Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-05-31

Brave Battery Boys" was rendered by thu
; choir with fine effect, when the orator of thu
day, Rev. j. B. Ford, was introduced who de-
livered the following eloquent
GRAFTON.
As Americans, we are Justly proud of our
country-broad fertile and free-the fair lie,
gacy OF heroic ancestry, whose matches
achievements were the price of toll, suffering,
treasure and blood. The protecting arm of the
Almighty has encircled it as a shield and grid
ed 1t into the path of prosperity and increase.
L ear after year has poured into its lap the
measure of its bOunty-generation after genera
| ton has given up to it their talent, and genius
and energy-the kingdoms of the old world
have contributed their quota for its foundation,
and behold to-day its prosperity and future
promise. 1t is needless for me to recount the
history ofthe nation, its origin, struggles, de-
Velopment, rapid growth, its ultimate power
and grandeur. Men have loved to dwell upon
the subject orators have delighted to plan and
picture a career, grander than the world had
ever seen.
Sovreignties, with all their hopings and i'm
| aglnings, saw their yOang republic tower above
! them in grandeur and in strength and in this
prosperity they saw their doom fixed and ire
vocable, for God was marking out the pathway
of the Republic.
| We ourselves became proud, luled into fan
cied stability by our hitherto peaceful career
| !
mensc cities, in Institutions of learning, in
| our energetic strides Of advance, dragging the
rest Of the world at our hees-elated with ev-
erything American-saw in the future nothing
I but prosperity and power. Our countrymen
! were travelling all over the world. Our ships
Whitened every sea. Nations were dependent
upon us for existence, and from this heaven
favored land flowed the life current of the
world
| But painful crisis came upon this country.
| Our nation was rocked to its center Peaceful
! and glorious America trpmbled under the
mighty power of rebellion. Two fierce sections
| were locked in deadly conflict, conflict worthy
| the splendOr of Millions pen. The terrible
tempest told OF its approach by occasional fash
| ings and distant thunder STILL with fatality not
uncommon IN a prosperous people, the nation
needed not these warnings of almost certain
| ruin. The gallant ship of State, which had 50
successfully ridden the many storms of early
existence, was almost wrecked in the first fury
of the gale. Her crew, thoughtless and mac
tive during the pleasant taskless VOYAGE be-
came stupid with terror dismay and disaster
Many Christians on board were adjudged to be
impious in their lamentations and cries, saying
| God has forsaken u.s." But there were mil
lions Of brave, true and patriotic hearts that
could not believe-wild as the tempest was
that the glories of our fathers days, the grand
voices that sounded from the centuries of civ
ilized life in America, was but prelude to the
dirge which humanity would chant over the
grave Of a ruined nation and a lost hope. We
had counted the sad tidings which grieved our
ears as the mournful notes which would lend
grandeur to that full anthem Of praise which
has bursted from the heart Of a redeemed ma
ton, as they shout with one accord. 'SiHg yc to
to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriousy.'
We remember full well the first burst
ing of sectional strife. We remember.
with dread the position of the Government
Nothing seemed possible to avert the direst ca
lamity from the best Government the world
had ever seen or the sun ever shone on. In
wOnted sighs and sounds were heard; common
thrill ran guivering through society All, all
thrOnged the recruiting offices, willing, yea,
eager to enter the 'untried profession Of arms"
Amid this wild excitement, the beating of drums
and beating of hearts-ths flashing of bayon-
cts and flashing Of eyes-thG terrible deadlness
of the war game was imperfectly realized, At
the call of their country patriots left their
homes and fresides, wives and children with
one common purpose hurried to the defense of
their country At every crossing they met-at
every stationed they Joined together.
The languid love of country which has slept
in the hours of peace, became the live thunder
Of the awakened and indignant loyalty and
the people determined that while rebellion
threatened the Nation they would know moth |
ing but IN endangered country, and an inSulted
flag. Soon the country trembled under the !
mghtiest armies earth'S bosom ever bore
Mighty in the Gray, Mighty in the Blue;
Brave in the Gray, Brave in the Blue; Wrong |
in the Gray, Right in the Blue.
All eyes were turned towards the hostile forces |
in battle array, and as the time drew near
which was to decide the fate of millions the |
whole nation sent up to the God of Nations |
earnest prayer for the triumph Of the Union |
armies. Crowds, eager and expectant, hung |
about the news office men hurried and anX- |
ous, asked each other, " What's the news from
the Army" Women, with their trustful, low |
ing natures, hushed their beating hearts and |
prayed that their husbands, brothers, and sons
might be spared them. Even children Quilted |
their sports, and seemed embued with the COM
mon sympathy.
Battle after battle was fought, and in the
cities and towns the people thrOnged about the
telegraph offices. Every sound is hushed, ex-
ccpt the ominOus click, us fresh intelligence
flashes over the wires, recording the fate of the
Union, as battle after battle was fought. Some
felt faint from very suspense.
Will the inAexibe Grant, the brave Sher- |
dan triumph before Richmond? Will the gall |
liant Sherman's march to the sea be successful?
Soon voice in clarion notes arrest the attention
of the people. Victory, victory Lee and his |
boys in gray have surrendered to Grant and |
his brave boys in blue, Every heart is thrilled |
Shout after shout went up from an oVer-iOyed |
people 1t was caught up in the streets, and
sent or, and on, through the Nation. Men
grasped each other by the hand and wept over |
the glad tidings of redeemed Nation Mothers |
clasped their children to their bosoms, and |
poured OUT GneIr 1cEFtuI, Silent THANKS 10 Ln6 |
Giver of all good, for the priceless victory. |
But while all were rejoicing, the news came
again: Lincoln, the true, the honest, the pure
patriot, was smtten down by the foul hand of
an assassin. Men heard and doubted it; it |
could not be because they wished it not to be.
Surely the next dispatch will bring better |
news. Again the crowds gathered about the |
news offices, watching and waiting, but only to |
find all confirmed. With saddened hearts slow
" they dispersed--deep gloom overspread all. !
No need of questions to learn wha. vas SO |
plainly written on every c1untenance. He fell |
as hundreds of those brave boys in blue fell-a |
sacrifice to loyalty and devotion to his country
He sleeps in silence as one of the patriotic dead.
Patriots who upto that time had not shed a tear, |
though they had witnessed the terrible carnage |
of the battlefield, bowed their heads upon their |
breasts and wept bitterly.
What peer can portray the events that fol-
lowed? What tongue eloquent enough to tell |
the deeds chronicled day after day? Ransack !
the pages of history search the records of ma
tons, have recourse to fable, fiction or poetry,
if you will, and tell me if you can find paral- |
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