The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-07-12
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-veterans of the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.

cite Experiences OF Thrilling Nature.
Forty years.. said the Captain,
shave brought about great changes in
the observance of Decoration or Me-
mortal day. can remember the first'
decoration of the graves of Union SOL
diers in our old home neighborhood in
1866. This was purely local affair.
1t was suggested by no one in authori-
ty, and there were no rules laid down
for the ceremonies. The men and
women Of the township met with bas-
kets of flowers and they covered the
graves of Union soldiers with blossoms
from the woods and from the home
gardens.
The celebration was not what the
originat0rs supposed it would be. The
scenes in the little cemeteries or about
the isolated graves were heart-rending
There was the bitterest of grieving
There were unexpected meetings of
mothers who had lost sons at Ander-
sonville; meetings of women who had
worn black for five years for sons kill
ed at Bull Run with women who had
worn black only since the last year of
the war, and there was so much ex-
element, people became SO wrought up,
that the committee In charge seriously
considered the propriety of not having
another Decoration Day.
"But when the Grant Army took up
the matter in 1868, when the day be-
came nationaiized, as it were, and
there were memorial observances
throughout all the Northern States,
the spirit Of the movement changed
somewhat. The old soldiers came to
the front as organizers and directors,
and there was more dignity, less griev-
ing, and less bitterness, but even on
Decoration Day, 1868, can remember
we'll there were scores of scenes that
gave the cemetery at Columbus, Ohio,
the aspect of general funeral. There
was then no clarifying of the living
soldiers, but grieving, honest. bitter
grieving, for those who had lost their
lives In the service. The change from
this idea of Memorial Day came slow
", and it was not entirely displaced In
Chicago until after 1874.
1.-The change came. however, and we
grayitated year by year toward the
broader Significance. The little girls
and the young women who scattered
the flowers came gradually, on their
own instinct, to take a reverential atti-
tude toward the living soldiers. SO it
came about that the memorial exer-
cises took tone from the presence Of
men who had been in battle IGNORING
the men who had fallen in battle.
Pride succeeded bitterness, and charity
took the place of hatred After all,
however, the approachment of Union
fists and Confederates could net be
forced.
| Men on both sides were sensitive
and regarded any coming toward them
of their old enemies with suspicion.
remember one case in particular in the
early SOS. The x-Confederates Of
Chicago had decided that year to dec
crate the graves of their comrades at
Oakwoods- They went there, small
band, score or more. as against the
thousands Of men in blue honoring the
men who wore the blue. Among them
was James B. Cable, who had served
with his brother, George w. Cable. in a
Confederate cavalry regiment. He de-
sc-ibed to me afterward the loneliness
Of that little band Of devoted Confed-
crate soldiers standing alone in what
was to them strangers land. inviting
| no sympathy, armed against any intru-
sion. determined to do their own honor
ing of their dead in their own way.
After the ex-Confederates had said
their last word and had sung their last
song and stood uncovered with bowed
heads, waiting for some one to dismiss
them, they heard the steady, regular
step of trained soldiers coming toward
them. They heard the mufled tap Of
drum. Raising their heads, they look
ed with indignant eyes at moving
column of veterans in blue coming to-
ward them, flags flying, band ready to
| play. At that moment it seemed to
them unwarranted Intrusion upon
wna' - 'n~n was noiy ground out
'nes "ai'eu
nc so'uiers Vi tue urand Army
came ior"aro' marching Ia column OF
Iours' as tney nad marched IN war,
moving steauiis .o"aru the little group
Vi eonieuefa'e7 ih ciVliian dress Had
.ney salu one WORD tney would have
pfohen Tue spell, put seeming 70 real
lie now the ex-Confederates felt, they
nai'eu one moment saluteu' ana one
meh' stepping FORWARD, dropped cross
OF flowers on confederate grave.
1nen' Witnout one WORD spoken, with
out tender OF sympathy, the column
moved on.
Mr' cable ana others said that was
tne most touching manifestation of SOL
aieriy appreciation and respect that