The National tribune., 1884-12-25
WYOMING
PASSED THE GRAND GUARD.
Surg. Pierce, of the Goth ILL.,. Joins the Invisible
Hosts.


Gen. j. c. Smith, State Treasurer of Illinois
and Lieutenant Governorelect, delivered the
eulogy at Warren, H., Nov. 30, (the anniver
sary of the battle of Franklin,) over the re-
mains of Surg. Byron G. Pierce, of the 96th
Ill., from which we extract the following
eloquent and appropriate tribute:
To the remnant of that glorious old regiment, my
old comrades. the gallant men see before me, who
were part of the goth Ill., desire particularly to
address the few remarks now wish to make.
well remember the deceased and the time he joined
his regiment in the Winter of 1862. when near
Nashville, Tenn. Each soldier present will recall
the valuable services of the Doctor during the try
ing campaign to Duck River after Van Dorm each
will think over the kind words and the prompt
medical relief afforded by our Surgeon as weary,
foot-sore and broken down we trudged along
through that inclement weather We all recall his
close attention to duty during the 1uliahoma cam
paign and its final ending in that terrible battle of
Chickamauga, which in many respects the
greatest battle of the late war I can him now,
on the day after that battle he probed wound
or amputated limb. see before him, awaiting
their turn many who long since have passed over
to the silent majority-Henry Mack, Steve Black
stone Thomas johnson, l.. c. Crowell. Corp. Thos.
Porter, Lieut.. Geo. f. Barnes and S. Il. Funk and
of those who are present to-day, our gallant stand
ard bearer, James Hicks; Sergts. w. III. Robbins,
III. :. NanDervort and Alvin j. Francisco. L re-
member his services at Lookout Mountain, Mission
Ridge Chattanooga and Buzzard Roost, whilst we
all recall his faithful and earnest labors during the
Atlanta campaign up to and including its final
ending at Franklin and Nashville. How during
prescribe for Dan Sullivan, Ben. Woodworth,
Henry Godding +. A. Charter, Tom. SherS, Buser,
some other brave soldier; dress the wounds of
a Beri Servss, patch the face OF a Harry Barnum,
minister to the dying wants of those torn and
destroyed by the shrieking shell or whistling
bullet
/ remember well being under the care of Drs.
Byron u. Pierce and Fred. w. Byers when my
wounds were probed and dressed at Kenesaw
Mountain, and how tender and careful each of them
were. Those brave comrades, Geo w. Pepoon,
Dan. w. Dmmck, Wallace Tear JOS l.. Pierce
(brother of the late Surgeon), Thos. III. Maynard,
and many others present, can attest the constant
care and watchuness OF our deceased comrade ON
all occasions during the weary march, the exposed
bivouac, dreadful battlefield.
Need l mention more? Oh, no! His memory is
deeply engraved upon our hearts, and there it will
remain till life shall be no more. Have you thought
of it, my dear comrades that on the 2lst anniver
sary of your storming the nights of Lookout Noun
tain, when you placed our starry banner high
above the Clouds up, up in the blue vault of heaven
itself, you swept down into the valley of Chat
tanooga and over the slopes of Mission Ridge; that
on the anniversary of those great achievements,
which brighten the pages OF our country's history,
and of which you are part the imprisoned soul of
departed comrade WAS struggling to rend the
bonds of mortality and soar away above the nights
wheron you planted the flag OF your country, and
rise still higher, even into that glorious heaven
itself?
Another thought, my dear comrades and have
done. Has il occurred TO you that you are called
upon TO render the last honors 10 our departed Sur
gcon on this Both day of November, the 20th an
Dversary of one of the most important battles of
the late war; the battle of Franklin, a battle in
which you shattered the rebel forces of Hood kill
ing, wounding and capturing IL general officers
greater casualty than befel them even at Gettys-
burg? How betting the day that we should lay
him to rest, soldiers day in which he bore his
part, and performed a mans duty to his country
and his God.
Lay our Surgeon gently down, let the sod rest
lightly upon his bosom, for his spirit has gone TO
join the Grand Army in bvouac on the other side
of the dark river. He is now in camp with
brave comrades who have gone before He has
reoined the field and staff OF the glorious old 96th
ILL.,, and Quartermaster Sergt VIM. l.. Bean, Sergt-
Major Francis Quinn, that Christian soldier Col.
Isaac L. Clarke, the brave commander Gen Thos.
j.. Champion while the hundreds of brave men
and officers of the line stand ready TO greet him
and give him a soldiers welcome.
They have already passed the Grand Guard and
preceded over the valley of the shadow of
death" and our late Surgeon Byron c. Pierce adds
yet another link TO the invisible chain which binds
to that glorious band of comrades in the eternal
realms above.