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

gers OF war from the description OF
battle, and thereby appreciate more
fully the indomitable courage anC
heroism of those who battle for princi.
Gle. But the ha-dships of soldiers
life do not consist alone in the dangers
of the deadly conflict. There is th,
trying march, the fatal disease con-
tracted from exposure, lack of food oil
proper nutriment, and sometimes the
horrors of prison life.
The march of Sherman and his grand
army to the sea Is matter of history
that will be remembered and referred
to by generations to come. as long as
this nation shall live. Say,
Sherman in describing his departure
from Administrator Z o'clock A. NJ
of Nov 10th we rode out Of Atlanta by
the Decatur road filled by the marching
troops and wagons of the 14th corps,
and reaching the hill just outside the
old rebel works, we naturally paused to
look back upon the scenes of our past
battles. We stood upon the very
ground whereon was fought the bloody
battle Of July 22nd, and could see the
copse of wood where Mcpherson fell 4.
Behind us lay Atlanta smouldering and
in ruins, the black smoke rising high
in air, and hanging like pail over the
ruined city. Away off in the distance
on the McDonough road was the rear
of Towards column, the gun barrels
glistening in the sun, the high topped
wagons stretching away to the south,
and right before us the 14th corps,
marching steadily and rapidly with q
CHEEKY look and swinging pace, that
made light of the thousand miles that
lay between MS and Richmond. Some
band by accident struck up the song.
John Brown soul goes marching on. y
The lien caught up the strain and
never before or since. have beard the
chorus, GLORY! Glory! Hallelujah."
done with more spirit or with better
harmony of time and place."
1t must have been grand sight for
one looking on, but it must have been
an anxious time for those participating
in the movement. 1t was venture full
of danger. A march through an
enemies country, with all communi-
cation aud supplies CUT off. 1t would
seem rs though the stoutest heart
would quail, but thare wa. no hesitation.
Anxious friends in the north waited
long weeks for news, and southern
reports bad it that the entire army was
cut of and demoralized. yet after many
days of weary marching through an
enemies country, subsistiBg upon what
could be picked up, they appeared VIC
tOriouslY upon the seacoast and the
confederacy was cut in twain. One can
not forget the rejoicing in the north at
their temperance; and neither can we
forget the privations of that march,
and that many brave soldier OF that
grand army who commenced the march
on that bright November morn, never
saw its close, or kenw of its successful
issue. A nations gratitude to-day pays
tribute TO their memory.
have mentioned these things that
the younger portion of this people, to
whom the Struggles of that war is but q
story, may better realize and appre-
ciate the courage and patriotism of
their fathers and of those heroes, who's G
death to-day We mourn.
My friends, without making invidious
comparisons, Wisconsin can point with
bride To the noble record of her heroic
sons, in the hour of our country'S peril.
In numbers they would comprise an
army 10000 strong. OF this number
one-twentieth of the whole, 1900 came
from your county of Grant. 1t is fitting
to-day to speak of the record of Wis
consin soldiers so many of whom are
now sleeping beneath the sod, and
whose memory we have met here to-
day to revere. Wisconsin soldiers were
always the pride and admiration of the
highest officers, and there were no men
in the field, that the enemy dreaded to
meet more than the Badger boys of
Wisconsin. Oftentimes given the most
difficult and dangerous duties to per-
form, unfiinchingIy they performed
them. There is not one blot upon their
record. Gen. Mcclellan in q letter to
the Governor of Wisconsin,, shortly
after the battle of Antietam, after speak
ing generally OF the bravery of Wiscon-
sin troops, says: Il beg to add to this
endorsement, the expression of very
great admiration OF the conduct of the
three Wisconsin regiments in Gen. Glib
bon's command | have seen them
under fire acting in a manner that re-
fleets the greatest possible credit and
honor upon themselves and to the state.
They are equal to the best troops in
any army in the world.
To these regments-th 2nd, 9th &
9TH Wis. Inf, Grant County furnished
4 full companies as well as some parts
of companies. From one of these
fell Thomas Cox of Lam
caster, the first victim of the war from
the County of Grant. In one of these
regiments was Gen. John b. Calls, Of
Lancaster, your distinguished neighbor,
so badly wounded and shattered and
wholav suffering upon the field forty
three long hours, at the battle of Gettys-
burg a description of a portion of
which l have given you. Going out in
one of these regiments was Col. David
Mckee of Lancaster, afterwarG of the
18th regiment, who was killed at the
battle of Stone River, and | could 90 on
and mention others well known to you
if space permitted for all can be men,
toned with equal honor. Major j. S.
Miller in his report speaking of one
Wis. regiment says: II cannot speak
in too much praise of the zeal, energy
and faithfulness OF both officers and
men, and OF the gallantry displayed in
that memoir able charge at Blakely, Al
abama.' To name all who distin-
guished themselves it would be neces-
sary to name every man in the regiment.
Again at Vicksburg Gen. Rawson says,
speaking of Wisconsin regiment:
''everY officer and every man is hero"
Gen. Coggswell in an official COM
TO the secretary Of war
speaks of one Wisconsin regiment as
being one of the finest military organ
izations in the service And Gen.
Sherman in his memoirs pays the very
highest tribute of praise by saying:
al estimated q Wisconsin regiment
equal to an ordinary brigade
One fact has been preem-
inently developed by the valor
of the troops of United States during the
war. And that is the value of volun-
teer soldiers as compared with regular
troops. 1t demonstrates the lack of
here for large standing armies.
The volunteer soldiers showed heart
spirit and interest in the conflict. They
fought as it were in sight of their own
homes and to defend their own hearth
stones. and it is fact that with but few
exceptions our volunteers fought as in
and bravely and in all re-
spects performed their duties as well
and oftentimes better than any regu-
lar troops in the world. 1t is to the
willing volunteers that the thanks of