Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1889-06-07
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Delivered by Rev. smediey at BrasheaI, May.
30, lssD.
CONTINUED FROM F1sRT PAGE. }

crash ana q flasn In the uarknes6
and leaden messenger from the
gun of the enemy has ended the
letter that was never folded, never
posted, and never read.
At Fort Wagner Colonel Shaw,
you remember, commanded a
regiment Of colored soldiers. They
were drawn up in sight of the
battlements and the Colonel said:
"Boys is there any one here who
is afraid that he cannot sleep to-
night in yonder fort?" And a
thousand voices answered, "No"
Laying his hand upon the shoul-
der of the color-bearer he said,
Boys, this brave fellow may fall;
If he goes down is there one here
who will save the honor of his
country's hag?" And n thousand
voices answered, "Yes.' The
command was given aid while
shot and shell were rained upon
them the brave men marched
boldly up the hill. Three deadly
balls, as it afterwards appeared.
pierced the Uniform of the color
bearer, but he pressed forward
with his banner and planted its
staff in the spongy soil of the
captured fort. For some reason
they were not properly supported
and the command to fall back was
given. When they again reached
their halting place the fast failing
strength of the brave color-bearer
gave out, and he sank to rise no
more. Sadly and tearfully the
Colonel knelt down beside the
wounded hero and his dying face
lighted up with a smile as though
struck by beam from the unseen
Holy. His eyes opened feebly
and in the taintest whisper he
said, Colonel l am dying, | pray
God you may be able to find my
little one now alone in the world
There was a silence so long that
it was feared he might never
speak again, but his fast glazing
eyes caught sight of the banner
above him and, Colonel the stars
and stripes never trailed in the
dust" we're the last words of that
dusky hero.
o the bravery, the self-sacrifice,
the devotion to country, and the
patriotism of the union soldier
will never be told or illustrated
till Gabriel with voice of trumpet
shall proclaim that time shall be
no more, and then when all ma
tions and kindreds and people are
gathered together we shall hear
the story of his heroism as it drops
like pellets of fire from the lips of
God himself.
But while l admire the patriot
ism that prompted the self sacri-
flee of the soldier, and caused him
to leave his home; while I love to
read the story Of his heroism on
the field of battle, 1 know that
both pale when compared with
the fortitude with which he en-
dured Imprisonment. 1t would
not be proper here and [ will not
attempt to describe those southern
death traps. No human tongue
can tell to you the anguish, the
horror, the misery and the suffer
ing there inflicted.
| would not, however, weary
you with recital Of things that
are unpleasant. | do not wish to
refer to the unhappy memories.
When the war was over the bodies
OF northern and southern soldier :
lay cold and mouldering under the
same sod; in the same deep pit
their bodies were deposited; the
green corn is now springing from
their commingled dust; the dew
falls from Heavan on their union
in the grave, and the great God of
battles recognizes no Mason and
Dixon's line in welcoming the
coming heroes.
So we this morning with malice
toward none and charity for ALL
have met here to renew our cove
nant of peace and good will; to
honor the brave men who saved
our country, and to crown with
garlands of flowers the graves of
those Who sleep in the tongueless
silence of the dreamless dust. You
remember the promises we made
when they enlisted; you know
what VOWS we spoke as they
marched away keeping time to
the music of the Union. We said
they should never be forgotten
and soon would return laden with
chaplets of victory and crowned
with garlands of triumph. Then
we whispered that if fall they
must it would be on the field of
battle, bravely fighting for their
country, that we would raise
marble shaft in memory of their
departed greatness, and in letters
OF gold write their names high on
the temple of fame. Go with me
this morning to the National
Cemetary at Richmond, and there
on grassy spot amid the ruins of
civil conflict, l will show you the
graves of six thousand union
soldiers. No tree or shrub is
thora hui 4La f.:4Le..l