The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-09-30

Editor of the Knoxville Wing, who for
his loyalty to the Union was put in
prison. Some years ago while In
Knoxville | had the pleasure of visit
ing his wife who was then eighty-sev-
en- years old, at the same time l met
his daughter who after her father had
been taken to prison defended the
Stars and Stripes with a double bar
relied shotgun, that her father had
hoisted over his printing office.
When a Confederate officer had been
sent to haul down the flag this loyal
daughter of a loyal father armed with
her gun told the officer she would kill
the first man who laid hands on the
flag. and the flag stayed there,
At the little town of Franklin, Tenn,
was fought one of the hardest battles
of the Civil War considering its dura-
ton 1t was at this battle that you old
soldiers of the 10th Kentucky played
such conspicuous part and often as |
have passed through Franklin, have
tried to imagine where you were lined
up for this battle. Many of you | re-
membered as a boy, but wherever you
stood upon that field it was your valor,
and the valor of the 18th Kentucky
that saved the day at Franklin.
Another great battle of the Civil War
was that of Pittsburg Landing, some
times called the battle of Shilo In this
battle the 10th Ohio took part, the few
old soldiers that knew who belonged
to the 10th Ohio, were Dr. Anderson
Ellis, George Ellis, Alex o. Rains ana
Colonel c. C. Degman. This battle
was begun on Sunday morning and
ragged for two days, with undated
fury, victory finally being won by the
| Federal forces. 1t was in this battle
the billiant, brave and noble hearted
Confederate General, Albert Sidney
Johnson, was killed. AS General John
son was bourn from the field he said
to the surgeons, IF there is single
soldier in the ranks that needs atten-
ton more than l need it, see to him, |
can wait" Albert Sidney Johnson
must surely have possessed a beauti-
full soul
For years after the Civil War I'M
sCrupulous politicians to further their
own selfish interest, kept alive the
prejudice that grew out of the war,
but one day, don't know just when it
was, but all Heaven and earth got
tired of this and God came along and
with the finger of His love He touched
the heart of the boy who wore the blue
and the heart of the boy who wore the
gray and the scales fell from their
eyes and they saw they were brothers.
| At the conclusion of the Civil War
when the South was in ashes and rags,
a. a meeting of the Confederate SOL
diers some one said, What can we do
to show our love and respect for our
fallen comrades" In their poverty
they had no money to erect costly
monuments, the question was unan-
swered until a a beautiful and accom-
plished lady arose and said, 1--WE can
cover their graves with flowers" and
from this lady's suggestion it is said
has grown the beautiful custom of
decoration on the Both of May the
graves of our soldiers. Decoration
Day has had much to do with eradicat-
ing the prejudice engendered by the
Civil! War.
Some years ago | was in the city of
Chattanooga on Decoration Day, and
from the lofty heights of Lookout
Mountain turned my eyes towards
Sherman Heights where 10000 union
soldiers lie sleeping. looked South
ward toward the battle field of
Chickamauga. and then turned my
eyes toward the red field of Missionary
Ridge, and then in the Southland
where the beautiful wild flowers
bloom, and the song birds MARBLE their
sweet music, hundreds Of South
ern ladies' could be seen covering the
graves of the soldiers with flowers,
The beautiful Southern maid that
placed flower on the grave OF the
boy who wore the gray, with the same
hand placed q flower on the grave OF
the boy who wore the blue, and water
ed them both with her tears, and |
knew then that love and not prejudice
was finding a permanent abiding place
in the hearts Of all our nation. also
knew that some hand on each Decora-
ton Day would place a flower on the
soldiers grave of my only brother, who
sleeps in the National Cemetery at
Cleveland, Tenn, To me war mas al
ways been a horrible thing to contempt
late, and believe that Christian civil
ization will soon reach that high plane
that will forever make war impossible,
However, l believe the love Of country,
and the fires of patriotism burn as
bright in the hearts OF the people to-
day as II did in the hearts OF our fore
fathers who left their blood-stained
nrinta ON the snowy hillsides of Valley