Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-07

It's nrst v0liey at the doomed walls OF
Fort Sumpter. Like a flash of light
ming the news spreads from East to
West and from North to South, that
Fort Sumpter has been taken. One
after another the southern states go out
of the Union. Can it be possible that
the prediction, ssour form of govern
ment cannot LAST is about to be veri-
fed? No, the noble Lincoln is at the
helm of the old ship of state. His call
for volunteers goes forth and is prompt
ly answered. Thousands upon thou
sands of brave men 60 forth ito battle
and never return.
For four long years the battle RACES,
and it's said, t.tLe sonth is invincible. y
but thank God It was not, and to-day
we have one Government and peace;
and it rejoices my heart to-day, and
fills me with feelings Of unspeakable
gratitude, when | see before me so many
of your citizens who, regardless of party
or political belief, here left their homes
and turned out on this occasion to do
honor to whom honor is Justly due.
This promiscuous assembling together
OF all classes, regardless of party is just
as it should be. On this day as on the
4th OF July, all party differences and
bitterness ought always to be buried,
and we as people, ought to assemble
In one common mass, to show our re-
spect for, and remembrance of, the
memory and services Of the brave boys
who died in defense of their country
the men who suffered, fought and died,
that that starry emblem, the flag of oul
country, should continue to wave, with.
out star grown dim or lost. We as q
nation are to-day enjoying the blessings
OF peace and prosperity to greater de-
gree than any other nation on the
earth, as the result of the services which
they rendered and the sacrifices they
made, and firmly believe that, by the
blessing of Him who doeth all things
well, this glorious old Government Of
ours. the grandest and most glorious
Government that ever existed under the
starry canopy of Heaven, will continue
to exist and flourish, as a union oil
states. one and inseparable. long after
the last veteran has received his final
discharge, and his grave has been dec.
Grated by grateful people.
thousands of people throughout the
United States have left their homes to.
day to return to them again as soon as
the decoration exercises are over.
Thousands of the bravest and best men
in our country left their homes % years
ago, never, never to return. Left their
business never to engage in it again.
Left their fathers and mothers; brothers
and sisters; and, what was harder still,
their wives and prattling babes, never
to meet them again this side the eternal
shore. Left their all behind, and laid
their lives, the greatest offering man
can bring.-upon the altar of their
country. Greater patriotism hath nc
man than this, that he lay down his life
for his country.
Some of the. fallen heroes whose
names are inscribed on that beautiful
monument, were among the number
who sprang at.the first call of our mar
tyred Presidents, to the defense of their
country. How proudly they marched
away. How sadly they were carried
home. Very few of you who hear me
to-day, know anything of the hardships
and suffering that were endured (and
that too without a murmur) by those
who went into the army; and l pray
God You never may. While others were
at home with friends and kindred, en-
joying all the blessings and comforts,
and even luxuries Of life, they were
marching in an enemy's country, weary
and foot-sore; and oftentimes on account
of long and steady marches ragged and
dirty. with all of their clothing. beds,
bedding and tent strapped upon their
backs, and their muskets in their hands,
with nothing to eat but '.hard tack
and fat pork, (though that was
not the soldiers name for it)
and sometimes not much of that,
standing picket through the long
and silent watches of the night, sleeping
in the mud and rain with nothing over
them save natures roof, lying faint and
bleeding on the field of battle, burning
under the scorching rays of a southern
sun, furnishing for something to quench
their burning and consuming thirst.
crying for even a drop of water to cool
their parched and burning tongues, and
none to hear or heed their cry; dying
upon the field without a single friend to
soothe or sympathize with them in their
dying moments, dying without even the
opportunity of sending one parting
word to the dear ones at home. Left in
many instances to moulder above
ground in some remote corner of the
field, upon the very spot where their
con al.
doubtful benefit of IN enemy's burial,
and when all was over reported missing.
Or, if so unfortunate as to have been
taken prisoner, placed under the charge
of some incarnate fiend like Writ, OF
Andersonville, and left to starve and
like beasts. They gave their lives as did
the price of our peace and prosperity.
We shall never see their noble forms
again this side of the eternal shore.
They are gone, but not forgotten.
Oh! how many homes were made des-
olate. how many mothers still mourn for
sons who will never return, how many
wives have wept for husbands who will
come to them no more, how many chill
dren have wondered why papa stayed
so long-not. realizing that papa had
gone from them forever. How many
men go crippled and manned through
life, an empty sleeve here, and an arti-
fetal limb or crutch there, some breath
ing with only half the lung power God
gave them, while others must ever after
be led through life on account of the
loss of sight-al of the beauties and
brightness of earth turned into one end
less night.
When the rude alarm of war broke
upon our ears, many of those brave
men were in the very prime of life, in
the full enjoyment of health and the
pleasures of the world. They had spent
useful lives among you, and had just
settled down to the enjoyment of peace
and quiet, with the families they loved.
Others were just arriving at mans es-
tate. To them the great problems of
life are yet unsolyed. Their boyish an
Of a. bright and useful future
vet untested. Their ultimate destiny,
yet in the dim. and as they supposed,
distant future. But the god of war,
with one fell swoop, dashed all their
castles to the ground, and they died just
as they had begun to,live.
We have with us to-day a goodly
number Of surviving veterans. Men by
whose sides oar comrades fought and
fell; some returned as sound as when
they marched away, Others returned
with empty sleeves, or ugly scars, or
constitutions, that will cling
to them until the revellie from the other
shore, shall summon them to arise and
enter upon that new life. where strife,
and war, and wounds. and pain shall
be no more. Each succeeding year
gives some new grave to decorate, soon