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THE RED CLOUD CHIEF, RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, PRIDAV, MAY 25, 1894.
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ASLEEP AT HIS POST.
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Copyright, 1P0J, by American TrtM Asiocla-
Hon.
Wltli muffled drums and measured trend
tho little band of brittle marked mid tlmo
scarred veterans honored lieroca of tlio no
bio army thul fought to preserve the Union
marched through tlm cemetery tlint lay
sleeping on tlie southward Moping hillside.
Tho Imlmy breath of nprlngtlmc war In tho
nlr, nnd when they pawed onward, nftcr
pausing nt the Inst resting plnco of somo
dead comrade, tho sweet pcrfiimo of (lowers
rose from tho green grass that grow nbovo
thodc'imited t-oldler's lueast, whiten tiny
flag tho dearly hi ( d red, white and bluo
fluttered beside the marhlu tomhitono.
At length thoyhatlid byuwhlto shaft
that bore the niimu of "John Lorlng," fol
lowed by this straugu Inscription:
Portion Ij itrnntrdMiccnUbo of hla falthftd
tervlco and splendid iccord ns n bravo nnd
loyal soldier. A, Lincoln.
With nslnglo exception every head was
uncovered and bowed as tho flowers nnd
fjAg wcro plnced on the grave. One there
raa nmong them, however, who stood up
stiffly, with hls'cdfd encircled hat unre
raoved from his white head, bin ago lined
faco grnvo and emotionless, ns if carved
from adamant.
hevcr In nil tho years slnco they began
Jtcorntltig that grnvo had Undo Dnn'l
rlutou been known to removo his hat thero
or in any manner hIiow hu mourned for and
honored tho Bleeping comrade with whom
ho had fought almost shoulder to shoulder
In tho Mtnu company. Publicly ho mndo
no explanation of bin singular conduct, nnd
when questioned ho simply shook his bend
nnd looked grimmer than usual. Any other
man of that company would havo received
tho severest ccunuru from his comrades, but
Undo Dan'l wn acknowledged to bo "a
little queer" nnd "strait laced," ho bis net
wits passed over In silence.
Thero were those, however, who hinted
that there bad onco been a feud between
tho two men, and that even death had not
softened thu Tieart of htubboru old Uncle
Dan'l; but, it thin was true, tho facts wore
not public property.
At nil tho other graves wbero tho veter
ans paused and uncovered ho removed his
hat nnd bowed his bend with tho rest, hlu
Brim features softening and something like
tender look creeping Into his eyes, onco so
clenr nnd bright, but now growing dim
with advancing ngo.
Among those gathered at tho cemetery to
watch tho solemn memorial ceremonies was
ft plainly dressed but pretty girl of 18. Sho
was attired in common print, nnd tho shoes
on her feet wcro made for wear instead of
beauty, but nothing could conceal tho
grace of her budding llgure, tho ladyllko
shapeliness of her almost delicate bands,
tho pearly whiteness of her small and even
teeth and thu limpid spnrklo of her clear
blue eye.
There was somethin likonlookof min
gled pride and pain on her face ius she saw
Undo Dnn'l stand up eo ligldlyby John
Lorlng's grave, and she glanced slyly at
manly young fellow a few jenrs older than
herself who stood with his hand on tho bit
of a spirited horse, restlessly tapping tho
tops of bis high bootH with tho riding whip
ho carried. Shobuw thu young fellow was
Watching Undo Dnn'l all the while, biting
his Up and occasionally pulling at his light
mustache.
When nil tho graves bad been visited and
tho ceremoules had been completed, Undo
Dan'l saluted the commander and fell out of
tho company, immediately coming straight
toward tho girl, whoso face brightened ns
ho approached.
"I'm relieved from marchin back to town,
llttlo one," ho bald. Then his eyes fell on
the young lnun In tho riding suit, nnd ho
started a bit, a shadow settling on his face
while ho went on, lifting his voice a trille,
"I'm gettln pmtyold funnaichln, butl'vo
alwusdone my duty In ev'ry campulgn, nnd
I never slept at my post."
Tho young man wheeled suddenly nnd
looked straight at tho old soldier, but Undo
, Dan'l turned his back, still speaking to tho
girl:
"Come, .Tennle, we'll jfn homo now. Them
as don't deserve It has Irccn honored like
them ns do, mid tho decorntiu Ih all over."
Sho took hU arm, and they went slowly
down tho road together, followed bynlong
Inn gazo rem the dark eyes of tho young
Evisnr nn,i war UKrovr.jti:i bavi. osn.
fellow in (ho riding suit, Jennie glanced
back -and saw him looking, Thu color of
ripe bsrrlcs emtio to her cheeks.
Undo Dan'l scow led, but npokc no word,
only qulck'iiiiog his pace somen hat.
4
Jennie Jliluton was tho daughter of Un
do Daii'l'B brother, who died in debt and
left tho girl to bo cared for by tho old sol
dier, who had not cvm a meager penslonto
aid him. Do proved faithful to his trust,
although It was anything but an easy task,
while tlmo mid constnntr.Esoclutlon led htm
tolovo her ns tenderly as if t-ho wcro hU
own child..
They lived alono in tho llttlo old cottage
that stood in a quiet hollow by tho "b.ick
road," tho Isolation of tho place, together
a
'lthUuclo D.iu'1'n hermltliko ways, pro-
IftaWS tuaify ol tho lillghUOra from visit-
ing them. Thclt lives passed peacefully
mid rather inonotlniously, but they corned
content with tli(lPhliinlln lot. nnn.iicntlv
caring little for tiliiKt beyond tho bounds
of their tiny worhl.
On tho night of thin Memorial day Undo
Dan'l nnt by tho open cottage door and
smoked his p!pt, tho light of tho netting
inn showing n troubled look on his face,
whllo .Tetinlo ruuved brlikly nbout tho
room, attending to hrHlght household du
ties nnd humming n. 1. 4F)f iipong.
All at onco tho old nmti removed his pipe,
struck It against tho edge of the chnlr to
knock out tho ashes, htralghttil up nnd
cicnreti ills throat, iipenklng with nn cuort:
"Como here, llttlo one."
Sho approached, n wondering look on her
face, for sho hnw by bin tnnniier ho hnd
Bomcthlng serious to sny. Ho took her hand
nnd pulled her down besldo him. Sho sat
on tho floor, resting her arm on his knee
nnd her head on her nrm, whllo his once
sinewy fingers sought her curls, which the
last slanting bars of sunlight made bright
with a golden tinge.
Tho man hesitated nbout beginning, but
suddenly plunged into bis subject in an
abrupt nnd nwkwnrd munncr.
"You're gettln to bo purty nigh n wom
an now, Jennie, nnd I know It ain't long
before you'll bo thlukln of gettln married.
It's natteral It's natteral. I hope to see yo
tied to bomo good man ero I go to join my
comrades who have been mustered out be
fore me, which tlmo can't bo fur nwny."
"Oh, Uncle Dnu'll" sho cried In genuine
distress. "Please don't talk of that."
"Pvo got to talk of It," wor his stubborn
retort. "Something 1 saw today makes mo
feel it's needful and right. My old eyes
nln't so sharp us they used to be, but they
saw that young Nat I.orlug looking at ye,
llttlo one, In n way that miiiut n pile and
them samu eyes saw ye blush. That's why
I feel It's needful to talk now, for I want to
warn jo ag'in anyone with the Lorlug blood
In his or her body. Kcepclcnr of that young
man, Jennie."
"What havo you ngnlust Nat I.orlng,
unclef"
"He's tho roii of n man who elept nt his
post nnd wns condemned to be shot."
"Dttt wnR pardoned by tho president '!
cause of his faithful service and splendid
record ns n brave nnd loyal soldier.' "
The old man's faco darkened and becamo
still harsher. Ills voice was not steady as
he cried:
"That sounds very well, but let mo tell
yo thero was n wonderful Influence brought
to bear on the president to obtain that par
don, or John I.orlug would havo died tho
death ho deserved. His son Is n chip of tho
old block I Don't let him fool ye, llttlo
glrll Ho has money, but thero Is tienchor
ous blood In hU veins, nnd why should ho
us ho can havo the pick of the young ladles
"sAv you wn.i. MAimr sin, .inssin."
In tho village care for a poor girl like yef
Oh, Jennie, you must see his lovo is not
honest I"
"I think you nro prejudiced ngnlust him,
uncle, as you must bo against his father.
Nanoy Jones told mo you nnd John Lorlng
had trouble over n woman, and"
Undo Dan'l arose quickly to his feet, his
faco working with the anger ho could not
suppress. Clinching his hands, hu literally
grated:
"Nanco Jones Is n busybody n gossip a
meddlln woman! Sho had better mind her
buslnessainl keep her nosoout of other folks'
falls! Mind what I tell ye, Jennie, and
steer clear of Nat I.orlng. If you don't, ye'll
regret It as long as yo live." And then ho
walked out of thu cottage, leaving a dis
mayed and downcast girl behind.
Spring slipped Into summer, nnd tholong
wnrm days of July nnd August passed
away. September anno to turn tho forest
leaves fiom green to brown and crimson.
Tho smaller Ming birds had already depart
ed, nnd In stubblo fields thu robins were
gathering In Hocks preparatory totliu flight
they would soon take to a nilhlerclline. In
tho long dead grass crlcketschlrped mourn
fully, and theru wan a brooding sadness in
tho smoke blue nlr.
Unclu Dnn'l camn to tho cottngu door,
shaded bis eyes with bis hand and gazed
ncroNS tho hollow toward thu spot whero
thu winding stream dlsappeaud into n
grovo that had been touchul here and thero
by tho lurid brush of Jack Prost. Thero
was a troubled look on tho old man's faco
ns ho muttered:
"Wonder why Jennlo goes over there so
often? Sho don't beem liko herself no more;
acts liko hhu had a secrut from mo. I don't
liko It I don't liko It. Sho oughter know
I'm tho best friend she's got in all tho world.
I'm Jest golu over and seu If I kin find her."
With something liko a look of shnine on
his wrinkled fneo liu took n stout cane from
behind thu door. Until that present month
ho had never can led u cane, but n suvero
attack of rheumatism cauio with the first
warning of cold weather ami forced him to
it at last.
Away across the hollow ho slowly trudg
ed, dually reaching tho grove. The sound
of voices camo to his ears, causing him to
halt and lift u shaking hand to his heart,
whllo Ids faco grew gray. Then ho stunt
bled foi ward with alinostfrantiohaste.biid
denly coining upon n young man and it girl,
who were standing besldo a great tree that
grew close by the soft flowing btrvniii.
The young man was holding thu ghl's
hands, speaking earnestly, whllu her head
was bowed and her eyes weru fastened on
thu ground. Thesowero tho words heard
by Unclu D.ui'1:
"Hay joii will nmiry me, Jennie. You
liavu confessed jou lout me. Say you will
marry me, and I will go to your undo and
nsk for jou."
Shuvhook her bond, crying out in a f rlgbt
eued voice: "No, no; you must not do thatl
You don't know Undo Dan'l! Hu has for
bidden mo over speaking to you, mid he
would bo vtry angry If ho know I camo hero
to meet you. I feel guilty and wretched
every tlmo I havo dona m, but I can't lido
it, Nat-I ain't help Itl"
i "What have I overdone tonmkohlm feel
thus toward mo what has hongulnst mof"
cried tho young man.
1 "I'll answer that qucstlonl" broko In
hoarso volcu us Undo Dan'l biiddvnly np
' peared before them. "Yu'ro thu son of a
Hha As fern ot bl duty and slept at bis poffl
rVW&Sw fM Waft
- - .
That's enough fcr Dan'l Urlnton. Jennie,
como here!"
Pale nnd trembling, tho girl left Nat I.or
lng nnd advanced to her uncle's side. JIo
took her hand and drew her close, liU eyes
fastened on tho young man nil tho while, ns
he continued:
"I hov tried to protec' this llttlo Inmb
from yo. I warned her, but yo found n
way to sneak around and knd her Inter de
decelvln tho best friend sho had In thu
world. That's like a I.orlng they'ro de
ceptions." "Thero was no deception Intended, Mr.
Brlnton," protested Nat stanchly. "I was
urging her to let mo go to you and nsk for
her hnnd when you appeared. I was In ear
nest, for I love her."
"Lovo herl Hah, bah, bah I Ikuowtho
kind of blood thero Is In yer veins. It's
treacherous. If yo think yo lovo her to
day, tomorrow ye may think jo lovosomo
other girl."
"My lovo is true. It will never change.
I will marry her today."
"Marry herl" almost shouted Uncle Dnn'l,
his faou now dark as u stonncloud. "You
mnrry my llttlo lnmbl I'd rather seo her
dead nud burled." Then ho almost dragged
tho girl from tho spot, urging her nwny
with passlonnto words nnd earnest entrea
ties. "You may change your mind somoday,
Mr. Urlnton," called Nat.
Tho old man turned to fling back, "Nev
er, sir never, nevcrl" and tho unfortunate
lover was left nlono by thotrystlug treo
nnd tho murmuring brook.
Winter came, and the llttlo cottngo In tho
hollow was nearly burled beneath thodrlfta
of bnow that blew down from tho bills. At
times tho back road was quite abandoned,
leaving the old man and tho girl shut off
from tho rest of tho world.
To make matters worse, I'nclo Dnn'l
wns not very well, for tho time was pnst
when ho could welcome cold wenthir nnd
enjoy it. Still bo wns brave, and bo tried
to bo cheerful for tho snkoof Jennie, whom
ho often saw sitting by thu window where
sho could look out across the hollow to-
I HAH A VISION."
wnrd tho spot whero tho winding brook
now Icebound and buried by mow disap
peared into the grove, a plaintive sadness
in her eyes.
At last the great storm of tho winter
came on. For four days snow fell rtendily,
nnd tho wind howled down from tho hills.
Three days after the storm had ceased Nat
Lorlng cainu down thu back toad on snow
shoes. Hu paused wheie ho could seethe
roof of tho cottage in thu hollow peeping
from a great bank of white. Theiu was no
sign of life about the place, not even u tracu
of smoke rising fiom tho chimney.
With a heavy ftellng of dieml In his
heart, Nat Inn ried down to thu cottngo nnd
Hindu his way round to tho door, agalus
which the snow had dilfted high. Hu rap
ped again and again, the knock being an
swered after a time.
Thu door opened, mid awhile facid ghost
of n girl Mood there, dinging to thu hitch
for support. She taw him, and her lips
moved, hut made no bound. He leaped in
to the room and caught her in his arms
bniely In time to keep her from falling.
"Merciful heaven, Jeunlel" ho gasped.
"What Is it? What has happened?"
"Undo Dan'l-ho Is so ill 1 dated not
leave bint n moment. There mo no matches
iu the house to build n lire."
"And you nro. nearly perished of coldl
This is terrible! Why didn't I como lie
fore?" Ho dtscngngtd his fett from the snow
shoes and ub&lbtid her to n chair u ir tho
bed on which tho blck tnau was lj lug. Iu
a few niouteuU ho had a tiro built iu the
tOTt
Will IW l
"You look hungry, Jennlo. I believe you
nro nearly starved," declared Nat.
"I havo not eaten anything fortwodays,"
was her confession. "Tho only food in tho
house I kept for uncle. Wo nro out of pro
vision"!, and thero was no way of getting
more."
Nut wns horrified. On tho bed the sick
mnn was muttering deliriously of bis nrmy
dnj s. He saw tho visitor, but did not rec
ognize him.
It was late that afternoou when Undo
Dan'l becnmublmself once more, to find tho
village doctor by bis bed, with Jennie nnd
Nat close at hand. Tho old soldier looked
long and steadily nt tho young mnn, and
then ho faintly snid:
"I thought it was n dream, but I seo ye
bnvo reully comu Iu time to bnvo my poor
lamb. I've been an old fool, but" -
"There, there," broko In tho doctor sooth
ingly; "you must not talk now. It will
weaken you."
"Pvo got to talk now, doctor, or never.
I've made my last campaign, nnd I'm goln
to bo mustered out tight nwny. The com
mundcr in chief will soon give mo nil lion
orablu discharge." Then ho turned to Nat
and Jennie, motioning them to uppronch.
When they wero close by tho bed, ho went
on, his voice growing weaker with each
moment:
"I ulwus thought tho ono thing I held
ngaiiibt John Lorlng was that bo slept nt
his post. I thought I bad forgot bo won
tho woman who onco promised to marry
me. But as I lay hero I had it vision that
told mu what u bclllbb, revengeful old
wretch I havo been."
Tho girl's lingers touched his lips, nnd
she whispered entrentliigly, "Hush, undo."
"I can't hush I won't hush," ho gasped,
a bhndow settling on his wenry old fnce.
"Mybtrength Is goln. Nnt, will yo mnr
ry my llttlo one? Will yo lovo nud proteo'
her ns if bho wns yer own life?"
"Heaven knows I will," wns tho reply.
"Then tnko her. Shu'll soon need anoth
er to guard her. I've I've been faithful
to tho end faithful to my duty. 1'vo
stood by my post to tho last, but now
I'm tired and I must sleep."
With tho weeping girl's loving kiss on
his llp, Uncle Dan'l closed bis eyes in that
dreamless slumber that comes when tho
campaign of life is ended.
When nnother Memorial day enmo nround,
tho fading baud of veiVrans found n new
grave on which to plnco u tiny flag nnd frn
graut flowers. Uncle Dnn'l slept not fnr
from w hero John Lorlng was buried, nnd
llttlo Jennie, with her husband nt her side,
dropped it tear for both. But through tho
shadows of her sorrow shone the sunshine
of pel feet love.
(ienrrals of thu Cltlt War.
Tho generals' commissions held nnd re
ceived during tho war or issued nt tho
closowcro us follows: Genornls, 1; lleutcn
nut generals, S; byhruvor, 1. Major gener
als U. H. A., 11; by brevet, 15U. Major
generals U. S. V., 128; by brevet, SB8.
Brigadier generals U. S. A., 00; by bro
vet, 1B7. Brigadier generals U. S. V., GUI;
by brevet, 1,170. Thero wero ulso 8
generals of statu troops iu scrvico of tho
United States In 1801. Thero wero 08 gen
erals killed and 20 mortally wounded In
action, ami (ill died of disease.
Somo of tho prominent names had more
than ono representative leading to confu
sion In reading history at this date. Of tho
naiiiu of Anderson thero wero C, of Baker
4, of Bnrtlett I, Blair 1, Bulls 9, Buford 3,
Butler 2, Cox S, Crittenden 2, Curtlss 2,
D.itls 7, Dodge 2, Doublcday 2, Kwing 0,
t'aliehlld 0, Knrnsworlh il, Poster 1, Pry
!l, (i:rrard 1, tirnham 1, Granger 0, Grant
2, Giecn !l, Gregg !l, Grlllln II, Grovor 2,
Hamilton 1, Hnirleon U, Hatch 2, Hornloy
2, Hays il, Hooker 2, Howard 2, Howo 2,
Humphrey 2, Humphreys 1, Hunt 11, John
sou 7, Jones II, Lyon 2, Mansfield L McCnll
2, MifiM.k fi, Mitchell I, Palfrey 2, Palm
er -I, Patterson fi, Porter -1, Potter f,
l!euo2, Iteynolds il, Itlelmnlsoli 1, Robin
son I, Hu h'II il, Sehollehl il, Sherman 0,
Sickles 2, Mdciiiii 2, .Smith 00, Sunnier 2,
Thoiims 8, Tyler 0, Warren II, Wilcox 2,
Wlllriix I, WINoii 7, Wood 5, Woods C,
Wright 7 and many others.
Gr.omii: L. Kilmer.
Tlie lVrfert Union of I lie. l'renent.
II should lw ruiucmlxTcd thnt thero nev
er was such n eonipleh) union us slnco tho
clvl! wms u union In feeling and In do
blivs, In piirpoMi ua well as In form. In
other yrar, boforo thoslxtles, tho skeleton
of an "Iireprosslblo conflict" wns always
marring ovcry feast; tho siccter of war
was ulwayri waving Its hand overouriuost
pat riot lu nnnlvemiry. Nov; tho past is
burled in tho gravo with Its dead, nud tho
nation goes forth tmuw 11:V, nuw hopes, to
n destiny higher nnd nobler than would
havo been pawlblo under Jho old rcgiuto.
MAY 30.
Rant; out the flag, tho dear old flag, upon the
" outer wall.
I hear ncaln tho flfo's shrill notes, tho buglo!
mellow call.
Onco moro tho veterans fill tho ranks, In flics
not serried, though,
As when they umcked Into tho south sotno
' thirty ) enrifcgo.
1 hear tho sound of marching men, tho tramp
of myriad fret,
Tho steady footfalls echo nil along tho paved
street.
They follow whero "Old Glory" lends, with
solemn step nnd slow,
Not light nnd sprlnto as they marched eomo
thirty tears neo.
Year after year they fewer grow, their ranks
are thinning fast,
And moro grates dot the hillside slopes as
every May goes post,
And gray heads nod along tho lino whero dark
hair uped to grow
When inarching down In Dlxlo's land some
thirty cars ago.
I seem to view ngaln tho scenes when men
w cnt marching forth;
I seem to seo again tho grand uprising of the
north;
I hear again tho echoing cheer, tho plaudits of
tho crowd,
And seo tho boya march to tho front with val
iant mien nnd proud.
I see tho father's brief farewell, tho mother's
fond embrace;
I note tho lover's snd goodby, tho lorn wlfo's
tear stained face;
Tho children's halt bewildered look so suited
to their j cars.
When tinsel nnd display so HI seem causo for
mother's tears.
I hear tho ringing cheers for those who're
marching forth to meet
Honor and fame and victory, porchanco death
or dofcat.
Somo went to meat a shattered Ijfc, with vol
lant hearts and brave,
And some, liko thoso who march today, were
marching toward thp grave,
I seem to seo again arlso tho clouds of sulphur
ous smoke:
I hear again the clanging hoofs, the saber'
vigorous stroke;
I hear tho p-l-n-g of mlnlo balls, tho cannon's
loud mouthed roar,
Tho clash of stoel, tho human yolls, tho fiery
hate of war.
I seo tho bloody pictures mado upon a land
scape green;
I see tho comrades' parohed lips wet from the
satno canteen;
I teo men dlo for other men; I see tho trae and
bravo
Form comradeship and brotherhood that lasts
beyond tho gravo.
I hear again tho battlecry that rang at Mal
vern Hill,
Tho cheer that roso at Bound Top, tho shout
nt Chnnccllorsvlllc;
I bco ngaln the sailor men swoop up through
Mobilo bay;
I see tho sights on Lookout Heights and Alia-
toonn's fray.
I seo tho famous seaward march; I soo the
bummers' foray;
I seo tho tulno at Petersburg burst up with col
umns gory.
Tho panorama passes on, with shriek and yell
nnd rattle,
Tho pandemonium and din and carnage of tho
battle.
Now all goes calmer onco again, and Johnnies
homeward march,
And flags aro waved, and cheers aro given, and
towns their highways arch.
Sweet pence smiles on tho land once more, bat
many snd tears flow
For those w ho staid In Dlxlo's land some thirty
) cars ago.
Tho panorama's passed away; tho years have
sped along;
I bear again tho tramping feet, tho murmur of
tho throng.
'Tls not a gala day parado, nor yet a martial
show,
As when they marched to Dlxlo's land somo
thirty years ago.
Hang out tho ting, tho dear old flag, upon the
outer wall
When bounds again tho shrill toned fife, tho
buglo's mellow cull.
Onco moro tho veterans fill tho ranks and
tramp with footsteps slow
To honor dead who tramped with them somo
thirty years ago.
Thoy hldo no hatred in their hearts for those
who woro tho gray,
But comradeship of bgono years will bind
bravo hearts fur aye.
With thosu who struggled side by sldo frater
nal lovo must grow
As ranks grow thin of thoso who marched somo
thirty years ngo.
IUniiv J. Siieluiax,
The Origin of Memorial Day.
Ah n contribution to tho discussion as
to whero nnd when Memorial dny origi
nated I will quoto from my "war log,"
when I waH Involved with tho fortunes of
tho Army of the Potomac:
Wurronton, Vn,, Jsov. 11, 18C2. Wonr-
rived hero Nov. 8 nnd nro camped back of
tbu town, which is qultu n pretentious city,
with n flno hotel ami lofty courthouse ami
many pleasant residences. There is nn nlr
of desolation around, and thu yellow Hag Is
flying from what wero rebel hospitals, nnd
somo nro yet. A grnveynrd between us nnd
tho town is nearly tilled with tbo graves
of rebel soldiers, which nro frequently dco
orated with wreaths of "immortelles," tho
spirit of tho town being intensely "so
ccsh." G nnd myself hnd n pass on
Monday nnd wero romlndod of this by n
couplo of ladles nnd some gentlemen on a
porch commenting on mul laughing lienrt
ily nt our officers ns they passed by, nud
another couple, ono with black curls very
pretty went by us with n score of wreaths
on their arms to decorate tho gravo of
Borne soldier taking bis rest. I think the
graves nro moro particularly cared for
when wo aro nround, but wo think tho
moro of them for It anyway. Our soldiers
take very llttlo uotlco of such demonstra
tions. A number of shopkeepers tnko both
Confedcrnto nnd Pedernl money. (3. T. In
Washington Star.
i ' ii
MEMORIAL DAY GEMS.
As tho eastern worshiper, before ho en
ters tho precincts of a holy plnco, divests
himself of his workday garments lohtthcy
profauo It with their grossness, so should
wo leuvo behind us thopnsslnnsnud preju
dices of our dally lives as wi appro.udi tbo
tombs of tho mighty dead of our republic,
l'heso nro tho shrines of American patriot
ism. John S. Wise.
Bury hnte, bullish strife, keep nllvo lovo
snd hope, and under tho flag of our Union
nud that banner on which is inscribed
"Fraternity, Charity nnd Loyalty" lot us
march on to that greater and grander des
tiny which should bo tho frultugu of tho
tears and b!(oU of our generation, nnd of
tho million horoos whoso n cinory wo honor
by tho beautiful ceremonies of Memorial
Jay. J. II. DavliUon.
Tho Holds whero Ho burled tho hemes of
tho btrugglo for tho preservation of tho
Union nro moro than cemeteries. Thoy nro
lardcns of glory where bhall blossom ett'r
sally the most ipluudld flown of patrloV-
- OUR NATURAL CEMETERIES.' ",
Fame's Eternal Camping tirniinrt, Where
Sleep Our Rotdter Iad.
Eighty-three national cornelcrius, wl'crcln.
130,700 soldiers faro sleeping their lint lor,i)
Bleep, havo bcrfn csUibllshcd within tho
boundaries of tho United Stati. The lay
ing, out of these great gardens of graves
Olid tnnlntnlulcj them In such a way as tcv
descrvotbls latter nppellatlon havo cost tho.
nation a sum of money lnrgo enough to dis
prove, nt least inamicnsurc, the old tlmo
saying that "republics nro ungrateful."
But tho money thnt has been expended to
properly mnrk and ndorn tho resting places
of tho bravo men who died that thu natlon
might llvo Is not and has not been expend
ed grudgingly. It has been paid out freely
as tho last and only possible tribute to tho
memory of men as bravo ns ever lived, nnd
who fought for homo nnd liberty. Iu thus
commemorating tho deeds of her common
soldiers theUnlted States is quite unrivaled
by any other nation, ancient or modern.
ThU noblo work could not have been ac
complished but for wise nud patriotic fore
sight exercised almost at the beginning of
M
raw
1
'1-
ESTOANCE TO AltLINaTON HEIGHTS CCIIH
TE11V. J
tho war. In September, 1601, the secretary
of war issued nn order to the effect that
accurate nnd permanent records bo kept as
to all deceased Union soldiers, nnd this or
der was at once followed by tho Issuing ot
blank forms through tho quartermaster's
department to hospital surgeons nud all
others who could use them. On tho battle
fields when tho Federal troops wcro victo
rious great care wns taken to bury tho dead
In such a way that each grnvo could bp
marked, and headboards provided by the
general quartermaster wcro set up. Only,
on fields where the Confederates won were
tho dead buried without marking thOj
graves. Soldiers who survived tho south
ern prisons in many lnstunces marked the;
graves ot their comrades who died, audi
records wero kept everywhere It was possl-!
ble to do so, so that tho mortuary tccords
of the great civil contest exceed anything
elso of tho camo nnturo in tho world. '
It wns in the second year of tho war that
congress authorized tho president to pur
chase grounds and have thorn prepared fot
soldiers' cemeteries. Tho next year suoh.
graveyards wero dedicated at Chattanooga.
Stone River and Gettysburg. It was at tho
dedication of the last named of these threo
that President Lincoln delivered that ad
dress which, spoken modestly ns It was, did
not then attract tho attention of its hear
ers as anything greatly out of tho ordinary,
but which, when it was telegraphed over
tho land and read in tho newspapers, speed
ily took high rank among notublo spoken
passages and has ejneo been accorded a
place among classic orations. The national
cemetery at Arlington was laid out iu 1804,
that at Antlctam In 1805. '
Iu pursunnco of tho general plan of 1805,
17 cemeteries were established in Virginia,
7 in Tennessee, 0 in Kentucky, 4 iu North
Carolina, 4 in Louisiana, 3 in Mississippi, 8
in Maryland, 3 in South Carolina, 3 in
Georgia and 2 in the District of Columbia.
In tbo north and west 4 wero established in
Illinois, 8 in Missouri, 2 in Indiana, 1 in
Iowa, 3 in Pennsylvania, 3 in New York
and 3 in New Jersey. In many places bo
sides tbesa the govornmont has purchased
small plots of ground where n few soldiers
Ho, and several cemeteries contain govern
ment plots wherein tho bodies of Confcd- .
erates who died a Federal prUons are '
buried. Less than onc-flfth of tho entire
number whose graves nro now marked nnd
tenderly cared for Ho whero they wcro first
luterred. ,
Fivoof tho nationnl cemeteries contain
tbo bodies ot United States soldiers who
fell in other wars than the strugglo for the
Union. One of tho most notable is near the
City of Mexico. Another Is Iu Montana. In
tho latter Ho the bodies ot 018 regulars, in
cluding tbo 800 bravo men who wero massa
cred with Ouster by the redskins, i
It is a thing that every American may be
proud of that all these cemeteries nro kept
In superb condition. Tho cemetery nt Ar
lington heights, nenr Washington, is the
most beautiful nnd contains tho largest
number of graves of identified (lend. The
totnl number of Interments there is 10,r35, of
which but 4,810 nro of unidentified soldiers.
Tho first soldier burled there wns a Con
federate, on May 13, 1 804. '
The gravo of Sheridan is a striking fea
ture of the Arlington cemetery, whero havo
also been gathered tho bodies of most ot
thoso who fell at Bull Bun, Chaiitilly nnd
other battlefields in tho vicinity. A massive
monument of sarcophagus form, marking
tho bodies of 2,111 unknown soldiers, at
tracts much attention, as does also tue icm-
ENTRANCE TO MIILOH CHMnTnUV.
plo of Fame, a clrculnr structure composed
3f eight columns surmounted by a dome.
Tho columns nro marked by thu names ot
Washington, Lincoln, Grant. Fartngut,
Humphreys, Iteynolds, Gnrllcld, Thomas
md Meade. ,
Tho cemetery nt Gettysburg, with Its nu
merous monuments nud Its 0,92 tablets;
:bose nt Shlloh, with 0,507; Vlckbburg,
n-lth 10,033 (3,013 Identified nnd 12,720 mil
lentlflcd); Fredericksburg, with l.ViTl.of
ivhlcli 13,780 nro unknown; Nashville, with
iO.MO; Salisbury, N. C, with 12,1 iff, of
A-bich only 103 aro known; Memphis, with
13,084; Andersonvllle, with 10,70'.',all Idcntl-
led but MOjCliuttunoogii, with I0,l..3-nU
Ihu national cemeteries are, lu fact, Inter
luting, especially nt this time, and all ro
:elvo alike tho attention of thu government.
L'ho number of Confedcrnto soldiers' graves
to cared for is of course much smaller than
die number of Uulou soldiers' graves, but
, they nro as carefully loaded nud wutchvd
J tsthe others. d
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