The Republican journal., 1886-11-11

and profitable, but among the many interesting
points to which we were taken, including the
Devils Den, the ''peach orchard" the ''wheat
field" the scene of Pickett's famous charge at
the angle, and the summit of Little Round Top,
where we had comprehensive view of some
of the most famous spots, no spot was so in
teresting to me as the National cemetery.
There amid the beauties of nature sleep four
thousand union soldiers, ''who died for you and
me-" 1t may be sentiment, but entering that
cemetery seemed exactly to me like visiting
the spot where your own loved ones are laid
away, for the first time after the coffin is closed
down forever Beautiful trees and shrubs of
every description enhance the quiet beauty of
the spot Near the entrance stands the statue
of Gen Reynolds who was killed Oh his native
soil the first day Of the battle. This was erect
ed by the 1st Corps, and is grand in beauty and
massive workmanship. The graves of the
soldiers are in long curved rows. These rows
are divided into sections with granite tablets
at the head of each section. indicating the
different States. The lines of graves are sepa-
rated by granite curbing, on which is inscribed
the name, regiment and company, if known.
About one thousand are marked "unknown,"
and many more are only numbered, referring
to some record. In the center, on the hill and
overlooking the country for miles around,
stands the famous Battlefield monument, built
of pure white granite, and standing some 60
feet high. 1t is surmounted by a colossal
statue of Liberty, and on the four sides are
DIprorirel q History
Peace, and Plenty. This monument is rendered
doubly interesting from the fact that it was
dedicated by the lamcnted Lincoln, only about
four months before his tragic death. On the
base is inscribed his famous twenty lines, which
stand uncqualed in literature for strength,
grandeur, and direct simplicity. No doubt
they are familiar to ALL but no one can read
them without feeling consecrated anew to a
love of country and purer patriotism. but
in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot
| consecratc, we cannot hall ow this ground
1.-The brave men, living and dead, who strug-
gled here have consecrated it, far above our
power to add or dctract. The world will little
note, or long remember what we say here, but
it can never forget what they DID here. 1t is
Aoi
to the unfinished work, that they have thus
far 50 noby carried on.
at is rather for us to be here dedicated to
the great task remaining before us-that from
the honored dead we take increased devotion
to the cause for which they gave the last full
measure of dcvoton-that we here highly re-
solve that the dead shall not have died in vain,
thnt tbn ,,1 vJ,n ,nII now
birth of freedom, and that the government,
of the people, for the people, and by the
people, shall not perish from the earth"
Who can stand in that quiet spot, with those
words cut in the solid granite, to be read by
millions yet to come, and not feel that the
| terrible war paid, in every sense of the word.
Who can gaze on those long curvine lines
of graves, rich with the bloom and beauty
of earth, without taking ''increased devotion
to the cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion"
Many from Maine regiments sleep there, and
from the 18th Maine noticed large numbers.
Very many of the names have been familiar
to me from childhood, notably those of Cole,
Nickcr>on, and Crosby. The last name,
recognize as kindred, and no nobcr resting
place could be found for the descendant of the
| good old family who have always been dcnti-
fed with the best interests of Maine. Along
the avenues between the lines of graves arc
placed at intervals tablets bearing extracts
from the famous and beautiful poem written
during the Mexican war by Cot. Theodore
| O'Ilara of Kentucky, entitled ''Thc Glorious