Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-06-17
I" UNKNOWN 20

Many graves oil our departed heroes are
marked unknown. Some others, no Post
of the Grand Army or any fellows of a
nearer kin could ever find. Their names
were lost in the DIN and sweeping charge
OF the battle field-wounded and crushed
beneath iron hoofs and iron wheels, mixed
up with mother earth beyond recognition
perhaps their bodies were dismantled by
some rebel perhaps wounded and bleeding
and thirsting and dying they crawled away
to some thicket, thinking and feeling oh
so fast, as the tide of life ebbed out per
haps it was an old, grey-headed man, soli-
tary and alone; il might have been beard
less boy with the dew OF his youth upon
his head; perhaps it was one (for there
were such) upon whose daily toll the moth
er and little ones depended for bread,
whose heart in that hour felt but one bitter
pang which led him to cry out, Oh my
God, who will care for hems Then after
few years OF waiting ard toiling aud of
hopes deferred, the mother too, met her fate
nnd was laid away in an unmarked grave.
1t may have been some one who was cap
tured and lost sight of in Southern prison,
when, for the want of food and sleep
soldier wasted away day by day till but
little or nothing was lett OF him except
his soul. It would have been some conso.
lation II in his last moments he could have
felt the pressure oil hand and looked into
the face of one who was dearer to him
than father and mother and all the world
beside-if his ear could have but once more
heard her voice that soothed his spirit 40
much when she said good bve-but to die
like brute, unpittied, unwept to be tnm-
bled into a trench unshrouded, uncoffined
Then if she, who had said to him when he
enlisted, Yes go! by all means don't
stay for me-" could only have heard from
him, when and where and how lie died, or
If his name could have been put upon the
roll OF the grand army and read over on
decoration day MS the different Posts salued
the dead and as the years go by strowed
flowers upon his grave, it would have been
some little consolation. But this waiting
and longing and yearning for the lost and
unknown is beyond endurance. Her no.
BILE spirit braved the ordeal for a while,
till her beautiful form wasted away and
was laid aside with the early dead. Could
the Grand Army Of the Republic have
known how much OF her heart she gave to
our country / am sure it would stop long
enough by her grave and drop wreath of
bright flowers. But her worth like the
grave and name OF one whom she mourned
ie mains unknown. Unknown Yes But
that was costly sncrilice-!hose two young
hearts laid upon the alter of patriotism.
No heroes who ever fought for country
and home could have carved better
fame. Think not gentle reader that theirs
was an unhappy fate. Could we see with
spiritual eyes the vision might be changed.
In that baptism of suffering an angel min
stered to the dying solder-his prayer was
heard-as his pure spirit went up to heaven
his attendant with n wreath of flowers led
him triumphant where many mansions
be- to the place prepared for George Wash
ington and other brave and good men.
That chieftain taking the wreath from the
angels hand, crowned the noble youth who
had come up ont Of great tribula;ion, with
accamntions OF recognition and admira-
ton. Then his grave was marked seeds
were put in the soil and flowers sprang up /;
they were OF a deeper hue and more ben,-
tiiul than other wildwood flowers for they
grew in the hallowed soil of rich mould
and had been planted by an angels hand,
and kissed by the earliest and sweetest
dews of the morning. And when the spirit
of the one lie loved on earth went up to
heaven they met again and were satisfied,
| for they shared in the glores of kindred
| spirits. 1t WIS indeed IL beautiful sacrifice
and a beautiful compensation too. Such
as the Great and Good God always makes
For the Great Captain who went up to
heaven through Gethsemane and by the
place of skulls and the cross will never su :.
Ter the memory of one who makes great
sacrifice in II good cause, TO perish. Just
above the cross, little way on, is the
crown. My brother, let us Join the grand
army and win the prize. ANON.