The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-06-04
SOLDIERS GRAVES.
How They Were Decorated.

Last Monday was to have been a "big day"
here. The &c. A. R." had previously so an.
nounced it to the public, and Gen. Logan, of
rebel and union fame. had proclaimed it should
be grand day; spent in appropriate ceremonies
commemorative of the brave dead In short, it
was to be the day of all days, when the patriotic
living should testify, with flowers and ever.
greens, their undying, ever green and always
blooming love for the fallen heroes. But some
how there wasn't much of display. Living
patriots were not plenty. Monday came. The
headquarters of the Grand Army luttered with
tattered flags, and ever and anon the bugle
blaIed in fearful strains. A tew of the business
houses bore some unusual sign Of extra public
"doings" Flags were elevated above Turner
Hall, Colwell, Clark & Co.'S establishment, the
Park House, and perhaps one or two other places.
At one o'clock, after the Luglor had Redeemed
his face long in vain, and nearly exploded his
lungs III footing the call, at length, here and
there might have been seen a strsggler or two,
in some sort oi uniform, carrying bunch of
flowers, and going towards the rendezvous In
An hour more the scream Of fife and the rattle
and bang of drums were heard away somewhere
in the third story Of building labeled around
the windows "G A. r." A half hour later, a
squad, consisting of Mree men, with flowers, pre-.
ceded by fife and drums, emerged from up
stairs. We were told these constituted the pro-
cession for South Ottawa. We followed the
procession, which by this time had received
reinforcement of dozen boys. When reaching
The bridge, the 'band,' discovering the slimness
of the procession" became disgusted, wheeled
about, deserted and went back up town; the
boys did ditto, but the brave three men uobly
went onward, At South Ottawa they were
Joined by few people over there, and, after
prayer by Rev. B. A. smith, the graves of such
soldiers are buried there were strewn with
flowers, and that procession returned
At the time the South Ottawa squad left head.
quarters, similar procession, consisting of about
twenty men, started north. We regret to say
that some of the men in this squad lost their
patriotism before they reached the Park House,
distance Of only two and half blocks from
the place OF departure, and were seen on the
streets regaliny themselves on lemonade and
soda in three minutes after they left.
4 party went to the Roman Catholic Gene
terry, under the lead Of Capt. Ryan, and decora.
ted the graves OF Capt. Buckley and seven others.
| Prayers for the dead were offered BY Reys.
Father Terry and Father Stack, followed BY re.
marks by \. T. Cameron. Esq. Flowers were
cast upon the graves of the soldiers, and the
procession returned.
! The grave of Gen. Wallace and others were
decorated in the manner prescribed in the pro-
gramme.
The several detachments afterwards met at
the headquarters Of the G. A. R., formed in pro.
cessiou, and followed by about twenty carriages
| and buggies, marched to the cemetery below
town, where similar ceremonies took place.
, Rev. d. J. Holmes delivered lengthy address
of appropriate character. HE deplored the
want OF enthusiasm manifested by the people"
He thought 'ours was just cause in the late
war, and We should glory in it." He "remem.
bered that through the blood of these soldiers
we can draw the sword bequeathed us by the
revolutionary fathers, shake it towards the east,
west, north and south. and challenge the four
corners of the world ~ Alter reciting "How
sleep the brave" &c, the ceremonies ended.
But few business houses were closed. and in
short, THE day we celebrate was a failure in
Ottawa.