The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-09-03

VIII tne scenes enacted there twenty
ago, would see in them only delightful
resorts where we could commune W it'll ma
ture in its most attractive aspect, but to
ons familiar with tho sanguinary records
OF the spot, each hill and valley, each
road, and even tho fields and trees, seems
as though they could "a tale unfold
whose liehtest word would harrow up the
soul.i' a. F#s
We will describe only one spot, which
Tor arrangement and situation is surpass-
lngiy beautifnl--the National Burying
Ground on Cemetery Hill. Here lies bur-
ricd thirty hundred and eighty Union
soldiefs. To David Wills, Esq, is to be
ascribed the credit of gathering them into
one place of interment.
I The ground was consecrated on the 10Th
OF November, 1868. President Lincoln
was present and delivered an address.
The Cemetery contains II acres, the high
est point of which overlools nearly the
whole battlefield. The dead of each state,
and oflthe regular army, and also the I'M
known, are buried Ia separate lots, ar
ranged in rows in a semi circle. In the
centre stands tho national monument
fefccted BY The several states It is his
torical in its design. The base and pedes
tai are OF white granite. 1t is twenty.
five feet square at the base, and sixty feet
high, crowned with the statue of Liberty,
holding in her right hand, the victors
wreath of laurels, and in her left the vic.
torious sword. Seated upon the pedestal
are four figures, War relating to History,
the story of the battle. History in lis
tening attitude with her tablet and pen
ready to transmit it to future generations,
opposite to these are Peace and Plenty,
with appropriate accessories. The monu-
ment cost fifty thousand dollars.
Near tho entrance is the statute oil
Major General Reynolds; it is of bronze.
The right hand holds a field glass, the
eft grasping the hilt of sword, the face
is turned toward that part of the field
where he fell. 1t stands on pedestal
of dark Quincy granite.
1t was late in the afternoon when we
entered the Cemetery, shadows were
frightening over the smooth velvety turf,
aud sacred stiffness lowered over it.
AS we looked upon the graves of the
| brave dead, the thought occurred to us,
| how different it was from the last sounds
and scenes that greeted them. The glare
of an intolerable July sun, streamed
! down upon them, and the very heavens
seemed rent with the terrific thunders oil
battle.
What scene to fade from their vision
as they entered upon the fadeless ones Of
ity No kindly hands to minister tC
them, no loving faces to bend over them,
no soothing voices to comfort them, ~
they entered the dark valley. No tender
| fingers to close their eyes, but with fixed
and stony glare, earth faded away AND
eternity dawned, and we wondered what
were their last thoughts. Were they o.
home and loved ones, never more to bt
greeted by them? Was it some bittei
memory of a wrong, unrequited, unfor
given? or sweet recollection of som,
happiness gone by forever, that floateG
before their dimmed eyes? None car
know. 4zt
We tried to picture the vanished scene
of that terrible time. Just at this hou
on yonder Hill We tried to imagine tn
the shouts of the officers, the yell Of th
soldiers, as they fought hand to hand.
We looked over to Culp's Hill. an
tiled to Imagine it ono blaze OF FIRE, as
appeared when Green held it agains
'on1soh, AWAY 10 i;''le nou NJ hop an
.f'99 70 sec ~ olls.nng WIN ino o'. .,no
u ,ia|ps'' 81 laoo'lousy pia"'e :.i. .". ~
ueullng uea'n an anu nos'lu ,aae aa ,,o ~
vahey oe'oM ~ 'l9 Mn. ~, ii r, an'
inc peach 9,'pa,u' Whore sne ulne an
sne gray ieii sue W sue 70 INC opu.
heiu, II, ,roilt vi US "nc.1 .n1 oonloio !.
ates isll ny humorous anu W .n1usanus 81, !,
tneir iast uesPera,e at'o'lpts W p,oaN m M
Union INES, pnt ~ was 'inposs'oe; IN. IN
lannon's $1,000 theio p,oNen anu sui,
witDin the breast works, Wlicn wer'
yielding 10 .ne s'orihs oi tWeI'y w'" ru,
the green grass sprans, oewy anu lres'
over the scene OF mat ieariui cohilict, TUE
hills were clothed with vefdue 70 the topl
the valley oelow ,o1keu peacsiu, III Ihe
evening glow, "hilo a'ar vi iho p'u.