Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-30
Good friends, for me and you.

Since our last gathering around these
mounds many have gone TO their eternal
rest, who bore noble record for their coun-
try. Stanton the great War Minister OF
modern times, who directed the nations
energies to the suppression OF the insurrec-
ton reared in the land and contributed
more than any civilian to the favorable
result; our own lamented Washburn
like Stanton, worn out by his labors for
State and country, quick to fly to arms,
when treason first fiourished its bloody
head and using his arm, tongue and pen
from the outset to the end of the war, and
dying at last at the prime of life in the
harness; while just reaping almost the
highest reward which his grateful fellow
citizens could give him. The War Minis
ter and the soldier governor, may their
earnest patriotic lives and unswervering
LOYALTY to truth, ever be revered as our
bravest and our best and not be forgotten
in the annual reunion of the solemn
services of this day. Last the great cap
tain of Chickamauga passed suddenly
away in the midst of his usefulness adj
mired by his countrymen for his Wash
ingtonian greatness, solidity and purity
and enjoying the universal respect and
VI LAS
These men all achieved glorious deeds ;
but their memories are no more dear to us
than the humble heroes about US whom
we mourn with so loving and admiring
pride. Their glory was not so wide-reach-
ing j; but yet their honor and fame is
never dying in our hearts and memories
noble good; did they perfect through
the sacrifice of their blood, genius and
talent and bravery are buried here in al
most every grave, Boudish, Blodgett,
Hall, Head, French and Duncan, are
names which cannot be spoken without
feeling or recalling the most loved associ-
ations, full of personal virtue, they en-
joyed through life personal popularity and
the respect of men. Their courage was
undaunted /; they lovedltheir country, and
full well did they do and die for 1T. How
touching too it is to visit and wreath the
grave of Edwin Rowe, one of three brothers,
all of whom died for their country ; one
resting here near family and friends; the
others in the far-off Southern cline,
strange and sad satisfaction it is also; TO
decorate the grave of the unknown
private who at night was borne from hos
pital to this spot. No stone marks his
resting place to tell his name or corps +;
no one Is mere " uO huOHs VI u1li VI NIL
dred, vet his sacrifice of life Is as beauti-
full and noble in the eyes of God, as the
chiefest captain of all his comrades in
battle, of rare worth indeed were all
these men, who have sunk TO rest in that
long sleep of the brave which knows no
awakening save at the resurrection. Can
noner, cavalryman, sharpshooter, riheman,
rank and file, field and staff, soldier and
l., 4 II l.
the remembrance OF their virtues
still remains, and we are hushed in the
deepest thoughts Of love and sorrow,
as we gather about their graves to-day
and bsdecked them with the choicest of
evergreens and flowers as natures most
sympathetic testimony to their nobility of
form and soul But L would not that our
public appreciation of the services of the
dead soldiers of Our city wnuld cease with
these beautiful ceremonies which are now
transporting. / would that upon this
ground soldiers monument were raised.
l would not have it constructed in extra
vagance,-some simple column of chaste
design which would show the proper re-
spect of Burlington for the memory of her
brave ones, is all that is needed or desired.
1t would serve to keep before US their
grand achievements, for words are made
quate TO Keep fresh their gracious memoir
les. Something more enduring must per-
petuate the value of these men who offer
ed their lives to make the nation good.
st. Johnsbury and Swanton should not
put us of the Queen city to shame.
Finally, comrades, may it be the prayer
of each and every one of us, the three
conspicuous virtues of whose creed are
Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty, that
never again in the history of this country
may it be necessary for the heroic ele-
ment of our nation to pour out its preci-
Gus blood in dreadful war, for when the
war is over the beautiful triumph of peace
and civilization miss their best support
ers in those who went to war, because
only in this way could they win peace
and save their civilization from retro
ression and decay. Let our prayer be
that henceforth and for aye it shall be-
eau quiet upon the Potomic tonight
No sound save the rush of the river