The National tribune., 1883-06-07
AT KEOKUK.
Gesiezal ". W. Belknap's Grafton st the National
Cemetery.

Cemetery.
Fully 5000 people, despite the rain which
fell all the forenoon, attended the Memorial
Day services at the National cemetery at
Keokuk, Iowa General ]. G. Pa<rott presided
and General w. W. Belknap, eK-Secretary of
War, delivered the following oration:
FKs.Low-CI CITIZENS OF KEoKUK, CoMEAIEs eF THE
UNION ARMY:
There is sad pleasure in doine. reyezeEce TO the
memory OF the dead When those who have been
with in the laboss of business or in the quies of
the fressde are called away, we find some solaee
for sorrow In cherlShIng their memory.
But the flag that floats above these graves tells
that at this shrine "a Nation naOUrnS, fox it waves
above all that IS mortal OF those who when life
null ot hope and highest promise, gave It to their
couhsry, and went 10 eternal camp. Twenty
two years have passed since the frSS soldier
laid rest here years for so4ue of fearful war; of
happy return, and of prosperity and peace; for
some. of i'll success and broken hopes; and for
some no return save to the sound OF mufieSi drums
beneath . dropping flag.
hearts moss tenderiy, are those which revive days
Of hardship, when the true-hearted men rivaled
each other IN manly endurance and in heroic acts
None more lasting than those which tell US of
deeds done and friendships formed where hearts
We're wrung with trial. None are guarded with
more Jealous than those which cssll to
Dranee the hOnOred lives OF men who fell fields
to which their country sent them.
Though the varying changes of life bring to US
different fortune and wide separation, yet on this
conseccated day the comrades Of these dead gather
TO recall the deeds which have done honor to their
fallen friends, and to place the SaEiands OF their
fought for the Union.
The years come and go so rapidly that we can
hardly realize that SO much time has passed since
the first regiments of Iowa volunteers halted in
our own city they made tHeIr preparation for
Office with hearts beating high with hope. they fell
istO ranks ut their country call The pleasures OF
home and the attractions OF friendship which
bound them, forsSen, and the consciousness
who among the comforts and lUxurieS Of life read
the reports of army movements think that they
thus gather the true story OF campaigns. But
the world wiz never know how much these men
endured Maps portray the lines Os works, and on
paper are marked the movements Of troops II ae-
uou But no map can tell o. the llla resolve ana
earnest bravery, no paper ean relate the perils OF
bursting shell initiate the shrllt scream Of the
demon of death as II lurksln the sound OF the
mimic ball. No page, however penned, tells all
that could be told ef the details marched daily to
the picket line when the men knew that some
day; OF the tOiisome marches, day after day, and
night after night; of the strain upon the
the increasing shots from the front told of the COM
nag battle, and OF movements now over roads
sinking in Guicksands, now through swaTnps
where briars and thorns and water of deoeitful
depths impede the path. No language can relate
the long night marches, the hasty rest Of tired
men dropping down where they halted, and the
early reveille arousing the worn sleepers for the
renewal OF the almost endless round.
THE MEN IN THE RANKS.
one VINO has Oeen tlf6 service recSts
some act OF SOderiy daring, some deed worthy OF
real renown, the part Of the private soldier
which has claim TO record and historic mention.
The men who carried the mUsket, often with am
btion, and yet too often without hope kept at
their post, and, guided by love Of country watched
for the enemy and fought for victory. The officer
had gained his rank and besides the proInptiuss
of duty, he sustained by the proper pride in
his position, which upbolds those who command
men But none of these accessories were with the
men IN the ranks Drilled IN line disciplined by
seii-eontrol, side by side these OF royal eour
age stood up IN front of firing batteries and before
the crashing muSketTy which came from the sheets
of fame i'm their front; they climbed over fallen
timber and sharpened branches and inteFmingled
limbs they made their charges in the face OF
grape and canister, very pGndeinoniun of hor-
rors. with the air darkened by the shadow of
death. Together in closed ranks they moved into
action together the dead lie in long lines IN the
ground, but as he fell the soul of each one went
alone into the presence Of the God who gave 1t.
Thou must go forth alone, my soul,
Thou must go forth alone;
To other scenes and other worlds,
That mortal hath not known
Military deeds have always reeeived honor from
the people, and the private soNiiers Of the Union
army have wen by their work every wreath Of
renown and every crown Of laurel and every cent
OF money which has been given them.
Living, they should have unfcrgotten regard.
Dead, ge should recall the burden they bore Tor
US, aud tell to the new generations the story OF
their lives.
Grant, their leader Of leaders, summed Up the
truth III the last order that he wrote 70 them;
Your battles, sieges and marches have dilnned
the iuster % the worlds past military achieve
1aents, and win be the patriots precedent. 10 de-
feuse OF liberty and right for all time TO come.
The Stale OF lows hsd a marked record. Nearly
eighty thousand of her best and kravest went
the field No section of The State can claim the
sole honor Of their vaior for from the Minnesota
line to the southern boundary, and from the Mis-
sssppi the limit of the western slope the fields
and towns and prtiries sent forward their SOFAS.
The bps of Sfieetion aud tke hands VI friendship
gave them parting benediction they LEFT, and
turning their backs on home, marched hopefully
TO the front. Upon those homes many OF them
never looked again. In rank after rank they lie
wisnesses, though dead of ths faith which nerved
| the American volunteer.
In cemeteries guarded by Nations care, among
the woods 81 Shiloh, between the hills of Vic<s-
burg ,tong the line from CoFinta to Atlanta and
Atlanta 10 the ssa. AID IL sne valleys Of Virginia