Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-08-26

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but when the necessity came, the latent
energies broke forth with unparalleled
fury. The very air seemed pcrmeated
with patriotism. Wives, and maidenA
mothers and fathers ISN'T forth their hus-
bands, lovers and sons, and even hoary
headed age gave mp its only prop, /
knew . widow whose only son drove
poverty from her door. He felt that he
was called, and when the piteous cry for
help came from our decimated ranks, this
more than Spartan mother said. !" Ny boy
can go; he belongs more to his country
than to me-" I often saw his counte.
nance. ever cheerful, in the dull routine
of camp. His firm and steady tramp
often told of the midnight guard. His
sleepless eye, when on the picket post,
made the repose of an army safe. saw
him in the smoke and blood of battle,
firm, foremost, fearless, bearing, as it
seemed, charmed life, amid almost uni.
versal death. Was this not love OF coun-
try? Yet he was not an exception he
was but type of great class. For
ever accursed be the lips that deny that
such men were actuated by the noble in
spiration of patriotic duty
Again, the dead speak to US in their brav-
cry and fortitude. Would you know
their record Then follow them from
your quiet firesides to the fields of their
achievements, to we'll nigh all the CORY
fields of the rebellion. Hear them first
at Bethel, uttering deep curses upon the
incompetency that restrained them from
performing their mission of chastisement
upon the rebel horde. See them on the
plains of Manassas, unconscious of defc at.
reluntantly following our retreating col
umns before virtually beaten foe Again
behold them wading the ,turbid stream Of
Warwick, with gun and cartridge box
held high above its waters, passing
through leaden hail, against a sheltered
enemy vastly superior in numbers, driv-
ing him from his entertainments, and
holding them against furious assaults
until ordered back, after half their brave
hearts had ceased to beat. Follow them
through from the Chickahominy to the
James, stemning the tide of disaster,
burning with shame at those nightly evo
lutions that abandoned the fields of daily
victory to beaten foe.
Go on through, wherever rebellion
showed its "upreared and abutting
fronts" there they stood. At Antietam,
turning back the march OF the rebellion
northward at Fredericksburg, storming
Maries Heights and planting our stand
ards upon those memorable hills at Get
tysburg, their brows garlanded with the
laurels of the victory from which the
waves Of the rebellion ever after receded !;
again on that outstretched battlefield
from the Rapidan to the Appomatox, run
ming through from May to April, every
day garnering up laurels that would have
adorned the chaplets of Roman Empcror-
in their triumphal returns from the con
quest of empires; in the Shenandoah
snatching victory from defeat, and fore
most in that furious charge that annihi
lated the last rebel army of the valley; at
Port Hudson and elsewhere ON the
banks of the Mississippi; up the Red
River: at the defences OF Mobile
everywhere, indeed, throughout the vast
arena of conflict, making up record
which the most brilliant achievements OF
war never eclipsed, and thank God new
er, throughout this four years of war.
losing a flag No, not one of those s.l-
cred emblems entrusted to the sons OF
Vermont ever felt the polluting touch OF
a traitors hand
But, my friends, yonder monument re-
/ nluus llG VI luG IllGc pdlu iOI oil
this glory. These inscriptions tell with
an eloquence loitier than human lips can
utter, of the suffering and death endured
| by your sons and brothers that the nation
might live They tell of the battle, the
hospital and the prison They tell OF
night-long vigifs and wearisome marches.
! They tell of exposure, hardship and dan
ger such as only the soldier has experience
II 81 l.. &
and the wickedness of man. They tell OF
sad partings, of broken homes and vacant
seats. Who can measure the price paid
for anation's life Fellow citizens. there
are names upon this monument which re-
mind US that no rank. however high was
spared in your nidst-names OF those for
whom Vermont mourns with sorrow
that will not be appeased. When the
structure of the Republic trembled under
the ponderous blows of treason, what u
them were the bountiful attractions OF life
with which they were surrounded in com
parson with the demands of their i'm
periled country? There was display of
+ loyalty, OF patriotism of sacrifice, beyond
expression in words, almost beyond the
/ limit of thought. Their priceless lives
were your contribution to IA bleeding
/ country, but the whole State claims To
share your sorrow and glory and Re-
/ public preserved reaps the reward OF the
/ sacrifice.
/ Not less of praise and admiration do
we extend to the untitled patriot, who,
without hope of reward or euDlumcnt, at
tested with his blood the sincerity of his
devotion, than to the titled chief. Side
/ by side in death they became the equal
worthy Offering for freedom. When gene.
rations to come, in the full frution Of the
blessings which the triumphs OF free gov
eminent will perpetuate, shall reflect upon
the price of their inheritance they will
drop the tear of gratitude alike upon the
graves of all those who lost their lives in
the noble struggle. "Ue lives in fame
who died in Virtues cause" To the
broken home circle there is the sweet CON
ISOLATION Of the highest duty performed, ,
the pleasant thought that Unreasonable
ages will sacredly cherish the memory of
the great service. They have completed
their work They have performed the
patriots last duty The drum-beat no
more arouses them to action. Their ears
are forever closed to the lannon's deafcn-
ing roar. They have lain down their lives
for their country This beautiful statute
1
Green Mountain State lisa fitting tribute
to their memory 1t will be the Mecca to
which you will constantly repair. Here
parents will bring their children and con-
secrate them to the country which these
patriots died to save. Here young men
will seek inspiration in contemplation of
the men and achievements we to-day com
memorate. Hitherto lettering age will
come to offer up the prayer of thanks
giving for the goodly heritage which the
valor of these noble youths secured at so
great "a cost. "Here turks no treason,
here no envy swells." Here traitors will
never plot destruction to the fatherland.
Here disloyalty can never abide. But
how feeble is language! Nothing but the
deep eloquence Of silence is fitting for the
solemnity Of this subject.
Again, the dead speak to rs by silent
l. L