Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-06-09
NOT TES IN DIXIE.
XXXIII.
NEAR WASHINGTON CITY, !
Nav 9th. 1865.
XXXTII.


derful "reminiscences I enter upon this the
last of these erratic pen excursions. The
vast march IS ended, the grand review is
over, and all thoughts are now turned
hOmeward. The great campaign which
begun at Atlanta, Georgia, on the 18th OF
November, 1864, and which Gen. Sherman
declared to be unfinished at Savannah,
and at Fayetteville, Is not even yet fully
concluded. I'VE have one more march to
make 1t Is not to go out and receive
the shock of battle and grapple with
deadly foes in bloody conflict. Vastly
different from that 1t is to go and grasp
the warm and friendly hands of those we
love by our own home frsides in the good
old NOrthland. The tolls, the sufferings
and the dangers of the tremendous war
for the Union, are among the things of the
past. Leaving them behind us we turn
our faces toward future which, as COM
pared with the desolate track over which
we have come, seems like a flower -strewn
path leading through the peaceful abodes
of the ever blessed. 0 what compensa-
ton for countless tolls and pains-for
nameless hardships and privatiOns. Thank
God that he has reserved it for our age
and generation-eYen for US.
1t IS hardly necessary to say that we of
the Red Stars never felt so proud or so
happy as when our feet kept the sublime
cadence of martial tread up Pennsylvania
Avenue on our last grand gala day. One
hour Of that were worth an age OF com
mon life For him whose score OF cam
paigns and battles in behalf Of his coun-
try's flag had scanned his cheek, and scar
red his frame, and who now followed that
flag all torn to shreds yet garlaned with
wreaths of victory, one hour, one moment
of that day possessed more happiness
/ I'LL L.
life which never knows such sacrifices,
such suferings, and such triumphs.
Those who gazed upon us in our holi-
day costume amid the fascinating ceremo-
MES of parade could little know or feel the
full import of this grand episode. None
could appreciate as we that in this day
were centered the baff1ed hopes and re-
served joys of four long years of untold
danger, labor and privation. For them
and to them who bore the stains and scars
of battle, who with shoeless feet on many
a long and painful march had marked re-
bellious soil with bloody tracks, who
shelterless and foodless had endured upon
the Outposts Of liberty the pitiless peltings
of the storm through dreary days and
darker nights, who had toiled and fought
through the scorching sun Of summer and
the chilling wintry blast, who had breasted
again and again the leaden rain of battle
and felt the awful solemnity and 4everish
terror of bloody conflict, who had buried
scores of comrades in obscure and sunken
graves amid gloomy Southern pines, who
for months and years had carried life at
! their finger ends ready to be snatched by
rne ire-ausel j the 'front.' Of DEATH -
or by
Tine Ieyer-,ugel lurking IN tie rear,''
who had sat face to face with Death
through seeming ages of confinement in
loathsome Southern prison-pens, who had
heard upon the disastrous field the bitter
taunt Of victorious rebel, who amid flame
and smoke, and death had carried the
banner Of beauty and glory" over the
defantstrongholds of traitors and unfurled
| it from the proudest citadels Of rebellion
for these and to these were reserved the
most exquisite depths of the joy, the most
glorious heights of the exultatiOn Of this
triumph day of our Republic and our
age.
But the splendid pageant is now over
and the sorrowful parting of those whom
mutual perils and pains have so long bound
together is about to take place. Corps
Divisions and Brigades that have so often
withstood the furious tide of battle will
soon melt away, and the sun-browned
companions of so many trials and hard
ships will disperse to their quiet homes
scattered throughout the length and
breadth of this great free land. The sep
aration brings sorrow and jOy-sorrow fOI
the death of old associations and JOY, in
expressible joy for the glad and friendly
greeting awaiting the returning soldier at
his own home threshold Years ago.
shouting Freedom S battle-cry, we rallied
around her starry banner to save it from
the infuriate clutches of traitors Sing
| ing their stirring songs the thousands
| haStened-
Pale earnest thousands from the dizzy mills,
And suuburnt thousands from Tue harvest hills,
| Qaick. eager thousands from the ctys streats
Aud storm tried thousands from the fisher fleets,
forth to fight the boastful rebel foe
How changed the scene now, and how
| different. how diUiner the refrain that will
soon be caught up by the armed legions:-
1--WE arc marching home at lssI
Now the cruel war is past,
| And the time Of peace draws
We marching home at last,
Now the cruel war is past,
To the homes our hearts hold dear.
! s'WIth our banners stained and torn
That through many tight were born
| Whore death rained thick aud fast,
| New glorious work is cone,
! Now the Unien cause is won,
We are marching home at last
The joy of our coming has but one tinge
1 of sadness. 1t is our grief for those who
went gaily forth with us but who, alas
can never return. We are the victors
they are the martyrs. With their blooC
they helped to purchase our Iaurels, anC
we owe them the lasting debt Of kindes
and most honorable remembrance. II
our hearts and in the great heart of then
country their names must be wreathet
with chaplets of immortal honor. Then
noble forms are not ours. They lie en-
shrouded in cold neglected clay, and arr
found scattered wherever armed toe'
struck their bastard steel at the Aationi
! life Their sunken graves are the foot
prints of Freedom, the way marks of civ
ilization. This country, this generation
this age can never pay them too mucl
honor. Praise may be lavlshed upon the
! living, and it is some slight compensation
| for risk. and toll and suffering. But how
can we repay the glorious dead-they wht
have not only risked but given all fol
their liberties aud ours
| eCan Honor 's voice provoke the silent dust
! Or Flattery spoth The dull cold ear Of death "
1t cannot. But these are not dead
lThe perishable part has vanished, but tht
brave and noble soul, the immortal eX
ample, still walks among lis a living pres
ence. Let us bestow upon it our highes
admiration, our profoundest respect lie
us enshrine it in our memories and affec
tions, hallow it with our tears, and homo
| it in every possible way, and thus trans
nit it to the grateful generations to come
1t will be their richest, best legacy.
And now, though it may seem a LITTLE
presumptous, let me say to those who have