Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-06-01
For the FLeeman.
Decoration Day at Mortified.


Decoration Day was appropriately OBJ
served by the citizens of Mortified. The
places of business were closed at ten o'clock
in the morning. and everybody seemed to
join in the interesting ceremonies of the occa-
sion, and notwithstanding the heat of the day
and the clouds of dust that everywhere
marked the line of march, the best of feeling
prevailed, and the affair was pronounced a
decided success.
At half past ten O'Clock the procession
formed on the square in front of the Depot,
under the direction of Capt. Charles A.
Curtis, U. s. A, Marshal of the day, and
moved in the following order: First, the
University Cadets, carrying thirty guns,
commanded by Lieut. Charles Dole,-with a
drum corps.-whose precision of movement
in the various evolutions pertaining to an es-
cort soldiery, reflected much credit upon
themselves and their discipline Second in
the line were the soldiers of the late war,
in goodly plumber, with the g Old Flag "
borne at their head, its presence carrying
them back to those days hen its inspiring
folds bcckoned them on amidst carnage and
confusion, to deeds of valor and triumphant
victory. Then followed the Fire Department,
in charge of Chief Engineer Salisbury, con-
sistiDg of the - Water Witch " Engine Com
pany No. l, A. j. Robbins, Foreman, num-
bering fifty men,--the engine trimmed with
evergreen, decorated with flowers, and fine
display of flags A peculiarly pleasant lea
ture of this part of the procession, and
-~nasIs assraosed much astentfon, were three
misses dressed in white, occupying an elevated
seat upon the engine, surmounted by an
arch Of flowers. Next came Torrent Engine
Company No. 2, j. L. Moseley, Foreman,
numbering sixty men, their engine also
trimmed and decorated with beautiful bou-
quets of flowers, and flags. These were fol-
lowed by the Hook and Ladder Company,
Harry Blake, Foreman, numbering twenty
young men, in dark pants and caps, with
white shirts, the town and village officers,
orators and clergy, the choir, under direction
of George Ii. Crane, Esq, and citizens gen
orally, on foot and in carriages, the whole
forming one of the largest and most impos-
ing professions that ever thronged the
streets of Mortified.
The column first moved to the Center
Village, where prayer offered by Rev.
Mr.. Nutting, followed by singing the hymn
Strew flowers where our heroes sleep
The beautiful and brave
Their mem'ry sacred we Will keep
Who died their nag to ssvei
They died our flag to save,
Ven ne'eT forge, the braves who died
Our nag to save.
With hearts aname they marched away,
When duty called the roll,
And wrote IN blOOi On Wars dark day)
Their names on Freedoms scroll
LET roses mark the restingpIace
With violets aud lilies grace
The red, the white, the bluei
Let music swell upon the air
In son and solemn strain,
As our floral on rings bear
Triumphant through our pam
" Our songs shall lose their ducet chime.
our flowers may decay,
But mem ~ of our braves thrO' time
shall never pass away
An address was then delivered by Rev. VIM.
S. Hazen, and another hymn,
God bless our native land
sung by the choir, after which was the
strewing of flowers by soldiers, numbering
some fifty men, under the direction of Cap
tain J. l.. Moseley, the ceremonies here
/ COuCluulbp Will ltlt Ii VI a NcAiCy - NhC
Cadets The procession then reformed and
marched to the Cemetery at the Falls Village,
Fwnerc prayer was onerru by -ffevr. Mr.
Stevens. and the following hymn sung
a. wake the heart-wake the voice-hoTal honors
And here for every soldier boy let grateful anthems
And Oh their brave, heroic deeds shall our rejoic-
For they have won the victor's crown, and made
WrrF
&c Fathers Iove-sister's tear-sIeepIess mothers
with 5ity zeal inspired their souls the foeman's
Aud now they sleep so peaceful here, be loving
To sweeuy deck the hero's couch and crown his
honOred head.
| d" God Of peace-God of war-God of love diyiYh
spread thy ever sheltering wings above the sol
And long shaii pilgrims hither come and tell the
We write for Them Fame's bright roll name to
Fae We welfare We weIl-rest We soldiers true
And evermore shall grateful hearts attest their love
And wildly clanking broken chains the dusky
with hands appraised to God shall pray, on You his
glory be-"
j. n. johnson, Esq, made a short address,
the choir again singing that beautiful hymn,
How sleep the brave"
and the decoration of the graves by the sol
diers, under the direction of Lieut. A. j.
Robbins, with the yolley by the Cadets. The
vast assemblage then returned to the Depot
Village, where ceremonies were held at Elm
wood Cemetery, with a prayer by Rev. Mr..
Emerson, singing Of :" America and an
address by the Hon. Heman Carpenter. sing
ing the Last Grand Camping Ground, ," the
duett of which was impressively rendered
with artistic taste by Misses Gregory and
Wardner, the decoration of graves under the
direction of Lieut.. c. D. Williams, with the
doxology,
4" Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, We heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy GhOstl"
closing with the volley from the Cadets. The
procession then moved to the Catholic Gene 1
terry on King Street, and there completed the
exercises of the day.
The addresses were patriotic, impressive
and eloquent. Did space allow, no adequate |
idea of their excellence could be given, for to |
be appreciated they must have been heard |
Flowers were furnished by the ladies in lavish |
profusion, and the decorations combined /
many artistic groupings of wreaths, crosses.
bouquets. etc. The graves of thirty two of /
our brave boys were lovingly and reverently |
honored. thus keeping bright the memory of |
those w m freely hair tba1 h.