New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-31

ing steel come down, guns grasped in strong
hands, teeth shut close, eyes Of fame, every
chest heaviDg as the mighty line sweeps
forward over ditch and parapets up to the
very muzzle of the thundering guns, the
solid earth reeling beneath our tread, the
air thrObbing with the mighty shout that
burst from our victorious ranks when high
over the stronghold our valor won the ban.
ner we bore flashed out its stars of glory.
The picture fades only to give place to
others, in each and all OF which the fallen
ones stand out bold and clear There are
friendships beautiful and lasting in almost
every walk of life. But there are none
more sincere than those formed upon the
weary march and knit close in the shock of
battle. When we clasp hands with one who
stood side by side with US on many field
we feel toward him as we feel toward none
other, And when we look upon the graves
of comrades there steals over the heart
thousandI recolections that make their
memory dearer than that Of others and in
vest the spot where they sleep With an
interest no other in the world can haze.
That we come here to-day is but one
evidence of how fondly we love the
memory of our dead. Lying here upon
the banks of the mighty river their strong
arms wrested from race Of warriors are
the representatives of nearly every State in
the Union. Many graves are nameless.
We Ohly hhOH lllht bOihO NlIS AlGb lutIG VINO
fell for America, and we crown his grave
with our tribute of respect. Many a
mothers darling lies in an unknown grave;
all she knows is that somewhere her boy
lies buried. When tomorrow the news
flashes over the country that we have here
decorated the graves of loyal soldiers
many q heart will throb with Joy to think
that others have done for their dead what
they themselves have longed to do. MANY
soul will be stronger for the knowi-
edge that we have visited the nations dead,
struck palms across their green graves, and
pledged anew our fidelity to the country
they laid down their lives to maintain. But
not alone to our army is all the praise due.
Brave men are sleeping here who maintain.
ed the honor of our flag upon the seas
Some, perhaps, who sailed through storm of
shot and shell with grand old Farragut to
the conquest of the empire city ofthe South,
The army spares not in praise when the
deeds of our sailors are mentioned. We re-
member proudly the wondrOus circle of fire
in which our navy sailed at Port Royal, we
bless the hardy tars who manned the Mon.
itor, our hearts swell with eEUltation when
the Cumberland is mentioned, and we thank
God that America had sons to staud by the
ship, and fight her till she sunk beneath the
waves of the Chesapeake, laundering her
own requiem. We glory ia Winslow,
who near the sunny coast of France taught
all Europe to respect our navy and in pres
enCe of the continent covered our flag with
glory. We remember the bay If Mobile
where, lashed to the mast, Americas great
admiral led his fieetto victory, and added
new laurels to our navy. A thousand other
recolleCtiOns cluster around it, dear to the
hearts of the army. The glory o. the war
belongs alike to each. The war is over, the
old drum stands silent the bugle has
sounded its last charge and pealed its last
recall. The sword hangs idly in its scab-
bard the musket leans unused by the fire.
side, the banners that CLEANED SO proudly
in the front of battle have folded their riven
stars, and now stand mementoes of glories
passed. Our armies have taken their tents
and silently gone; the fields where they
struggled gleam with the glory of peace,
and another than death gathers the rich
/ harvest that springs from their fruitful
bosom. We are often asked, now that the
war is over why not let the dead rest in the
graves their vaior won wJuln not crush
one flower that grows on the graves of the
Southern dead. | only ask that the graves
of our dead be sacred-free from censure
and unmanly reproacb. The duties we owe
the living must not blind us to the duties
We owe to the dead. Let lis yearly crown
their graves with flowers. Thus shall we
show the world we never let the memory of
valor perish. Thus shall we perform q duty,
and feel that when we are gone we shall
have a right to claim wreath of flowers
from companions left behind us.
Speech OF Captain Jordan B. Noble.
Captain Noble having been introduced as
the Drummer Boy Of Chalmette, said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND BROTHER
SOLDIERS Though last, hope ! am not the
least to address you on this memorial oC.
casion. So much has been said by the gen.
tlemen who have preceded NE, it is un-
necessary for me to say anything concerning
the great war and rebellion that was con-
cluded by the surrender of General Lee to
General Grant.
hope it will not be out of place to make q
few remarks respecting this sacred ground.
On this spot aud not far from here fifty
three years 20 had the honor to be pres.
ent under our great commander, Major
General andrew jackson. Tnere stands the
old house where he made his headquarters,
and where | often served him as orderly
during the encampment of American troops.
Here we met and beat back one of the
proudest and most daring enemies that
ever invaded this continent.
Here Captain Noble gave his hearers a
vivid and interesting description of the
battle of the eighth Of January, 1915, and
proceeded:
Governor Claiborne then came to the
camp in person, and was with tie General
almost every day until the enemy retired.
Then you see that over half a century
ago the poor drummer boy who this day
stands before you in this hon0red place,
surrounded by the Lonored dead, now
stands the only living being that can be
found of his regiment. There are many of
the old veterans still here that belonged to
the different battalions too old and feeble
to be present on this occasion, among whom
l Will name the hOnOred Anthony Fer
nandez, and number of the colored bat.
lallon, too numerous to mention at present
The roll of the Seventh regiment was called
on the eighth of January, 1867 and 1868
and there were none to answer to their
names except the poor drummer boy of
the regiment.
l would here remark that I hope
you will not attribute to per.
sonal vanity the mention of my
services to my country. Enlisted in 1913
IN the Seventh regiment as drummer during
the war, discharged on the eighth of May,
1916, re-enlisted the same day for five years,
and honOrRbly discharged at Baton Rouge:
again reenlisted in the First United States
infantry and served Rs q substitute four
years four months and fourteen days l WAS
then honorably discharged from the United
States army in 1925; i came to New Or.
ASans anu H3ue luis NY home TIL l65o' Un
that year, at the time Major Ddde was
massaered with his troops in Flori-
da, the call was made by Cen
eral Gaines for volunteers to go
there, then volunteered for that service,
under command Of General Persifer F.
Smith, aud was present at the burial of
the murdered men Of Major Dade. Major
General Buchanan, the present commander
of this department was then adiutant of
the Fourth infantry, commanded by MJor
Twiggs. To him was Assigned the duty of
collecting the dead bodies and reporting
their. numbers, He did this by counting