The National tribune., 1882-06-10

to the hour of going to press. We have since
received from our large staff of regular CORE
| spondents further accounts of the interesting
ceremonies on Memorial Day, which will be
| found below, and which, we have no doubt,
will be found of general interest to our readers
| DECORATION DAY AT GAINESVILLE,
WISCONSIN.
| Special Correspondence National Tribune.
| EVANSVILLE, June 1.-The Both of May, des-
| lgnated by civil authority throughout the
country to honor the memory of our fallen
heroes, has again come with all its sacred asso-
Citations and hallowed memories, and with one
heart and one voice great Nation renders
homage in unison to the braUe boys in Uue who
now quietly rest from their labors and sweetly
sleep by the river and the lake. in the valley,
upon the plain, and the hillside.
10 deck the grassy mounds of these brave
boys with the sweet and fragrant flowers Of
early spring mingled with the evergreen and
myrtle, and plant the Stars and Stripes for
which they died at the head of each grave is
no unmeaning service; it is the out-bursting
of the tenderest sympathies of the human
heart.
The patriotic spirit of Janesville has never
neglected to honor the memory of her brave
sons who fell in defense of their country, and
has always, in some appropriate manner
observed Decoration Day since it was estab-
lished
In November last w. II. Sargent Post was
organized here and now numbers one hundred
comrades good and true men. One of the du-
ties which Grand Army regulations impose upon
us-a duty which all true soldiers enter into
with sacred JOY and gladness, is to honor the
memory of our departed comrades by observing
Decoration Day in the spirit and letter as set
forth by the Grand Army. In discharge of this
duty at our last regular meeting in April we
resolved to ask the cooperation of our citizens
and the various civic societies of the city on
that day. Oar various church organizations,
Masonic, Odd Fellows, Temperance societies,
Knights of Pythias fire companies, and 9TH
ers cheerfully responded to our invitation and
gave us their hearty support.
A public meeting was called and commit
tee of general arrangements appointed, the
chairman Of which was cOmrade DIR. Henry
Palmer, surgeOn-general of the State and also
medical director of the Grand Army of this
Department, who has always been active and
efficient in making suitable arrangements for
the proper observance of Decoration Day, and
when the day came flowers had been gathered
and with willing hearts and deft hands woven
into wreaths and significant designs, crosses
trimmed with evergreen and myrtle, and q flag
planted at the head of every soldiers grave in
our cemeteries.
At o'clock p. m. the various organizations
and societies took the places assigned them in
line, and, escorted by the brass bands, we
commenced the march to the cemeteries which
lie adjoining, one and half miles distant.
The procession, including carriages, was over
one mile in length, and thousands crowded
the sidewalks and streets to witness the dis
play. Our Post flag, presented to us by the
lberality of Comrade DR.. Henry Palmer, was
carried at the head of our column, and memo
rial flags bearing tho names of our departed
whose graves we were about to
honor were carried by the comrades of our
Post. Arriving ut the cemetery, those on foot !
formed about the stand erected for the orator |
of the day, the Chaplain, upon the part OF
the citizens,) the master of ceremonies and |
musicians. After prayer and singing of pa
triOtic hymns COmrade DR.. J. b. Whiting |
a most impressive and patriotic ad-
dress. After these ceremonies, chiefly upon |
the part of the public, the comrades of the
Post, about seventy in number, formed three
sides of a hollow square around a cen0taph,
aid there performed in the presence of thou
sands of interested spectators our beautiful
and expressive services of decoration We
then marched to the grave of the brave hoy
whose heroic conduct and soldierly bearing
We honor in the name of our Post, Lieutenant
". II. Sargent, and listened to the glowing
tribute to his valor and manly courage written
Dy his commander, General l.. +. Hubbard
the present Governor Of Minnesota, and in
'cribed upon the stone that marks his dust
When Lieutenant Sargent fell he was adiutant
IF tho Eighth Wisconsin, THE Eagle Regi-
nent," and acting Inspector general on General
staff Companies had been detailed
oy the committee of general arragcments who
low proceeded TO lay floral wrcaths and de-
signs upon the graves of all the soldiers in
,ur cemeteries, soventy-cight in number, which
lad already been marked by the Stars and
stripes. The procession was again formed and
ook up the line of march to the city. The
lay was propitious, and the interest mani
csted has never been equalled upon any pre-
Iious occasion. j. C. NJ.
MEMORIAL DAY AT BERLIN, WIS.