The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-03-21

Brotherhood Of Andrew and Philip,
was one of the best of the series. A good
sized audience assembled, notwithstand-
ing the incIemency of the weather and
the counter attraction of the bachelors
ball. The lecturer gave brief history
OF the war, from the firing on Fort Sum-
ter to the surrender OF Lee at Appo-
mattox. His anecdotes of war times
we're appreciated by the audience espe-
cially BY the boys. In closing he paid a
high tribute to the old soldier. Following
were his closing remarks:
Let us not forget in these days OF
greed and commercialism, the valor,
privations and hardships endured by the
men who saved to you this nation OF ours.
Nor must we forget the lost opportuni-
ties for them while they were lighting
the battles Of their country. Opportu-
mites forever gone, so far as they are
concerned. NY friend, deal kindly by
them remember by right, and by promise
they are the honored wards OF this nation.
As we go on down through life, let us not
forget to teach our children to revere the
old soldiers in their midst; perchancea an
empty sleeve may dangle at his side, or
missing leg may lie buried some where
in theSouthland, and while we teach them
these things, let us not forget to tell
them that in the dark days, when a
light went out at home, soldier fell in
battle, and that through all these years
dark shadows still shut out the light in
the hearts Of hundreds OF thousands of
our people who gave father, son,
brother, husband or lover to the cause
of the Union who did not return.
Once each year the old soldiers, now
decrepit with age, and with tottering
steps, gather at the various cemeteries
throughout the nation to lay wreaths
and flowers on the the graves Of those
who have answered the last roll call.
And in typical manner to place beauti-
full flowers, fragrant with the bloom Of
spring, upon the sacred mound erected
to the memory of the unknown dead"
Unknown dead Only the soldier knows
what that means. Thousands upon
thousands OF unknown and unmarked
graves, where rests the remains of a
comrade who died for his country. Iti
upon occasions like these that past
achievements of the old soldier are
he sees the long line OF blue as it leaves
the cover of yonder woods and marches
out to meet the foe he knows to be strong
ly intrenched behind breastworks await
ing his coming With whitened face,
and firm grip of the musket, he ad-
vances upon the foe, when suddenly a
puff of white smoke is seen to issue from
the enemy's lines, then there is loud
roar of artillery, and the deadly shell
strikes the advancing column and bursts
with awful effect. The smoke and dust
clears away, and what do we behold?
Writhing in their life blood lie scores of
brave boys whose suits of blue is Grim
soned with the fast ebbing life current.
The havoc OF death is awful; the line
halts but only TO recover from the shock,
when with an impetuosity that knows
no bounds, the line again rushes on, and
up, and up until the enemy's works are
reached, leaving many of their comrades
along the way stricken down by the
murderous fire poured into them they
reach the ditch and are soon climbing
upon the ramparts, and with the deadly
bayonet and dubbed musket, are deal
ing and receiving blows on every hand.
And ah! what is that we hear? There is
no mistaking that sound, we had often
heard it on similar occasions, it is the
glad shout Of victory, with it's refrain
waited back to those who lay where
they fell. Once more Old Glory waves
ON high, proclaiming victory for the flag
and American Union.
In looking backward over those fear
full four years of terrible suffering we
can scarcely at this late day realize the
immense cost Of this shareholders war.
A great price, terrible retribution had
been visited upon the people for the ex-
istence of slavery. Perhaps it is not ex-
travagant to say, in the language of Mr..
Lincoln's 8 second inaugural, that the war
has continued, until all the wealth piled
up by the bondman' 3 250years of unrequit
ed toll has been sunk and until every drop
of blood drawn with the lash has been
paid by another drawn with the sword"
Thus ended the shareholders rebellion
not as they hoped, but as the unseen
hand of an Almighty power had willed.
The work of mastering out the Union
army was at once commenced and not
until the October following was this
vast body of citizen soldiers returned to
their homes. Thus peacefully and joy
ously was the mightiest host ever called
TO the field by republic restored to the
tranquil paths of industry and thrift,
melting back to their homes by regi-
ments and by companies, into quiet citi-
zenship, with nothing to distinguish
them from others but the proud con-
ciousness of having served and saved
their country.
The total enrolment in the Union
army was, 2,772 1888; number killed in
battle, 161 1852; died of wounds in hos.
pitals, 34,727; died of disease; 1885
number Of deaths in the field, 279, ACT
making the total namber OF deaths in
the field, 979,365.
Regarding the enrolment, and losses
of the confederate army, do not re-
gard the statistics reliable, but such
as l have been able to obtain l here
submit:
Total enrolment of confederates, 700,
600; killed in battle, 100000 died o.
wounds, 1873, 1921 ;died of disease, l50 600
The total loss OF the productive forces
OF the United States, resulting from thil
gigantic lnterneclne war, was not sh0rt
of ,000, 600 men, aud in money, not
including the confederate side, the ap,
palling sum of SO, 1876, 1928, ,90S. .5S.
The percentage OF the different nation
altities represented in the Union army
leaving out the fractions, was: United
States rs per cent, German s, Irish Z
Egnlish 2, British America 2, other ma
tions 2.
1t will be seen by these statistics, that
three-fourths Of the men who respond
ed to the call Of the government il
its peril for help, were natives of tht
country they helped to save; while
hundreds of thousands of citizens OF tn,
republic, no less loyal to the country o
their adoption for having been foreign
born, rallied round the flag inthe time o
need, with the same feelings OF love as die
his brother, who, by reason of his birtl
was native instead of an adopted citi
zen OF the country.
Danger of Over Confidence.
One of the prineipal reasons Why tn,