Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-22
For the Union and Amsrioan.l

A4NOIhLh SOlIDlER GONE.
DIED, at the residence of George H. Nixon.
Lawrenceburg Tenn. on the 14th inst. SAMUEL
THOMAS, soldier of the Revolution, in the ninety
eight year of his age. Shortly after the commence
ment OF the war of Independence, he left the en-
dearments and comforts of home and joined the ar
my under Washington, and during the most of
that eventful struggle he served his country faith
iul and at the close of the was honorably dis
charged, and retired to private life to enjoy, in
common with his co-patriots of the revolution, the
fruits of his tolls and privations Since the DAYS
of his youth he has witnessed the rise of great
and powerful misunderstanding the bic ssngs of
free institutions over almost continent, and after
long and useful life, full of years and honors. he
has sunk to rest in the full hope of blissfu mmor-
talty beyond the grave. His remains were escort
ed to tile graveby Capt. Burketts Company of Vol
unteers, and inferred with all the honors of war
After an impressive and appropriate Divine service,
by the Rev. Noah Parker, the following remarks
were made by H. H. Rose, ESQ.,.
FELLOW CITIZENS We meet upon a melancholy
occasion-an occasion calling for our sympathy-
another Revolutionary soldier is numbered with the
dead-another of the brave spirits, who in times
llld6 II4cu SOulS, piGURtu LQer lives, their
fortunes and their honor, TO obtain the boon of
freedom now enjoy, has sunk to the silent tomb.
tbs needless for us to ask why this array of arms
around the peaceful grave? Why that banner,
with its time honored stars and Stripes. is now
waving over this "city of the dead?' We are
around soldiers grave and these are the fit en-
blems of soldiers burial Is there an American
heart that does not love and venerate the soldier of
the Revolution? Is there an American bosom that
does not swell with pride at the recollection of the
glorious deeds OF our Revolutionary fathers? Is
there an American citizen cold as not to sympa-
thise with the suferings and dangers of those who
for seven years met the storm of battle that we |
might be free-who left the comforts and endear-
mcnts of home, for the tented field to battle for the
freedom of this happy land? But that land of gal
liant men are passing rapidly away Where now |
are those who battled for freedom at Lexington,
Bunkers Hill, Brandywine, Germantown Clifford. |
and an hundred other battle fields of the Revolu-
ton! They have nearly all passed away, leaving
only here and there, one who has filed more than
his four score and ten years. But in few brief
years, these too will be bourn to their last resting
place
To day, we have conveyed and laid in the silent
grave the last soldier of the Revolution in our coun
ty.- he has been blessed with long life He lived |
to see his country great and happy; extending the
blessings Of freedom from the Atlantic to the gold
en- shores Of the Pacific ocean. What mighty
change in this fair land of liberty since the stormy
days OF the Revolution? Seventy-eight years ago,
the American colonies as they were then called.
proclaimed to the world that they were free and
ndependant, and for the first time the hardy sons
Of America threw that banner to the breeze, and
engraved upon its folds, elderly or death. and
loby did they redeem that pledge-that flag now
waves over twenty five million of freemen, in the
I'LL enjoyment Of civil and religious liberty
The battle fields of the Revolution tell of many
Thav fa1I of No a / |
ivan, Knox, Morgan and host of others, who met
he storm of war upon many bloody field They i
ell of band of treemen, who amidst summers
eat and winters snow batted to be free They !
ell of suffering pain and death; and after seven
ears oftoil and prvation that banner, now waving
yer the soldiers grave-that banner, with its glo-
ous stars and STRIPES hoated victorious upon the n
lains Of Yorktown.
We are called upon to day. to pay the last tribute il
respect to one, who was an actor in those mighty i
,enes-one whose arm amidst the storm of battle 4
pheld the banner Of freedom. But alasl That arm
len 50 strong and powerful in the hour of battle is n
DIV nerveless That voice. then the battle cry of y
lie brave in the hour of danger is now hushed and 2
lent That heart then beating high with the love
country, is now stiled forever The cold hand
death has destroyed that patriotic fire which has d
lrned for almost one hundred years in the bosom fe
the Revolutionary soldier. Sit
But in the midst of our sorrow and the tears of al
reaved relatives should be thankful that long
e was awarden to him--we should be thankful &,
at he has lived to enjoy the fruits of his own
H. and to see its blessings extended to mighty Nj
tion-we should be thankful that he has lived to
E that tree of liberty, which in youth he assisted
planting in freedom soil extend its branches br'
IN the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean and from COZ
frozen north to the burning sands of the Rio sg,
ande Of the south and now shelters beneath its .;
ple shade twenty-five million of freemen, who DIG
ck from its branches the priceless fruits of iber- pa
and equality" We should be thankful that he WI WI
lived to that flag in the hands of his decend- act
S, waving victorious upon the battlements of ~
nerey Vera Cruz and Mexico: we should rejoice alst
he has lived IN 600 his try opa Of tho -.
,ofI t;c 80 - tt'IS e IL IL -" c alte
the home of the oppressed of every country. test