The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-06-19
For the Grand Haven News.
Our Soldiers
LAMoNr, juno is, 1sel

before, within the recollection OF many OF
us, has the clash of resounding arms been
heard so near our frcsides. We have
never fully realized before all the stern,
sad, and horrible aspects of a contest be-
tween contending armies. Never, since
we had being as nation, has war
been waged SO deplorable as the one now
actually inaugurated in our midst. 1t is
emphatically a disruption Of once great
and happy family, wherein some of its
members are pursuing Others with malice
and revenge aforethought for real or fam
cied wrongs. Some stand aloof, plainly
10th to mingie in the broil, and virtually
saying, "Let the belligerents fight it out"
Others are evidently ready to join one or
the other party, but hardly know whose
cause 10 spouse. Their sympathies in
many cases are plainly with the weaker
party, but in case of final defeat they fear
the vengeance of the stronger. hI
But we of the North, being unfortu-
nately one of the belligerents, have nail
ed the stars and stripes 10 the rampars,
and are determined to stand by thestand-
ard of the old family compact, so long as
star or shred remains. We take the
field against our rebellious brothers firmly
resolved that the honor of our ancient
and world renowned name, which they
seek to bring into disreputc and contempt
even, shall be fully indicated.
How worthilv is our State coming up
TO the contest. Our soldiers are already
winning golden laurels in the field.
You will remember when in our boy
hood we were overjoyed at the approach
of general training day, and admired
over and over again, the fine appearance
and heroic bearing of the soldiers as they
performed their various evoutions-won
derful indeed in our boyish eyes-and
thought what pleasant life that of {
soldier must be--such beautiful uniform
brightly secured muskets, with bristline
bayonets, FURNISHED swords, golden epau
let's, fine horses, booming cannon, splen
did music, &C., &C., little dreaming th'
sad realities profgured in all these move
and exciting sights, and that blood anC
death were legibly written upon them all
Far different were the thoughts and emo
tons suggested to our mind at the de
parture of the Third Michigan Regiment
from Grand Rapids, to the seat of wal
Thursday morning last.
AS they passed from their encampmen
down through the city they made splen
did appearance, and thousands upon thou
sands greeted them with EXPLANATIONS {
admiration, and cheered them onwar
with their best wishes, prayers, and Go
Speeds" which were duly acknowledge
,. by the thousand brave hearts that ha
resigned home, with all its endearment!
to endure all the toll, privations and su
: ferings of soldiers life, and face ever
deadly missile that the art of war can d.
wise to maintain the Union, these State
and Government the noblest and be:
on earth. And when | reflected, as I'll
splendid and heroic pageantry passe
that many of those now in the full blooI
of manhood and possessing strong arm
, large hearts and noble aspirations, will
in all probability, yield up their lives o
: the battle field, sacrifice on the alti
of their country, the stars and stripe
proudly waving to the breeze the la
| earthly object that meets their eyes ju'
. closing in death, and the thought
friends, far away, mourning over her los
, just fitting across the mind as it sinks il
q to obliyiousness Of MI terrestrial scene
r ahl thought |, there is a reality in WI
: "a sad, dreaded reality, and doubly
be deplored above all other deplorable n
Q cessities are those that compel the swor
to be unsheathed and imbrued in brotl
crs blood. But deplorable as the nece
J sity may be, j feel assured, Messrs. e.
itors, that the Michigan boys, and parti
ularly those that compose the Third Re-
: iment, many of whom are from our ow
i county, and the flower thereof, will NJ
. fail to do their '0hole duty. They wi
do full honor to themselves and their nj
: tive State.
Let them have our sympathies, mat
rial aid, and prayers to uphold the
] n II