The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-09-04

peals Of artillery that alike grow fainter
as they recede; he can see, too, at times,
advancing lines of infantry, with batter
| les unlimbered in their rear, hurling over
head at the enemy tempest of shell TO
disturb and distract him; he can see the
artillery suddenly cease fire, timber up
and gallop after their Infantry taking up
neal or position, and in trice unlimber
and fire away again. He can see the in.
fantry reach a stone wall, and halt and
open fire from the shelter; or, If no i'm
| pediment be in their way, he will see
them sweep on to the charge, and close
with the adversary.
Soon, however, the fight reopens on
his own front and he sees no more of
the baTtle on his right or left; his facul
| ties are absorbed in the combat before
him. The wounded when in reach are
carried to the rear as they fall or to con
Venient shelter spots on the field where
the surgeon awaits them, knife in hand.
Many disabled men receive their death
wound as they are carried of, and where
they lie between two fires, and can not
be promptly reached, often die for want
VI dbbObLlOns IL 10 ylhk pO-
sition for one to lie for hours, wounded
and helpless, on field swept by an en-.
emy's fire, but to lie on debatable ground
as many poor fellow has done, and see
the dust puffs raised about him by bull
let's from friends and foes, and listen 10
the hiss of crossing missels, is perhaps
the crowning horror Of war.
The dav after the fight, if the enemy
are not pursued, is passed in buryiDg the
dead in getting up trains from the rear,
and much needed rest. Lost comrades
if the action has taken place in summer,
and over day has elapsed before their
recovery, are often found past recogni
tion save by their apparel; and the thin.
ned ranks of the survivors present for
lorn and sad appearance. New fyod for
powder pours in from the recruiting de-
pots to fill the gaps, but not till after a
long period of training and experience
70 fill the places Of those who are gone.
Dead animals fill the atmosphere with
nauseous vapors, and the troops are mo-
we'd out of the tainted air. aud camped
on fresh ground. Relatives come and
look after the wounded, and to recover
the remains of the dead, and to hear
from the lips of their comrades, while
the events are fresh, a detailed account
of their gallant deeds and untimely fall,
to treasure in family radition-painfuIly
interesting narratives, often and like the
remainder of the "unsubstantial pageant
in which he played part, have melted
into thin air. No more rations, clothing
or pay from that firm; and nothing to
keep the Old Harry out of his pocket
but glory good enough to Clothe an ex.
soldier, and his wife and children in
poetical point of view, but short rations,
and the unreasonable wife and children
will not be satisfied with it, and earnestly
call for something more substantial. |
fear it has happened in some cases they
have called in vain. Let us hope not
often. AS to the old and needy soldier
who has only himself to care for, he can
seek the asylums preE ared for him, or
scOffle along in the world outside, and
live on the memory of the past, and on
such aid al his comrades will give him
when they look in his face, and recall
the trials and perils they have enCount-
cred shoulder to shoulder.
My friends, we have fought the fight
out, and it has long since drifted into the
motionless past. Let us cherish good
memories, look back on it's happy hours,
and dismiss from our minds the winter
rain and wind the summer sun and dust.
For the rest let us earn or bread in toll,
if need be, but in content with past and
present, and hope in the future; and lend
to each other when our paths in life
bring us together, sympathy at least, and
such material aid as may be in our pow.
er
Let us treasure the memory of our
comrades who fell, on the field, by the
wayside or in the hospital; but not mourn
for them as for those who have gone
down unhonored. They live here IN
history, and in the hearts of their friends
and live, too, in that other world to
which we are all drIf ing. When the
Peri appeared before the guardian angel
at the gate of Paradise, with a drop of
the hearts blood of the hero fallen on
his country's battle field
"sweet," said the angel ss she gave
The gift into his radiant hand,
'Sweet is our welcome of the brave,
Who die thus for their native land"
Let us cherish the hope that when the
recording angel entered in the book of
life the patriotic sacrifices freely made by
our fallen comrades, he blotted out the
record Of their errors, and enrolled them
in the army of the just, in glory ever