Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-06-24
For the Voter,

ASbE - VI 180t Wv " 80
For the Voter.
"HAvE You NO DEAD TO HoNoR?'
was the inquiry addressed by astran
ger To citizen Of this County on tht
late Decoration Day. His curiosity
was excited by hearing nothing said
and seeing NO preparations made fol
the observance. Of that sacred duty. ~
The question, though somewhat en-
barrsssIng, elected the following can.
did though humilfating response:
"Marion County. at the breaking
out OF the rebellion, was truly loyal,
and to this day is still so. When the
news Of the firing upon Sumpter was
announced, her whole heart was also
fired. The work of raising volunteers
was Immediately commenced; and
from that hour until the close of the
rebellion no effort on the part of her
people was spared to suppress it. Ev-
cry Call of the Government was
promptly and cheerfully met. A
draft was scarcely resorted to. Troops
were not only raised and sent into the
field. but their health and spiritual
and temporal wants were cared for
through the aid Of the Sanitary and
Christian Commissions. The wants
of the families Of her volunteers and
their widows and orphans were liber-
ally provided fof, through the action Of
the Board of Supervisors and by the
liberal contributions Of the citizens.
All faithfully discharged their duties
until the Inst battle was fought and
the victory won. ~
Our County furnished for the war
about 1900 Of her best citizens, who for
loyalty, bravery, fidelity and other
soldierly qualities had but few equals
and no superiors. Almost every bat
tlefield of the South and Southwest
bears ample testimony to these facts.
The National Cemeteries in the vicini-
ty Of these battlefields, OF Anderson-
vile, Libby and other rebel prison
pens, and Of the great National recep-
tacles of the dead, will be found record.
ed the names OF many Of these brave
men, thus rescued by grateful Ma
ton from oblivion. ~
or the whole number Of patriotic
self-sacrificing men who went from
this County to the loyal armies, fully
one-third have laid down their lives
upon their country's altar, and now
sleep the sleep that knows no waking
and probably fifty or more have found
quiet resting-places In our graveyard
at home, with scarcely an object Il
designate the place of their interment
and should the same indifference con
tinue that has heretofore prevailed In
regard to the preservation of the mem
DRY of these fallen heroes, their graves
will soon be unhOnored and unknown
Soon after the close OF the rebellion
a well-known loyal citizen proposed
to the people Of the County, through
the columns OF the Republican, to erect
In the Court House Square or in som,
other suitable place Monument, with
appropriate inscriptions. in commem
Grafton Of the fallen heroes of tn,
County, and In furtherance Of the OBJ
ject offered q small sum as nucleus
around which other sums might clus
ter until the object sought should be
accomplished. The matter was ear
nestly urged by Mr.. Williams. and tn
attention Of the people called to IT.
propriety, yet it met with no favorable
response. 1t finally rested, until re
vlved by certain politicians who hopet
to manufacture little political capita
out of 1t, and brought the subject be
fore the Board of Supervisors, wher
they found themselves completely
checkmated by the action Of the oppo
site party.
SO the subject was permitted to sleel
the sleep pf death, At the close of tn
rebellion, the enthusiasm which hat
here Sustained II suddenly died out
The soldier had become merged in tn
CITIZEN; other matters engaged tn
public mind; gand the honor of tn
dead soldier was forgotten or found
but little interest In the hearts of tn,
people," 90
But" rejoined the stranger, "yo,
certainly will not fail to decorate thu
graves of the few In your vicinity?"
~ have not the faintest hope tina
anything will be done. Our peopl'
are dead In this matter"
Enough! enough!" said the stran
ger; "the heart>is sickened with tn
thought. If Republics are ungrateful
communities are not less So"
! We are very happy to learn that tn
ceremony Of decofating the graves o
the dead soldiers wss observed by tn,
citizens of Alafysvllle. no their ever
lasting praise be itspOken! B.
ODDS, AND ENDS. 80.
MraWm. Goff, formerly of the 33t
Iowa, has been appointed Postmaste