The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-10-15
A N A D d r ES9
DELIVERED BY y. M'QUIR%s,
10 THE WASHINGTON TROOPERS.
AT tho Grave Of B. NJ Lyon.
Officers and Soldiers

lho duties resting
Gu you at this time ara Of the most humi,i
at'ng character, Of the most profound
solcmnity. The objects that Surround vou,
if duly considered in connection with vour
present attitude. are not only sufficient to
affect the mind, but awaken the svmpa,i;cs
OF the most unfecing heart. The position
which you at present occupy, renders you
not only conspicuous 10 Il g0odlv number
OF your tel!owmcn. but evidently places YOU
III ini! view Of the throngcl host that sur
round the throne Of God. If you suti-r
Your eyes to trace the engraving en- those
marble slaos near vru, each line will but
help the other, till the whole, like polish.
ed mirror, will reflect back the features Of
some esteemed friend, in all their pristine
'ovei'ness, fully to the mind. Beneath your
feet, is the dust Of your fellowmen that once
lived ano moved with all the vigor and
component parts, that renders YOU now
living creature. An1 for ought know, the
spirits Of those enlombed bodies around
you. are permitted to hover near, and al
though invisible to ia, nevertheless form a
portion of the guests on the present occa.
SION. Though alive, indeed it NAV be said
OF YOU, thatyo stand amid the dead. Nor
is this solemn declaration unreasonable.
when we consider that this is the boundary
line between Earth aud Heaven, the gate
through which we pass TO enter Paradisc
Then, soldiers, as your every action is closely
observed 10y your fr!!owmeu, Yea as YOU are
under the scru'inziug eye Of Heaven itself
does It not we'll Lchoove you TO be guarded
IN Your actions a. this time, lest you excite
the anger OF mighty Cod, AMI an Angel
be soon speeding his flight through the
c'her'al region with the sword Of destruction
unshealhcd, destined TO cut off another
branch Of your body, and thus open srresh
the wound so lately received in your hearts :;
Tor, verify, the haul Of omnipotcncc has
rested heavily ON this company for the past
ten years. With these solemn truths L,furc
your minds, in connection with the fact tla,
YOU now encsc!e the grave Of departed
brother, is not only sufficient to excite feel
nSs of the deepest humility within your
breasts, but Is we'll calculated to fill the cnps
OF your sorrowsto tho Overlooking. For it
has often happened that nature under cir
cumstance less affecting, has been forced TO
seek relief in flood Of fears, lest the cords
OF life might give way under the burden Of
her sorrows. Your asscmblage Mt this time
and place, is not to be wondered at, when
we consider that men arc social creatures,
and that by frequent and early associations,
feelings OF affection spring up in the breast,
that death itself cannot sever While your
detected countenances show that all is not
well with You, that you nurture heart felt
SORROWS, those PROSTATE swords show equal
~ plain, that you arc entirely resigned to
the power that has inflicted them, And if
your actions a: this time, does not belle the
feelings Of your hearts, you show by them,
that although death has entered your ranks,
and taken another cf your devoted brothers,
yet your love for him will only cease when
you are dead. have now reached point
gladly would ever. have cvaLcd. Officers
and soldiers, you have met to pay the last
tribute of respect to departed brother. Al
though it may sound harsh in your ears,
nevertheless it is as true as harsh, that all
earthly associations between YOU and B.
NJ. Lyon, arc at an end Those ties that
so closely united you in heart, are for ever
broken. A re'ncpstartcc OF the past, with
dctcrminatiousto cherish his memory in
the future, is all the consolation left you. 4
body, that has often met you, yea, but Il
few short months since, met at your regular
parade ground, to practice with YOU mill
tary discipline, with ioRes as bright, add
expectations as good for q long and useful
life as any now present, liA moldcring into
dust.
A band that you have often pressed with
aiIthc warmth of natural brother, lics now
cold and inactive, across the peaceful breast
OF him that rests beneath that mould. An
eye that seemed TO sparkle with new lustre
at your approach, has lost all its former bril-
liancy, has shrunk back in its socket, and
sleeps the sleep Of death. A voice too, that
has often greeted your ears with warm
solicitous inquiries for your welfare, is
hushed, for ever flushed, within the silent
embrace Of the tomb. Death has divided
the spoil between Earth and Heaven. aiv-
ing the body to the dust, and the soul to
God. Then soldiers vain, vain indeed are
all your ceremonies at this time, unless YOU
are benefited, for all that you have, or may
yet do, will neither affect that hodv,
or restore it 10 your embrace. If the artil-
Iery of earth was at your command, and
though volley, after volley was discharged,
till the trees would give off their branches,
and the rocks be tnmbled from their res
ting places on the bill sides, yea, though
you could reud the air,snd shake the found: