The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-01
GhegtttelIiqtnre1
Decoration Day at Ohio.

''N>'|" y
Decoration Day at Ohio
Gloomily enough the morning broke
upon US, sunless and cherries, the black
| clouds were fitting low and fast east.
ward, yet as the day advanced 1t grew
more bright, flags were thrown out
upon the breeze, and nature seemed
ened in the sunlight from every tree
shrub and flower. The different COM
mittees were Fastening to and fro,
making complete their arrangements.
BY one o'clock the town began to wear
holiday appearance. The different
places of business were being closed up,
| the Sunday suits were put on, and all
were vending their way to headquar-
ters. From the country the farmer
came bringing his wife and daughters,
and their baskets of wild flowers, gath.
ened out from among the MOSES OF the
quiet far away woodland. The soldier
boy, from his home in the country,
came with his faded cavalry jacket
| buttoned to the throat, as If for review.
The same spurs which had urged his
horse on to the front, in the stirring
years a little while gone, were that
morning taken down from the smoked
Kitchen rafter, and frightened up, while
ries of a younger brother who sleeps
"just across the river" atFredericks-
burg-where shot and shell lie as thick
ly as do stones on the old home-place.
The mother-there are "silver threads
now in her hair, "-goes to the garden
just where the palings are rotting and
have fallen over among the rose bush
es, and gathers the flowers which
bloom there. Then the tears IOiB come,
memory is crowding them out from
the heart wherein Is enshrined the no.
BILE life of her dead boy. How many
flowers yet live on the graves that were
tear. believed
fair workers had not been idle as the
flower able in the cemetery bore wit
ness. One could not help feeling in.
spired on viewing the fragrant collec-
ton in such prOtusion. Wreaths, gar
lands and bOquets OF exquisite build
ing, daisies and pansies peeping cOyly
out from among their larger but not
less bright-hued sisters. On the head
stone or headboard of each soldiers
grave, the ladies had hung a wreath,
inside of which was pendant large
and beautiful boquet.
At 2 O'Clock there was lively and
busy time at head. quarters. Professor
Wallace's band was playing at the
Odd Fellows Hall, while the members
we're getting ready to take their place
in the procession. Oar cRnnonier,
Hun" could not give up the idea of
having no shooting, hence the piece of
artillery was brought out and In a
moment its deep music was eChOing far
away among the hills. The procession
was formed:
SOLDIERS OF 1912.
GUARD, CoLORs, GUARD,
BAND,
SPEAKERS, SOLDIERS,
ODD FELLOWS. CITIZENS.
and marched thence to the cemetery,
the band playing dirge. On arriving
at the flower table the column marched
in "open order" and received floral
offerings from the ladies, thence pas
sing ON, strewed each grave until
every one was visited. The process
sion moved slowly and sOlemnly.
The parents of some of the soldier dead
were there and as the graves Of their
boys were being strewed, their feelings
found vent in tears, sad, sOrrOwtul
tears; and the soldier boys heart, which
of necessity used TO be steeled against
sympathy, sorrow and suffering, was
broken into by the tears of these
mothers. Many an eye was filled with
tears and many hearts heaved with
emotion. The green grasses OF sum-
mer echoed back no sound OF the foot
tall-alI was quietude save the sobs OF
The shadows which come and go meath
the branches of the old walnut treeS
kiss the flowers and are gone back to
Heaven. The unwritten music of the
birds is softened to a minor key, and
is in unsiOn with the feelings of all.
Owing TO the admirable arrangement
of the Committee appointed TO deSig-
nate the soldiers graves, not one was
overlooked. They had placed flag
staTand flag at the head OF each grave
which told at once where they slept:
The graves all strewn, the procession
was re. formed around the flower table,
when the Rev. w. Il. Morton offered
fervent prayer, after which he address.
ed the large concourse assembled. lie
was followed by Gen. 81. G. CapehRrt
who spoke ten minutes aud closed by
reading the following poem written Tor
the occasion by Mrs. Lizzie "A. Cape
hart.
TRIBUTE To OUR DEAD HERoES.
strew flowers DER tho graves whers heroes
rest,
With Earth's f4lrest rCb.s lot their beds be
Oh spare no pains, let tn cir mo nory wake
In each heart this Thought. for their Coun-
They e4un G The la: d ships of war and stlire,
And sacrificed all, even length OF life,
To crush the rebellion they fought aud bled;
Then honor the graves OF our cOuntry6 de ri.
On many hillside, in valleys green.
Are those grassy hIllocksso oft-umes seen,
Where OrphAu'u children oft wander to weep
Ger the loved ones, sleeping their last long
And wives, and mothers, and sisters dear,
Have waIered the earth with each filling
tear,
rim their hearts have ached with the SWELL
Ing tide
Ofth0ughts OF the ones who so bravely died.
Iknow there are many who lie to-day
In their unknown graves, that arc far away
From the homes OF kindred, who scarcely
know
What way they met death, the fearful FOE,
Whether they languiShed on beds OF pain,
Longing for home and their friends all In
Or perlshed by inches, in prison cells,
Where damPness and hunger the sad tale
tells.
Ills not the power of words to tell
The anguish OF those who in battle ell;
How the life blood water'd the verdanG sod,
Ere the spirit went to the bar OF God;
How thoughts OF the Lowell ones flashed
They ne'er should behold on earth again;
But to die, aye! to die for liberty
With the battle won, and a nation free.
Then halloW this beautiful land OF ours
Let music ascend through the forest aisles,
While tho face OF nature is wreathed in
SMILES
May we still inherit this peace sublime,
'IIIl love and reunion shall claim all time;
And rest i'll the power OF freedom's cause,
TIL we list with joy to the worlds applause.
DIR. ]. NJ. Todd was next introduced
and said:
Members of Tie Benevolent Societies, La.
dies, Gentlemen and Comrades:
We are assembled to-day, no less in
response to an invitation of a noble Or
ganization having as its twin corner
stones patriotism and henevolence,
than, I am sure, the enabling emo
tons of our own hearts, to honor the
gallant dead patriot heroes free.