The record-union., 1894-01-13
vicksburg, the other in the Lone Star


battlefelds, with not even blanket for
winding sheet, nor marble slab to mark
their resting-place.
We represent the gallant band in
keenan's charge who stayed the onward
march of JacksOn's hosts at Chancellors-
VILE.
Nor came one back, his wounds to tell,
But over them now, lying shattered and
mute,
What deep echo rolls; it's the death salute"
We represent the starved and martyred
slain in prison pens; in short, we repre-
sent the soldier dead everywhere who
fell in the four years cruel strife.
1t is further urged that the Woman's
Relief Corps, being the older organiZa-
ton, there was no need for ours, and In
stead of proving benefit only resulted
of confusion. The two societies are
organized on entirely different lines, and
there should be the utmost harmony be-
tween US. In the language OF one whose
memory is sacred, LET US have peace;
lovingly let US walk and work together"
But we must again insist that if the
Woman's Relief Corps had made service
OF kindred in the army a test OF mem ber
ship, instead of loyalty and patriotism
alone, their arguments would have more
force.
We have an abiding respect for our
sister society. Nobly have they fulfilled
their mission. Their mem bershIp roll
contains the names OF some of the noblest
women Of the country, notably Mrs.
Annie G. Wittenmier of the Sanitary
Commission, Miss Clara Barton of the
Red Cross and that elect lady Mrs.
John a. Logan. But the fact remains
that an organization such as the
Ladies of the Grand Army of the Re-
r1blio was nppaSSitU if war
history was to be preserved, and there
fore must be kept iuviolate. 1t is the
duty OF every soldiers wife, mother,
sister and daughter TO enroll her name in
our book of records, in which is recorded
her relatives war service-whether field,
staff or ranks-and we are happy to say
that membership in other loyal and
patriotic societies does not debar them
from uniting with us, provided they pos
sess the required eligibility. Can they
afford to ignore this opportunity to re-
write their war history, or TO treat lightly
this duty they owe to themselves and
those that come after them? We answer,
they cannot.
Many of us to-day would be members
of the Daughters of the Revolution, and
count it an honor to be SO enrolled, were
it not that we have no written history for
reference, but only traditional, or that
which is handed down from fireside
to tireside. Ii there had been in those
earliest days an organization similar to
the Ladies of the Grand Army of the
Republic, we would not now be writing
these lines OF regret.
Ladies of the Circle, we have thus
passed in brief review our claims to pub
lie favor, the more we consider our aims
and objects. The more we are convinced
Of the Importance OF our organization,
and the benefits to accrue to posterity.
So let us live, clothed in the beautiful
robes of friendship toward each other
Charity that thinketh no evil. Loyalty
that knows not the sting and shame of
treason.
The Golden Rule for our countersign.
Thus let US live, that when earth has
done with all of us, those that come after
shall say: All hail! these are they who
buildeth better than they knew. Other
daughters have done well, but these ex-
ceelleth them all.
Comrades, we cannot close without
paying you a tribute, and thanking you
for the many cOurtesies you have eX
tended to us from time to time, and hope
your relations may never become less
traternal.
You doubtless thought when the joy
full tidings Of the unconditional surren-
der had been proclaimed throughout the
battle had ceased, you doubtless
thought that now your recruiting days
We're over. No more depleted ranks to
fill. No more weary marches. The
soldiers dream had now become an as
sured realty. And, later on, when you
had builded for yourselves that close re-
treat-the q. A. R.-that then you had
only to sit about your camptires, re-
ceive the homage of a grateful and
ioht
enjoy your victories and smoke your
pipe of peace. But not so. There is
further service for you.
AS we have said, you did good work
when you enrolled yourselves, as hon.
orably discharged soldiers of the great
army of the Union and for the Union,
into the Grand Army of the Republic
from an army of war to an army of peace.
You commenced early; you have we'll
nigh made your work complete. But
few remain to-day of those who answered
the great Lincoln's call to arms that have
not enlisted in your social and fraternal
ranks. We commenced late; we have
only begun the great work of our enroll
ment. We ask you, comrades. to become
recruiting Sergeants for our ranks. You
certainly recognize the obligation; you
certainly ask no greater privileges for
yourselves than you will accord your
mothers. wives, sisters and daughters.
They bore up your hands in those dark
and terrible days of war; they followed
you with their prayers as you marched
on to Donelson, drove back the dark
clouds OF rebellion as with magician's
wand and let Grants sun of AusterlitZ
shine for liberty, never to set in Water
loo. Shieldless, you met the missiles of
a brave and determined foe at Shiloh,
unfurled your colors upon the ramparts
Of Y icl Shurcy that Gibraltar of tho Com
federacy, and on Manassas field, where
brave Phil Kearney fell. They cheered
you on as you planted the starry banner
amid the clouds of Lookout Mountain
and scaled the nights of Mission Ridge
as you braved the leaden hail at the bat
tie of the Wilderness and charged the
salient angle at Spottsylvania.
Surely, comrades, you who followed
the Black knight Logan To Atlanta's
front and avenged the death of McPher-
son--you who stood at Gettysburg like
stone wall before the hosts of the Con-
fedrate General, Pickett, and proved your
yalor and made treason Odious on many
other fields of battle surely you will not
now, in these later days, in these piping
times of peace, strike your colOrs and re-
treat at the advance OF the mothers, wives,
sisters and daughters.
Soldiers OF the Army of the Union and
Grand Army of the Republic, members
of the Women's Relief Corps, the ladies
of the Grand Army of the Republic salute
you.
WIEGERS PETITION DENIED.
He VIII Have to Serve His Time in the
State Prison.
Charles Wieger has made application
to Governor Mark ham for pardon I'M