Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-07-09
DEDlCATORY lDDaE@ By GcY. FlIRcHILD.
lNIEaE8TING cG8aN0NIGs On THE ocCAsIog.
10000 Loyal People Present.

Inc grandeat celebration OF indie
tendance Day in the state occurred
at Lancaster, the lovely county seat
OF Grant County, on the 4th, and nc,
cepting u special invitation Of the
citizens to represent the State Journal
ON the occasion, and report for its
columns the exercises connected with
the dedication Of the noble monument
which its patriotic citizens have
erected to the memory Of those from
their number, who fighting in the
Union armies, laid down their lives
that their blood might reanimate and
preserve the nation, in company with
GOV. F4irchild, Gen Rusk, Bank
Controller, aud Col. Reynolds, we
left Madison Monday afternoon.
spending the night at Boscobel, and
the next morning, IN carriages furn-
ishod by the people Of Grant County,
at an early hour left for Lancaster,
which, in spite Of roads made heavy
by rain, we reached in ample season
lor the exercises, passing a large
number Of people on the way, and
finding fields and houses apparently
almost deserted, the people having
nearly ali gone up to the great patri-
otto festival. We found committee
in waiting to provide for the party,
and were most warmly welcomed and
all entertained throughout our stay
with the large. hearted hospitality
characteristic of the people Of Grant
County.
The monument, about which the
interest of the day centerd, is one OF
rare beauty and appropriateness of
design, and excellence Of workman
ship, and was erected at an expense
of nearly $1,000, Of which $4,000 was
raised by tax, the balance by subscrip-
ton. The idea of such monument
was first suggested in the first year
Of the war, soon after the first com
pany Of volunteers was organized.
BY public spirited citizen Of PLATES
vile, OF English birth, Mr.. George r.
Laughton, in letter to the Hegald,
which is the organ Of the people Of
tho county, and though many other
calls Of more pressing importanc were
made ON the people, he preserved il
his idea, till Grant County. which al
way promptly responded 70 all calls
for men and money daring the war,
furnishing u may if not more sol
diers for the Union army in proper
ton to its population, particularly in
the early years Of the war, than any
other county in the State,
enjoys the proud honor Of being the
first county in the State, if not in the
Union, thus worthily to honor its
martyrs. On motion of Gen J. II.
Rountrcc, tho ounty Board Of SUI
peivisors in the fall Of 1865, levied
tax Of one mill on The dollar, to add
to the amount raised by subs cription
for the erection ofthe monument, and
a contract was made with Mr.. S. d.
Wright, Of Whitewater, who is high
IL praised for the faithful and admir-
able manner in which he has carried
out the wishes Of the people, enter
ing heartily into the spirit Of the
work.
The monument, placed ii the norh-
east corner Of the Court House square,
consists of central square oblisk OF
white marble, with base and sub base.
the whole surmounted by scuIpt~
ured eagle, perched on a globe and
holding a laurel wreath in his beak.
On the cast side surrounded by
wreath, is the inscription
dedicated to the memory Of the
brave soldiers of Grant County, who
fell in defense Of universal liberty, in
the great rebellion Of A. D. 1861.-
This marble contains their names, The
many bloody battle fields Of the South
contain their ashes, their memory is
forever enshrincd in the memory of
their countrymen."
Above this are cannon, flags and an
anchor.
On the north side is the following
inscription
eve here highly resolve that these
honored dead shall not have died in
vain that this nation, under God,
shall have new birth, and that the
government Of the people, shall not
perish from the earth"
Above this The anchor of hope
resting on the Bible, gallandod.
On the west side, beneath an in
verted sword, is the inscriptions
90, stranger, to your country tell
Former we fought buried where we FELL
On the South side, beneath a hand
holding chain and several shacllles,
is the following from the emancipa-
ton proclamation
Il do hereby declare that all per~
sons held as slaves are and hencefor-
ward shall be free"
Around this central shaft, which is
five feet square ut the base, and 26
feet high. ut n suitable distance are
square marble cenotaphs, each sur
mounted by n fine capitol on which
is carved marble cannon, pointing
outward. as II to defend the memory
Of the dead warriors from AT asper
sions. and en- these tablets are in
scribCd the amc9 oi over 700 men.
ineludiae ai from ths County. in
some go organizations Of this and
other S.uto.. served IS soldiers of the
Republic, and died from disease or
wounds in the Union service. the
largest number, about 100, from the
18th nearly half Of which was recru-
ted in this county The whole is en-
closed by a fence OF chain, hing on
marble posts set III stone wall. en-
closing a well kept grass plat. On
the day of the celebration the mar
lie columns were decorated with
wreaths OF evergrecus and flowers.
and several OF the old anpers under
which the dead veterans had fought.
An immense concourSo of people.
men, women and children. those who
had themselves worn the blue, those
whose fathers, sons, brothers. hus>
bands, lovers had fought and per-
nance died for their country. had /
assembled from every part Of the !
county, many coming % and some /