Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-09-16
a Var Response from TaftOn.


the columns Of your paper will you in
sert The following account Of the tribute
paid to our own Yoiunteers-"The Blakes
Prairie Rangers" God, in his providence
places way marks in the life OF every inGi-
vidual to which the heart makes pilgr,ma-
ges, as if to gather strength to enter anew
upon the conflict of life. The same is
true Of communities and Of nations. Let
us then contrast two way-marks in tee
history Of old Grant, viz: AUG. 23d 1860,
and Aug. 2Sd 1862. On the former day,
her residents coming from various por-
tons Of her territory, met at an appointed
place, beautiful grove in the town Of
Tafton, to return their thanks to the boun-
tifu, giver and the "God Of harvest praise.
Righteousness had crowned the labors
Of the husbandman, snd peace reigned in
all her borders.
Had a voice prophetic then uttered on
the still air "this day two years, We shall
again congregate, 50 do honor to the brave
volunteers who will go forth to rescue their
country, from traitorous hand" the
words would have been as little compre-
hended, as was the hand writing on the
wall at the great banquet Of Beishazzar.
Then, the leafy wood reached the "Iar-
vest Home Chorus" now there ilocks upon
the air, the Marseiles Hymn, the war
song Of the French, yet awaking re-
spouse in every Americans heart.
Now the gladstone step and Joyous coun-
tenance, is exchanged for the martial
tread, the moistened eye, the subdued
voice and the silent grasp Of the hand.
After the dinner, (and we cannot pass
without word Of COMMUNICATION to the
lady friends of our volunteers, who exhib.
tied such skill in gastronomy, equaled only
by the taste displayed in the ornamental
arrangement of the table. May their dear
ones be safely returned to them, to again
share the pleasures of their own homes,
Miles X. Young, the Marshall Of the 1ay.
introduced as the first speaker Rev. f. ..
Thearle, who 10 MS patriotic address gave
ample proof that in heart and soul he
was "bona-fde" naturalized American.
Enthusiastic cheers in the zouayG style,
under, the lead Of Lieut.. Barner, respond
cd to the same and the speakers following
the "Tafton Quartette" also sang the popu-
lar National song of the French.
Esqr. Bennett was next calleI upon who
reviewed the leading features of the war;
and suggested some improvements in The
mode Of treatment Of the rebels, for the
future. Then followed the popular song,
"John Brown" sang BY the Wyalusing
choir. Rev. Ira Tracy was then invited tc
address the audience. who introduced his
practical and soul-stirring remarks b, say
ing "my friends | should be on the battle
field to-day if was worth the sending
His Oldest son has share Of his fathers
patriotism, and is a member of Capt Earn
harris company,t the Dlakes Prairie Rangers.
Last in order was Rev. A. M. Dixon who
announced at the commencement of pat
riotic and loyal speech that he "was South
ern born, the son of slave holder whose
ancestors were slaveh olders, and that
slavery was to him no new thing" He
briefly sketched some Of the prominent
characters of Southerners, and closed by
telling the brave volunteers, "they were
not going to fight towards, but those in
whose veins coursed the same bloed as
flowed in their own. 1t was not con
trast between foreign nations, but Greek
against Greek, brother against brother"
The Bate family then sang new version
of Dixie "and at its close all felt like taking
musket, and "marching on to Dixie
land" determined to put rebellion down.
The exercises of the long remembered
Cay, were closed by "threc rousing cheers
for the union and the boys, may God bless
them and the world by them
A FRIEND TO VOLUNTEERS.
Talton, Aug. ~ '62.