Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-06-18

across that wide, open plain and up
those heights, exposed to raking
fire Of musketry aud artillery from
front and flank. Others had, on
this ground, faltered, he and his
men did not; others, on this ground,
became panic stricken, he and his
men were not. Though his ranks
were more than decimated, he
bravely pressedzonward right on
ward, without taltering or firing
gun, and swept the first and then
The second line Of Notifications
with the bayonet alone, leaving
more than onc.ftth Of his men
strewed in his track. The destiny
of the nation seemed for a moment
to be in the hands of this little
band, and they apparently realized
it. The whole army, while the
charge was being made, seemed not
to breathe. The sergeant who car
ried the flag in sthe front line Of
battle, a few hours afterwards was
wild with delirium one poor fellow,
evidently a foreigner, from his dia.
lect, who was shot through, forget.
full Of self, hurried y enquired if the
heights had been carried, and if
Tom Allen was safe, and when an.
swered in the affirmative replied,
that be could then bear his wounds
contentedly.
Oh, how that flag and Allen and
his little band Of heroes were
watched as they moved across that
plain, and up those heights, and
over one line Of Notifications after
another, with leaden hail, with
grape and canister, shot and shell
screaming over their heads and
plunging through their ranks.
How grandly, how gloriously that
charge was made no pen will ever
write, no tongue will ever Tell, and
yet these are but few instances
among many, many thousands.
Cease to remember such deeds,
and we will cease to be n free PEG
pie. Gold cannot repay such sac
rifces; nothing but the hearts pure
offering will suffice.
Let other generations, while dec.
orating these monuments and Strew-
inc flowers on these graves, add
the ringing of bells, bontrcs and
Examinations but with us there is
too much of personal grief mingled
with our Joy, the memory Of near
and dear ones offered a living sac.
rifce upon our country's altar is
too vivid. too fresh.
You, fathers and mothers, who
sent your sons forth to battle tor
your country; you, mothers, who
ike the Spartan mother Of old,
babe them return with or on their
shields: you, who with n warm kiss
for husbands, babe them 90 and do
their duty, and prayed God to
shield and protect them amid the
vicissitudes, hardShips and tempta,
tons Of camp life, and from the
dangers OF the hour OF battle; you,
comrades, who fought, who b!ed,
tho served your country upon the
tented field have, and Will ever
have, vivid recollection, an abld
ing consciousness Of having done
your duty, Of having suffered in a
holy, glorious cause, aud ever VIII
be entlted TO the thanks Of all, for
all have enjoyed the benefit OF your
suffering. 70 al! such this anlver-
sary viii ever be one Of sadness
and mourning. Amid the solemn
ties Of the occasion spirits Will arise
that viii not down at the bidding.
1t will recall near and dear ones
fallen, and happy hours never to
return.
OF the volunteers Of 81, one.hait
sleep in soldiers graves, LAY like
warriors taking their rest with their
martial cIoaks around them; more
than one-haIt Of the living carry on
their persons the evidence OF many
fierce conflicts. Twenty six OF the
5th Wisconsin once signed their
names TO a paper expressing thelr
opinion Of those who declined TO
support the Union cause. Thirteen
Of that number went home amid the
fire aud smoke of battle; of the re
naming thirteen ten are,or Ought to
/ =.