The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-07-23

tAuebi the nIth was ~ nome, QlecnATRel
from the service by reason ol disability
broken in health for life, or with q leg o
arm gone. The sixth man, TO whom NJ
swamp could give fever, TO whom We
clothes for q week could mot give thC
rheumatism, to whom no march, however
long, was hardship; this culled and 90
leCted Rixth man was there, robust, health
tul, the luddy glow oi health coursinl
through every thousaudth part OF {
square inch OF his body, and Visi
bly, through every pore Of the
skin, the patent seal and su,
prescription Of the Almighty that he was
the genuine coin 81 the realm. This man,
with the experience Of thousand
marches aud : hundred fights, with the
memories Of the achievements Of the past,
with Donaldson, Shiloh, ViCksburg, Mis-.
sion Ridge, upon his banner, with the
hoTa and determination in his heart to
end the war, TO give freedom and peace
to his c6untry, to revisit the loved ones
at home, and 10 resume the peaceful Voca.
tons which he had left reluctantly, and
emily in obedience TO the call Of duty, this
man WAa there on that July morning. He
had slept on the ground during the night
aud felt refreshed o. only such Q man
oluld be allersuCh q bsd-he bad his coffee,
his hard bread and his pork for hrsAkiast,
and now he was ready to do his full duty.
OF this ideal American soldier, James B,
McPhsrson was the highest embodimnt.
On that fatal afternoon before Atlanta,
II years ago to-day, as Mcpherson rode
nj "a 10 HI IN Mia aakh xuha no - kalI h1k ~ a.
bis thoughts were far away with one
linked to him by the nearest, dearest, ten
dereSt tiea-his promised bride. Per.
chance In his Imagination he sees the old
homestead at Clyde, shut In, halthidden
by trees and howsrs and creeping vines
perchance he hears, above the roar Of the
conflict, the twitter OF birds among the
trees, the blea.ing OF the t1oCks, the tink.
ling OF bells, the droWsy hum Of bees, and
the gentle emurmur OF the brook perchance
the soft breath Of the summer air oncA
more fans his cheek, and comes TO him
laden with the perfume Of roses and the
inCense OF the growing grain and the new
mown hayi perChance he sees his dear old
mother, with her knitting, sitting on the
porch OF the old home aa the sun
goes down aud the summer al.
Lernoon fades away. The mothers heart
10 heavy aud sad, and her cheeks are wet
with sCalding tears, but. her heart throbs
with pride and her eyes sparkle ut the 70,
membranCe oi the great Actions oil her ssh
-ot the battles, marches and campaigns
In which he has borne 30 honorable q
part. Hour after hour passes, and stil
she sits there, every thought belng oil the
absent one, The sun sinks to rest. The
shadows deepen, twilight Creeps on, and
one by one the stars light up the sky. The
tlocks and herds have been driven In the
tinkling Of bells Is no longer heard; the
birds have gone TO rest, and the leaves OF
the trees are no longer stirred by a breath
Of air.
Night has closed In on the humble home
OF the Nations defsndeD, and The only
noise that breaks in on the solemn still
ness is the rippling OF the brook over its
stony bed, the occasional bsWng Of some
farmers dog, and the mourniul notes Of the
whip pooE.will.
PerChAncs, In Imagination, as he rode
once more, as In his childhood days he |
sits upon bis mothers knee. His arms are
about her neck, bis face is pillowed upon
her brest, his dark curls cluster about her
check, and be whispers In her ear his
childish thoughts; and perchanCe, while
these visions were floating before MCPher.
sons eyes, the fatal bullet pierced bis
breast and the life blood OF this gentle sol.
dier ebbed away among the forest leaves
and rich blossoms on Atlauta's field
Around the throne Of the Eternal God
must hover the spirits OF such a. be, who |
lived without ever having selfish thought.
Here, where he was born and where his
days Wer passed, lies all that
Is left OF the stsadfast friend, the gallant
soldier, the great commander.
RES. thee, friend, soldier, patriot"
We dedicate this monument to the man.
hood OF America, 10 the manhood OF the
world. We dedicate It to all that Is high,
noble and glorious in the world. We
dedicate II to all the heroes and all the
Of all the climes and all the ages
Governor Foster also spoke briefly, Civ.
Ing some "reminiscences OF MCpherson's |
youth. AletLer was read from Secretary
Blaine, expressing the Presidents regret |
at bis inability 10 bo present
After the applause which followed the
Presidents name had subsided, the FOL. |
lowing was submitted and adopted "a
A REPLY TO PRESIDENT GARTiELD.
10 President Garfield
Tho comrades and friends OF Gen. Nc.
Pherson, assembled at his grave on this
Of his death 10 aid in the
grateful duty Of 1nvslling a Statue erected |
to commemorate his character and ser.
vices, rejoice TO know that the President
is steadily and rapidly Tegainipg bis health
and strength. This large Gssemblage,
composed OF citiSsns representing every
shade Of political sentiment, are with entire
unanimity Ia the deepest sympathy With
Garfield, bis wife, and mother,
and children, and heartily congratulate
him and them on the cheering prospect Of
bis complete recovery. They fej1iCe that
10 this crisis II has been shown that the
union which Mcpherson died to preserve
10 fully and firmly re.establlshed, and that
In the preaApbe Of q common alIltction or
a great national pedl the people Of our
whole country are Indeed one people.
rhe prayer Of ali who are here assembled
is, "God grant 10 our President restored
health and long, honorsd and useful
llts."
af tha uR0tRthv nj LaaInats.