Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-05-31
why we Wear the Radgo.
ny cAITAIS JACK CRAWFORD.

Hold on hold on My goodness you take my
breath my son,
Affirm questonsnt me like shots from n gat-
ling gun.
Why do wear this cngc an flag an brazcn
star?
An why do my old eyes glistcn when somebody
mentions war?
An why do cnll men "comradc," an why do
my eyes grow bright
When you hear me tell your grandma I'm going
Ia post tonight?
Come here, you inquisitive rascal, and set on
your grnndpa's knee,
An III try and answer the broadsidcs you've
been affirm ut me.
Away back there in the sixties, an long aforc
YOU were born,
The news came n'ilashin' to us, one bright an
sunny morn,
That some of our southern brothers, n.thinkIn
no doubt, twas right,
Had trained their guns on our banner, an
opened nasty fight.
The great big guns war a-bOOmin' an the shot
hyin thick an fast
An troops all over the Southland war rapidly
bcin' maSsed,
For fear went through the nation, n fear that
our glorious land
Might he split aud divided an ruined by Il mis-.
taken brothers hand.
Lord but WANT there excitement an didn't
the boys eyes flash
An didn't we curse cur brothers for being So
foolish and rash?
An didn't we raise our nCiglbOrs with loud an
continued cheers.
When Abe sent out dockymcnt a.cnllin' fur
volunteers
An didn'twc flock to the colors when the drums
began to beat?
An didn't we march with proud step along this
vilhge street:
An didn't the people cheer IFS when We got
aboard the cans,
With the iiils a-wayin' DER us, as we went TO
wars
I'll never fOrgit your grandma as she stood out
side % tn train,
Her face was white us the snowdrift, her tears
nInllln like min
She stood there quiet and deathlike, mid all
the rush an noise,
Fur the war war atal;in' from her her husband
m an three brave boys
Bill, Charley and little TOmmy-just turned
eighteen, but us true
An gallant II little soldier MS ever woro the
blue.
1t seemed almost like murder, too, fur to tear
her poor heart so.
But your grnndHd couldn't stay, baby, an the
boys were determined to go.
The cvcnin' afore we started she called the boys
to her side,
She told 'cn as how they were always their
mothers joy and pride,
An though her soul was In torture, an her
poor heart blccdin AN sore,
An though she needed her dnTlings, their cOur-
try needed en- more,
She told en- 70 do their duty wherever their
But to never iorgit in battle their mother was
prnyin nt home.
An II IAN the tears nigh chokcd hcr) they
should fall IN front Of the foe,
Shed 90 tO her blessed Savior, an uN Him to
tighten the blow.
Bill lays n.waitin the summons meath Spott
sylynnia sod,
An on the field Of Aniietam Chnrl cy's spirit
went back to his God
An Tommy, our baby Tommy, we buried one
starlight nicli,
Along with his fallen comrades, just after the
Wilderness fight;
lIIF finn 81,
it OF every limb
AleaNin' only this barc old trunk, a-standin'
alone an grim.
My boy, that's why your grandma, when YOU
knrcl 10 the God you love,
Makes YOU ny HIM To watch your unclcs. an
MAKE en- happy above.
That's why you sometimes see her with tcnr
-, drops in her eyes
That's why Nuu comet imCs CaiC h her a. irwin to
hide her slghs
That's why at our great reunions she looks So
- solemn and sal
ThnLE why her heart seems a brcakin when the
boys are so jolly and glad:
Tint = why yOu sometimes ilnd her in The bed
room over head,
Down on her krccs a-pTayin', with their pictures
laid out on the bed
That's why the old-iime brightness will light
up her face no more,
I'M she lneets her hero warriors in the camp
on the other shore.
An when the great war was over, back came
Wv NNANlHbr llNf.
With not one star anissin' from theAzure field
of blue;
Au' the boys who on ield o'battlc have stood the
fiery test
Formed posts o. the great Grand Army in the
North, South, East and West,
Fraternity; Charity Loyalty Is the motto meath
which they train
Their object Ia care for the helpless an Danish
SORROW an pain
From the homes o. the widows an orphans o.
the hoys who have gone before
10 answer their names at roll-call Ia that great
Grand Army Corps.
An that's why we wear these badges, the eagle
an nag an star,
Worn only by veteran heroes who fought in the
bloody war;
An that's why my old eyes gllstcn while talkin
about the fray.
An that's why call men "Comrade" when /
meet en- every day
An that's why tell your grandma I'm going
TO post tonight -
For there where ! meet the old boys who stood
with me in the fight
md. my child, that's why I've taught you to
love and revere those men
Who come here n'wcArin' badges TO fight their
battles again.
The following are the names of SOL
diers buried ut this place whose graves
We're decorated
James Cullens Charles McCabe
N. NJ. Deal Lewis Nj. HINT
Lieut. Geo Weddell Geo Merry