The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-06-15

Epbalmed in fond affection's wreath,
And bathed in woman's tears.
Yet, though too soon attaining glory's God.
For theirbright career too short was given,
Yet IN mighty cause their Phoenix souls
Rose on the flames of victory to heaven"
But we will combat for our fathers land
And we'I drain the life-blood where we stand
OF life itself In glorious battle lost"
..Invincible banper, flag OF the free,
Oh where t tr ,sa the foot that would falter
orthe hands that would be folded till tri.
And the eagle looks proud as ofold to the sun
Give tears for the parting-a messenger of
Then forward, the fame of our standard to
With welcome to wounding and combat
And the glory q death for the stripes and
"Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead.
Dear as the blood We gave;
No impiohs footsteps here shall tfead
The herbage Of your grave.
Nor shall your glory be forgot,
While fame her record keeps;
Or honor paints the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps"
Ghosts Of the mighty dead
Your children's hearts inspire;
And while they on your ashes tread
Rekindle all your fire
The dead to life return
Our fathers spirits rise,
My brethren, in your breasts they burn
They sparkle IN your eyes"
"Tliey rose in dark and evil days.
To right their native land;
They kindled here q living blaze
Tina: nothing shall Withstand.
Then here's their memory-may IL be
For us guiding light
To cheer our strife for liberty,
And teach us to unite
Their bosoms they barred for the glorious
To prevail in the cause that was dearer than
Or crushed in its ruins to die
Services also took place at Alexan-
dria, the Soldiers Home, Annapolis,
and tho Congressional Cemetery
At Arlington Heights, the old resi-
dence of the late rebel General Lee
the ceremony was imposing. At an
early hour the road leading to Ar
Iington was thronged with people
vending their way to tho hallowed
spot. Tho decorations were beauti-
full and exhibited decided taste on the
part of the ladies having the matter
in charge. The main stand was
erected to accommodate about two
hundred persons. To the north OF
this was a smaller stand, erected for
the use of tho Marine Band. About
two o'clock, President Grant, Secre-
tary Belknap, Secretary Boutwell,,
Secretary Robeson and othor dis
tinguishod persons took their places
upon the main stand and the depart.
ment commander Col. Lubey, called
the assemblage to order and deliver
cd brief address. This was follow
cd by music by the Marine Band af-
ter which Mr.. John Tweedale read
the following poem, composed by C..
Il. u. Holmes Of New York:
WHY SEEK YE THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD
Marshaled in line the SCARED veterans stand
Waiting as ever the word OF command,
While mem'ry rings down the dim aisles OF
With clashing of arms and shrill bugle blast
Attention. battalion! leach man grasps his
Arms al ease, comrades; rest, wars work is
done.
Meath our torn battle flags. proudly but sad,
March we where cypress trees wave Ger ouI
Up from the wildwood. the gardens and bow.
Bearing loves tribute ef tear-bedewed 1low-
yiolets wreathed with the green myrtle vine;
Laurels with lilies, and sweet columbine;
Olive of peace, with the red battle rose;
Poppies d'stilling the wiue of repose
Softly we tread where the white tablets rise,
Listning for voices and hearing but sighs-
Seeking our comrades and finding but graves
Calmly they staked on the issue their breath
Dared the fierce conflict, and struck hands
Fearlessly plunged in the battles red hell
Charged Ger the breastworks and cheered as
they fell.
Meath the green sod or the wild sobbing sea,
Silently waiting the last reveille-
Eyes may be closed and white lips compressed,
Hearts may be still and silent forms rest.
Changeless the gem though the setting de-
Death cannot fetter the souls of our braves
Earth may bewrecked. and each wide ranging
Aeadi t n be hurled from its dladem'd car;
Strew their wild walk with crushed fragments
Darkness aud death may yet pall.like be
Ger the last hour OF the great central sun;
Time shall yet count his last sands as he flies,
But heroes souls live. though a universe dies.
Conquerors still-triumphant DER death
Gaining Heaven, and but losing q breath.
Never the altar Of their glory shall dim.
Freedom and Union, keep watch DER their
Ever her starry flag over them waves.
Turn then, our eyes from deaths prisons
Up from these li,y-decked earthworks of clay.
Camping in peace:on the isles of the blest.
comrades, we greet You mo longer our tears
shall water the garlands we lay on your biers
And change DIR farewell for ajoyous all hail /!
This was followed by an GRAFTON
delivered by ex-LieutenaDt Governor
Stewart L. Woodford, of New York.
The Beethoven Octette sang Men,
delsshon,s grand composition, "'Tis
Thus Ordained" At the tomb of
the unknown Rev. DR.. Rankin offer.
ed up fervent prayer. and the
Octette sang the following beautiful
requiem:
Sigh not, We winds, as passing DER
The chambers the dead We fly:
Weep not We dews, for these no more
Shall ever weep, shall ever sigh.
Why mourn the throbbing heart al rest9
How still IL lies within the breast!
Why mourn when death presents us peace
And in the grave our sorrows cease'
Tho closing ceremonies consisted
in an grafton by Hon. Fred. Douglass,
which was listened to with marked
attention and pronounced q mastery
effort. 1t was quite lengthy and 1
only quote the peroration -
"But we are not hero to applaud
manly courage only as it has been
in a noble cause. We must
never forget that victory TO the
ment death to the republic.
We must never forget that the
oval soldiers who rest beneath this
sod flung themselves between The
nation and the nations dcstroycrs.
# to-day We have q country notl
appings in ansagony Of blood like