Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-19

South would be the bowling wilder
ness that il was from Atlanta to the
sea after Shel man's march through
Georgia.
Talks as he Fought-What q Stall
wart Oregon Preacher says.
Portland orsgonisn.
The Rev. j. HI. Acton, pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal church in
this city and editor Of the Pacific
Christian ADVOCATE publishes the
following invitation which has been
received BY him:
Pogr. LAND, Ore, May IA. 1S79-Tne Rev,
J II Acton--Dear Sir: / am instructed TO in-
vite you to deliver a discourse on the Sabbath
preceding Decoration Day,in commenoration
Of the services of our fallen comrades who gave
up their lives for the maintenance of this great
free Government. If consistent we hope
you win be pleased to comply. Very Res
specially. N. s. PIERCE.
Chairman Committee.
The following reply is made
through the Advocate:
"Doubtless there is class of pol
iticians-men whose hearts were
not true to the country in its agony
who will condemn il; and yet let
Is be observed that the man who re-
spo nded to the call of his country
and fought as soldier through the
War has earned the privilege to
speak his sentiments. 10 th,s in
stance they are spoken with most
thrilling earnestness. 1t is a voice
in which tervency and pathos are
blended with the sound Of the trum.
pet.
eve must respectfully decline.
Nearly eighteen years since, at the
call OF the United States Govern.
ment we took up our line of march
for the bloody fields of the South
not as Commissioned officer with
large pay, large epauleta, and still
larger self-appreciation, nor yet as
q chaplain, to have, as many did, a
good, easy, remunerative time on.
of bullet range,-but as a private
soldier IN the ranks with our mnsket
and kDapsack. For three years we
stood picket, lay in the trenches,
waded rivers, climbed mou ntains,
traversed swamps, baked our own
beans-when we had any-shot at
Rebels and in return made them q
target Of our own person. We pass
ed through many bloody scenes. and
some of the most trying battles OF
the war. More than once we narrow.
ly escaped the bayonet, Anderson.
vile or Libby. We carried anuni-
ton from the pouches Of the dying
and dead for some of these same
conrad es whose deeds we are called
upon to remember and helped with
our own hands to lay scores ofthem
in their graves. When the war
closed we joined 10 the nations
shout and hung our sword on the
wall. Many of our most valued
friends were left in the South. We
tried to dry the tears of stricken
fathers and mothers by reciting the |
heroism of their dead, and then
went back into the ranks of the |
Master to pray for the fatherless
and widows. But we were happy |
A halo of glory hung ever their
graves. We looked on the broad
fields OF this land and felt it was
enough. We had spent as a nation
more than 81. 600, 900. 900 and had
sacrificed hundreds of thousands of
precious lives. But the scruel war
was over and our enemies were
ready to accept the situation.
To-day the men the Government
paid US by the month for shooting
at are our Congressman. -Four
Senator's only who now serve Us
we're Union soldiers while twenty
were 10 the Rebel army. Sixty.
i've Rebels are in the House. Not q
man from all the South who
stood loyalty by the government
with his life in his hands comes as
\ Representative. More than two.
Ihirds of the whole number were in
open rebellion and under arms, and
yet in six if not seven of the thir-
teen States which rebelled the
Union voters are in the majority.
The tried soldier is thrust out. The
who led the way through
dismal swamps, found hiding places
md carried a portion of their scantv
ARE to our Buys flying from prison
pens. who bound up their wounds
md picked the worms from their
yangreped flesh torn by blood.
freedmen are to. day
lying from their homes to save
heir lives. Insult stamps upon the
graves Of our dead in the South and
evolution is complete In It's violence
,nly that solitary Union soldier
who happens to be at the head of
he Government stands alone in the
preach.
mo, we cannot preach over the
lead yet. Other battles are to be
ought. 1t were an empty offering
We do not wish to mock their
bleaching bones. They did not
bleed and die for a few empty eulo.
,ies and a handful of half faded
lowers cast upon their graves once
. year. They ask bread and we give
hem stone. They rot in their
graves with gaping wounds Of sword
Ind bullet and bayonet, the DEATH
'tare of those who starved in prison.
,ens. yet traeeable in the dust under
he coffin lids. We push aside their
naimed comrades to make room Tor
he men who laughed At their dying
cream for food, and ordered the
guard to shoot the. crazed maniac
Who dared reach over the desd-line
or half putrid bone, and now come
n token our appreciation with half
villed flowers. How these dead