Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-05-31

could mol reallZe that our nag. the stars
and stripes, would be assailed.
You remember how overtures for
peace we're made, but without avail,
and then you remember how like an
electric shock the news that our flag
had been fired upon startled the peo-
pie of the North. Ii was the first flash
of lightning, the first roar of thunder
from the terrible storm cloud of war
that was descending upon orr devoted
country. 1t was a sudden awakning
from the sleep of confidence to the
stern realities of the situation.
You can now feel the thrill of patri-
otism that passed like u tidal wave
through the North, as they realized
that the flag of our country, the flag of
the Fathers had been assailed.
Then came the call from the great
hearted Lincoln for. 10000 men to
come and help him save the nation.
i There was not an ear 10 the North that
did not hear the cry. What an upris-
ling. Tongue cannot describe ii in all its
greatness and grandeur.
Unused to scenes of war, the sons OF
America for long years, had been en-
gagged in the peaceful avocations of
life; yet at their country's call in de-
Tense of that flag, from the farms, from
the workshops, from the offics, from
every business, trade or vocation, will
ling soldiers went forth to do battle.
The poor heard the cry and an
swered; the rich heard and volunteered;
distinctions of society were forgotten,
all else was laid aside for the one
absorbing purpose Of saving our coun-
try. Still the call increased and you
can now almost hear the answer as II
was given in that day, owe are com
ing Father Abraham 100000. more -
You can almost see the father parting
from his family, the sou taking leave
of bis mother. the husband bidding
adieu to his wife; all leaving behind
them their homes, their families, their
friends; everything that was near aud
dear, and laying aside the implements
of peace, girding on the armor of war.
Nearly 5000, 600 of men. during the
four long years of that gigantic war.
rushed forth at their couniry's call. As
many as the entire population of the
United States, nhen. women and children
at tho close IF the war Of the Revolu-
ton. The magnates of foreign nations
looked on in wonder Here there was
no standing army 10 protect the ma
ton. The people were used To only
peaceful avoratiens, and yet in what
an incredibly Shoftspacc uf time, large
and powerful armies were organized
and rushing to the rescue of the ma
| ton; armies that were able to cope
with the best troops Of the world. The
| elasticity of the character of the AmeTi-
can people is wonderful; to-day sue
cessfuly plying the avocations of a
peaceful people; tomorrow when the
eXigency arises, fully equipped, Organi-
zed and prepared for war; whatever
circumstances present themselves they
are ready to meet them; whatever ex-
| igency arises, they are II BILE to success
fully cope with it. Such qualities can
only exist with the highest universal in
telligence, and it is undeniabiy fact that
| never before in the worlds history were
gathered together such large armies of
men, who possessed the universal
knowledge and intelligence possessed
| by the rank and file of the armies Of the
United States during the war of the
| REBELLION. Such men could not fail to
make the best of soldiers. These men
were not hired miniOns of despot GO
ing forth for plumber, conquest or
ambition. They were citizens of u
noble land, sovereigns in this nation
and they were fighting for their own
sovereignty. Their country was assail-
ed, its disintegration was sought, and
theirs was the duty TO defend it.
Patriotism was the actuating motive
which caused these heroes to leave be-
hind them all of life that was dear, to
take their lives in their hands and freely,
heroicaly yield them up, upon the altar
of their country. Nobly did our SOL
diers do their duty--a thousand we'll
fought battle fields attest th0ir valOr.
One unused to scenes of war can
scarcely realize battle in all its ter
ribleness and horror. 1t was no holiday
excursion, even though accompanied
with music and banners when those
heroes went forth to do battle for their
country. 1t was mission of bardshipS,
danger and death. Many who are with
in the sound of my voice, comrades
who have come here to-day to pay
tribute to the memory OF those fallen in
battle, survivors whom God in his
mercy permitted to, live through the
deadly Storm of battle, can never for
get the dangers and privations of that
hour. How fresh in your minds are
the various scenes of that struggle.
You can almost imagine yourselves
again in the fray of battle; you can
hear the rattle of musketry; the roar
of cannon; the whistle of the deadly
minnie; the shreiks of the she'll; the
cries of the wounded and dying; you
can feel the excitement of the charge,
ard then the glad hurrah of victory,
saddened by the remembrance of the
dead.
A participant in the battle of Gettys-
burs thus described one portion only
OF that great but terrible conflict. He
said; "rhe enemy determined to turn
our left wing and drive us back, take
possession of Little Round Top, which
commanded our position and gain the
victory in that way. Accordingly vast
bodies of men were early precipitated
upon our comparatively unprotected
left, and most desperate and bloody
battle ensued. To lose this position
was for us to lose the field Reinforce
ments were brought forward on both
sides and in what is known as the
wheatfield the most desperate and
determined efforts were made on both
sides, and it was trampled over back
wards and forwards, while shot and
she'll and grape and canister flew on
their death dealing mission like hail.
So desperate was the fight, that hand
to hand conflicts occurred until the
dead and the dying thickly strewed the
ground. See! back, back our line is
pushed across the wheatheld by superior
force, our forces stubbornly contesting
every inch, making grand charges. and
for time regaining their ground. driv-
ing the enemy before them like chaff
before the wind. But again the enemy
reinforced, sweeps back our forces.
back and back, to and through the
Devils Den, to thefoot of Round Top.
where the hell Of battle ragged as it had
never ragged before. A commander of
one of our batteries is shot dead at his
guns, general officer stoops to catch
his last words, and falls dead across his
body; the dead are piled up in heaps
and windows. and on, on like mighty
and overpoweriDg tidal wave. advances
the enemy; the other portions of our
line are severely pressed, but additional
forces are sent to the left. and first reach
the summit of Little Round Top in
time TO see the triumphant rebels half
L