The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-30
| spending. This was followed by a most
brilliant banquet at Kinsley's.


Illinois National Guard, on the lake
'front.' Then carriage pa
rade of renowned northern and
southern generals was formed and moved
under military escort to the Twelfth
street depot and there took trains in
waiting for Oakwood cemetery, where
the dedication ceremonies occurred.
The military escort consisted of the
we'll known First Regiment Illinois Ma
tional guard, under command of Colonel
Henry l. Turner, as we'll as the Chicago
Hussars, a mounted military organiza-
ton of seventy five men, under command
of Capt. Quincy.
The dedication ceremonies were open
ed with prayer by Col. Joseph Desha
Pickett chaplain of the "Kentucky Or
phan" brigade, c. s. A. Then Gen.John
c. Underwood, in a few Introductory re-
marks, placed in the chair Rev. DR.. w.
II. Bolton pastor of the Centenary Meth
odist church and post commander of U.
s. Grant post No. 2S, G. A. r., of Chica-
go, who delivered brief address on as
suming his duties. The dedicatory ora
tion by Lieut.. Gen. Wade Hampton OF
South Carolina, followed.
Wade HamptOn's Speech.
Gen. Hampton said:
"The scene presented here today ia
one that could not be witnessed in any
COUuAEy DuI OuE OWus duO AOE tulS KohoOuS
if for no other, it possesses Significance
worthy of the gravest consideration.
"A few years ago brave men from the
north and from the south, stood
facing each other in hostile array, and
the best blood of the country was poured
out like water on many a battlefield
Now North and South, standing by these
graves wherever they may be, grasp
hands across the bloody chasp, and
proudly claim federal and confederate
soldiers as Americans
This monument marks the graves OF
no victorious soldiers, but of the follow
ers of lost cause, and it owes its erec-
ton not to the comrades of these dead
soldiers, but mainly to the generosity
and magnanimity of their farmer foes,
the citizens of this city.
"AlI honor, then, TO the brave and
liberal men of Chicago, who have shown
by their action that they regard the war
as over, and that they can welcome as
friends, on this solemn and auspicious
occasion, their former enemies
Are any federal soldiers disloyal to
the flag under which they fought be-
cause they join in decorating the graves
of brave men whom they met in battle?
Thousands of federal soldiers rest under
southern skies, in southern graves, many
in unknown graves And when, on
our dead are decorated, grey headed
confederate veterans and noble, devoted
women, strew flowers over the graves OF
| the federal soldiers.
"If the humane, generous action OF
| the people OF this city in doing honor to
the memory of their old antag gonists, is
denounced as Dissertation, it would seem
to follow that the decoration OF federal
graves by "rebel' hands, should be
opened to the same criticism.
.ESuch narrow and higoted feelings as
would prompt a discordant note
on an occasion of this sort are
rarely found among true men and
brave soldiers and l have often thought
that if the two great captains who were
engaged in that death grapple in Vir-
ginia had been left to settle the terms of
peace, each supported by his faithful
followers, the country would have had
peace indeed. One honorable
alike to victor and vanquished, and
which would have prevented the evils
! brought about by the politicians.
GAS it is, the south recognizes and
honors the magnanimity of Gen. Grant
towards our great chief, Gen. Lee, and de-
| plores as an unmltigated misfortune the
assassination of Lincoln.
at seems to me, too, that it should in
culcate another lesson to US, and that is,
|
in that fearful fratricidal strife and
those whom they represent should judge
| their former opponents as they would
themselves be judged. This can be
done without the sacrifice of principle
on either side"
! Confederates Decorate Union Graves.
A memorial poem by Major Henry t.
| Stanton of Kentucky was next, and the
literary portion of the dedication was
closed with an address by Rt. Rev.
! Samuel Fellows, bishop of the Reformed
| Episcopal church, Chicago, late general
United States volunteers.
The ceremonies of consecrating the
guns and placing the floral decorations
followed and the ceremonies closed with
! the firing of three volleys over the graves
| of the dead by the First Regiment, Hi
nois National Guard, ending with
bugle blare and ''taps"
Following the set programme came
the decoration of the graves of Union
soldiers in the cemetery by the ex- Con-
federate association assisted by large
number of visiting ladies from the
south, many of them noted
southern beauties, among whom were
| Gen. Underwood's daughter, Gen. Long
streets daughter Gen. Capells daugh-
| ter. and many other celebrated southern
women.
After the exercises the guests were
entertained at luncheon by the Chicago
club, and reviewed the procession of the
G. A. r. from the balcony of the Audi
| torium.
Tonight there will be military ball
and reception at First regiment armory
and a reception at the Palmer House
| Carloads of Flowers.
The display of flowers on the graves
of the Confederate and Federal dead
was very impressive and will long be re-
.membered. For several days they had
been coming by the carload, six carloads
having come by one railroad alone, an