Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-10-26

drand army OF the hepu DIG.
On the back OF the book is the army
badge and the name Of the post. Each OF
the engraved pages OF the volume is a
work of art.
The book is designed to contain per-
sonal war sketches of members OF the post
and other veterans OF Ellsworth and
vicinity, memorial resolutions passed by
the post on the death of memb ers, a
record OF burials. 1t will also contain a
record of the presentation OF he album, a
sketch OF its donor, history of the post
and 4 sketch of the comrade for whom it
is named. The volume will be closed
with the minutes of the last meeting of
the post, when the charter is surrendered
and taps are sounded.
1t is proposed, when the last veteran is
mustered out, to deliver the volume to
the city library. The book is destined to
become one OF the most treasured volumes
in the city-valued not for its pecuniary
worth, great though it is, but for the rec
ords which it Will contain, and W hich will
be to future generations a precious record
OF ancestral heroism.
Mr.. Burrill made the presentation
speech. He said:
Mr.. Commander and Gentlemen of Wm. II. II.
Rice Post, Grand Army of the Republic
In presenting this book to your keeping,
perform an act that affords me a very great
pleasure.
The acceptance and the custody of this gift,
by the Grand Army post of Ellsworth, together
with the kind words that l have already received
from many old soldiers, in anticipation of this
evenings proceedings are, assure you, fully
appreciated. and the privilege of placing this
token of my esteem in your hands, is an honor
which shall always hold In grateful remem-
brance.
On its pages will be written the personal his.
tory of the of Ellsworth who were defend
ers of the Union during the war of the great
rebellion. AS you read the familiar names of
your comrades. who have gone before, many of
whom fell under the flag, on the field of battle,
and recall a glorious past that was theirs, and
yours, past that SO full of danger, of self
sacrifice. and of brave deeds, you must realize
with great satisfaction that your record, and
theirs. is written In this volume, and that it
will be cherished by future generations,
priceless heritage. The history of the lives of
victories that decided the fate of the Union, has
already been written. The commissioned
officers and privates, who fought in the ranks,
are remembered and honored now but we have
no assurance that their names and their services
may not be forgotten and lost in the midst of
time. or remembered only by tradition,
unless their record is written now. and
safely deposited in loving hands that Will trans
nit IL to generations vet unborn.
How many there among us who are
entirely unacQuainted with the history of the
men who lived during the eighteenth century,
from whom we are linea descendants? How
highly would we prize to-day true, written ties.
timony that an ancestor of ours was soldier
with Washington. In time to come, men bear
ing the names herein written will point with
pride to this record of their ancestors, and pro
claim that their patriotism, their loyalty, and
their title to American citizenship are Inherited
from Union soldier, who fought in the war OF
the great rebellion. As we look back to those
stormy days of the sixties, they seem to Us
almost as dream, but as we turn TO the present
and witness the loyalty of the South to the old
flag. and look upon the progress, the prosperity
and the happiness of our country, they stand
out as magnificent reality.
The war of the rebellion the turning
point. We and mankind with US had come to
the place where the roads divided. Here
the way of liberty, of social order, of develop
ment, of happiness, of perfect manhood and
perfect womanhood there was the path of dis
union, of slavery, of anarchy, whose end was
human and national degradation, disgrace and
misery, and the failure of free government in
America so auspiciously begun would have
been the grand failure of free government for