Morning journal and courier., 1886-06-01
Tuesday, june l., 1Ss6.
mEMoKIAL DAY IN MADISON.

A Gala Day in the Old TOwn-The
New Haven Grays, WestbroOk Post
G. A. r.. and Madison Veterans Pa
rade-ExercIses at the Town Hall
Grafton by General BIakeslee - A
splendid COLLATION. by the Towns
People.
Yesterday was one of Madison's notable
days. The towns peoples eyes frightened as
they saw the sun chasing away the clouds
and sunshine succeed the shower of the early
morning.
The day proved all that could be desired.
The committees were astir completing their
work and the ladies were completing at the
Town hall grand collation. for the living
visitors, and it was one worthy the record
OF the old town for whole heartsdness, whether
in patriotic defense of their country's flag or
in the piping times of peace. The New Ha-
ven Grays, Captain Lee. with delegation of
uniformed veterans, Major Barnes COM
manding, and headed by the American band,
arrived at 11:22. They were met at the de-
pot by the Madison veterans, Captain Chas.
n. Smith, with the Madison drum corps,
and the commands after exchanging military
salutes moved through Wall and Boston
streets, fine wide old avenue, to the end of
Boston street, then countermarched and re-
turned to the depot, where Westbrook post,
e. A. R., forty men, who had just arrived,
was received. The line then moved to the
Town hall, where the collation. was then
| moved upon after grace by Rev. Mr.. Gallup.
The attack was general and animated all
along the lines at all four long tables, and
there was little skirmishing, as a bevy
of Madison's fair young ladies was in at
tendance serving the viands. The visitors
were very hearty in their words of apprec1a-
ton of the fine spread. Dinner over and the
line reformed, the procession marched to the
cemetery, where the graves of the soldier
dead were decorated. The supply of flowers
for the occasion was immense and was beau
tiful to behold This beautiful patriotic
ceremony, which was witnessed by a multi
tude of people, many of whom were from
adjacent towns, having been completed, the
procession moved to the First Con-
gregational church, where special
commemorative exercises were held,
Rev. DR.. Gallup, the revered and able pastor
of the church, presiding. After a short and
spirited address of welcome by Mr.. Gallup,
preceded by a selection by the American
band, Judge Wilcox took the floor. Judge
Wilcox has been for seventeen years past
judge of probate, and town clerk for twenty
three years past, and bears honorable scars
from bad wound in the breast received in
the war. He read the list of Madison's con-
tributions in men to the war. It is noble
record. There are forty-four now living
in Madison of Madisons war vete-
rams six veterans of the war who
are living in Madison, who enlisted elsewhere,
among whom is VIM. E. Keene, of the old
Massachusetts 9Th which was baptized in
blood in Baltimore, the, first Union blood
spilled in the war; and there are 80 Madison
veterans residing elsewhere, making 81 men
now living of Madison's war veterans. Of
the soldier dead, one was killed accidentally
in camp by a comrade; IA killed in battle or
died of wounds received in battle; % died
of disease in the army and SO lie in unknown
graves in the South. Judge Wilcox's inter
esting record, compiled after much research
and which gave the names and regiments in
each case, was followed after the band had
played again by the Grafton of the day, de-
livered by Rev. Mr.. Blakeslee of Fair Ha-
ven: