Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-09-15

waved IT told OF the peril OF the coun
try and OF the reassured power o
the people. Never did martial mu
sic sound in such strains as when il
homely tones it called to the muster
in the stronghearted and the true, fol
every drum-tap went 70 the heart 0
some brave boy and won him to tn,
ranks. Looking back as we do upor
the incidents of those Gays which
come to us now as dim rccollectlons
scar cely credited among so man,
changes, and hardly realized as act
ual events the eager promptncss and
the intense devotion with which til,
patriotic young men of the west fel
into line as the music OF the recruit
ing party called them to duty, seen
wonderful. Unprepared by habit Of
education bound by all the ties o
family and the associations of kindred
to the horne Of their youth j; unfamil
lar with those matters which pertain
ed to war, II was not to be anticipat
ed that call so suddenly msd,
would be SO readily answered, ant
that the lines OF the regiments de
mandcd wonld be SO quickly filed
But, beyond the hopes Of the Govern
ment, and to an extent eurpassina
the expectations OF the people, they
gladly came from every occupation
and from every pursuit. One vii
actuated them, one feeling cncour'
aged them the will TO do the du
ty OF the hour; the feeling attachment
to that ensign which had been thei,
country's emblem, and their own
protection from all time. They had
seen it waving on gala days, and
though apparently, it caused no emo
tion, there was a reverential love for
it SO grated in their hearth that, when
the hand of man was raised to move
it from its staff, there arose that SEN
timent, dormant, until then, which
gave to their hearts that impulse
which led the coantry's legions to f.
nal triumph.
Those were happy days, and sad
ones, too. my comrades! Youth,
with all its hopes, was there; mai
hood, too, with all the fervcr Of
earnest faith, actuated by that sense
of duty which strengthens those who
are willing to strike for the land they
love. AS the, came in squads-as
these combined into companies and
these again formed regimclts-as the
plain attire OF country lite gave way
to the bright button and army blue
as ranks were formed and the disci-
pline of Army lic commcnced-as
the tents were pitched and the camps
ormed-as the drills were practiccd,
and as these young soldiers, full oi
life's ardor, marched with steady
tread through the routine OF daily
parade, their hearts swellcd with
emotions which only patriotic hearts
could feel; for, from the calm scenes
Of quiet lite they had come to their
country's shrine to lay there the Of
icring Of their lives. Warm wei
comes met them as they joined tLeil
comrades; fair hands wovc garland.
tor them as they went; lips of affec
ton breathcd tor them sincere pray
ers. From homes full of attraction
and from the sight of faces fondl,
loved, they turned away. Softly wa,
the farewell told by voices which had
for them only words of kindness
Fathers, regretful of the parting. ant
yet grateful tor the offering then
sons had made, gave their benedic
ton and their tondest blessings te
those who were the idols Of theil
hearts, as.s.thcy counseled them te
earnestness Of spirit, aud babe then
do manfully for the right. NJ Others
carcsscd tenderly the fair young face,
Of the boys they loved, but gave NJ
ripcnlng word at their departure, bu
wcpt with sorrow as, tor the last tim,
they claspcd the form which, though
full of manly vigor, was bowed Will
manly grlet; while sisters gave tn
last tribute OF affection to brother
who had mingled with them in th,
daily pleasures and sorrows IT thell
prairie home. ssa -
= They were happy days in the re
Election that these were men who
were marching to career full OF hon
or to themselves and for the safety q
the Nation. They were sad wher
the thought would arse, and could
not be forgotten, that some who thu.
went out, earnest, active, vigorous
might, to the places which knew
them then, return no more forever
It the unbidden tear came to tho
friends there was no n,urmur. II The
lip quivcrcd when the last goodbye
was uttered, it was the sign Of dcef
OBJECTION, but not of discomfort
They marched away amid shouts
and sounds of cannon, aud the en-
thusiasm OF excited thousands; they
bore to the front the impressive in
tuences of that sentiment of nation.
ality which found expression in the
cheers OF meu and the hurrahs ol
little children.
= In this State the authorities were
energetic and active. The regirnents
as they came were hurried to the
field, and the devoted efforts of Gov
crnor Kirkwood at the beginning and
during the greater part of the war
the patriotic labors Of Governor
Stone at a later period, together Will
the systematic organization, perfect
ed to complete success BY AN Adju
tant General whose faEic for eff
cheney has gone everywhere with tht
military fame OF the State, Nathanie
b. Baker, gave combined impulse
to the ardor Of our citizens which
bore so great a share in Iowa's wal
record.
The delegation in Congress, boil
Senatorial and Representative, from
the beginning were faithfully true te
the National honor. Two Of thcil
number went into active service