The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-14


soldiers blue and folded the rough gray
blanket around them, they outwatched
the stars on the lone picket line, and laid
down to rest under the pitilcss storm
they toiled on the march, and wasted in
the loathsome hospital F; they stormed the
deadly rife pits, and died on the field
and in the prison pens, that your liberty
might be preserved, and your homes and
happiness be secured.
In memory Of these things be to them
not tender only, but be reverenty lust
and merciful; each year their living
ranks shall grow thinner and feeblcr.S
They were the soldiers of the Republic
in her dark days of trial and anguish as
age shall come upon them, and the brown
locks silver, and the strong limbs grow
weak, let them be the loved and cherished
of the Republic in her glad days of plenty
and of peace.
But as we hasten on to the close of
these exercises, the beautiful thought
comes back to us that if it is true that
the redeemed and disenthrallcd spirits of /.
the wise, the brave, and the good, are
permitted to return to earth, and with
angelic vision watch the conduct of men,
how must the spirits of our departed COM
radcs exult over the ceremonies of this
occasion With what pride must they
behold this bright assemblage of loyal
men and women who have come togeth-
er on this sacred mount to commemorate
the great principles for which they fought
and laid down their lives, and to do Jus.
tlce to the memory of the gallant dead
One by one our old comrades are passing !
away and going to their reward, and me-
thinks when it is announced to the in
habitants of that upper world that the
spirit of another hero has arrived at the
portals of the Golden City, that the &C.
estial gates are thrown wide open, and |
the heavenly choir with thrilling JOY per-
form the national airs of Paradise. The !
diadem which encircles the brow of our
Blessed Redeemer while he bows at the
mercy-seat of Jehovah and mplores par
don and forgiveness for sinful men, is
thickly studded with the souls of those
who have gone up through much tribula-
ton, and have washed their robes white ,
in the blood of the Lamb But among
them all, those which shine with the most
holy and heavenly radiance, and that will
sparkle with celestial glory through the
countless ages of eternity, and which
shall grow brighter and brighter as ages
roll on, are the souls of those who haze
laid their lives Il willing sacrifice upon
their country's altar in this second war
for our national independence.
Gallant men look for you to-day
and call your names in vain Alas you
cannot hear my words, for no voice but
that of the archangel shall henceforth
penetrate your narrow cells. You will
live hereafter in the grateful hearts and
memories of your fclow-men your mon.
uments are more enduring than marble or
brass, and will constitute in after years
the way-marks to national honor and ma.
tional glory. To the end of time the
spot on which you fell, and the soil which
holds your dust is holy ground, and will
be trodden in reverence by every patriot
while America has a name among the ma
tions. We will cherish your memories
while we live, as our country's Jewels,
than which none are richer We will
teach our children the lessons of match
less patriotism which you have taught us,
with the fond hope that our Union now
restored, may be perpetual, and that our
liberties, rendered more valuable by your
blood may only expire with the last of
earth. 10 you, my old comrades, permit
me to say that your work as soldiers is
completed aud ended. but your duty as
Christian men and citizens has but lust
commenced, and God grant that in the
future, as in the past your labors may be
crowned with honor and success.
To-day the voice of your country comes
to You through these honored graves like
the prophets word, warning and cntreat
ing you to guard and protect her from
her secret enemies and from the impious
hands OF those who may he seeking her
destruction.
Soldiers of the Grand Army, you are
the minute men of this Republic. You
have sworn to protect the sacred bond of
our Union which has now been firmly CO.
mented by the blood of million men, and
the wcll-tried metal Of your loyalty,
hardened and refined in the blood and fire |
of numbered battles, should be like the
flaming sword which guarded the tree of
life, turning every way to strike the enc
mics Of liberty and your country.
Remember the maxim of the Grecian
statesman, who said, THAT city is best
fortified against attack that is walled a.
round with the ranks of its veteran SOL
diers.' Shall we, then, my comrades, suf-
fer all these precious offerings we have
made to prove unavailing? No, Heaven
forbid it No, it must not, can not, will
not be. The cause of humanity and
Christian civilization must not roll back
ward, and the sacrifice we have made
shall not be in vain. If we faithfully
discharge our duty to ourselves, our coun-
try and our God, we shall preserve the
Republic and bless mankind and then
when our star shall set at the close of life
it will not, like the evening star, 90 down
behind the darkened west, but, like the
star Of morning, raise in beauty and ma
jesty until it melts away in the glorious
brightness of Heaven.
Comrades, before we leave these sacred
precincts, let us look once more upon
the honored graves of these dead heroes
and leave with them one more pledge of
our gratitude and affection, and here, in
this hallowed presence, promise them that
yearly we will repeat the story of their
heroic deeds, and yearly we will come to
this silent city and strew their bright
pathway to Heaven with the choicest and
most fragrant flowers of spring.
sand it ever the hand of treason or
foreign power shall again strike that
flag, we will revenge insult or join them /.