River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-05-27

glorious past. too, though Ted with
other things than the rust which gives
me my dull, swarthy hue. They have
spruced me up little with paint thaC
] might be in keeping with other park
accessories, but you may observe thai
there is rust IN my throat, while it,
marks show roughly through the thin
coat OF paint which but half cOnceals
Tie ravages OF time. ] may look grim,
hut am not so savage as | might at first
impression appear
when the war he gan | was young
and handsome, not the battered vetera~
of these late- years. The gunners were
proud of my trig and trim appearance.
ard groOmed me as carefully as if were
a prince out on parade. You should hay-
seen me as, with other guns of my cali
her and class. / started for the front IN
response to the first call for volunteers
issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1861
Polished until every piece of metal
about me shone, waited upon h. Irave
men in uniforms as striking as my own.
] attracted admiring attention from
multitudes an along the line. There
were six of Us. all exactly alike. and we
spoke with one voice wh hen called upon
20 respond to the ardOr Of those men
starting toward the front.
at was not long before We ere in the
rush and war of battle. Where we were
could be found the very craters of the
war volcanoes. redeemed with our lurid
fires. enlivened by our bulldog bark.
REDEEMED sometimes with deeper cri T.
con than that of flame. We were sons
of thunder and hurled thunderboltS.
shootersof lightnings switch struck with
deadly effect Our threats were often
parched and our iron constitutions
Tacked and strained, but we Obeyed
orders, and sullenly served Death
until told to dcsist. They were
brave men who handled us in
the very center of the carnivals of
blood and fire. and ever above us floated
proudly our gallant ccmrade. the old
flag. often tattered and torn, singed
and ragged. but its stars shining ever a.
stars of promise on their armament of
good union blue. Not less courageous
were the men in gray who fought under
what is now the conquered banner
Even our iron souls and heatts Of steel
thrilled with honest admiration of their
duuutless bravery What a pity that
such men must be swayed in deadly con
filct, one against the other. Thank Goo.
that is all past now. ard the old flag.
well beloved north and south. floats il
love and protection over all Columbia
braves. If the men in gray were mis-
taken they atoned for their fault IN
countless ways known only to brave
hearts who meet defeat. We love them
for their courage and devotion. hail
rEem as brothers true for eyermoTe
But this is depression. Old cannon. like
ether old warriors. become garrulous
when they recall the days which tried
mems souls and burned out the dross in
the crucibles Of affiictiou.
You think my language rather
choice for grizzled warrior accustomed
~ camp and field? Well, was Yves;
Point graduate, II YOU please. and once
shone resplendeut among the ordnance
aristocrats Of that eminent institution
Of learning.
1T was at a battle on the mountain.
Lear the sea. fighting bravely at close
quarters ON n ridge overlooking deep.
wooded ravins that was disabled
There was opposed to US a battery of
heavier ealiber. and, after our men were
nearly all down. dead or wounded.
heavy ball struck me directly in the
Inuzzle. broke this Jagged piece from my
side, dismOunted me and hurled me
headlong into the ravine. IL was =
dizzy sOmerSault. and I was made use
less by many wounds. 50 was permit
ted to lie there. The battle went on
above. branches flew in the air. trees
were cut in two. and into that raviue
crept scores Of brave men for shelter.
some TO recover later. but more to die.
What 90 the nattily-CreSSed pleasure
seekers who promenade in this park
end gaze curiously al Us veterans. re
Hiize % such scenes as those l describe
80 imperfectly2
AT eve the battle luIled. aud there
erept TO me where lay, finally prop-
ping themselves against me and against
each other, two badly wounded men.
one in blue and one in gray Igathered
from their slow conversation that they
we're from the same village in MARYLAND
schoolmates once. friends aiwavs. They
talked of other days. Of the familiar
home scenes. of their wives and babes.
and then when the quiet stars came out
aud the moon lighted the scene of car
mage they slept clasped closely in each
others arms. But il was the sleep that
knows no waking. For these men
peace had come, honorable peace, the
tin AMI danger of battle past forever.