The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-11

the Sea-NeteranS JON III oh'S"'S
Many Stirring Old War Songs Led
by the Regular Elm Park Choir.
At the Elm Park church last night
the Veteran association Of the Wyom'
ing conference met, sang war songs
and listened to recital by Colonel
Baxter, OF Elmira. of "reminiscences OF
the late war, and particularly his vivid
description of the Battle OF Pesaea'
Colonel Baxter has not been inappro-
priately dubbed 'the silver tongued
orator of the southern tier. as was
evidenced by the frequent and hearty
applause accorded him by the audi
snce
In addition to 3 large number OF
ministers of the conference and those
comprising ths Veteran association
there were present many OF the
laity, ladies, and Lieutenant Ezra
Griffin post, Grand Army of the Re
public, of this city. which attended
the meeting in body and in full uni
form.
Rev. O. l.. Severson conducted the
meeting. Professor Carter presided at
the organ and the regular Elm Park
church choir led the singing of such
memorial war songs as Marching
\ Through Georgia, america, Tent
ing on the Old Camp Ground. Tramp!
Tramp Tramp the Boys Are March
Ing" THE Star Spsngled Banner,
etc.
Following a prayer offered by Rev
Hiram G. Blair, of Castle Creek, N. l.,
the speaker of the evening was intro
duced by Rev. Mr. Severson. who in
brief but we'll chosen remarks also
spoke Of the purposes of the Veteran
Association of the Conference.
WHAT RECOLLECTION BRINGS.
Colonel Baxter said:
1t is a rare privilege to have camp fire
and sing the old songs in such magniti'
cent temple, dedicated to the worship OF
God-to sing songs that once stirred our
souls and thrilled our hearts around camp
fires that flickered on the eve of battle, per-
hans Again we can touch elbow to elbow
with ministers and others who shared their
blankets marched beside us and drank
from the same canteen-containing water,
of course.
The old camp fires are burned out, the
reyeille sounds no more, the forts are COW
cred with weeds or gone to decay, the
fields once ploughed with shot and shell
are now covered with leaves and weeds;
where tine boys in blue fell bled and died.
blossoms sing fitting requiems above them.
Yet our our hearts thrill again as with a
grasp Of hands we look into each others
faces and live over again the scenes OF bat
tie and strife.
What personal benefits have resulted
from the throes of battle and carnage?
There comes back throng Of weather.
beaten veterans, trained by suffering for
a magnificent work before them. The
mighty progress of our country has since
been due to the training discipline, pluck
and vim the boys brought home with them.
Mine ia not set speech: it is one of the
unwritten histories. 1t will show that,
first. the soldiers learned the principle OF
selfdevotion to principle. All that the
heart held dear-wife, home, the rending &
of heart-strings-was sacrificed when to
to the tune Of "The Girl / Left Behind
Me- the recruit marched away from home,
The tune had its meaning possibly, in that
nome other fellow might get the girl.
Colonel Baxter then vividly por.
rayed the decision of General Lee
when he was called from the west ia
his home at Arlington Heights to de-
eide whether his talents should be de-
voted to the confederacy or the Union.
SOLDIERS FEAR OF BATTLE.
aulG;e learn another lesson from expert
q on the field of battle. All soldier:
pore or less courage when. figura
~ speaking, they barred their breasts
went into battle. | never went into
Engagement without wishing myself
ne with my mother. Tho boy whose
is white, and, knowing Of danger
es on TO meet it undismayed, is he of su
vor bravery.
VI will give you feeble description OF
nv experiences ON one field of battle
)Pesaca, Saturday, May IA, 1864. All the
|day previous we had been fearing the pos.
sibilities of the morrow. In the stiffness
of the evening We sung such old songs as
we have heard here tonight and "Auld
Lang Syne," Home, Sweet Home" anC
F'Annie Laurie" We looked at the star;
Md the thought came that the dear one:
AZ home were also looking there and oul
sances meeting perhaps for the last time
Eatly in the morning when the bugle
sounded reveille, there was cleaning Of
Equipments, rolling Of blankets cooking
bf frugal meals and writing Of letters by
many who lay cold in death when theil
penciings were read. Hark The buglt
sounds for the assembly: we fall in, thu
lines form aud we emerge from the wood
on double quick. The village beyond il
occupied by Confederates, from who's
sharpshooters the ping and whistle OF bul
let's come. Halt comes the command
Instinctively the regiment dresses on tn,
eolors. Look down the liue every face l.
k,lnndlaao t.ath rlannha1 hos, -,
color and every man waits with batet
breath. It's the supreme moment befor,
battle that nerves mems souls
A. sheet OF flame in the distance and tn,
(vhiz Of bullets brings temporary surge
bf blood to the faces in the line, which yol
ran see shiver and wan for moment
Coward men Steady, now Helpless a
hflbs in the shamble they move with ball
vhistling about their ears thick rs hail
blue spot appears on young man
orehead as he stumbles down to rise N
more. Here m arm is shattered there
eg; they are falling on right aud left, bu
till the line advances
CARNAGE OF BATTLE
The hillside was soon covered with spot
4 blue. Our men lay in furrows un
very moment seemed an eternity. Whe
We reached the foot of the hill the con
nand came to lie down. Soon we were u
md with the sun rejecting on gleamin
tee began to climb the opposite slipper
ilside. The boys fell as leaves in an al
um wind, but with the stars and strip,
head cheers rent the air and we wer
TX times up anc were as many time
ufled back.
Listenl With blood.curdling yells til