Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

farm,
They saw but Union in the gathering
gloom
The fearless women, helped the men
to arm.
Well blessed the country that has sons
to send,
From trades of peace to learn the
trade of war.
Thrice blessed the nation, that has
every son
A soldier, ready for the warning
sound,
Who marches homeward when the
fight is done
To swing the hammer and to till the
ground.
At the Beginning of the War
Members of the G.. A. R., thus you
went to war and thus you returned
home. But, oh. the tears and sad
partings as you fastened to the front!
oh, the wailng of children and the
weeping of sisters, wives and moth
ers when you parted from them and
from home. Whilst in heart hunger
and in agony, you were tenting on
the sodden ground, the battle bards
of these gloomy war days, voiced
your thoughts and feelings. They
sang and you sang:
"Just before the battle, mother
am thinking most of you,
While upon the field, we're watching
With the enemy in view.
Comrades brave are round me lying,
Filled with thoughts of home and
God;
For well they know that on the NOR
row
Some will sleep beneath the sod.
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again.
But you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain"
Lauds Soldiers and Wives
Yes. soldiers of this republic, your
thoughts then were not of the ball
room, nor of revelry but of wife.
mother, home and God. But, oh, sad
thought, how many then died that lib.
erty might live. and that we and pos
terity might enjoy the blessing of
reunited country. Comrades, remem.
Der them, their kin mourn for them,
the citizens honor them, and their
country jealousy guards the holy
places in which repose their mortal
remains. I have often seen the long
lines Of little headstones in our nation.
al cemeteries and as often / have
asked myself who can count the cost
of the great struggle in treasure, tears
and blood? Yes, and who can count
the grand results accomplished by the
veterans living and dead? On Mem
orial day, it is but meet that we
should mediate on these things. Our
country, as a direct result of the
deeds and sacrifices of our G. A. H..
is now great, powerful and paramount
among the nations Of the world. We
have no north and no south, but
Union forever one and inseparable."
For these blessings we are indebted.
not to the veterans alone, but also
and principally after God, to our pa
triotic women The prayers and the
sacrifices and the steadfastness of
American women during that war.
were the admiration of the people of
all the earth, did not fail to reach
Gods throne and touched the infin-
| itely tender heart of Jesus. Ladies
of the Relief Corps, I hail you and
revere you. Your monuments of pa
| tient piety and religious hope, await
you in the many mansioned home
of God above. Not tear, or sigh,
or work of yours shall be without re
ward in heaven.
| At the Close of the Struggle
| Again let us reflect, that at the close
of the war of the rebellion, a fact
unique in the history of the world,
occurred here in America. The con-
quered Confederate states were read
mitted into the union and the fran.
chise allowed to their citizens. In the
| history of the wars of other times and
countries, we read of people slaugh-
| tered or reduced to slavery, of states
ground and the sight of them sown
| in salt to make of them monument
tai ruin. But our republic condemned
| her rebels to pardon and peace Oh
wonder of wonders! The enemy of
yesterday has become the brother of
| today; the would-be destroyers of the
Union are once again lawmakers and
law-givers, for all the people and all
the states. Oh, God, be praised for
such country and such a civilization
as we possess. Let us reflect and be
grateful.
| Leaders in Civil War.
| Again, look in wonder at the policy
and the genius of our country. When,
at the end of the war, our citizen sold
| iers melted from view as melts the
summer snow. They turned their
swords into plowshares and zealously
began again to rebuild their own and
their country's shattered fortunes. We
behold these men today shining as
bright ornaments in civil life. They
are among our foremost citizens in
this and every other city throughout
our fair land. What grand example
they are to our young people and to
the people of future generations. o,
members of the G. A. R., heroes of war
and peace, Gods choicest blessings be
upon you.
| What is Enjoyed Today.
Again, today we think about our
soldier dead. Yes, but let MS not for
get what a. heritage they helped to
preserve for us and for posterity. Were
George Washington and the makers
of this republic with us today they
would consider our present condition