Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/410

 402 Southern Historical Society Papers,

To-day the lines are overgrown with grass, and but little remains suggestive of the old-time strife save a musket that may be occa- sionally ploughed out of the earth, a bullet, a grapeshot, an un- exploded shell perchance from some Federal mortar, a rusty bayonet severed from its rifle, and the remains of a life lost here and there, as well as a dismembered veteran. Yet what sad thoughts are con- nected with these grounds — what a glorious and imperishable record they give of the stern and unflinching bravery of the Confederate privates !

The lines of the great forts are growing more and more indistinct. The plow is levelling the old breastworks ; but, notwithstanding all this, there is still to be seen the outline of them all, easily recogniz- able by those who took part in the fights around Petersburg.

THE CRATER.

But by far th(e greatest emotion is stirred at the view of the ground and pit where the crater-fight occurred. The site may be easily seen from the monument, and many a Petersburger can tell of the narrow escape which our people had — sleeping upon arms as they were — when the explosion occurred. Nor, according to those who took part in the fight, should any glory for the magnificent result be taken from General Mahone, whose brigade saved the day under the capable direction of their commander. The history of all these bat- tles will be written some day, and General Mahone says, very justly as is thought here, that he is not afraid if its verdict is honestly re- corded. A superb description of this engagement, however, has been written by Captain Gordon McCabe, who was the orator to day, and, as may well be imagined, did entire justice to the occasion — perfect scholar as he is, fine soldier that he was.

OLD BLANDFORD CHURCH.

But, to return to Blandford cemetery. Never were its decorations more beautiful, never in more perfect keeping with the occasion which was so gloriously celebrated to-day. The old church, strengthened by modern bricks and supported by all of the appliances which mod- ern mechanism could supply, looked beautiful in its ivy-embowered seclusion. Far away as it appeared to be from the monument it was nevertheless borne in mind by all who attended the unveiling. In Con- federate days, despite its nearness to the lines, nobody can tell of the romances, the marriages, the troths plighted under its shadows, the