The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1885-02-26


The following beautiful sketch IL
from q speech delivered by Gov.
John A. Martin at the recent y. A. X
lamp fire at Topeka:
As viFidiy as II lt was an event OF
yesterday, there Is photographed on
ms memory q scene presented IN the
early autumn Of 1882. Bueil's army
was moving from Louisville % the
battlefield al perryvilie, and early one
evening our corps went into camp on
q beautiful farm IN one of the lOYeliest
regions Of Kentucky. A clear, spark
ling brook wound through charm
ing valley. from the hills 70 the west,
and blue grass pastures climbed geu-
tie slopes on either side OF the stream.
As a background south, north and
west. were heavy forests Of noble old
trees, while eastward, an extended
landscape, embracing a range Of line
ly cut farms, stretched far away.
The evening shadows fell slowly
upon the camp so slowly you scarce
could tell when day ended and the
night began. supper was over, ana
tlie soldiers, lying at full length on
the laxurinnt grass, or sitting around
IN groufs, were lazily resting or chat
ting, after the days long and dusty
march. Thousands Of smouldering
camp fires dotted the hillsides and
valleys In every direction the wide
armament, clOudiess and peaceful,
gllttered with stars; and the air,
mild aud balmy, bad In Il that indie
Enable and delicate perfume which
belongs alone % trOdden meadows, or
70 pastures freshly mOwn. All the
noise and hustle OF the day and even
ing gradually died sway. The camp
guards paced iheir pOsts slowly and
nolselessly the hum Of conversation
was faint aud low the rude mirth Of
the soldiers WIS hushed the Jokes,
and gibes and laughter OF the camp
had faded into silence and peaceful
calm, resembling that 0fa quiet SAB
bath, bad fallen like q benedictlon
over ell the SCENE. Save the stacks Of
burning guns, from which the light OF
the camp fires fIfully gllnted anu the
parked cannon, and the groups Of
uniformed nen. the picture preseuIed
was ~ peaceful aud calm as it had
been before war swept Into this
pastoral paradise.
But suddenly from the edge Of the
edge of tile woods across the Inter
veniDg valley, aud half mile away,
a baud began playing Home, Sweet
Home and as the touching chords
Of that familiar melody flooded all
the camp, the hush grew deeper, and
l know, though the darkness con
cealed their emotion, that moisture
Wslled up In all their eyes, and tender
thoughts Of faraTay scenes dlled ell
hearts 10 the great host Of bronssd
and stAlwart men. For when the
music ut last ceased, q silence that
was SC deep that IL was almost Op-
pfessive succeeded and then q mighty
cheer, echOlDg and resOunding for
miles away, went up from ~, ,00O
throats. Those who have heard the
Union army hurFah know what Il
could do In that line, when Il put lie
heart into lls lungs and throat.
When the cheer ended, another
band. far down the valley, made the
hlllsldes echo with the patriotic
strains Of the "Star Spangled Ban
ner," and again followed the great
shout of applause, like the mingllng
roar Of many winds. Then from the
hilltOps far otto the west, was waited
the music, low and sweet, OF Annie
Laurie. and again the hush Of an
almost oppressive silence fell upon
the camp. But no cheer followed Its
rendering. Into tho hearts OF the
listening soldiers had stolen thoughts
Of AnGies who were christened With
all sorts Of names. This Scottish
iassie represented all Womankind,
and the notes Of her song which cele-
brsted heT beauty and her virtues had
touched hidden fOunts OF emotion Ia
thousands Of men.
The deep silence that followed was
broken By the majestic music Of
"JOhn Brown" Then how the camp
did cheer and shout and howl.
So, for hours, one after another, the
bands filled the air with music, and
the soldiers sat, rspt, and thrilled,
listening and cheering alternately.
The camp fires faded out. but the con.
cert went on. and Il seeing 10 mo
nave never heard such music, before
or since. AT least, 1 have never 30
appreciated music; never known Il 10
such a speli over listeners
never 50 appreciated It's power TO
thrill and melt and sway men, ns on
that fnr-away autumn night, when
the army rested IN the blue grass
meadows Of Kentucky, under the 81.
lent stars.