Nebraska advertiser., 1873-09-18
SOLDIERS, RE UNION.

To-day, Tbarsday, the soldiers OF
the late war, those who fought that
the Union might live, aud who now
reside In Nebraska. will have a re-
union. In the name of the Union
loving people of Brownville and Ne
maha county, we bid them welcome.
When one allows his memory to re-
vert back to that Sabbath when the
news was heraided over the country
that Ft Sumpter had been fired up
on and the Starry Banner insulfed-'
to the alacrity which marked the re-
sponse of our young men as they an
swered the call for troops to defend
the Capitalize the generous manner
in which mothers parted with sons
and wives with husbands, thanking
God that He had given them so much
and so richly of what their country
needed, stalwart and patriotic men
and then traces the record of the re-
bellion from those memorable days
to those on which Lee surrendered, +,
johnson capitulated and jeff Davis
was captured, he must experience
emotions of unfeigned gratitude cours-
ing through his system and his heart
reaching out to those brave fellows,
who, looking upon their country as
an Inheritance too dearly bought to
be sacrificed on the altar of slavery,
flung in the face of the oligarchs OF
the South the ensign of Liberty and
taught them to fear and respect it.
Amid the smoke of battle, leaden rain
storms, and the wild shout of strug'
glidg foes, upon the field and river
in the saddle and on foot. the brave
boys in blue" took their chances Of
thirteen dollars a month and death AZ
against the destruction of their ma
tionality.
The cause in which our soldier:
fought was that of righteousness. L
was not the creation of an unhallow
ed ambition upon their part. 1t wa!
not to avenge supposed wrongs. 1
was not to acquire territory. No. |
WAS to defend our country from the
machinations of men who threaten
ed to dismember 1t. Never did The
right demand a more prompt and val
liable sacrifice, and never did it re
cieve a more generous response. OuI
soldiers bid adieu to the homes o
their childhood. quit their chosen bu
siness pursuits. hastily parted will
parents, sisters, wives, children ant
sweethearts. and in twinkling wer'
storming the strongholds of prepared
and confident foes, leaving those wh'
viewed them from a distance at los
which to admire most, their courag
or their devotion to liberty. Ha'
they been warriors by profession
trained to thirst for blood, and thei
mbitiou depended upon sanguinar.
conflicts. they could not have steppe'
more heroicalIy upon tue arena OF bat
tie, nor acquitted themselves wit
more honor.
With what admiration have we al
read of that old sea soldier. who, wit
lighted match in hand, had both hi
legs shot away, and righting' himsel
, upon his mangled and hleedin
: stumps, applied tha match TO the car
r non and on hearing the discharge {
q his piece, gave che4 and died wit
a smile on his lips.
Yes, the "boys in blue" have mad
a record more f1attering than the ral
: est gems of eloquence or the peans {
!! the multitude, and we are alive to th
: fact that any words of ours, howevt
: full of meaning. are poor tributes
o cast at the feet of living heroes or uI
D Oh the memory of those who scale
e their devotion to their country wit
[ their lives Can the mother forge
the resting place of her son?-tt
father the spot where his son fell b
9 meath the folds of that flag which /
i loved better than life ?-could the b.
i reaved soldier refrain from droppin
d tears of affection upon the new mec
: grave of his comrade, into which /
e had lain him wrapped but in his blai
y ket?-and can a0e, who have bee
e spared to greet the Starry Banner
it floats triumphantly over every fo'
of our country's soil, hesitate hailin
= the heroes who assemble here to-da
and spending an hour in thought al
u on those who took an oath that I'll
flag of their country should be the
flag or winding sheet. and went up
- and above the clouds with the hol
oath upon their lips?
Again, and in conclusion, we sa
welcome rank and file of the soldier
i who visit US to-day. May your reuI
, ion be pleasant one, and your liv'
and she country forever be spared r.
= fsnewals. of the conflicts of '61-'65.
8 Jarvis S. Church declined our cha
lenge to discuss his political attitude
but, as will be seen by reference