Year: 1870

Grafton Delivered at Middiebury, Me-


mortal Day, May 30, 1870.


BY col. CHARLES II. JOYCE OF RUTLAND.


Comrades Of The Grand Army of the
Republic and Fellop Citizens - In
obedience to an order issued from head
quarters by your honored chief, Gen.
John A. Logan, and by the unanimous
voice of the loyal people of these States,
this day has been set apart in the calendar
to be devoted to the sad yet pleasing duty
of strewing the graves Of our fallen com.
rades with flowers honor to the brave
and gallant heart which conceived the
beautiful thought, and all honor to the
noble people who so universally and ten
derly regard it.


The organization of the Grand Army
Of the Republic is still in its gristle, and
yet sufficient has been developed to show
the world that its objects and purposes
are humane and patriotic, and that in its
proper sphere Of mercy and love, it is en-
titled to aid the and sympathy of all good
citizens. In view then of the high and
exalted position you occupy, and the
frailties of fhuman nature, it becomes you
my comrades, to beware of the seductive
influences of ambitious and designing men
who will endeavor to divert your patrio-
tic institution from its true purposes and
convert it into political engine for their
own personal agrandizement. Let your
aim be to carry out, to its fullest extent,
the objects and purposes of its founders,
which is to provide and care for your dis
abled comrades and the widows and or.
phans of those who have gone they are
your wards, and to you they look, in their
sorrow and distress, to save them from
the chilling frowns and cold charities of
the world. The soldiers of Vermont need
no separate political organization to secure
their rights or protect their influence !;
the people of our State are willing and
anxious to award to them all the honors
and emoluments which they can in modes
ty ask or expect, and it is only necessary
for you to prove in the future. as you
have in the past, that you are worthy of
their generous trust and confidence, to
receive, as you always have, the full and
complete reward for all the tolls and suf-
ferings you so bravely endured. Do this
and your organization shall live, peace
and prosperity will follow in your foot
steps, the gratitude of a generous people
will reward you, the smiles of heaven will
rest upon you, and the widows and or
phans throughout this broad land will
rise up and call you blessed.


Again we meet in this temple of silence
and reconciliation, the holy city of the
dead once more we bring the fragrant
aours of spring time to deck the tombs of
our departed heroes; the day is sacred
and holy, and the memories of this hour
are tender and impressive, and while
standing beneath this genial sky, on this
solemn and consecrated day, overlooking
these broad and we'll cultivated fields,
dressed in the beautiful verdure of vel.
come spring, and now reposing in quiet
beauty around us the lofty peaks Of our
beloved Green Mountains towering up
like giants in the dim distance, and the
honored graves of our fallen comrades
beneath our feet it is with fear and
hesitation that raise my feeble voice to
break the eloquent silence of God and
nature.


One year ago these mounds, in which
our dead comrades sleep, we're strewn
with flowers by pious hands, and watered
by tears from loving eyes, The flowers
you then scattered are withered and gone,
the spring that gave them birth has pass
ed away summer aud autumn and winter,
have come and gone. These sacred
mounds have each been wrapped in its
cold winding sheet OF snow, and the
northern blasts have sung dirges over the
spot which the living had but just desert.
ed.


But amid all these changes nature never
forgets the dead ; but from this universal
decay, brings forth the modest wild flow.
ers, and herself decks their honored graves
with freshness and beauty. How grandly
and beautifully does the time and place
beft the exercises of this occasion how
appropriate that it should take place in
the early spring when nature is out in all
her leafy glory, and we are 80 tenderly
reminded of Gods especial love. as mani.
tested in the majestic works and sublime
beauties of his visible creation; the place
also. is made forever sacred by the
soldiers hallowed dust, and the prayers
and tears Of those who survive them !;
then


Let US gather around and with beautiful roses.


With lovsliest lilies Of varying hue,


Spread them over each mound where q soldier


reposes,


Our tears falling on them like heavens sweet


dew.


And as you 90 forth to scatter your
votive offerings upon the graves of those
who fell in the deadly breach and bloody
charge, forget not yonder honored mound;
the noble form which now lies mouldering
beneath that sod, was not soldier, but
he was " the noblest work of God, A" an
honest man. while every hour of his life,
and every pulsation of his heart, were de-
voted to the service of his country a few
short weeks ago he was with you and of
you, the honorable, upright, trusted, citi.
zen, the kind neighbor, the faithful friend,
the affectionate brother and the loving
husband and father; but death who
" Loves shining mark signal blow;


blow, which, while 1t executes alarms;


And startles thousands with q single fall"
has laid him in the dust he has gone but
being dead he yet speaketh in the shin
ing examnle ha has left hahind him I OF