Staunton Spectator

We utter but a trite sentiment, says the National Intelligencer, when we say that the future of the South is in the hands of its young men. How many of them are qualifying themselves to manage its factories, control its railroads, mine its ore, work its machine-shops, and cultivate its plantations? Professional men it has in abundance -- able lawyers, accomplished physicians, eloquent speakers. These have their uses, but the growth of a State depends less on them than on the character of the men who manage its industrial enterprises. What is most needed in the South to-day is that the young blood which fought for it so gallantly should work it as determinedly. On the plantations, in the shop, in the factory, there the South is to effect its true restoration. The young men who dug trenches and fed on hominy and pork, who went clad in homespun gray, and slept is cold or rain or shine under the canopy of the heavens to further the fortunes, as they believed, of their native land, can now do noble service by laying hold of its plough-handles, turning its lathes, guiding its spindles, handling its locomotives But there is want of capital. No matter. They have youth, health, hope, ambition, and good abilities. They have every incentive for which to work. Begin with a will and success will crown their efforts.

About the latter part of March 1866, a few ladies of Staunton determined they would fix up the graves of the Soldiers buried at this place, and ornament the ground by planting suitable trees and shrubbery in it. It then being too late in the season to put trees in the ground, it was though best to defer it until late in the fall. On the 4th of May, it was determined to invite the ladies of Staunton and vicinity to assemble at the Lutheran Church, for the purpose of concerting measures to honor our dead heroes. Consequently, a meeting was held on the 7th of May, and it was concluded to have a floral procession on the 10th of May, it being the anniversary of the death of "Stonewall Jackson." As the readers of the Spectator are all well aware of the proceedings of that day, we deem it unnecessary to say anything more about it.

We believe the collections made on the 10th of May were only about eighty dollars, not one half of what might have been collected, had there been more time to have matured the plans -- the whole affair having been gotten up very hurriedly. Since then, about three hundred dollars more have been collected. Of this less than twenty-five dollars was contributed out of the country; the rest was collected in Staunton, and other parts of Augusta county. A large amount of work has been done at the Cemetery, in fixing up the graves, and grading the roads and walks; and the remains of all the soldiers (except those in private lots,) have been taken out of the old part of the Cemetery, and interred in the Soldiers' Cemetery; and a large number of graves dug in two days, by th citizens of the town and vicinity, to bury soldiers who are now lying in the battle-fields of McDowell, Port Republic and Piedmont, and various other places uncared for. On Saturday and Monday, the 24th and 26th November, thirty-five to forty bodies were brought up from Piedmont, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, seven from Fishersville, all of which have been intered in the Soldiers' Cemetery at this place. Of those brought from Piedmont, the names of only six are known, viz: H. A. Lane, 27th Va. Battalion; Capt. J. M. Webb, 6th N. Carolina Regt., Thomas' Legion; W. L. Morehead, Co. B 60th Va. Inft.; Lt. M. Blue, Hampshire Co. Va; Serg't D. W. Suttle, Co. E. 60th Va. Inft; Capt. J. P. B., Co. G. 30th Tenn. Regt. From Fishersville, C. T. Bibb, Co. F. 50th Va. Regt., died Jan. 17, 1865; W. Dawson, Co. E. 22nd Va. Regt. died Jan. 1st 1865; Geo. Walker, Co. C. 22nd Va. Regt., died Oct. 9th 1866; J. Williams, Co. G. 60th Va. Regt., died Feb. 3rd 1865. These names and dates are obtained from the head boards. Two are so nearly defaced that the names cannot be made out. One appears to be marked, so far as visible, S. L. M. .... ge, Co. K. 36th Va. Regt., died Feb. 5th 1865. The other looks like it might be ...... Farro, or Frazer .... Battery, thought to be Kutshaws, died Jan. 11th 1865; and one in a new coffin, no name on it.

The people in the neighborhood of Piedmont, and for several miles around, assembled on Saturday, the 24th November, and disinterred a number of bodies, but were compelled to stop for want of boxes not coming to hand, could nothing.--They expect to meet there again some day this week, when it is hoped they will be able to complete the work of disinterring the remains of our dead Soldiers. For the prompt and careful manner in which they and the people of Tinkling Spring congregation have attended to this matter, they deserve great credit and have the thanks of Ladies of the Soldiers' Cemetery Committee at Staunton.

Much more work remains to be done at the Cemetery, and money is wanted to pay for it. It is hoped that our citizens will not forget that the bones of many of our brave Soldiers are lying about in the woods, and old fields, almost uncovered, and totally uncared for. At Piedmont, we understand, the feet of some are sticking out of the ground.

The Ladies have recently called on all our citizens -- through the newspapers -- not only those in town, but those in the country, to bring rich earth. Not one response has yet been made. These poor men died while guarding your soil. Will you not give one load of this soil as a grateful offering to their memory? This earth is needed to plant the trees and shrubbery in.

Persons have been written to at McDowell, Port Republican, Stribling's Springs and other places, and it is expected that a great many bodies will be sent in to be interred in this Cemetery.