Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-06-11

We have met toby to pay one more
tribute OF respect to the memory of our
country's departed heroes. At halt past
4 o'clock on the morning of April 18th,
1861, when the first gun of the rebellion
was fired upon Fort Sumpter, its yibra-
tons, like waves upon troubled water
rose and fell, moving onward and out
ward, gaining momentum with every
undulation, until this mighty land of ours
was pulsing with throbbing human hearts,
strained to their utmost tension with fear
and with terrible foreboding. Honest
patriots looked each other in the face and
auxiously enquired if it were possible
that traitorous storm had broken forth
which would deluge this sacred land with
blood. That grand man Abraham Lincoln,
with sad heart heard the mutteriDgs of
war and, realizing that the Nation was
threatened, called for help. There was
hurrying to and fro; loyal men left the
pillow, the shop, the factory, the Office and
the pulpit, to hold up our banner and
rescue threatened nation from destruc-
ton.
Brave men clasped their wives, mothers,
daughters and sisters in their arms, babe
them solrowful adieu, buckled on their
armor and marched forth in solid
phalanx to save the country, many of
them never to return. What parting
that was! Think of it! Thousands bid
ding adieu to loved ones and all knowing
that manv could and would never return.
1 cannot picture the scene, nor do care
to recall it except to measure the man
hood and courage of those men. From
all over this land was waited upon High,
prayer after prayer, from true and per-
feet christians, that the cruel war might
be brought to speedy termination and
that the country's brave sons might re-
turn unframed; but this was not to be.
1t took the sacrifice OF many lives before
the end came. Thousands of brave boys
yielded up their lives either upon the bat
tie field or through herdships whose re-
mains now lie smoldering in southern
graves. Four years Of life on the tented
field, exposed to the inclemencies of the
weather, wrecked the lives of many more
who never before had known days sick
ness. They could not be properly cared
for. They were there to do other duty
and their nursing was of the crudest kind.
There was no mother there to soothe
their aching brows, or to give them her
tender and watchful care. The boys
listened oft times to the taps which
warned them to bed at night, again to
reveille in the morning which called them
to duty, aud many times to the long roll
or bugle call which warned them .of ap-
danger and to prepare for bat
tie. All through four years was heard
the din of battle and the mighty tread
of more than a million men.
The scenes through which they passed
we're as varied and shifting as the changes
of the weather; one day their hearts were
filed with JOY and gladness. another day
their spirits were depressed, with hope
almost shut out; one day the sun shone
with exceeding brightness; another day
lark clouds o'ershadowed them; at one
lime feast; at another time famine;
one day rest and peace; another day bat
lie and carnage. Comrades, We know
what these things were but we cannot
describe them. At last the end came.
Peace was declared and the living vet
Grams we're permitted to return to their
ZONES, each carrying next to his heart
certificate of loyalty and good character,
written on parchment and endorsed by |
he government he had helped to save. |
Then was JOY and sorrow mingled; joy
,yer the return of those who came up out
II the strife with their lives, and sorrow
,ver the loss Of those who could never re-
urn. As these living patriots returned
nth sabers and bayonets glistening. they |
clothed in blue, be-decked with
differing buttons, and waving triumph
lntly the worn and shredded star spangl-
d banner, they we're greeted with that
Rudsble song, "Hail the conquering
leroes come" To these battle-scarred men
hose were the GROWING moments Of their
ives. But their ranks had been thinned.
iany were missing. Mothers, fathers,
ons and daughters stood By and eagerly
ratched the returning procession, hoping
, see loved ones who had, a few years
efore, left them in the pride and vigor
[ manhood; hoping that the report OF
leir death might be untrue, but they |.
ere not there; then il vas that grief was
reater than any JOY. Strong men wept
he little children, while tho mothers
,FTow cannot be told. Among those II
pared, b IN Al Wise Providence. to re.