The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-09

some of our boys were reported killed
we realized at last the cruelty of war.
"Oh, boys, boys, you could never mag
inc the heartrendlng scene at the railroad
station when our dead were brought
home. We knew what train would bring
them, and every man, woman and child
who could walk was there to receive
them. There were eleven plain boxes
pushed out on the platform. There were
probably more than 100 people there who
were closely related to these eleven men.
They did not try TO hide their grief, and
everybody present Joined in the tribute
Of tears.
Il can still see the funerals; I could tell
YOU much of the sermons. l see the reld-
tives in black and all the town Joined
in the mourning. I also remember the
those who still had loved ones at the
front
THE call came for more men. They
responded Again we saw them start on
their way, waving hats and handkerchiefs
while the band played The Girl 1 Left
Behind Me- Many of these men, like
the others, came home in pine boxes;
more of them came back wounded and
shattered. Young fellows who went away
Boosting of their strength came home
with an arm or d leg missing, to take up
their lives again under this awful handi-
cap.
Some in Prisons.
Some of our missing were found to be
in southern prisons, and month after
month went by in the agony of suspense
as to whether they were still alive or
dead A few of these eventually came
home, mere ghosts of their former
selves, and about as unsubstantial as
spirits. They did not live long with us
our songs had long since changed to
notes of sadness. We sang, and the words
were more than mere words:
sc We shall meet. but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair
And the feeling at the front was told
in the song having its refrain:
" Farewell, mother; you may never
Press me to your heart again;
But oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
II I'm numbered with tile slain?
Call for More Men.
Still came the call for more men.
Months had grown into years; scarcely
family but was wearing black, and
there were few men left at home except
the infirm or aged. When the three
years term expired men came home, but
it was on furlOugh. for they re-enlisted
and soon We're at the front again.
They were long years and dark years,
but at last victory seemed to have per-
manently perched upon our banners, and
we began to sec a rift in the dark clouds
| of doubt and suspense, and to sing Of
| the time
When Johnny comes marching home
again
AS if We really believed it would soon
come true. But victory was still bought
/ with the precious lives of loved ones, and
| the pine coffin on the depot platform
was far too familiar sight
Then Came the End.
! Then came the end. We gathered in
churches and sang hymns of praise. We
walked the streets all night singing old
I war songs. We had bonfires in front of
every house, we used up every grain of
powder in the town. But ali this was
nothing when compared with the well
come we gave the boys when they were
mustered out Of service.
/ My sons I wish I had the power to
/ make you even family realize what these
! old flags stand for in your lives The
/ success of the south in that long war
would have meant that democracy was. a
/ failure; that men wee unable to govern
/ themselves; that human slavery was a
/ solid cornerstone upon which to build a
/ nation; that an aTtstOcracy of wealth was
] to govern mankind thereafter. even if
| that wealth consisted of the blood and
! bone of human beings who were said to
/ be made in the image of God
] You cannot appreciate the awful
/ struggle, nor the fearful price that was
/ paid that you might enjoy the blessings
| of the present day"