The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-04-13

the thousands took unto them wives
from among the dear girls who a few
years before they had had left behind
them. Thus we realized the anticipa.
tons so beautifully expressed by F.
Martin Town, in these lines:
Thank God the sky is clearing!
The clouds are hurrying past;
Thank God the day is nearing!
The dawn is coming fast.
And when glad herald voices
Shall tell us peace has come,
This thought shall most rejoice us
Our boys are coming home.
The vacant fireside places
Have waited for them long;
The love light lacks their faces,
The chorus wait their song;
A shadoWy fear has haunted
The long deserted room;
But now our prayers are granted
Our boys are coming home.
0 mother calmly waiting
For that beloved son,
. sister proudly dating
The victories he has won;
o maiden softly humming
The love song while you roam
Joy, joy, the boys are coming
The boys are coming home.
In adjusting themselves to the new
order of things, three thoughts found
warm and enthusiastic place in the
mind and heart Of the now citizen
soldier. How the scenes and exper-
fences of army life would come; how
the ties of comradeship would Irvine
around the affections; what longings
for intercourse with those who to-
gether bore the routine of camp life,
drank out of the same canteen and
faced the dangers of battlefelds; and
what desires to perpetrate the memoir
les of those trying scenes. Again,
what solicitude for the welfare of the
widows and children of departed COM
rades; what interest in them who had
returned home manned or broken in
health; how anxious to have justice
done the soldiers by the government
they had saved. And lastly, how the
love of the dear old flag would swell
his bosom and burning desire to
teach patriotism to all, especially the
youth Of the land.
ut was put into the hearts of some
of the survivors to crystalize their
thoughts into an organization of vet
Grams. The first step was taken by
Maj. B. F. Stevenson of Springfield,
Ill. In letter written by him to the
Department of Minnesota, he says:
4 determined to organize the old SOL
diers so they would at once be power
to protect themselves and support the
families of our fallen comrades. I
mentioned the project to many of my
friends who approved of the plans but
were fearful it could not be effected,
hence l was discouraged. Only five
thought the plan feasible and prom
ised me assistance and sent me ma
terial aid. These men were Brevet
Brig. Gen. Martin Blood of Wiscon-
sin; Col. Daniel Groro of Illinois;
Capt. H. How of Ohio; Col. J. M. Sny-
der and Capt. Jerry A. Hill of Illinois.
With the assistance of these gentle
men I completed the present organiza-
ton and instituted the first post in
Decatur, ILL.,, April 9Th, 1866. The
work and plans were submitted to a
committee and with some modification
were adopted. The Department was
and it's officers elected
"The order started by this far see
ing and energetic man was at first of
slow growth. In some quarters a
strong prejudice was formed for fear
that it was intended for political pur-
poses, and others, among the soldiers
doubted as to the feast
Dility of the project, and ultimate sue