Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-10

Il q
! war with resolutions enuobled and sane.
titled by the blessings that followed
them. They bad high hopes, lofty am.
bltions, great purposes, and they did
their duty we'll. The object for which
they volunteered was accomplished,
Perhaps their hopes and ambitions
we're not always realized-sometime
they may have been sorely disappoint.
ed but, however that all may be here
we are gathered te-day as soldiers are
wont to gather to shake each other by
the hand, revive old memories, and live
oyer again fort . few hours the ye ars We
spent together in the field.
The years have told upon our faces
and our figures, there is no denying
that. Some Of US have grown uncom.
monty fat, some ridiculously lean, most
of US bald.hesded and we are probably
very ordinary looking lot OF men to the
bright eyed boys and girls who look on
as spectators to-day; yet doubt not
that could go down into this assembly
and lay my hand on the shoulders Of
men whose deeds OF heroism deserve to
rank with the defenders of Thermopylm
or the famous 600 at Balaklava.
For are there not here men who
charged amid that storm of shot and
shell up the battlements OF Vicksburg2
and who after weary waiting marched
into the citadel on the blessed anniver-
sary of American independence? Are
there not here those who served in that
oftimes disappointed, sorely scourged,
but always faithful and finally vic.
torious army Of the Potomac? Heroes
of Petersburg, of Gettysburg and of the
wilderness? Are there not here men
who stood with Grant and Sherman and
Buell. at Shiloh, or With Grant and Logan
at Fort Henry and Donelson2 Are there
not before me men who charged
up the the summit of Lookout
mountain-who went into that vortex
OF death at Stone river, or who stood
with old Pap Thomas when placing his
back against the rock of Chickamauga be
defed the cohorts of rebellion!
and the heart to meet such men; and l
bid You look upon them now, for gener-
| ations shall pass before the spectacle
shall be viewed again after these SOL
diers shall have passed away. The time
has gone by when this country will re-
quire mighty armies whose tread shake
the continent.
1 remember how anxious I used to be
when boy, to see real soldier, one
who had served IN actual battle. And
when such an one was pointed out to me
l folded my childish hands in awe and
scanned with eager gaze his every fea.
ture..
Here are men to-day whose business
it was for weeks at time to face brave
and bitter enemy and who gave newer
and brighter meaning to the name OF
patriotism. We meet them in our daily
walks. Thev are our friends and neigh.
bors and We think little of the grandel
part they have played in the nations
history. But generation is coming or
that shall bless the names and glory ir
the deeds of these men. Let the soldier
be worthy OF that honor. Generally
the truest and bravest who has the least
to say of his personal prowess. Perhaps
there is no better way OF Distinguishing
between the deserving and undeservine
than by taking 1t as rule that the good
soldier has become the good citizen
that he is as modest in conversation az
be was valiant in battle and that he
. wears his army service as badge oi
honor and not as sign to invite eithel
public or private aims. The man who is
always demanding rewards ls not alway.
the man most worthy to receive rewards
, While say thif charge this people t.
remember what is due those who riskec
their lives in defense of the county.
can appeal to them without being liable
to charge of personal interest because
though my service was long it was no
distinguished by any remarkable &C
chleVment that made me subject o.
gratitude, and freely admit that th,
rebellion would have been put down il
all probability even had I remained ou
, of the fight. But to the mass of sol
diers this country owes its life. I saw
published the other day the record O
one state-IllinoiR-in the.rebellion tw,
hundred and twenty-five thousand mel
. enlisted-seveHty.five thousand re
mained to be mustered out after th
war was over. The rest we're killed ii
. action, died of disease or were discharged
by reason Of wounds or other disability
Six hundred of the number died in rebe
/ prisons. practically starved to death. d
, we not owe debt of gratitude to thos
a who faced such danger?
r once took an order from the CON
j. manding general to regimen
i directing them to chafee u
ia narrow pass commanded
1 a rebel battery. The regiment stoo
: waiting behind the shelter of WOO
' and 1 never shall forget the look on th
i. faces of the men as the order "righ
d face" was given and they saw what va
' required of them. Brave!-How bray
t the sequel proved, but they realized th
o carnage that must ensue and the line
O on their young faces grew deeper an,
r stronger and the eyes wide and almos
u painful in their intensity. Then the
Il swung into the channel OF smoke an
g death and with wild shout rushed fol
e ward. They succeeded-the gun
we're ouls almost in th
d time it takes to tell of it, but when
,s rode up that pass few moments late
counted twelve dead faces, while ha
lr q hundred MANNED and mangled me
Il lay by the roadside waiting for death {
It the surgeon to relieve them from the
e agony. And said to myself then as
n had said before and as said afterward
y If any OF these men live to return mort
e God forbid that the country shall NJ
\. remember and reward them for sue
10 perils and such trials as these"
70 The dead are beyond our reach; but
q am proud to say they receive the tril
s. utes of that love and gratitude whic
y a generous nation feels. A hundre
Y. public monuments testify to the her,
y ism and hundred Thousand headston,
q. in scores of national cemeteries rise lii
a wilderness of flowers to remind II
ii. world of their valor aud their sacrifc
or And the ranks of that grand army al
" being rapidly recruited. Here and the
T. every year, every minute, almost evel