Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-04-18
OUR OLD SOLDIERS.

in the final muster Of the Ninetieth
Pennsylvania regiment of civil war vet
Grams, when twenty.siz men met at
dinner in Philadelphia on the LIST DAY
Of March, all that could be gathered
together out of 1900 whose names had
been on the roster Of the command frcm
first to last. No one who was present
had any cause for shame for the tears
which filed the eyes as the patrisrchsl
colonel said: Boys we are getting too
old, and those Of us who are able to get
around are so scattered that we can't
come together any more" For them
and for the country that speech marked
the end of an era.
The regiment gave its service during
1862 and 1868. sharing in the honors at
Cedar mountain, Antietam, and Gettys-
burg, in the last of which battles one
third of its membership was lost Then.
after Lee retreated from his second in
vasion of the north. and Mesde and the
southern commander were sparring fer
position rs winter drew on, there were
10 men left of that REGIMENT. decimat-
ed by death, disease, and the fortunes OF
war. The fight at Mine Run in Vir-
ginis came in the closing days OF 1858,
and when thu next roll was called
ninety eight were reported killed or
taken prisoners, and the gallant Mint
tieth Pennsylvania passed into history.
The story of this regiment is the story
Of many another. The era of tie
civil war is ended. The veterans are
passing. Time has sofsened the asper'
titles Of civil strife, and the boys In blue
with their whilom enemies who wore
the gray are uniting in 3 common broth
erhood of American citizenship TO make
the last days Of earth happier because
of association in patriotic memories OF
a great struggle in which each side be-
lieved itself right. For forty years the
civil war has dominated political life,
Party nominations have been made
with due reference 10 war records many
an ambitious young man compelled TO
step aside in favor of one who wore his
county's uniform. In the houses of
congress the rolls have shown among
the leaders great names famous because
of service on the field To one large
section Of the country the doors OF POI
liticsl preferment have been barred be-
cause of deeds of the past. Bat the
end has come, and q younger generation
Ia taking command. 1t is the fourth Of
such TRANSITIONS in our national life, the
punctuation marks of time. For the
influence of the revolutionary struggle,
the war OF 1919, the Mexican conquest
and the civil war stand ont clearly de-
fined upon the page of our history
Due honor has been paid to the men
who saved the natioa 1t Ia for tbs
children TO move forward to the future.
The consciousness Of the transition
should be bat fresh pledge to patriot
ism. The revolutionary veteran lived
TO see his country in second war for
independence from Great Britain. The
dying leaders Of the war of 1912 watch
ed sky darkened by ominous clouds
The heroes of the fights in Mexico hesrd
the roar or cannon at Charlestown - Len
the flag was lowered from 3umpter
But the peace for which the G,rest com.
nander of the triumphant uition army
prayed is here TO give its beneiiction to
the remnant of the grand army Of the
republic To them alone of all the
soldiers Of the republic does the future
of the nation seem bright with hope
Chicago Tribune