr. G. J. Peacock, of this city, who was a lieutenant in the 
 City Light Guards, saw him fall. His body was buried in the 
 trenches, and his remains were never re lovered Mr. Peacock, 
 in speaking of him, says : "He combined the gentleness of a 
 woman with the courage of a dauntless cavalier." 
 
 The first Memorial address ever delivered in the United States 
 in honor of soldiers who fought in the Civil War, was delivered 
 in Columbus, Georgia, on April 26th, 1866, by Hon. J. N. 
 Ramsey, now deceased. He was a prominent lawyer of the 
 city, an eloquent speaker, and had been a vt-teran of the war, 
 with the rank of Colonel. The address was delivered in St. 
 Luke Methodist church, a historic building, which has recently 
 been removed to give place to a modern structure. 
 
 The Columbus Enquirer- Sun^ on April 24th, 1898, published 
 the following list of orators of Memorial Day : 
 
 MEMORIAL ORATORS. 
 
 NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DELIVERED ADDRESSES. 
 
 The first Memorial address delivered in Columbus was by Col. 
 J. N. Ramsey, in 1866, in St. Luke M. E. Church. 
 
 The second address, the following year, was by Dr. E. F. 
 Colzey. and was delivered at Temperance Hall. In 1868 and 
 1869, respectively, Maj. R. J. Moses and Judge J. F. Pou 
 delivered the address at the old Cenotaph at the cemetery. 
 This was a building constructed of wood, with a dome-like roof, 
 supported by six slend *r pillars, wliicli rested on hexagonal 
 posts, some five feet high. The structure was about thirty feet 
 in height and painted white, with an arched roof, on which was 
 inscribed the names of the officers and privates killed in the war. 
 On the dome, on a small gilt circle, was the inscription of 
 "General Semme-!." In 1870 Hon. Thomas W.Grimes delivered 
 the address at Temperance Hall. After that date the addi esses 
 were delivered at Sf)ringer Opera House. A complete list of the 
 Memorial orators since the inauguration of the custom is as 
 follows : 
 
37 
 
 MEMORIAL ORATORS. 
 
 1866 Col. J. N. Ramsey. 1882. ..Rev. S. P. Calloway. 
 
 1867 Dr. E. F. Colzey. 1883 G. E. Thomas, Jr. 
 
 1868 Maj. R. J. Moses. 1884 Maj. R. J. Moses. 
 
 1869 Judge Joseph F. Pou. 1885. ..Henry R. Goetchius. 
 
 1870 T. W. Grimes. 1886 T. J. Chappell. 
 
 1871 C. H. Williams. 1887 . ...Charlton E. Battle. 
 
 1872 Judge Wm. A. Little. 1888. ...Capt. S. P. Gilbert. 
 
 1873 Capt. J. J. Slade. 1889 J. Harris Chappell. 
 
 1874... Ex-Mayor Sam Cleghorn. 1890.-.. Hon. Fulton Colville. 
 
 1875 Thomas H. Hardeman. 1891.... Capt. W. E. Wooten. 
 
 1876 Henry W. Hilliard. 1892. ..Capt. John D. Little. 
 
 1877....Capt. J.R. McCleskev. 1893 ...Hunt Chiplev. 
 
 1878.. ..William. H. Chambers. 1894 Judge John Ros^s. 
 
 1079. ..Gov. Alfred H. Colquitt. 1895. ..Hon. Lionel C. Levy. 
 
 1880 ....Lionel C. Levy. 1896 Rev. W. A. Carter. 
 
 1881... .Capt. Reese Crawford. 1897 Robert Howard. 
 
 1898 Henry R. Goetchius. 
 
 The Atlanta Constitution, of April 27th, 1898, gives the 
 following account of the celebration of Memorial Day in 
 Columbus : 
 
 COLUMBUS CELEBRATES 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF DECORATIOX DAY AND CROWNS THE MEMORY OF 
 
 MRS. ELLIS — MRS. WILLIAMS' ADVOCACY OF 
 
 MEMORIAL RECORDED. 
 
 Columbus, Ga., April 26. — (Special.) — The celebration of 
 Memorial Day in this city, where the idea originated, was notable 
 in many respects. 
 
 To begin with, the celebration itself was as imposing as any 
 ever held in the history of the city, and the ladies of the Memorial 
 Association took advantage of the occasion to settle authorita- 
 tively the question as to whom belonged the credit of inaugurating 
 this beautiful custom. 
 
 THE LADIES MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 In 1861, at tlie beginning of the war, there was organized in 
 Columbus the Soldiers' Aid Society. At the close of the war 
 this was merged into the Ladies' Memorial Association, which 
 organization iias existed ever since. The idea of decoratini^ the 
 
38 
 
 graves of the soldiers originated with a Columbus lady, Mis& 
 Lizzie Rutherford, afterwards Mrs. Lizzie Rutherford Ellis, the 
 wife of Captain Roswell Ellis, of the Columbus Guards. Mrs. 
 Charles J. Williams was another lady who took a very active 
 part in the orgai ization of the As80ciation, and it was largely 
 through her ertbrts that the idea gained the publicity and popu- 
 larity that it attained, and for a time the name of Mrs. Ellis was 
 overlooked. 
 
 In 1866, at the end of the war, there was a meeting of ^ 
 small number of ladies, who formed the Ladies Memorial Asso- 
 ciation. Of the ladies who attended that meeting there are 
 only two living. They are Mrs. Clara M. Dexter and Mrs. 
 William G. Woolfolk. Shortly after the organization of the 
 Columbus Association the idea gained wide popularity through- 
 out the South, and similar organizations Avere perfected in 
 numerous cities and towns, until now every place has an organized 
 body of noble women whose duty and whose pleasure it is to see 
 that the memory of the South's dead heroes is honored in a 
 fitting way by elaborate and interesting exercises on the 26th 
 day of every April. 
 
 AN INTERESTING OCCASION. 
 
 The celebration possessed unusual interest. Mr. Henry R. 
 Goetchius was orator of the day, and his tribute to the Con- 
 federate dead was most eloquent. The following was the 
 programme carried out : 
 
 Music — "Funeral March," Chopin — Prof. J. Lewis Browne. 
 
 Praver— Rev. W. A. Carter, D. D. 
 
 Music- "Who will Care for Mother Now?" Octette. 
 
 Introduction of Speaker — By jNIr. Robert Howard. 
 
 Memorial Address — Hon. Henry R. Goetchius. 
 
 Music — "The Vacant Chair." 
 
 History of Memorial Day — Presented to the Lizzie Rutherford Chap- 
 ter, Daughters of the Confederacy, read by Mr. Frank Garrai'd. 
 
 Music— "The Conquered Banner" — Miss Mary Kivlin. 
 
 Recitation — "Our Confederate Dead" — Miss Maggie Martin Harrison. 
 
 Music — "Let Us Pass Over the River," Stonewall Jackson's last 
 words — Chorus. 
 
 Piano — Miss Mary Kivlin. 
 
 Cornets — Clarence Gray and Mr. Berry. 
 
 Violin — Mr. Dreyspool. 
 
 Benediction — Rev. A. M. Wynn. 
 
 THE MILITARY FEATURE. 
 
 The Columbus Guards, the Browne Fencibles and the Phenix 
 City Rifles, the local military organizations, were out in full 
 force. The two Albany companies, Companies E and G of the 
 
39 
 
 Guards, were present as guests of the Columbus military by 
 special invitation, and participated in the exercises, tbus makini 
 the military feature an imposing one. The Albany boys arrived 
 in the city this morning, and were met at the depot by the 
 Guards and Fencibles, who escorted them to their armory The 
 Ulumbus military is very appreciative of the hospitality exhib- 
 ited on the occasion of their recent trip to Albany. 
 The line of march was as follows : 
 
 First, mounted policemen. 
 Fourth Regiment Band. 
 
 panie?Eind7 TT^'lu'' C^?°^b"^ Guards, Browne Fencibles, com- 
 ^ Tht . ^ °^ *^^ Albany Guards, and the Phenix Citv Rifles 
 
 officers?'''''^^''''' '"'"'" ^''™''^ "^ '^''"''^"«"'' ^«<^ording to the Suk of the 
 
 Phenix City Brass Band. 
 
 The True Blues, small bovs. 
 
 The Confederate Veterans of Camp Bennino- 
 
 feons ot Confederate Veterans, mounted * 
 
 -tire Department. 
 
 Orator of the Day in carriage. 
 
 Ladies' Memorial Association, in carriages 
 
 Daughters of the Confederacy. 
 
 Citizens in carriages. 
 
 At the cemetery the usual salutes were fired over the graves 
 ot the soldiers. As usual, the graves were beautiful decorated. 
 
 THE MEMORY OF MRS. ELLIS. 
 
 _ The notable feature of the day was the history of the Asso- 
 ciation prepared officially, wherein the full credit is awarded 
 Mrs. Lll.s of having originated the idea of a floral remembrance, 
 and to Mrs. Williams of having taken it up and carried it to 
 success. ^ 
 
 (Then followed a copy of the history as heretofore set out in 
 these pages, embracing the affidavits, letter of Mrs. Williams 
 %i' l\''' . ,/^"" ^'^^^^'ence to the oration, the report concluded 
 tie re on ^'"^ ""^ ^'^'^'^'' '"^'"''^ portraits accompanied 
 
 THE HONOR ROLL. 
 
 Mrs. Absalom H (Loretta R. Lamar) Chappell was first 
 President of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Columbus. 
 
 Mrs. Robert (Evelyn Page Nelson) Carter was the second and 
 only succeeding President of the Soldiers' Aid Society, and the 
 first President of the Memorial Association of Columbus She 
 
40 
 
 was elected in 1866 and remained in office until the date 
 of her death, in January, 1896. 
 
 Mrs, Louis F. (Annie Leonard) Garrard is now President 
 of the Memorial Association of Columbus, having succeeded 
 Mrs. Carter. 
 
 Mrs. William G. (Maria Byrd Nelson) Woolfolk and Mrs. 
 Charles E. (Clara M. Hodges) Dexter are the only surviving 
 ladies of the number which met in 1866 to organize the Memo- 
 rial Association. 
 
 Miss Anna C. Benning is President of the Lizzie Rutherford 
 Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy at Columbus, 
 
 Mrs. Lizzie Rutherford Ellis is tlie lady in whose patriotic 
 heart originated the idea of Memorial Day and the originator of 
 the custom. 
 
 Mrs. Charles J. (Mary Ann Howard) Williams is the Secretary 
 of the Memorial Association whose gifted pen wrote the letter 
 which obtained from the ladies of the South co-operation with 
 the ladies of Columbus in establishing JMemorial Day. 
 
 Mrs. Peter (Jane E. Ware) Martin has been Secretary of the 
 Ladies' Memorial Association of Columbus for the past 30 years. 
 
 
LADIES' 
 
 MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION 
 
 COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. 
 
 PRESENT OFFICERS : 
 President, MRS. LOUIS F. GARRARD. 
 
 Mrs. W. G. Woolfolk, 
 Mrs. Reese Crawford, 
 
 Vice Presidents : 
 
 Miss Ann.^ Caroline Benning, 
 
 Mrs. 0. S. Jord.\n, 
 Mrs. a. Dozier. 
 
 Treasurer, Mrs. Clara M. Dexter. 
 
 Secretary, Mrs. J. E. Martin. 
 
 Assistant Secretaries : 
 Mits. Joseph S. Harrison, Mrs. J. Norman Pease 
 
 (This is not a complete list. An earnest effort has been made to obtain the names of all the 
 members, but this effort has not been successful. The list is arranged without reference to age or 
 time. Many have married and it was not possible in some Instances to ascertain their present 
 names. Some also are dead, but it was thought best that all nauies obtainable should be here re- 
 corded.) 
 
 Adams, Miss Fannie 
 
 Allen, Mrs. A. M.— Sallie Bellinger. 
 
 Backus. Miss Annie J. 
 
 Bailey, Miss Belle 
 
 Bailey, Miss E. H. 
 
 Banks, Miss Sue 
 
 Beunett, Miss Anna 
 
 Benning, 3Irs. Henry L — Mary Howard Jones. 
 
 Benning, Miss Anna Corolue 
 
 Benning, Miss Mary Howard 
 
 Blanchard, Mrs. McDuffie— Sarah J. W. 
 
 Blanchard, Mrs. W. A. — Henrietta Seabrook. 
 
 Bradford, jliss Mary 
 
 Eiannon, Mrs. A. M.— Julia A. Fuller. 
 
 Brooks, Miss Josephine 
 
 Biowiie, Mrs. J. Rhodes, Jr., — Nina Young. 
 
 Bruce, Mrs. Henry — (Deedee Patten ) 
 
 Bruce, Miss Blary Louis;i 
 
 Bruce, Mrs. Wm. — Slary Louisa Jones. 
 
 Bullard, Mrs. W. L.— Mary Blackmar. 
 
 Burrus, Mrs. Lawrence M. 
 
 Bussey, Mrs. Henry — Elizabeth Lucas. 
 
 Byiugton, Mrs. B. T. — Elia Goode. 
 
 Bynum, Mrs. — Emma Ty'si" 
 
 Camp, Mrs. L A. — Annie Camp 
 
 Cameron, Miss Euima 
 
 Carter, Mrs. John D — Zoouomia Hoxey. 
 
 Carter, Mrs. Robt. — Evelyn Page Nelson. 
 
 Carter, Mrs. Robt. E.— Belle Powers. 
 
 Carter, Mrs. W. A. — Agnes Quigley 
 
 Chapman, Mrs. Brad. — Elizabeth . 
 
 Chappell, Mrs. L. H. — Cythia Kent Hart. 
 
 Cleghorn, Miss Sallie 
 
 Cody, Mrs. A. A.— Mary Roberta Williams. 
 
 Comer, Jlrs. Laura Beecher 
 
 Cook, Miss Mary Elvira 
 
 Copeland, Mrs. — Maggie Cook. 
 
 Chancellor Mrs. A. C. — Carrie Wynne. 
 
 Carson, Mrs. Ri>bt. — Ida Brannon. 
 
 Cowdery, Miss Eveline 
 
 Cowderv, Miss Mattie 
 
 Curtis, BIrs. N N.- Patty Welborne. 
 
 Curtwright. Mrs. — Lizzie Murkenfuss. 
 
 Crawford, Mrs. Beunett -May Lowe. 
 
 Crawtord, Mrs. Reese— Augusta Jane Benning. 
 
 Dexter, Mrs. Chas K. ('lara M. Hodges. 
 
 Dillingham, Mrs. Geo. — Anna Hall. 
 
 Dismukes, Mrs. E. F. — Annie E. Forman. 
 
 Downing. 3Irs. L T. — Lucy Uri|uhart. 
 
 Dozier, Mrs. A. A.— Susie Morekmd. 
 
 Dozier. Mrs. Albert— Mary ( ook. 
 
 Ellis, Mrs. Roswell — Lizzie Rutherford. 
 
 Evans, Miss Eula 
 
 Evans, Mrs. K. H.— Dillie Waddell. 
 
 Estes, Mrs. Marion— Maggie Kirven. 
 
 Farish, Mrs. Robert— Helen Slade. 
 
 Fogle, Mrs. Wm.— Sallie Rutherford 
 
 Fontaine, .Mrs. Wm. — Laura Ynestrai 
 
 Forsyth, Miss Anna 
 
 Flewellen, Mrs. Abner C. — Sarah Porter Shepherd 
 
 Gardiner, Miss Anna Byrd 
 
 Gardiner, Miss MoUie 
 
 Garrard, Miss Annie Leonard 
 
 Garrard, Sliss Helen Gertrude 
 
 Garrard, Mrs. L. F.— Annie F. Leonard 
 
 Garrett, Mrs. Joseph Heard 
 
 Gilbert, Mrs. S. P.— INIary Howard 
 Goetchius, 5Irs. H R.— Mary Russell 
 
MEMBERS— Continued. 
 
 Goetchius, Mrs. R. E. — Mary Beuuett 
 
 Gordon, Mrs. Hugh — Carrie Williams 
 
 Gray, Mrs. M. E. — Alice Tyler 
 
 Greene, Mrs. R. H. 
 
 Griffin, Miss Anna Helena 
 
 Hanserd, Mrs. Jos. — Marj' Bethuue 
 
 Hanserd, Miss Mary L. 
 
 Harrison, Mrs. J. S. — Sallie Martin 
 
 Harden, Mrs.— Mary Tyler 
 
 Hardeman, Mrs. Frank— Anne MacDougald 
 
 Harrison, Mrs. W. P.— Mary F. Hodges 
 
 Hatcher, Mrs. S. B. — Susie Madden 
 
 Hill, Mrs. Joe Hill — Mary Helen Downing 
 
 Hines, Mrs. Thos. — Clothide deLaunay 
 
 Hiisch, Mrs. Herman — Annie 
 
 Hodges, Mrs. M. E.— Elizabeth Smith 
 
 Hopkins, Mrs. L. 0. 
 
 Howard, Miss Lila 
 
 Howard, Mrs. Ralph 0.— Willie Watt 
 
 Howard, Miss Mary Jones 
 
 Howard, Mrs. T. B , Jr.— Nettie Williams 
 
 Howard, Mrs. Wm. — Fannie Anderson 
 
 Hull, Mrs H. L. — Sarah Jones Benning 
 
 Hudson, Mrs David— Juliette M. Hall 
 
 Hudson, Mrs. Beuj. —Ellen Charlton 
 
 Hurt, Mrs. Chas. D. 
 
 Hurt,. Mrs. Fannie 
 
 Iversou, Miss Leona Hamilton 
 
 Jenkins, Mrs. Felix— Ella Crawford 
 
 Johnson, Mrs. Milton — Marj' B. Jones 
 
 Jones, Miss A. Katharine 
 
 Jones, Mrs. Clifton — Annie Johnson 
 
 Jones, Mrs. John A. — Mary Louisa Leonard 
 
 Jones, Mrs. Marj' Eliza Rutherford 
 
 Jones, Mrs. Seaborn — Mary Howard 
 
 Jordan, Mrs 0. S.— Bettie Blake Dexter 
 
 Jordan, Miss Maud 
 
 Kiucaid, Miss Mary 
 
 King, Miss Mattie 
 
 Leitner, Mrs. John 
 
 Levy, Miss Edna 
 
 Levy, Miss Frances Marian 
 
 Levy, Mrs. Lionel C. — Isabel Moses 
 
 Lewis, Miss Alabama 
 
 Lewis, Miss Annie Belle 
 
 Lewis, Miss Leila 
 
 Lewis, Miss Mary 
 
 Lewis, Mrs. M. N. 
 
 Little, Mrs. W. A. — Jinnie Dozier 
 
 MacAllister, Mrs. J. M. 
 
 MacDougald, Mrs. Emily Fitton 
 
 Mathews, Mrs. John — Mary 
 
 Mitchell, Mrs. F. Katherine T. Downing 
 Mott, Mrs. R.— Annie Battle 
 
 Murdoch, Mrs. E. B.-Lydia Spencer 
 
 Niel, Mrs. Geo. — Alabama Lindsay 
 
 Osburn, Mrs. C. T. — Cornelia Bacon 
 
 Paramore, Mrs. John 
 
 Patten, Mrs. Richard — Martha Ann Hodges 
 
 Patterson, Miss Mildred Lewis 
 
 Pearce, Mrs. J. H. 
 
 Pease, Mrs. J. Norman — Anna Vivian Jones 
 
 Poe, Mrs. 0. Magruder 
 
 Pond, Miss Callie 
 
 Pope, Mrs Wm. — Lizzie .Patten 
 
 Pou, Mrs. Joseph — Antoinette Dozier 
 
 Redd, Mrs. C. A. — Eugenia Weems 
 
 Redd, Mrs. N. L. — Rebecca Fergerson 
 
 Sarliug, Mrs. Solomon 
 
 Shepherd, Mrs Anne 
 
 Smith, BIrs. Milton J. — Florida Welborue 
 
 Spencer, Mrs R. P.— Ida T. Speed 
 
 Spencer, Mrs. Samuel — Louisa V. Benning 
 
 Stewart, Miss Catty 
 
 Stewart, Mrs. J. M. 
 
 Strupper, Mrs. I. G. — Mary Everett 
 
 Tickuor, Mrs. Douglas — Sarah D. Ticknor 
 
 Tickuor, Mrs. F. 0. — Rosa Nelson 
 
 Ticknor, Mrs. Geo. — Nora Stewart 
 
 Tiguer, Mrs. W. F. 
 
 Tigner, Mrs. G. T. — Johnnie Lindsay 
 
 Thomas, Miss Estelle 
 
 Thomas, Mrs. 6. E. 
 
 Thomas, Miss Mary J. 
 
 Torrence, Miss Harriet 
 
 Torrence, Miss Matilda 
 
 Tyler, Miss Anna 
 
 Tyler, Mrs. John 
 
 Tyler, Miss Rosa 
 
 Waddell, Miss Bessie F 
 
 Waddell, Miss Sallie N. 
 
 Ware, Mrs. R. A. — Margaret Ellison 
 
 Warner, Mrs. Chas. — Susie Swift 
 
 Watson, Mrs. H. L. — Annie Patten 
 
 Weems, Miss Lottie 
 
 Wells, Mrs. M. E. Birdsong 
 
 Williams, Mrs. Chas. J. — Mary Ann Howard 
 
 Williams, Mrs. (Dr.) Chas. Beall 
 
 Worrell, Miss Kate 
 
 Worrell, Mrs. James— Emma Biggers 
 
 Worrell, Miss Josephine 
 
 Woodruff, Mrs. Chas -Marj' Lou Mott 
 
 AVoodruff, Mrs. Geo. W. — Virginia Lindsay 
 
 Woodruff, Mrs. Henry— May Patten 
 
 Woolfolk, Mrs. Wm. G.— Maria Byrd Nelson 
 
 Wright, Mrs. — Mary Bridges Murdoch 
 
 Yonge, Mrs. Ed. — Lucy Banks 
 

 ii!liil!ilii 
 
 MUlilinjiHIIJiHIl