The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-31

sacrifices made by our comrades, who
did not hesitate to lay their lives upon
the altar of country, and with their last
breath uttered prayer for her prosperity
and the perpetuity of Republican gov
eminent.
To-day we are to hide from view the
remembrance of the happy hours we
have passed, on the march, in the
bivouac and by the camp fires, and call
up again the terrible stiffness prior TO
the grand attack, when the belt was
drawn a thought tighter, when the
cheek was shade paler and the lip
drawn closer over the clenched teeth
when each man thought once more OF
home and those he loved, and turned
instinctively to his comrades-otbattle,
his eve saying, "If l fall, remember me,
boys though his brave heart forbade
the utterance Of word we are to re-
member the gradual closing in of our
lines; the hoarse command Forward"
the roar of the artillery; the shrek Of
the hurting shell, the din, the roar, the
clang Of glorious battle; the mad rush
Of troops; the cries of the wounded
the CHASTITY corpses Of the boys whom
we saw only an hour ago in the full
flush and vigor of manhood; the search
among broken wagons, dead animals
and all the debris and horrors OF a
battle field, for the wounded. We hear
again the maddeuing cry for water,
the plea that with our revolvers we will
end some poor boys sufierings. Or we
are led again by fancy to the tent OF the
surgeon, Just over the hill, there, by the
rock bedded stream, beyond the reach
of bullet and of shell, and see the
stoicism with which brave men suffer
the amputation OF a leg or an arm.
From this terrible place we turn our
steps again to the hospital hastily
improvised in Wonder barn, where death
is holding high carnival Here
again we see those devoted wo-
men, inspired Of God, who move
amid all this suffering like angels-the
hospital nurse and the Sisters Of Chair
ty-receiving here message and a
token to be sent to the far off home,
never again TO be frightened 10y the
firm step of him lying there struggling
with his last foe, the pride OF the house
hold, the darling Of his mothers heart
Or we see them whispering words ofre-
ligious peace to all who need their min
istration, their sweet Counsels and
words OF consolation as they direct the
thoughts of the sufferer from pres
ent agony to contemplation OF future
bliss, falling on the ear Of him who
thought to die unmourned, like choicest
music.
These are the scenes drawn 10y mem
DRY today, and never feel how poor |
am in words until attempt their por-
travail. For me, | prefer TO remember
my dead comrades and friends as | saw
them the night-betore the battle, full OF
life, vigor and careless happiness-one
yonder with piece Of candle stuck in
the end of an old bayonet writing his
last letter to his home, another singing to
a group familiar song and asking for a
heavy chorus" another whom all agree
will eventually become a General re-
failing to crowd Of eager listeners the
events Of the days skirmish and the
probabilities of tomorrow fight. Such
pictures please me most and such meal
orys busy fingers are constantly paint
ing.
We are called together today to dec
crate with flowers the graves OF our dead
heroes, to give to their remains the per-
tume Of perpetual remembrance. Let us
remember that we are not alone in this
labor of love, but that to-day in every
cemetery where sleeps soldier of the
Republic their comrades and fellow
citizens are gathered, scattering their
floral offerings as we are.
1t is beautiful custom and one that
will not certainly go into disuse while
the generation that knew the fallen
ones remains. Originating with the
women of the Southern States, |
am glad our people have
had the good taste to adopt it
and hope il may become custom that
shall last as long as the memory OF
brave deeds shall endure and love for
our Republic animate the breasts Of ner
sons. But would have YOU come to
this sacrifice with pure hands and clean
breasts. Cast out the hates that the
brave boys who sleep so peacefully in
that cemetery never knew, and forbid,
as unworthy the day and the place the
man who would attempt to sprinkle the
flowers you have gathered with waters
drawn from the muddy pool OF politics
Teach him that these died, that Won
were willing to die, for a common coun-
try and for no mere faction. Tell him
that here party capital cannot he made,
the monster Of party strife must not rear
its head. That here we meet as Amer
ica's sons, who have barred our breasts
TO defend her, and are ready
again to stand between our loved
homes and the wars desolation,'
with but one thought, one
desire, one end, one aim. one ambition
"The Union.
| For this you saw with steady eye,
! Your brother bleed-yOur brother die,
His last breath, For the Union"
This glorious ambition inspired those
who lie in that consecrated ground. For
it they sought death, even in the can
mons mouth. No glstening shaft may
rise to tell their glorious deeds, but in
our hearts as on an altar burns the
light of the sacrifice they made to
country and to glory. For some of our
brave no anthem eer has sweled in
mourntul cadences through cathedral
aisle no weeping friends have bent o er
the grassy mound built by the rough
hands OF comrades, down on the battle
fields where they tell; where the light
anl Sba1ous cbaun e,nh otbnr ocroes