The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-01

IQ9 SHOWS Va AZ" III
the soldiers grave.
"I,eaves have their time to fall, and flowers
70 wither with the North winds breath
And stars to set, and moons TO Wape,
But thou hast all, all seasons for thlne own,
o DEATH"
Some hypercritics have asked-"Is
it right thus to honor man or rever-
ence the dead?" The answer to
this is in the reply of the young
mother, from whose bosom has been
torn her first born; or from whose door
the footsteps of the angel of death had
scarcely departed, ere he returned to
clasp in his cold embrace, her last, her
darling baby boy, Ask her If 1t is right
to repair TO the two little green mounds
in wonder graveyard and bespangle
them with "Immortels," water them
with her scalding tears, kneel beside
them and thank God he has implanted
within her breast a mothers love, and
mothers hope; that soon she will Join
her dear ones, where there il neither
parting nor death. ASK Mary, with
heart filled to bursting with tenderest
emotion as she sat watching at the
tomb of her beloved, IT it occurred to
her it was sinful to be found first at the
cross and last at the sepulchre. It is
no superstitious generation of the dead.
It ia homage paid valor and loyalty,
and we decorate these graves, that the
world may know we honor those who
love their country better than life; for
that exalted spirit of patriotism and
undaunted courage, under whose inspi-
ration they committed Flowed ones at
home" to him whose promise is to "the
Widow and the Fatherless" and dash
themselves, like the tenth wave of the sea
through hell OF splintering fire against
the destroyers of their country's peace,
and to blot out with their blood the
most Internal conspiracy against the
- In INn lo ~ tot
Oh! my friends there was a Su6tinlity
in the answering faith of these men
that carried them far beyond the con-
fines of ordinary Influences. During
nv army life 1 had charge of many
thousands of our wounded, and I never
heard soldier complain that he had
been " FOUNDED whatever his misfortune.
Invincible heroes, they submitted with
out murmur or regret. I saw man
once lying on battle field, his eyes
CLASSY in death staring wildly at an
open photograph in-his hand. His last
look was at vile and child, and his
last thought was with them, far away
in their cottage home. l knew not who
he was, but l buried him, and on his
frail headboard engraved" UnknOOn."
L hesitate not to aver that though he
died lovingly scrutinizing the faces OF
loved ones, his spirit as II winged its
way up through the smoke of that san
culinary field looked back again and
again, and still again, to see if the
old flag yet fioated in triumph
Let US then decorate the graves OF the
Nations saviours with the first fruits
of the floral season, and weave gar
land of amaranth for each. Here let
us draw inspiration for the great battle
of lite, and dedicate ourselves anew to
the consumation of the work for which
the soldier fought and died. Let us COM
mend the lessons of the hour to our
children that they may study we'll the
price of our redemption. What more
suspicious occasion than the present?
for when Is the heart more tmpresSlble
than at the grave OF friend; and who
can boast of a better friend than the
one who died that we might be happy?
Let us as nation, for long generations,
hold in sacred observance, a day for
these solemn rites. AS before re.
marked there Is no man worship In
this, All that we propose to honor is
the exalted spirit of our braves as
exhibited in their lives, a striking in
stance of which occurred under my
Immediate observation at the battle of
Stone River. On that fearful Friday
evening were brought to my Hospital
two soldiers of tender years about
the same age. Both had evidently
enjoyed the kindly training of
christian mothers, and both were unus-
wounded, and L informed them that
they could live but a few hours. re-
moved the bloody blue and gray, cloth
ed them In nice clean garments furnish
ed by the Ladies'. sAid6SOciety of North
ern Ohio. On making my rounds after
midnight, found the boys lying side
by side on little straw. As aP-
preached them, the rebel asked ii
would write his mother letter and tell
her how hard it was for him to die so
far away from her and home. Tell
her l ask with my dying breath that
she forgive me for dishOnOring the flag
she taught me love. Tell her die In
my country and her glorious banner,
and though die rebel, die in deep
anguish for my wrong doing" The
young Union soldier by, his side, who
had been an attentive listener, with
face beAming with celestial lustre, ask
ed mo to write 10 his mother and tell
her "While l regrcttO leave her child
less, 1 know she will not complain
when she hears l don'C regret to
die in defense of the old
starry banner, which she eDjoined
me never to disgrace. Oh,
know she is willing to make the sacri-
flea and am ready,to die" Morning
came, but the spirits OF the young SOL
diers had taken their flight, and l
buried the young Ohioan and Texan on
the banks OF that beautiful river where
they heard their last tattoo, and after
life's titful fever they sleep we'll, until
the last great revillie and the final
"roll call" Here Is what we come this
day to reverence. an abiding, INHALER
ing, triumphat faith that dlsarms the
king of terrOrs and illumines the grave.
The munl ed drums, sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo;
No more on ltfe's parade shall meet
The brave and daring few.
On fame's eternal camping glound
Their silent tents arc spread,
And glory guards, With solemn round.
The DiVOuac OF the dead.
No answer OF the foes advance
Now swells upon the wind;
No troubled thought at midnight hauhts
or loved ones left behind;
No vision OF The mOrrOwS strife
The warriors dream alarms;
No brayinH horn, nor screaming hie
at dawn shall call to arms.
The neIshing steed, the flashing blade,
The trumpeL'S stirring blast,
Tue charge, the Ill eadful cRnnonaue.
The din and shout are past.
No wars Wild note nor glOry'B pOal
Shall thrill with ferce delight,
Those breasts that never IL ore shall feel
The rapture OF the Tight
Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the bloody grave,
No impiouS footsteps here shall tread
The heritage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While fame her record keeps,
Or honor points the hallOWed spot
Where Valor proudly sleeps.
Yon marble mlnstrel's voiceless tone,
In deathleSs songs EhalI tel
When many a VanQuished age hath flown,
The story where ye IelI.
Nor wreck, nor change, or winters flight,
Nor times remorEeleks doom,
Snail dim ono ray OF holy Ii Sht
That gilds your glorious tomb.