Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-06-08
Decoration Day.

The ceremonies for the purpose O
. doing honor to the memory of de-
parted soldiers, were held at Lam
caster on Saturday, May Goth, un-
der the direction of Post No. % o.
the Grand Army of the Republic
A crowd of people from far and near
came to participate, despite the mud
dy roads and threatening aspect OF
the weather.
At sunrise thirteen guns were fired
3 the lancaster Artillery, and the
tag was placed at half mast Large
bouquets OF flowers from woods, fields
and gardens were brought to the
Court House at an early hour by the
young people and children. The
choicest products of the florists care
were freely gathered, and added TO
the mass of bloom upon the tables,
whore the ladies were arranging
them in bouquets and mingling them
in wreaths of evergreens.
AS the weather frightened, the
people fiocked into the Square and
clustered about the Soldiers Monu>
nent, reading the inscriptions and the
names of the $50 fallen victims of
treason from Grant County. At 103
A. NJ. the comrades of Post No. SO,
armed and equipped as in service,
marched from their hall under COM
mand of Capt. G. III. Baxter, and
formed in line facing the Monument,
which had just been adorned in an
informal manner. Wreaths were
hung upon the marble cannons sur
mounting each of the eight columns
which bear the names, while the pros
Jecting cornices of the central obe>
lIsk bore numerous rich bouquets in
vases, and u portrait of Lincoln. A
spiral wreath adorned the shaft
twenty-five feet high, while the
sculptured eagle, surmounting the
whole, bore round his neck q wreath
of evergreen and dielytra or "bleed-
ing heart, each stem of which was
placed in vial Of water to preserve
the flowers fresh several days-a fit
ting emblem Of the uuhealed wounds
in thousands Of hearts thus employ
cd on that day.
The assemblage was called TO order
by Col. J. G.. Clark, commander of
tho Post, who announced the duties
of the day rs foIiows:
Comrades, ladies' and gentlemen ::
The Grand Army of the Republic. an
organization composed solely of
those who served in the loyal armies
OF tho country, has set apart the both
of May, to be observed annually in
decorating and strewing with flowers
tho graves of soldiers. This year
the Both falling on the Sabbath, the
29Lh is generally being observed and
that one # these days might be OBJ
served in every village and hamlet
throughout the land where sleeps q
soldier, Gen. Logan, Commander-in
Chief of the G. A. r., and Thomas S.
Allen, Commander of this Depart
ment, issued orders, the pertinent
portions Of which | will read, (omit-
ted here.)
In compliance with these orders,
but moro especially in obedience to
the dictates of our own feelings-that
we may keep green the resting places
Of our patriot dead-that we may
keep burning n,our heart of hearts this
living fire-that we may keep fresh
in our bosoms our love for them and
the cause for which they so nobly
fell-we are here assembled.
We are gathered for q holy, a
monrnful duty-for the purpose of
strewing with flowers the graves OF
our comrades, and decorating with
wreaths this monument, designed to
perpetuate the memory of those who
made their breasts barricade be-
tween our country and its toes; who
fell.that freedom might live; who, "as
our Saviour died to make men holy,
died to make men Free" AS we
worship at the altar of the one, and
by the contemplation of his loneliness
and holiness become better prepared
for life hereafter, so let US, fellow
citizens, drop tear at the tomb of
the other, and partaking of the spirit
that animated them, become better
citizens, strengthened in our deter
mination to protect and perpetuate
the government bequeathed us by
our fathers and defended by our
brothers and here, at the foot of
their monument, let us return thanks
to the Giver of all good, because He
has not permitted patriotism and
heroism to perish and pass from off
the face of the earth.
Our fathers demonstrated that man
was capable of self-government, and
bequeathed US constitution that 50,
cured to US all the blessings of free
dom. That constitution traitors
raised their hands TO destroy that
constitution the men whose names
arc enrolled bereon raised their hands
to save. ard dying saved. Let US
then tenderly cherish the memory OF
those who, with ties the strongest in
nature binding them TO earth, in de-
fense Of the brotherhood and equality
of all men babe their loved ones
adieu, and offered themselves wills
ing sacrifice upon their country's al
tar"
The choir then sang a piece COM
mencing Forget not the flag of oar
nation and prayer was offered by
Chaplain s. W. Eaton of the 7lh Wis
The Star Spangled Banner followed
after which Hon. ]. T. Mills deliver
ed an address which we are sorry to
be unable to give. After abiding to
the great number of the dead, the
heavy rate of loss in Grant County
the sacrifices they made and our du'
ty toward the dead and living, be
turned to brighter side of the pic
ture and proceed to recount some o.
the substantial benefits derived from
the putting down of trea on. He al
luded to the probable condition o.
our land, had the union been entirely
| disrupted, and showed that, had mo-
these men gone bravely out to the
n n y. - \.