Cherokee County Sketches # 2
[A description of Indian life in Cherokee County.  The following is an excerpt from the article concerning a death:]

The first Indian burial we ever witnessed was that of Standstill, or Taggatoga.  They prepared for him a coffin and a grave, after the manner of whites, and after they had lowered the body into the vault, they all marched around the grave, singing a mournful ditty, the chorus of which was “ah-che-cherry Taggatoga terry.” A few nights after Taggatoga’s death we saw a large fire in the direction of where he had lived.  On sending down to enquire the cause, we were informed by his friends that they were burning the house because he had died in it before they could take him out.  We afterwards learned that this was their invariable custom in such cases.  We afterwards saw old Sweet-water buried, and could identify the very spot at this time.  He was very old, being we suppose near or quite one hundred years of age.  They put his staff, his fan, his pipe and other things in the coffin with his body.  They imagined, we suppose, that he would need those articles again, in the “Great hunting-ground”.

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Page 3.

Decoration Day At Cassville.

Last Friday, the 26th, being the day set apart for decorating Confederate soldiers’ graves throughout the Southern States, agreeable to the call of the Ladies’ Memorial Association of Cassville, quite a respectable number of the citizens of this grand old county assembled in the cemetery at that place, where rests the dust of many of the South’s fallen braves who sacrificed their lives in the Lost Cause, to pay their annual tribute to the memory of these sleeping heroes, by scattering flowers and evergreens over the tents of their final camping ground –fit expressions of the undying esteem in which their memory is held by their surviving friends.  A neat stand had been erected draped in intertwining evergreens bestudded with flowers, near by and in full view of the graves. At about 10 ½ o’clock, A. M., the ceremonies commenced by a touching piece of music by the band, after which the audience was led in a very solemn and impressive prayer by the Rev. R. H. Jones, at the conclusion of which, the band again discoursed another very appropriate air, when Wm. A. Chunn, Esq., arose and introduced to the assemblage, our talented young friend, John Attaway, Jr., the orator of the occasion, who delivered an exceedingly appropriate, classical and chaste, though brief, address, which was solicited for publication by the Association.  After music by the band, Col. John W. Wofford was loudly called for, who, being present, also arose and, for a few moments, enchained the audience in a few spirited remarks, in which he urged upon southern people the importance of ever observing this day as one sacred in their history.  He hoped the day would never drawn whose sun did not smile in pride upon the bivouacs of the south’s chivalrous, fallen sons.  After music by the band, the decoration of the graves took place.  This over with the audience returned to the stand when Mr. Chunn, in behalf of the Association, returned the thanks of the same to the Mechanics Brass Band, of this place, for their valuable services on this occasion, in a few pertinent remarks, which was responded to, in like manner, by Mr. Henry O’Shields, the leader of the band, a correct report of which will be found elsewhere in this paper.

Below we append some lines in poetry written by our poet editor, P. H. B., which were suggested while witnessing the ceremonies of the day:--

LINES
Suggested On Decoration Day At Cassville.

We come, where sleep our fallen braves,
To strew Spring flowers upon their graves;
We come to pay a tribute due
To valor and devotion true.

No monumental piles we rear,
To honor those who slumber here:
No nation’s aid we ask or claim
To place them on the roll of fame.

But we will gather fragrant flowers,
From year to year from Southern bowers,
And o’er each honored grave we’ll spread,
Our floral tribute to the dead.

We’ll cherish with a miser’s care,
The names of all who slumber here;
Immortal may their memory be,
Who fought and died for liberty!

Off did they meet the hireling host,
Who could alone of numbers boast;
And like a wall of stone they stood
Till swept before a living flood.

With faces to the foe they fell,
And each discharged his duty well;
And though our banners trailed in dust,
Our braves were faithful to their trust.

All honor to the gallant band,
Who died to save our native land;
And never may the words be said:
“Forgotten are the Southern dead.”

[The article goes on to describe Cassville after the war.]