Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-11-28
sg- A metallic coffin from the 'front.'


Yes, handle it carefully: do not insult
the memory Of the dead The case may
contain the remains of a private soldier,
yet be is none the less hero. No gaBdy 4
dress, or mark Of rank, perhaps, descrat. 4
ed the form in life, yet no more brave
and gallant spirit has been sacrificed I
for a holy cause. Armed foes defiled 4 4
counlry's flag and struck at the life and
Liberties Of a nation. The fires Of patri-
otism burned brightly in bis breast, and 4
the thought Of country became para
mount TO all others. BE tore himself 4
from home, friends, love, al, and went 4
forth to battle in defence Of freedom. /
The sacrifice was not made for selfinter- I
est, bat for humanity. No dazEliug 1
futare Of place, emoluments, or power |
lured him on and helped TO mould his de- |
eision. No thoughts Of comfort and ease
came to make less ssd the parting hour
With determination, proud because
formed in the CONSEQUENCES Of right, aud
with noble heroism, be offered himself
as q defender Of the Union. Ia the sad
adisu from home, burning thoughts swell
ed too thick for uttsrance, yet be listened
TO the promptings Of duty, aud proudly
brushed away the gathering tears. What
10 him was home when the flag Of free
dom was assaulted, and a nation trem-
bled onthe verge Of destrgetion2 fnths
ranks he fougbi-it matters not where,
50 that il was we'll and gallantly done
Yes, handle the coffin carefully, Coz With
in il hero sleeps The hands are fold
ed calmly across the breast--no more
will they clutch the instruments Of death
10 hurl destruction into the ranks OF the
foe Tho eyes are closed, the light has
faded from their deptbs--no more will
they fash the burning thoughts OF the
soul when the bugie sounds the alarm.
The lips are compressed, indicating hrm-
ness, even in the hour OF death; 10 more
will they open to shout the fierce war.
cry, or to return the fervor when loving
ones press the warm kiss in the WELCOME
home TIE limbs are stiil, The brow is
pale, the form is icy cold Liz him
lightly Bow ths head and drop a tear,
for 20 the cause Of Union, to the boon Of
liberty; TO the sweets Of memory be is
ever dear His WAS no easy death-he
fell far from home, with only soldiers
companions to cheer him in bis last mo-
ments, and receive the dying message
from bis lips No soft hands closed bis
eyes or cooled the fever Of his brow.
With tha rude canvas Of field tent
swaying over him, or with the broad,
open sky above for a canopy, perhaps,
with stars paing 10 the misty light, he
felt the shadows Of death steal over him,
surrounded by the pomp and clang Of
war, he breathed his soul away Ten
derby bear the coHinl Friends are weep
ing for him in his far-Of home They
sit by tho window In the dim, twilight
hour, and, with eyes strained upon the
distance from which flash the BURNERS
OF battle, muse in sorrow, knowing that
the darling boy, the manly youth who
went so proudly forward when u country
called to arms, is returning to them rob
bed Of life-cold ia the arms of death.
A grave has been prepared in the little
Ghurchyard, and there the hero soon viii
sleep; and loving hands will plant raress
flowers to grow, blossom, aud shed their
fragrance DER his tomb
When such sacrifices are daily made,
is not the Union worth maintaiuingf la
not the cause ofliberty just, and is not
the honor ofthe old Gag above reproaeh1
The soldiers fought not for glory, but for
country. He braved the storms Of bat
tie not for gold or paltry gains, but for
liberty and the common rights Of man
The sacrifice was cheerfully made; his
life freely given, Aud yet, in the great
business aud political world, how few 40.
preciate the soldiers suiferings; They
enter into party contest, give way 10
the chickering's OF strife, plot and struggle
for place, gain, and power, and, ia their
sordid eagerness, rudely iosile,the mour.
ners who pause to drop tear Of earnest
sorrow over the cofiiued form brought
home from the battle field to DO laid away
TO rest among the quiet scenes of youth
and home. How little do they appreei-
ate the sacrifice ;how careless heed the OF.
fering-how eoldly acknowledge the ser.
yioel They have no true love for eoun.
iry--have no desire to atop the dow of
blood and bring sunshins back 70 the
land long IS gains accrue t0them, and
position lies within the grasp Of their
ambition ohlthat the desolatlng scenes
of this tragic war, the walls of sorrow
and the long cortege of CHASTITY death,
could awaken the people to proper love
OF country, to a just Appreciation Of the
soldiers sacrifice. and restore harmony
ofaetion in the prosecution OF the war
Tor The conqaering Of an honorable
peaeel sa1d n lfjd say
Lay the coffin gently down and let the
car speed Northward to the home where
sorrow dwellsl saa iaaaaa