Gilpin observer., 1906-05-31
DECORATION DAY
Concluded from page ~
together had constituted her strength.

many we'll fought battlefield. we see
you first at the battle Of Bull Run; we
would not wish that you had been the
victors in every fight, for that would be
victory scarce worth the winning; but
rather would we have it as it is, that you
learned your foemen to be worthy Of
your steel, for they wore American citi-
Zens.
To trace the events of that memorable
four years OF Civil war would be but to
aggravate the sorrow that is not unmixed
with the joys OF this occasion. Yet may
time never dull the sense Of our graft
tude; may the day never come when an
American citizen is unwilling to go with
you to those scenes fraught with such
dangers that they remain SO vividly pic
tured in your memory. We hear once
more the din of battle; the rattle OF
your musketry is sweet music to our
ears; we see the kneelipg infantry re-
pulse the cavalry CHARGE; we stand with
you at the foot of Missionary Ridge, we
see the cleaning cannon Of the enemy
hurling shot and shell from the distant
hill top, until it has worked havoc in
your lines; we see the fire from the burn
ing woods consume the dead and dying;
we see puff of milk k-white smoke and
know that ere we hear the roar from the
cannon's mouth death has claimed the
comrade at your side; your first charge
leaves the appearance OF defeat SO brok.
en- are your ranks; you are ordered to
take the rifle pits at the foot Of the ridge,
then halt and reform; you carry the
rifle pits, but there is no halting, no re-
forming, up! up! up! the mountains
side you charge in broken ranks; halt
and re-formy never, when that flag is
already half way up the mountain sur
rounded by few OF the bravest; not
shot was fred until the captured can
non are turned upon the retreating foe.
We hasten on to the close Of the war.
General Grant had been following the
forces OF General Lee and several letters
had passed between the generals; meet
ing is arranged under flags Of truce;
the generals meet, but note the contrast.
The southern general tall, dignified, Of
faultles, form, impossible in counte.
nance, dressed in new and full uni
form, and at his side hangs the costly
sword from the people of Virginia. Oh
the other hand, stands man short IN
stature, the usual determination in his
face, soitened by the knowledge OF the
hopelessness Of the enemy's cause and
the privation OF its soldiers; he would be
taken for a private in the ranks but for
the shoulder straps Of lieutenant gen.
eral upon his soldiers blouse. No sword
hung at his side. The meeting was phe-
nomenal. Two generals had met, the
one to grant, the other to receive the
surrender Of the Army Of Norther Vir-
ginia-yet no sword was unsheathed, no
swords hilt was offered by the vanquish-
ed to the victor. The ordinance Of Sc
cession was short but the terms OF sur
render written that day by General
Grant we're shorter; an unconditional
surrender needs but few words, yet those
terms were heightened that the Confed.
crate officers might retain their side
arms and all Confederate soldiers their
horses; the cause for which they had
borne arms was surrendered, but they
themselves were still American citizens,
who were yet to need their arms 10 de-
Tense OF the Nation, and their horses to
reclaim their lands but lately laid waste
by the ravages of war. The Federal
cannon turned their blackened throats
10 Heaven to proclaim the victory with
one hundred shouts, but the salute was
never tinished-no alien enemy had sur
rendered-and the pangs OF disappoint
ment that may have been aroused by the
few shots OF that salute thoughtlessly
fired have long since been atoned for and
our National Congress- has returned to
the South the captured flags OF the Con-
federacy, the last trophies OF the victory;
and 80 today throughout the length and
breadth OF this fair land us you search
for the graves OF your comrades and find
the resting place Of Confederate sol.
dier, you will not fail to drop flower on
his grave.
In Americas Hall OF Fame there are
many n,hes, each bullet that found the
barred breast OF an Union soldier filled a
niche; an assassin's hand filled the CEN
trail niche, but the Grand Army Of the
Republic wrote this inscription beneath
it, in the words of our Martyred Presi.
dent, "Thc Union Of these states is per-
petual." Since that day time has filed
many inches, but many are yet to be
filed. Late! Very Late! may they be
filed
Ladies Of the Relief Corps, you re-
mind me that my duty is not done nor is