National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-31
LOGAN AT ANr1ErAM.

mRrylRnders Give the General Hearty
Welcome Decorating the Graves on tho
Battlefield.
SHABPsBuRG, Mn, May 30.-There was the
usual gathering of the patriotic people of
western Maryland and the adjoining counties
of Pennsylvania at the Antietam national
cemetery. Extra trains were run on the
Washington county branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad and on the Shenandoah
Valley, while thousands from the immediate
neighborhood came in their own vehicles.
Reno post of the Grad Army Of the Repub-
lie (Hagerstown) had immediate charge of
the ceremonies, and was assisted by the
Harerstown Light Infantry, Capt Lane, and
the Williamsport Light Infantry.
a procession was formed in tho main street
Of Sharpsburg composed of the Grand Army
organizations and the visiting military, with
intervening brass bands, which marched TO
the cemetery. The Grand Army men and
the military companies took their places in
circle around tho statue Of the soldier on
guard, and here tho Decoration day service
was read from the Grand Army ritual by tho
officers of Reno post. When this ceremony
was concluded tho whole company gathered
in front of the rostrum and listened to an
eloquent address by Mr. Gerbart, of Danville,
Pa, the orator Of the day.
The only visitors from Washington were
Senator Logan Hon. II. II. Hatch, member of
the house of representatives from Michigan,
and Hon. j.. l.. McComas, member of tho
house from Maryland. Tho loyal people who
gather ut the Antetam GENE terry on Decora-
ton day from year to year have for u long
time desired to meet Gen. Logan on one Of
these occasions, but he had never heretofore
been able to crafty them. When he accepted
tho invitation to DO present to-day it was
on tho condition that he was not to make a
speech. AS soon as it was known that he was
on tho grounds the people began to crowd
around him, and man of less vigor would
have been wearied with tho haudshaking
which he was obliged to undergo He seemed
to enjoy it, however, and tho staunch voc.
many of this region were greatly pleased
with his frank and genial manner
After the regular Grafton OF the day had
been concluded, Mr.. MCComas introduced
Con. Logan as 70 representative volunteer sol
der" He made brief speech, and referred 10
the fact that he, as commander of the Grand
Army had issued tho original order which
added Decoration day TO our national holt
days. 1t was tho one act of his life of which
he was entirely proud. He believed tho
custom of strewing flowers would last as long
as history Is written. 1t would teach the
young lesson which they could not learn
from books. Let the children of coming
generations know that tho soldier who dies
for his country shall not be forgotten.
Speaking of the great conflict between the
north and south, Gen. Logan said that it was
n war of necessity-one that no power could
avert The pilgrims who came over in the
May1owor touched Plymouth Rock, and the
waters of freedom gushed forth; simultane-
Gus, q Dutch ship sailed up the James
river and brought the seeds of slavery. From
these beginnings sprung two diverse civiliza-
tions, whose antagonistic forces finally famed
out into war, q war between American citi-
zens of equal bravery. Gen. Logan had q
kind word for the loyal citizens who staid at
home and supported the government; for tho
devoted women, who were ministering angels
in the hospitals, aud for the colored soldiers,
who fought not only for their own liberty
because that would have been achieved any
how-but for tho country and its institu-
TONS
Hon. H. II. Hatch was introduced for ten
minutes speech, and tho great assembly
would have been glad If it had been longer.
In comparing this assembly with those he
was in the habit of meeting in Michigan Mr.
Hatch had the tact to make slight reserva-
ton in favor of the ladies of Western Mary
land, whose compilations, he thought, might
possibly be listle fairer-the roses little
deeper tinted than those seen in other parts
of the world.
A number of songs were sung by we'll
trained choir, and Mrs. Mcdonald, OF
Baltimore, recitod patriotic selection.
As every one knows who has visited the
Antietam cemetery, tho surroundings are OK
ceedingly picturesque. Kindly nature has
long since oblitcrated the scars of war, and
there is nothing to show that o hostile gun
ever was fired, except these graves Tho
wheat is growing rank and green in the fields
where regiments and brigades and divisions
went down to the harvest of death. Now
and then some memento turns up to
recall the terrible struggle. Judge Smith,
one of the sturdy union mon of 1862,
presented Gen. Logan to-day with u
small section of wood from the heart of
hickory tree in which mimic ball was i'm
bedded. The stick from which it was cut had
found its way to Judge Smiths wood pile in
load of cord wood. The ball had pene-
trated to tho heart of the tree and the growth
of twenty-five years had covered over the
place of entrance. Tho woods in the vicinity
of the Thinker church, in which the union
artillery did such terrible execution, are now
being cleared away, and with them will dis
appear one of the landmarks Of the great
struggle.