Confederate Memorial Day Columbus, Georgia

in spring of 1866 ladies memorial association of columbus passed resolution set aside 1 day annually memorialize confederate dead. secretary of association, mrs. charles j. (mary ann) williams, directed write letter inviting ladies of every southern state join them in observance. letter written in march 1866 , sent representatives of of principal cities in south, including atlanta, macon, montgomery, memphis, richmond, st. louis, alexandria, columbia, , new orleans. beginning of influential work ladies organizations honor war dead.

the date holiday selected elizabeth lizzie rutherford ellis. chose april 26, first anniversary of confederate general johnston s final surrender union general sherman @ bennett place, north carolina. many in south, act marked official end of civil war.

in 1868, general john a. logan, commander in chief of union civil war veterans fraternity called grand army of republic (gar), launched memorial day holiday has become observed in entire united states. general logan s wife said had borrowed practices of confederate memorial day. wrote logan said not late union men of nation follow example of people of south in perpetuating memory of friends had died cause thought , right.

while 2 dozen cities across country claim have originated memorial day holiday, bellware , gardiner firmly establish holiday began in columbus. in genesis of memorial day holiday in america, show columbus ladies memorial association’s call observe day annually decorate soldiers’ graves inaugurated movement first in south , in north honor soldiers died during civil war.