The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-12-18
From the Missouri Democrat.
THE NATIONS DEAD.

In April last two Massachusetts soldiers were
slain in Baltimore, while marching through with
their regiment, to go to the defense of the ma
tion's capital BY order of their honored Com.
mOnwe ealth, their bodies we're tenderly cared for
aud conveyed to their homes for burial Pri
vate citizen soldiers. undistinguished by wealth,
or social position, representive men of the Mas
sachusetts yeOmanry, they received the hOnOrs
of the State at their burial, aud their names
will have distinguished place in their country .
history.
Since that day, hundreds of patriotic men
have fallen upon the battle fields of this war.
Their number and the circumstances of the
country render it impossible that all their bodies
should be returned to their homes for burial
But those battle fields will all be memorable in
the history of the republic, and future genera.
tions will honor the memory of all who fell upon
them, giving up their lives in the just cause of
constitutional free government.
The heroic Lyon, distinguished among our
military leaders for having struck the earliest
decisive blows, and won the first distinguished
successes against the great rebelliOn-more
mournfully distinguished by his last act of devo-
ton and herOism, (which couples his name with
that Of the Spartan Leonidas,) pouring out bis
life-bl0od on the soil of MssOuri-was not only
m0urned by the nation, but had kindred and
friends who claimed the privilege of conveying
his remains to the burial Place of his fathers, in
his native Connecticut. With suitable military
escort, the body of the dead hero was borne
ac"oes the continent, receiving distinguished
honors al along the way; and the grave which
has received il, in remote and otherwise OBJ
scure village, will be visited, ages hence, by ma
tives Of Missouri, Who will thus evince the re.
spect they cherish for Missouri's brave defender
against the enemies Of TINT Union to which Mis-
souri, 0ses ell that she 10.
Other names of brave and devoted leaders
are already or the roll of martyrs which is being
made up for historic commemoration. Ellsworth,
and Winthrop, and Cameron, and Baker-these
are not all. The heart sickens at the thought
that already the names of distinguished leaders,
who have beSn sacrificed, are too numerous foI
mention in such notice as this. But the roll viii
be made complete on the more deliberately pre-
pared page Of the historian. The country viii
not let any OF these names be forgotten. Many
more will vet be added to the list. Other lead
ers Of regiments and battalicns possibly also
brisades and dvsions-will yet fail from theiI
chargers, pierced BY the bullets of rebel. ant
sharp-shooters. If possible, they will be borne
from the fields Of their fame by faithful soldiers
with filial tenderness, and will be buried in thei
home sepulchres. But if the exigencies of va
compel the nation to leave them amid their slaiI
soldiers, Cameron was left, it will matter little
The battlefield will be the more distinguished
as being also the burial place of dead whom th'
nation will honor. The tourist of future age
will tread the more reverently amid the historic
scenery, seeing that he treads near the grave
OF heroes. We also think it better burial 70
q chieftain slain in battle, to have his remain
deposited among those OF the brave men VIII
followed him to battle, who shouted his name il
their war-cry, ard who fell with him, than eve
to rest among the graves Of his kindred, at tn
home Of his childhood.
!, Die we may, and die we must
But o, where can dust to dust,
| Be consigned so well.
Az where heaven its dews shall shed
On the martyred patriots bed,
And the rocks shall raise their head,
OF his deeds to tell l'