Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-18


James Whyte. George X. Holmes. John
Kira, Patrick Hayes, Hartwell G. Hatch.
John Connelley, John Oakford, Terence C.
Goodwin, James p. ingalls,, Patrick Cusack,
Warren A. Dolliff, Lewis Smith. Joseph
Faulkner Bartholomew O'Sullivan, Fred
erlck Eberhardt, Mark Lundy. Zedediah
Thompson.
Members of the Home, not connected
with the Post, formed BY companies
under the charge of the sergeants, and
all able to march joined in the procession.
which formed promptly at BOP. M, the
right resting on Rockland street iu the fol-
lowing order:
Home Band, B. w. Theme, Leader,
Cutler Po-t No. IS. Iogus, ID. McAdams. Commander.
othcers OF the Home. Orator. Chaplain and
Invited Guests.
Pitston Band. Charles Clark. Leader.
Veterans OF the BONE on loot, T. e. Goodwin, Serg't
Veterans of the Mexican War.
veterans VI the Home unable 10 walk, in ages.
The procession moved in the usual line of
march to the cemetery, where large num-
Der of citizens and comrades from the city
and surrounding town, had gathered The
grove which shelters the spot
looked its best and the stand was
Hastily decorated with cedar and flowers. flags
being placed at available points Gen. Lu-
the Day.
The exercises were of an impress
sive character. Prayer was offered by
Chaplain Wells, and the Post proceeded to
decorate the graves, during which ceremony
the band rendered dirge. 1t was touching
sight to see the veterans, many of them suf.
fering from disabilities contracted in the war,
tenderly depositing their floral offerings upon
the mounds.
AT 3.l5 o'clock. Hon. John ID. Long of
Massachusetts was introduced to the assem-
blage, with few introductory remarks, in
which it was stated, that from the first soldier
buried Is years ago, the number of graves had
now increased TO 459. Ex-Gov. Long deliv-
cred noble address, te, ming with thoughts
and sentiments dear to the veterans, and
with his eloquence, held the close attention
of his hearers. Mr.. Long is a short, thick
set gentleman, Of resolute countenance and
pleasing address. He occupied thirty min
utes in the delivery of his Grafton. Follow
ing is an abstract:
Hon. John ID. Longs Address.
feel that this Is not a time for speech,
but rather for prayer and consolation. As
| stand here in the light of this beautiful New
Eogland summer, the zephyrs laden with the
incense of June blossoms, memory PUSHES
upon me and carries me back to the storm
and grief of departed days. Twenty years
have whitened your locks, and I see many
before me on whom the hand of age rests
heavily. The heroic deeds of your fallen
comrades and the great army of veterans has
been the theme of song and poetry, and
feel that while speech might be silver upon
some lips, silence would be gold upon mine
Yet these graves suggest some truths which
are recognized generally, one of which is the
immC rtality of the soul. This day of menu
orv, which has been set apart, marks this
great truth, and whatever may be our creed,
| it fl ds its place in our hearts. This day is a
tribute to human souls, gone, indeed, from
this earth, but to a higher existence where
the clash of battle will no more be heard.
| This day is not consecrated to the dead but
| to the living. This offering of flowers, this
devotion of Memorial Day to them is ten
der Reorganization of what they suffered for
us on the march, in bivouac, in the cup of
bitterness which they drank of red handed
war This. and even more Decoration, Day
seems. 1t reminds us of the tender sympa-
thv which went out from every home through
out the loyal North to the hero who faced
the leaden hail or languished in loathsome
prison dens. Through all, veterans, the
I great heart of your fellow citizens, robbing
in sympathy, sustained you. 1t bound up
the soldiers wounds in the hospitals and at
last brought him home to the nursing of
loved ones or to rest in the dear old church
yard. There is something about civil war
that thrills through unlike other wars. They
are not made immortal in story or emblazoned
in song. This war of the Rebellion was one
into which men entered IN the flush of life
and strength. unframed for war. Quarter
of century ago your dead comrades walked
the fields saw the church spires, gazed at
the bright blue heavens, looked lovingly up
on the faces of wives or sweethearts. There
was no romance of bugles then, but the
stern realities of war. Story books may
prsttle about battle, but yo. soldiers. real
ize what war is. When in the drizzling
rain of that April you were sent forward in
unsightly packets and begrimed cars, you
shouldered the musket only BY reason of
stern duty, from patriotism, for the preser-
walton of the constitution which is now
placed on solid foundation. From whence
did these men GO? They went from homes
all aglow with this patriotism. The mother
gave up the son she loved; the wife the hus-
band; and they went with inspiration from
home, which was like a beacon light to
them, through all that long agony. In the
mire of Mississippi swamps this electric cord
locked the soldier with his hearthsione. Be-
cause unlike any other sympathy We are glad
to come out and repeat the story Of hero
ism and renew remembrances of the fallen,
amid the breath of flowers. These graves
which we decorate, we are glad TO remember,
are the last resting places of those who stood
noblv by their country, falling in the full
effulgence of life, crowned with the laurel of
heroic sacrifice. These hearts stirred at the
bugle call and loved the excitement of mar
tial deeds. If il is sweet to die for ones
country this is not day of gloom, but of
life This is dag when you renew the en-
thusiasm for the deeds you have done and
your patriotism for the country you have
served. 1t is said county never forgets its
defenders, vet faces loose their remembrance
except ia cases of individual merit and we