Connecticut western news., 1892-06-16
rate eneaeements; the First Conn. Vol


 in it's three years service, aud receiving three out of the twelve medals of Hon. or awarded by Congress to Connecticut common soldiers for gallant services. Only those who were there can under stand the disadvantages under which our soldiers labored, and yet rising SUI perior to them all they rendered an ac- counting that has immortalized them They played the man for the people, and scandalous will it be if the people ever forget them. Twenty eight years ago next Wednesday (June 1st. 1864 at Cold Harbor the Litchfeld County Reg iment-to which some of you belonged known AS 18th Infantry or 2nd Regi- ment c. V. Heavy Artillery, left on the field 323 men, 129 dead or mortally wounded, record unsurpassed by any regiment of the Union army during the war. Its colonel, E. s. Kellogg. fell riddled with bullets in the advance with the First Battalion At Winchester, Sept 18th, 1864, the same regiment formed part of Genl Upton's brigade which sent the enemy whirling through Winchester. and in so doing lost IA officers and 122 enlisted men killed and wounded. In the capitol at Hartford is beautiful white silk flag trimmed with gold bullion and lace, the like of which was never seen before aud can never be duplicated. In the center is a shield surmounted by an eagle made of bits of rags and yet those rags telling story of matchless heroism, being all remain ing of the colors of the 16th Conn. Vol unteer Regiment. Beneath the shield, in letters of gold, the story is told that from April 17th to the 20th, 1864, 1900 men at Plymouth were besieged by 12, 900 Confederates, and when resistance was no longer possible the color guard of the 16th tore each flag from its staff; the flags were torn into strips, the strips into shreds and distributed among the mem bers of the regiment ar | concealed in various ways through the long weary days of their imprisonment. | One half of them dIed in prison, prefer ring death to dishonor; but in death they reioiced Tn the knowledge that the dear old flag had not fallen into un. friendly hands. In 1879 as many of the remnants as could be obtained from the survivors of the Reg't were gathered, and to generations yet unborn they will tell the story of heroism and devotion unsurpassed. It would be disgraceful if the people ever forget them. "Let the graves of the dead be strewn with flowers; let dirges be sung; let the em. bers of patriotism be kindled to a flame, that the friends of the dead, and the brave men who stood side by side with them when they fell, may feel that the Republic is neither ungrateful nor for. getful." (New York Christian Advocate Our soldiers marched into battle in. spired by the loftiest recollections The heroes of the olden time seemed evel present with them. At the storming oI Kenesaw mountain, General Dan M'Cook marched ahead of his troops. The sum. init was crowded with rebel troops; the ascent was preclpitous; the fire of the enemy was quick and deadly, and he knew 1t was almost certain death, and yet in a momentary pause in the ascent, he was heard uttering in calm, cleal tones Macsulay's lines
 ''Then uutspoke brave Horatius, the captain of the gate;
 To every man upon this earth death comett | soon or late.
 And how can man die better than facing fear i For the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his gods2
 And for the tender mother who dandled hin l to rest,
 And for the wife who nurses the baby at hel | breast2"
 The rough soldiers all around felt the full meaning of the words and remem bered them. A minute afterward they rushed up the heights and in two min utes M'Cook fell dead ssFor the ashe, of his fathers and the temples of hi | gods?"
 The death roll is long one. In ou 66 National cemeteries alone 315, 555 Ii, sleeping. Of these, 46 per cent ie l43, l46 are marked unknown. Who car tell the heart achings. waiting for tid ings that never camel Shall they b, forgotten? Shall the men who laiC down their lives for our country be for gotten? Shall the men who by tn, pouring out of thcir hearts blood help ed to fix our starry flag on the height of victory be forgotten? Nay, Never May our right hands forget their cum ming, and our tongues cleave to tn, roofs of our mouths if we are ever so un grateful.
 But while honoring our soldier dead the soldier living ought not to be for gotten. Flower strewing ought not t, be left until those who are honore, neither appreciate or care. It is crue to wait until people die before the kind ly word is said. We ought to show hon or to whom honor is due,-honor to tn, victor living as we'll as to the victo dead.
 In the military procession on Centen nial Day three years ago in New Yorl city, the most impressive sight was tn grand army contingent of 5000 men wh, brought up the rear. Many of then were badly maimed; an empty sleev was pinned to many a coat; crutche were plentiful, and all were more or les scared. Although they were not a picturesque as the West Point cadets the State Militia, and the U. s. arm, contingent, they represented the fore that made that centennial possibility and General Sherman said to their com mander, General Weaver, "You ough to stand as body guard to the Presi dent and review the young troops. They had done the manly part-becaus of their bravery, because they had play ed the man for the people there was country worth living in to rejoice about Let us properly appreciate, and ieal ously guard the heritage obtained a such price, and like them "play th man for our people" and if needs b die on the field of honor.
 Said to be a Fraud. Our correspondent at Hyde Park say | 4 II