Litchfield enquirer., 1865-07-20
chimes, that rung out on the evening air. must have sounded like funeieal knels.

chimes, that rung out on the evening air, must have sounded like funeieal knells.
 Que way and another, the manly array, which, with high hopes and bold determination, bid adieu to us on the 18th of September, 1862, bearing their silken standards-t the gift gen tie hands and generous hearts-tos the front. has dwindled down, till you and your few com rades scattered among these homes and towns are the wasted remnant Nor do you repre- sent one regiment alone others, sacrificed l m the same great calse. who went forth from these hills with hopes sanguine AS yours, re- turn not. The obseqnies of two of them were celebrated here besides other burials from oiher sanctuaries. These all have left it to you to be their sponsors Suppose ship-loyed ones of ours on board--to go down at sea- A lew escape in the life boat, Or on fragments of inc wreck We meet them invite them to cur houses; question them: When, how. where were those so dear to us last seen How near stood you to them Heard you thei dying cry Shared you their utmost peril? D i'd you your best to rescue them? If they did. what tie would bind us to those thus identified with the departed, having out-lved the wild frenzy of the clements to bear testimony to their des- tructive fury. Somewhat thus, must ye, whom this war has bereaved, look on these who have out-lived the pitiess storm of battle, anxious to gather up the fragmentary tidings of your loved and lost, 10 learn at what point of the field at what crisis of the fight, your boy was clove n down ; how he was demeaning himself at the eventfnl moment; what was his last act which were his last worlds whitber was directed his last look when the dull shadows deepened and heightened round him. and he took his leave of earth. = ...- '.r.-. .-..r...
 The survivors of Cold Harbor. Winchester, Fishers Hill, Cedar Creek. Fort Fisher, and other spots that have been made immortal, will move among us sort of privileged class :: the chair at the table, vacated by your missing boy, will seem to belong to his fellow soldier i; a seat will be reserved for him at the winter 8 ireside he will rehearse for the hundredth time the events that will bring tears to eyes un- : used to weep, and will recall with startling viv- idness the face that death long ago had changed. A double duty will devolve on such,-to act worthy of themselves, and of those whose name and fame they are thus privileged to per petuate.
 Finally, we welcome you as timely auxilia- ries to all useful enterprises.
 Peace hath her Victories, no less renown. ed than War" The demand for men and means has by nc means ceased with this ex- haustive conflict. The farm, the shop, the mill, call aloud for hands. There is not a sphere of laborious and successful industry that has not eagerly awaited your return. Posts of honor and responsibility will naturally devolve on you. Above all, the schemes that have at heart mans spiritual and immortal n terests :oiter for lack of patient, zealous. un dauhted, nvircble supporters.
 "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord !; curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, be- cause they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord. against the mighty ] These lives-spared amid dangers imminent and incessant, the air dense and dark with the deadly missiles, men fal,ing on every hand, like autumn leaves--lives, saved as by miracle, belong-uo they net Ito their Preserver To Him, consecrate them, this day, living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. You owe it to youl companions stricken down at your side, many oi them Christian men, to fill, yourselves, the pla. ces they have been called to yacate. They have been promoted they rode aloft in their chariots of fire their brows are garlanded with the green wreath of Immortality Let the mantle of Elijah fall upon Elsha You owe it to those at home, who have borne you as on eagles wings to Heaven, who in the closet and at the domestic altar have made you the bur den of their daily intercessions, who, month by month on the fourth Sabbath evening, have come up to the House of Prayer-each church, each neighborhood represented, till the place grew too strait fer the assembly-all ears at tent to hear the tale of your patient sacrifices and heroic exploits, and to learn the way wherein God was leading you you owe it to these to cast in your lot with them-adding your prayers to theirs, your efforts to theirs-that those still in imminent jeopardy may be recov- cred from more irretrievable calamities You owe it to enc another, to stand by each other, hereafter as heretofore to shield each other from dangers deadlier than ball or bayonet to ward of, each from his fellow, the fiery shafts of the tempter; to count every man the common foe who would entice either of you from the paths of recttude; to close up your ranks. shoulder to shoulder, in inyincible array, against all invaders, ,who, in the guise of friends. would plunder you of your integrity, cater to your corrupt appetites and impulses, decoy you into the grog shop and gambling sa- loon. drag you down from your elevation to their degradation Count such men your ene- mics more to be dreaded than rebel cannon, l than bursting shell or exnlodino m;nas Thov