The record-union., 1897-05-29

when Johnny came marching home"
how proud we were and how proud our
girls We're also
We enjoyed ourselves for short time.
but we had not put down the rebellion
in that three months, as 1T was fully ex-
pected we would when we started out
Troops We're forming and going for
ward; we were lingering, enjoying our
selves so much, and I expect would have
continued on had not the girls began to
ding into our ears, Brave boys are they,
gone at their country's cal" until we
We're compelled to go again.
So it was all over the land at that time,
and / have no doubt but that if sim
liar occasion should arise you boys
would be just as patriotic, and more so,
perhaps, than we were in I'll; and am
sure that the girls would be just as
willing that you should go as they were
then for us.
| 1 am informed by your Principal that
United States history is taught in this
school. 1 have not examined it to any
extent as to the history of the rebellion
of 81 to '65-of course, it must neces-
sarily be brief, but it should contain
but little if it contains fair and correct
statement of the cause of the war: this
every boy and girl should know There
is a wrong and right side to 1t; no
loyal persons, live they North or South,
do not desire that their children be
taught the principles of secession. Pa
triotism can in no place be better taught
than in the public schools, and treason
should be made odious.
Monday next is Memorial Day, the
day that we gather flowers for the he
roic dead. 1t is fitting, therefore, that
| these patriotic exercises should be held
iE our public schools, that you boys and
girls may have some part in this beauti-
| full service. and thereby learn early to
| love their county, honor it's flag and
revere its honored dead.
Twenty years ago the Both of
May was consecrated to the memory
of the defenders OF the Union, who had
given up their lives. This order was
| issued by the then Commander-in-
Chief of the Grand Army General John
| A. Logan, the most distinguished vol
| unteer General the war produced. We
| in California are fortunate this year
| in having for our Department Com
mander, General Chapman, who was
Adjutant- General on General Logan's
staff at that time. and who really is
| sued the order. Its wisdom is recog-
nized all over our land and will con-
! tinue to grow year by year as we re-
new our devotions to the great princi-
| pies for the defense of which our COM
rades laid down their lives.
| Thirtysix years ago the fourth OF
| last March Abraham Lincoln was in
| augurated President of the United
| States; six weeks from that time what
| clouds hovered over US and almost in
| the twinkling of an eye the tempest
| was upon us-Sun1ter had been fired on.
| Few patriotic men and boys stood
| back-every loyal heart beat quick and
| fast. Well do | remember forming with
others in front of the Courthouse Of my
village, and when it was asked, "All
who will go if a call comes step three
PAGES to the front" not one but took
the steps Notwithstanding his business
and family 1T was the loyal heart,
thrilled with patriotic emotions that
could not be resisted"
Then came the soul-stirring strains
| of martial music, the tramp, tramp OF
moving troops, streaming banners. The
authority ofathe Government had been
defied; liberty had been assaulted, the
| fag-our fiag-had been fired upon by
rebel guns. This act precipitated the
greatest war in history. lasting four
years. costing three billions of money
| and the lives of half million loyal,
true men, besides leaving million
mothers. sisters and widows to mourn
| for their loved ones who never re-
| turned
| During the war many homes were
made desolate and much suffering was
endured by those living in the path of
the army, but such is war. But in my
experience and observation during a
service of four years ! can say that L
| witnessed but little wanton destruction
of homes or private property.
Our army fought for the cause of
the Union, for liberty. for the preserva-
ton of the nation with patriotic de-
yotion until the heresy of state
rights" so-called, had been shot to
death.
1t is this band of heroic dead who
have written in letters of blood, This
Government shall not perish" whose
graves we remember now and whose
memories we cherish by our patriotic
services on each Memorial Day.
AS I look back to those stormy days
that tried and tested the volunteer of
81 to 90; that tested the loyalty Of the
people of this great country, feel glad
that I was an enthusiastic boy who per-
formed a willing part in the great
struggle for the support of the nation.
I we'll recollect that at one battle dur
ing the afternoon while my regiment
was supporting a battery the Southern
sun was hot on our backs While we
We're lying down back of the battery
ready to defend them if necessary. The
fighting had been quite heavy on our
right, but had seemingly become more
quiet, and there seemed to be lull OF
battle all around.
CUR Colonel who, by the way, was a
| member of Congress and had been alb
sent on leave, joined us but a few days
previous, the heat being SO great had
sought shade under tree short dis
tance from us. Soon Generals Grant,
Mcpherson and Logan came riding
from the right down to the battery we
were supporting. They We're here met
by our division commander, General
Osterhaus. The approach of these
Generals with their numerous staff
officers and orderlies attracted the at
tention of the enemy, and 1t was not
long before they brought two brass
pieces to play upon these new arrivals,
and the air was full Of flying fragments
and bursting shell for few minutes.
Soon, however, a few well directed
shots from our battery injured the enc