The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-11-15
HON. mo. G. LESTER

Doubtless you will agree with m
that we haye met to-day under pc.
culiar circumstances. After tn,
lapse of nearly twenty years from
his death, we have met to pay the
last tribute of respect to one thu
memory of whom is dear to all il
this audience. .And you will doubt
less furthermore agree with me thai
whatever may have been the cause.
that prevented US from attending t.
this duty earlier land it is useles,
to go over them it is significant
fact that after the lapse of the years
that have rolled away the friends
of the deceased have felt impelleC
by the love they had for him, anc
the appreciation they had for the
services he rendered to the cause
that was dear to then. to ssend and
get his remains, and have them
rest here among his friends and his
kindred. 1t also shows that time
has noS erased the regard they have
for thoseiwho responded to com
try's call and freely gave their ser
vices and even their lives in its de
Tense,
Of the issues there involved we
are not here to speak. They arg
dead, as the cause itself, and, q
practical people, We have long SINCE
turned our faces away from them,
to the present and the future, to
the conquest that peace has made
and is making in the various fields
where her hosts are calamity stir
ring in this great country of ours;
and we are seeking to restore also
what the four years of strife lost to
US.
But we cannot restore the dead,
and while We turn away from the
issues that went down with the
cause itself we would be ungrateful,
yea, we would be lost to the noblest
impulses Of humanity, were we to
turn coldly away and attempt to
forget the sacrifices that were made
and the heroes that fell in defense
of that cause.
He whose remains are in that
casket IVES one of those heroes.
His face was once familiar TO a
large part of this audience. You
knew him, aud held fond inter
course with him, and loved him as,
be deserved to be loved. You
knew him in his boyhood, in his
young manhood. You knew him
in his social intercourse, and his
business relations. You knew his
gentle and manly bearing. His
kind, pleasant and affable nature,
and his stern unfiinching devotion
10 duty, to truth and to right, and
you recognized the fact that with
hose sterling qualities and his
nigh intellectual attainments, a
ife of bright hope and promise
vas opened up before him. These
rats demanded your admiration
md esteem and they obtained them.
But there sre some of us who if pos
ible had more intimate relations |
With him still.
When the first bugle notes of war
we're sounded and this country was
O startled by them, we babe adieu,
nth him, whether for years or
brewer we knew not, to home and
,ved ones and embarked in that
ause that made such a memorable
pooh in our country's history.
We took with him our first lessons
s soldiers, were with him in the
amps of instruction, where onr du-
es and the surroundings we're new
, US and we little dreampt what
as in store for US in the future.
Re were with him on the drill field
hen they commenced making ma
hines of us, and we were inclined
, REBEL, for as yet we had not
armed the wisdom of the proceed
g. We were with him in the fear
i seige of Donelson, were cap
red and were prisoners with him
Id were afterwards with him
rough all the long years, in all