The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-30
THE DEAD OF THE UNION.
Decoration Exercises at Chicago Ad-
dress by Gen. William 7. Sherman.

ceremony or decorating the graves or the soldiers
by the veteran organizations of this city occurred
to-day. The marching column. composed of
posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, was
the largest ever seen on the streets of Chicago
on a similar occasion. Ransom Post, of ST.
Louis, was in line, having come as the especial
guest of the posts Of this city Accompanying
Ransom Post was Gen. William I. Sherman.
who marched in the ranks on the right of the
leading four. He was quickly recognized by the
large waiting crowds on the streets, and was
wildly cheered. Gen. Alfred Fl. Terry was also
one Of the marchers, and was cheered along the
route. Governor Oglesby, accompanied by sew
eral other gentlemen, occupied the only carriage
in the column. The veterans in line numbered
four thousand The column proceeded to Rose
Hill Cemetery, where the chief ceremonies of
the day occurred The marching column, after
arriving at Rose Hill, paused in front Of the
monument erected to the memory of General
Ransom. After several preliminary speeches,
General Sherman said:
Comrades of Ransom Post Grand Army of
the Republic, and friends: We have come from
our homes in St Louis, beyond the mighty Mis-
sissippi, to lay our flowers upon the grave of
comrade who persisted in his fight for the right
General Ransom, who, when only twenty nine
yeare old, was a corps commander, who died in
Rome. Ca, in 1864 and whose body was brought
to this beautiful cemetery for burial. We honor
him because he was a brave man, and because
he was type of those young men who defended
our country with their lives"
The General then gave brief review OF his
life. and continued:
HE came West while young, and was here
when the war broke out. Northern people could
election of Mr.. Lincoln could be made the pre-
text for a civil war; for Mr.. Lincoln was a native
of Kentucky, a Southerner himself No honest
man, in looking back to twenty five years ago,
can declare that his election was the of the
war; The patriotic man said We are not enc
mics, but friends: we must not be enemies and
did not desire a conflict. But nevertheless trea-
son, naughty and proud. stalked through
country, and even invaded Congress, the army
and the navy. A confederate government was
set up at Montgomery, but it was net until the
information flashed across the Nation that
federal fort had been fred upon that the people
awoke to action. Farmers left their plows in
the furrow. carpenters deserted their shops, and
lawyers left their Offices 20 join in the fight for
the Union. Ransom was one of these"
The speaker concluded fervent eulogy on
Ransom with this apostrophe:
s'You did your duty Ransom, as soldier and
met with as patriotic death as did ever
martyr. and we, your comrades. strew these
flowers on your grave in the hope that they will
tend to perpetuate this beautiful ceremony and
help to keep your memory and the memories of
others sacred"
comrade then strewed flowers on the monu-
ment, and the band played. the crowd sang
America" and beautiful floral emblem was
set up in the burial lot.
During the afternoon General Sherman, Gov
ernor Oglesby and other prominent personages
reviewed the marching column from a balcony
of the Board of Trade. The police, 700 strong.
a very fine appearance. Never before
in their history were they accorded such
a welcome as that of to-day Their
magnificent precision and splendid drill
was such as to command applause but prob
ably in memory of their recent record, they were
roundly and wildly cheered all along the route
Accompanying them was the first police patrol
wagon ever constructed, and in recognition of its
aid in increasing the efficiency Of the force, its
appearance was, likewise, made the occasion for
cheering Following the police were the local
military commands, the veteran organizations
bringing up the rear.
The ex-confederates, to the number of forty,
meet at their assem- bly, room. at No 10 Washing
ton street, at 9 o'clock this morning, and, with
the American flag at their head, formed a line
and marched to the fremont House, where the
floral tributes, large and small, were gathered
up and the club marched to the Illinois Central
lakewood cemetery. A number Of the
members were accompanied by their wives
and children, who bore in their hands profu.
sion of cut flowers and growing plants. The
scene was a touching one. The most noticeable
piece was broken pillar of flowers. At its base
was banner of snowy white silk, inscribed
'We tenderly remember our dead From the
ex Confederate Association of Chicago" Beside
this was magnificent cross OF flowers, fully six
feet in height, next to which was banner
of blue silk bearing the inscription: 1--WE
honor the brave. From the ex-Confederate AS
ISOLATION OF Chicago" The train reached Oak
wood shortly before noon. From the depot the
ex-confederates proceeded to the plat of ground
in which the Union dead were buried and
which is marked by monument surmounted by
a statue of a soldier at parade rest Here the
floral cross was borne and silently de-
posted at the base OF the statue. Flowers
were scattered over the graves. and the now
large procession moved toward the extreme
south end of the burying- grounds. where. in q
beautiful grove, lie the remains OF 480 confeder-
ate soldiers. In the center of the grove is a
small mound, and. with the exception of one
headstone this is the only monument to mark
the resting place Of those who died in the South-
ern cause. The members of the association
gathered around the mound, and while they un-
covered their heads the floral pillar was rever-
emily brought within the circle and placed on
the ground. President Forester then addressed
the assembly in the following words.
"ln all ages, at all times, in all lands. among
all people, valor and heroism have been admired.
Fathers point with pride to the spot where their
SONS were slain in defense of their country and
their sons, to preserve their fathers memory
mark the spot where they died for liberty with
a lasting monument. So we come to-day, my
comrades, quietly and unostentatiously, to pay
our tribute of respect to brave and heroic men.
To those who sleep here, and those who rest
yonder. peace be to their ashes"
The Rev. Robert F. Coyle, chaplain of the as
sociation. then offered an eloquent and fervid
prayer. during which he said: Whatever of
sectional luminosity Or partisan hatred may have
been evolved during the war, we are thankful
that it no longer exists, and pray that we may
not know but one sentment-the love of God
and the love of our one country"
President Forester then SAID; Comrades we
gather to-day to pay the tribute of our love and
the homage of our tears to the memory Of the
heroic dead The members of the association
replied in concert: 1--WE come to place garlands
upon the grave of the brave American soldier,
to exalt valor and inspire in all a deep
love for country and home Those who
wore the gray and those who wore