Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-05-28


abolishonists couldn't let slavery alone
in war times. One union general an
nounced that he would use his command
to destroy slaves who revolted from their
masters, and Mi. Seward told astonished
Europe that the existence of slavery did
not depend upon the fate Of the contest.
1t was necessary that the mind of the
north should be trained in the school of
adversely. Good peoples eyes were
opened. Reverses began to give way to
victories, and the power of the rebellion
to Wane.
The emancipation proclamation enlist
ca the sympathy of the friends of freedom
the world around, the prayers of the
world were raised for the success of the
union armies, and the heart of the nation
enthused with a new spirit.
Many of those who are here tonight in
military capacity are boys in years, SO
1t was % years ago. Those of your own
age marched to the relief of our national
capital. Oh the manliness of character,
the heroism, the devotion to duty dis
played in those days by the youngest
soldiers. ~
The first blood was shed in the streets
of Baltimore, April 10Th, 1861, SO years
to day after the battle of Lexing ton,
where Massachusetts 9Th Regiment was
assailed by rebel mob. The men who
fell there were young men. Ladd, the
young mechanic, only II, Whitney
sign painter, and Needham the plasterer.
1t was of these that John A. Andrew. the
great war governor of the old Bay state,
telegraphed to Major Brown, II pray you
cause the bodies of our Massachusetts
soldiers slain in battle to be tenderly
forwarded to me-"
Young man, this week as with meas
ured step you shall join the march to
yondcr cemetery and participate in the
observance OF custom consecrated by q
holy cause, let examples such as these
stimulate in your souls purposes of right
living, high thinking and noble endeavor.
When the other evening I heard in
passing along the street the sound of
military drill thought of the prepare
lions OF tWenty-three years ago. Then the
north could not believe that war was at
hand, but Gen. B. F. Butler deeper in his
knowledge OF the plans of. the rebels
than many others urged upon Gov. An
drew, against great opposition, that sever
al regiments should be drilled and
equipped during the winter preceding the
fall OF Fort Sumpter
When the call came from WASHINGTON
reg iments were in line on Boston Com
mon by noon the next day. Col. Jones.
OF the 9th, rode his horse all night through
the rain to rally his regiment, and over a
part of the route taken by Paul Revere,
OF revolutionary fame, the night before
the battle Of Lexington.
"a shape in the midnight.
A bulk in the dark,
And beneath from the pebbles.
In passing spark
Struck out by steed, flying
Fearless and fleet,
That was all, and yet through
The gloom and the night,
The fate Of nation
Was riding that night,
And the spark struck up
By that steed in his flight,
Kindled the land into flame
With the heat
To those of you who fought under
Grant, Sheridan and Sherman, I leave
to you, what lessons are to be drawn
from this weeks observance. Your
thoughts of tO-night are of the bivouac,
the march, and the battle field.
AS you gather about the graves of dead
comrades to scatter the fragrant memen-
toes of this glorious spring time, your
hearts will be too full Of emotion for W ords.
You will think of the comrade sleeping
at Vicksburg, of him who fastened to
duty and halted in death at Shiloh, of
one who was with you on that November
day when you charged at the double quick
up Mission Ridge, and from its summit
Joined the grand army in heaven.
Or of that other day when white robed
peace came down upon our dear land, and
your willing feet turned in triumphal
march toward your northern homes
Two years age stood among the graves
of our $4,000 sleeping soldier boys in
Arlington cemetery near Washington,
and observed how they were strewn with
floral tributes of kind remembrance, and
later stood among neglected graves not
far away, where no tokens of affection
lay. I asked who were those neglected
graves. They said Rebel prisoners who
died in our hospitals" Shall I say it?
In the mood was in, would fain have
laid upon the grass that waved above
those unknown foes, some token of for.
giveness. Aye would do it to night.
believe this feeling is growing among
our people, and in the years to come,
when our growing reconciliation is more
fully contaminated, oblivion shall lay it's
healing hand upon the passions past, and
all our animosities be blotted out forever
Mr.. Shaw's address was most timely,
and listened to with the closest attention
The whole occasion, in it's spirit and in.
cidents was full of interest and a fitting
preparation to the memorial exercises of
Decoration Day. -.