Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-22

A metallic coffin from the froat, Yes. handle
& carefully: do not insuit the memory on INC
dead The case may contain The renlinp 0'
snlv private soldier. yet &c - none the les
hcru no gkudy dress, or mark OF ranks per
haps. decorated the form IN life, yes no more
brave and gallant spirit has been sacrihceo ios
holy cause Arsaed foes dehlej a eouatry hAg
And s,,uek At tie life and Liberties of a nation
The Gre. OF patriotism burned brightly in his
breast, add the thought OF country became para
noun. q all Others He tore himself from home.
friepds love- all, and went forth TO battle in de
tense OF freedom. The sacrifice MAS not made
fof selfintercst. bu, for humanity. 70 dazzling
future Of piace, cnoluments. or power lgred him
on and helped to mould his decision. No
thoughts of comfort aud ease came TO make less
sad the parting hour With a determination,
proud because formed in the Consciousness OF
night, and with a noble beroism, be offered him.
self az a defender Of the Union In the sad
adieu from home. burning thoughts swelled too
thici; for utterance yet be listened TO the prompt
ings of duty and proudly brushed away the
gathering tear What TO him was home when
the flag of freedom was assaulted. and nation
trembled on the verge of destruction. In the
ranks he fought-it matters not where. go that IT
Wa <sll aud gallsntly done. e., handle the
coffin carefully for within IL a hero sleeps. The
hands are folded calmly acgozs tie breAst-no
more will they clutch the instruments Of death
70 hurl Distraction into the ranks of the foe
The eyes are closed, the light has faded
from their depths--no more will they Hash
the burning thoughts Of the soui when
the bugle sounds the alarum The lips
are compressed, indicating frmness even in the
hoar Of death: no more will they open TO shout
the fierce war cry, or TO return the tervor when
lovin ones press thewarm kiss in the welcome
home" The limbs are still, the brow IS pale.
r. 4 81 fLn.. he
head and drop tear, for TO the cause OF Union,
to the boon OF liberty. to the sweets OF memory
he is ever dear He was no easy desth-he fell
far from home. with only soldier companions to
cheer him In bis last moments. and receive the
dying message from hs lips. No soft hands
closed his eyes or cooled the fever OF his brow.
With the rude canvass of field tent swsying
over him, or with the broad open sky above for
a canopy, perhaps. with stars paling ia the misty
/ light. he felt the shadows OF death steal over
him, and, surrounded by the pomp aud clang Of
war. he breathed his soul away Teuderly bear
/ the coffin, Friends are weeping Tor him in his
tar off home, They sit by the window in the
| dim twilight hour. aud, with eyes strained upon
the distance FROM which fash the murmurs oil
battle, muse in sorrow. knowing that the "dar
/ ling boy, the manly youth who went so proudly
/ forward when a country called TO arms. Is return
Il ing 10 them robbed of ife--cold in the arms OF
death grave has been prepared in the little
I churchyard and there the hero s0ou will sleep
and loving hands will plant rarcst flowers To
! grow blossom aud shed their fragrance DER his
i tomb
When such sacrifices are daily made. is no
the Union worth maintaining? Is not the cause o
/ liberty Just. and il not the honor of the old flag
above reproach The soldier fought not fo
glory but for country lie brayed the storms o
battle not for gold patry gains but for libert,
and the common rights of man. The sacrifice
was cheerfully made his life freely given. And
yet, in the great business and political world
how few appreciate the soldiers sufierings
! They enter into party contest, give way to the
chickering's OF strife, plot and struggle for peace
gain, ard power, and, in their s0rdid eagerness
rudely estle the mourners who pause to drop
| tear OF earnest sorrow over the cofned form
brought home from the battlefield 10 ba lai'
awsv to rest among the quiet scenes of you'll
aud home How little do they appreciate th'
sacrihce--how carelessly heed the oftering--hov
coldly acknowledge the services They hav
no true love for country--have no desires TO stoI
the How of blood and bring back sunshine TO tn,
land. so long as gains accrue to them. and posi-
ton lies within the grasp of their ambition
oh that the tcsoisting scenes Of this tragic war
the walls of sorrow and the long cortege o
CHASTITY death. could awaken the people to
proper love OF country, to a just appreciation o
the soldiers sacrifice, and restore harmony o
action in the prosecution of the war tor the con
querug OF an honorable peace.
Lay the coffin gently down and let the Ca
speed il Northward TO the home where sorro'
dwells louisville Journal.