The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-05-31

/ 49, q ANANS AeAIsa NAASA. SOH1 H-~HSS~
about half past one o'clock, it was
found necessary to postpone the affair
until Sunday at 2 O'Clock P NJ. Bust
ness on Saturday afternoon was gen
/ orally suspended, and the people in
general had made their arrangements
/ to take part in the ceremonies.
/ Yesterday afternoon was beautiful
and clear, and long before TIVE o'clock
thousands Of people had assembled
on Main Street. Shortly after the
! hour designated the procession was
formed, and took upits line of,march
for the cemetery. The procession
was very long, and embraced all the
leading societies. fire department,
4 Grant Artillery, the lands, aud over
one hundred vehicles. The steam
/ FIRE engines were beautifully decor
ated, No. 3 especially, being covered
with wreathes of evergreens and
| flowers. No. /, in addition to their
other decorations, had a large gilt
spread eagle mounted in the center,
and attracted considerable attention.
The Grant Artillery, all old SOL
dicrs, were dressed in uniform, and
marched with 4 steady tread, and was
one of the best features in the line.
The jackson Fire Compans was out
in force, the members wearing uni
form hats. Their engine was finely
decorated They alse had a banner
nicely decorated, with the inscription,
I'VE Honor the Brave who Died in
the Field"
The Turner Society was out in uni
form. and carried a device with the
words Cut He'll They presented a
fine appearance.
The Odd Fellows were in full re-
1 gala, aud carried several emblems
decorated with flowers. They were
an interesting feature in the process
sion, and quite a large number were
in the ranks.
The Crescent City Band had their
banner trimmed with Grape. and the
| Cornet Band had a beautiful shield,
trimmed with evergreens, and on it
10 gold letters was the motto: Honor
to the Brave"
When the procession started, il
moved up Main to Fourth Street, and
thence up Fourth to Locust and out
past the depot. On both Main and
Locust Streets immense crowds were
congregated on the sidewalks. Thou
sands of people walked out to see the
ceremony, going out the cemetery
road, up the railroad, and on the tow
I path Of the canal.
Alter the procession had reached
the cemetery and the people were
: congregated around the soldiers
graves, Mr.. Gooding, Marshal of the
day, gave the order for the people to
decorate the graves, when those who
had flowers went quietly and deposit
! ed them on the tombs of the departed
Heroes. Il was intended at first foI
the artillery to give the signal for the
decoration, but owing to the fact Of
their being so many horses in the
vicinity, it was feared that somebody
might possibly get hurt by soaring
their animals. and the salute was
omitted.
After the flowers had been deposited
on the graves, the assemblage wa.
called to the Summit of the hill in the
Cemetery, where the addresses were
delivered. After music by the Ores
cent City Band, Rev. DR.. Runck, o
St. Johns Church, offered ferven
prayer in German. Col. Buchanan
was then introduced, aud spoke for
r about ten minutes. He said: w
e have assembled here to cay in thi
, beautiful cemetery-the city of tn,
, dead, to pay tribute to the departe,
heroes of the Republic, but nothing
that we can do or say can ad,
to their honor or glory. They per
formed their highest duty as citizen
and soldiers, and gave their lives 70
their country. They left their homes
! their wives and children. and all tina
was near and dear to them, and offeret
up their lives on the altar of freedom
: They grasped their arms with a firm
/, hand; they went through the schoo
, Of the soldier; after long and wear,
6 marches, they would lie down a
o night with no couch but the earth
: and no covering but the sky; an,
e when the conflict came they met
J. ike men. We can almost to
< day, here, in the presence 0
o their graves hear the roar 0
the artillery, the singing of tn
!. balls, the bursting of the death
dealing shells, the shrieks and groan
: of the wounded and dying, and th
: fshouts and cheers of their comrade
= as they rushed on to victory. Coul
we, to- day, hear the cold lips of thos
|, = who sleep here in their narrow tomb
! tell the story of their hardships an
ic suferings, brave men and stout heart
2, would melt with tears. They CAV
/ their lives that liberty should tri
\ umph. Never more will their pres
II ence gladden. US. Their light ha
e gone out forever, but their sun set i
d & halo Of glory. They were not eve
u permitted to witness the en-
of the struggle, and see tn
At banner of freedom wavin
"a triumpbantly throughout the lane
b They wera a mart of that grand arm