Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-02

to decorate the graves of our deceased
comrades with the choicest flowers and
let us ever keep them and their brave
1 deeds green in our memories.
/ Let every Vermont mother whose little
son is 80 dear to her heart, and his train
ing and future character SO much under
her direction, tell him of these brave men
how much they suffered, how bravely
they fought, how nobly they died. Let
her tell him of the old Vermont Brigade,
which was engaged in almost every bat
tie OF the Army of the Potomac, and never
faltered or wavered. Let her tell him
OF the other Vermont soldiers who fought
equally as well-some, in other armies
and other fields. Let her tell him of Ba-
ton Rouge, where our own gallant Rob-
erts fell, of Malvern Hill, the Wilderness,
Coal Harbor and Cedar Creek and let
her also tell him of Gettyshurgh, where.
for three days, the nation was engaged in
a life and death struggle, the issue being
doubtful, victory inclining, alternately to
the one side and the other; and where three
untried regiments of Vermont soldiers
for nearly two hours, while lying upon the
ground, received the concentrated artillery
fire OF more than hundred rebel cannon,
during which time, to use the language
OF another, "The shrieking of shell, the
crash of falling timbers, the fragments of
!, rocks flying through the air, shattered
from the cliffs by solid shot, the heavy
mutterings from the valley between the
opposing armies, the splash of bursting
schrapnel, and the fierce neighing Of
; wounded artillery horses, made picture
terribly grand and sublime" And after
passing through this terrible and fiery
. ordeal, theseVermonters were charged up
on by Gen. Picket and his division of
Virginians, the flower of the Southern ar
my, when they quickly sprang to their feet
and by several well directed volleys made
the hitherto victorious rebel columns
stagger and waver, and then by skill
, fully and rapidly executed charge, put
{ them to flight, capturing large number
OF the enemy as they fed; and the field of
t Gettysburgh was won and the nation
saved.-Thus shall we ever keep the fires
of patriotism blazing upon our hearth
stones, and our country will never suffer
for the want of brave defenders.
Although the work of our fallen COM
rades on earth is done; and their last
battle has long since been fought, their
bright example yet remains to influence
the actions of the living and, as the
the proudest monument to their fame.
The glory of their achievements will grow
) brighter and brighter, as the years pass,
and the Importance of the victory gained
, by our army to humanity, liberty and the
world is better appreciated.
{ +" No more on llfes parade shall meet,
That brave and gallant few;
: On Fanes eternal camping ground
I Their silent tents are spread,
I And glory guards with ceaSeleSS round,
The Blvouac OF the Dead"
e Comrades We have other battles yet
0 TO fight The world is a continued battle
0 field, where, Liberty and Despotism,
Truth and Error Justice and Injustice,
1 Christianity and Infaelity are engaged
e in mortal combat, each striving for the
T mastery. In these battles let US be true to
Y our God, our country and ourselves; and be
: men, acting, thinking, working men
q and when we shall have gone to join the
Y ranks of our deceased comrades, let it be
e said of each one Of US He always did
e his duty.
b At the conclusion of the Grafton, the
= band played and the Choral Society sung
= that beautiful and patriotic hymn Gamer
ica,' commencing,
e My country, I'll of thee,
n SWeet lanu 81 hDerty,
q A fitting concluding prayer was then
e offered by Rev. Barnes M. Hall, pastor OF
: the Methodist Church, rendering thanks
!, that the services of the day had not been
= interrupted, and that favor of heaven had
d marked the occasion by the genial sun.
q shine and favoring breeze, giving thanks
: that we were permitted to honor those
g who had deserved we'll of their country
u and that so many had been permitted to
survive the great ordeal aud that the
people might be prepared to enjoy the
q blessings of this saved Republic and the
: smiles of heaven might rest upon the
> MANNED soldier, the widow and the orphan
q The Doxology was then sung by the
: Rutland Choral Society, and the benedic
Y ton pronounced by Rev. L. w. Brigham
: of the Liberal Christian Society.
Tho pruoussion was reformed and al
t once proceeded to the decoration of the
: graves, a committee designated for The
t purpose receiving the several decorations
G from their depository in the carriage and
= laying them on the graves, the band play
O ing solemn music during the ceremony a
n each grave. Two beautiful wreaths were
n deposited on Sabbath Day Rock, one il
J memory of Lieutenant Colonel Dudley
. and tho other for Captain L. Z. Reynolds
n who was killed at the head of his compa
nv at Lees Mills Also wreath anc
l. cross in honor of those who lie III South
> ern cemeteries. Beautiful floral wreathl
n and other emblems very appropriately
o adorned the monument of the noble Sena
g tor Foot, who was an ardent and devoted
Ii friend of the soldier, and whose memory
= is worthy of honor with the soldier, fol
n his services were of great value to the
e country and the Vermont soldiers during
Ir the rebellion. In returning, the process
l. sion was halted, and decorations made a
a. the Center Rutland cemetery, the Catho
!, lie cemetery, and at the cemetery on Yves
IS street and at the latter place lie the re
l. mains of COL George t. Roberts, which
10 were fittingly honored. Detachment
% were sent to decorate soldiers graves a
e West Rutland and Clarendon.
y Among the most touching incidents o
G the day was the fact that at nearly eacl
grave, however remote from the other s
was the presence of some mother, wife sis
ter or friend waiting to witness the decor
alton of some loved one. Some had thus
- been patiently waiting for hours to SCI
y their kindred honored, and oftentimes be
8, fore the arrival these graves had been be
deoked with flowers by loving hands ans
I. believed with the tears of affection
! These tender tributes from loved one
!. touched the hearts of the soldiers as the1
approached to perform their sad duties