Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-30

the stern commands
Which phantom Captains shouted to the ghostly
In company and column lines, as when in life they
some battery Or oreastwork grim, that must. at
Be silenced or be captured, or the half-won fight
be lost.
Yet not for battle were their ranks thus drawn up
But tor reyie. and dress parade gathered these
To hear IT. their nnal orders read for Decoration
Attention y called the Adjutant OF this Brigade
"Head Quarters Armies Of the Dead, Spirit Land.
The rTsnty:S aintss1Fteld Orders Number One
Tomorrow they
Who fought with, and survive US yet, but Com
radeS still, will come
With floral wreaths and martial strains draped
pay sns h sn ws Ss Sug gsrn We
And thick as they may tnrong the ground. our
Breathing Che Incense Of their praise, and see, by
Their ysssy Iitss ei love, whereby they keep our
The General Commanding trusts each ghost Of
Will muster promptly, and extend his mortal Com
By stirring up Is eaner life their patriotic pride
all that makes their Country great or keeps it
For spirits know that spirits can even earthly
VIII, SOU SOUS Inspire, Inspire ,oo, 49,,
with desire.
Secondly midnight, sharp, tomorrow night,
the Wras ~
May cuil bouquet for his honored breast
Where 1t shall hold its color and perfume
TIL next year sees new wreaths laid his tomb.
But the cock crows-We must dismiss parade
Back to K your grayes Quick march Break ranks
And the next instant gone was every ghost,
For with the last word VANISHED the whole host.
Tell me not this was bus a dream IA sleeper's
Isaw and heard what relate-I kno,o that they
Those grand, brave souls whose bodies rest Won
And though to our dull mortal eyes their forms
Their presence can be felt, and is It flashes from
OF every comrade on this ground who feels his
With warmer love fof Motherland, and prouder Of
Amongst the nations Of the Earth. It stirs ones
feel himself Of the same blood that they were
| Feel, in the presence Of that viewless host,
For nobler manhood-we shall be, not only for to-
But for all time, uplifted by it; and shall bear
Better mementoes Of their presence than we leave
Even. though we covered every grave with gold.
Give them glad greeting Comrades for they will
see and hear
All that we do or utter to prove their memories
Go! dress their graves with blossoms-Pilet them
Till sight and scent are stated with color and per-
And when they come at midnight as at midnight
Let them muster on carpet which the atmosphere
With the odor OF such welcome as shall make them
Have their Comrades or their Countrymen forgot
nor will forget
How they dared, and died, and suffered; but with
WIZ, o. mingled grief and pride
VIII 1orever-aye, forever! name the loyal men
who died.
The male quartet sang the ode, "Columbia, Let
no Tears" written by Col W. W Granger for the
panied them.
Rev G. w. Wright closed the preliminary ex-
erc1SeS with the benedictiOn.
The decoration OF graves with flowers was then
commenced by those who felt so disposed under the
direction Of the following decorating committee:
Sturgis. Gen. c. Clay, Capt W. s. Slater, Capt T.
NJ Wilcox, sergt PJ: Durgan. sergt W. Kerna-
MIS- " " ersasei, Miss Rose sew Wilsa n MIS-
Maggie Wiltshire, Miss Mary Wright, and Miss
CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY.
To the Congressional Cemetery at an early hour
hundreds OF people wended their way bearing
bundles Of gariands, baskets, &C., and by ten
o'clock there were, perhaps, two thousand persons
on the ground busily engaged in decorating the
graves OF the. fallen dead. 1t was not till half
past ten O'Clock that the committee and choir
arrived at the cemetery in carriages and by omni-
exercises took place at the stand. This was neat
platform envelOped in the national colors and on
1t was the speakers and others. The corners were
yx,PQ fhc
rades stanton Weaver, George j. P WOOD, Samuel ss
etery; Comrade John O'Connen, Mesdames
A. NJ Brilaski, A. NJ. O'Connell George J. P.
wo %an NJ IL w e. NJ
Bryan, and Misses T. Karpelles, Anna Kuhn, M I.
McMonigle. Jennie Joe Erwin, Sallie NJ. Overman,
Kate Decker. The choir was composed Of r. J.
Woodman, director; Miss Helen n Jefrries, So
pran nS; MISS tssoI Martha 9 Mundell alto; Mr.
Grandall, TENOR; Mr. +. J: Woodman, basso; Miss
Lille McCanam, organist.
The Exercises.
AT II o'clock COmrade Weaver called the assem-
Dlage to order and introduced Rev. DR.. Chester of
the Metropolitan Presbyterian church who offered
the Invocation The choir followed. singing "Co-
lumbfa," by Gilmore, In fine style. Comrade Jas.
NJ stewart was introduced and read the following
poem:
EIegy-Memorfal Day.
CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY, WASHINGTON, D. @.
Here, slumber1ng, Silly cold, are lowly laid
our heroes, who in love immortal uve;-
Comrades, with reverent tread this ground invade
And tribute flowers to sacred memories give.
Come from the loyal north, and east, and west,
70 these green hillOcks and these solemn bowers
Each as a cherished friend, an hOnOred guest
For wherefore else were these memorial flowers?
Think not that they whose ashes crumble here.
In peaceful silence, slowly, dust to dust,
are pr1SOned In some distant, unknown sphere
Sealed by proud ignorance and scholastic rust.
Think not when mortals close their weary ewes.
And spirit breaks the shackle-bonds Of earth.
That closely yelled. 1mpenetrable skies
VIII hide the loved, familiar land Of birth!
Is love futile thing AN idle tale:
Is friendship but whim?- wasted breath:
Does memory perish when we reach the vale
And wing our flight beyond the land of deaths
10! Jacob saw. in high prophetic dreams,
While hymns celestial thrilled the midnight air.
In all the glory of irradiant beams
Angels descending and ascending therel
And ever thus will faith the way behold,
In which the spirit takes 1t homeward fight:
And thus Will love the purer realm unfold
whence love returns In harmony and light