The National tribune., 1883-02-08
ANDERSONVILLE
The Apoiheosis of the Brave Spirits who Perlshed


The following is an extract from the eloquent
address of Geo. ;. Kimball delivered at the
memorial social held in the q. A. r. rooms
at CarbOndale, Pa, on the 18th ult., in COM
memOratiOn ofthose who died at AndersOnville:
AndeTsOnville has proved to the nineteenth
tury that 1t has heroes comparable with any in the
worlds history. II has rescued human nature from
the taUnt OF some of our modern writer's that the
days OF chvalry are past and heroes are.n more
Ntlint famine had fed upon them until they We're
mere skeletons: persecution and hunger had
duced the physical man to hcIplessness and dcs-
pair; they had been stepped in the essence OF
misery long. that death seemed like q friend and
life like iend. " Hope, weary with its Watching
had faded from their hearts. As they looked over
the tops of the muTInuTiug pines, they knew of
home away off there, paradise that had been lost,
alas, paradise that many would not regain. But
principle still living though the flesh
dying. There was one thing which rebel hatred
could not kill, one thing which grew brighter,
grander and more brilliant in the midst of this ap-
pai!Ing misery. 1t was their unyielding loyalty,
their love for the principles of liberty for which
they were dying. As the flash which lighted u0
the valley during the darkness of midnight storm
impress that scene upon the mind more than hum
dred enemies" 80 Will the gleaIn Of this shining
example Of undying forttude during that midnight
oi misery impress this generation more than hun
dred battles 1t was remarkable how dauntless
they were before tenn ptItiOn Many were the trials
Use them. would try at first to break their spirit by
three or four days starvation thinking they would
be ready 10 yield to any proposition that promised
food or shelter. One poor old man from of the
Western regiments who had seen his own boy starve
to death by his side was told that if he would go
into rebels blacksmith shop and give them the
benefit of his skill that he should have food cloth
ing and shelter. He turned upon them and said
" You can crush the life out OF my boy and bring
me TO the brink OF death, but you cannot stain my
soul with treason. No, l viii not serve YOU
While burying soldier in of the trenches they
discovered under his clothes the old flag. lie had
concealed 1t Ia this manner that 1t might not be
traupcd on by its foes. ic had wrapped a noble
flag around noble heart and died nobly in pre-
serving it, Such was the spirit of the Anderson
Vile heroes, and as such should we remembcrthem,
for a. over the grave of COrHelia written this
epltaph The mother Of the Gracchi," so over the
graves Of these should be written, THE heroes
Cf the nineteenth century"
And where are ye, oh fearless men,
And where are ye to-day?
call the hills reply again
That ye have passed away.
That on old NIilan's lonely heights,
In AndersOnville and Charleston ground,
The grass grows green, the harvest bright
Above each soldiers mound.
The bugle's wild and warlike blast
Shall muster them no more
An army might thunder past
And they not heed its roar.
That starry flag meath which they fought
In many bloody day,
From their Old graves shall rouse them not,
For they have passed away.