War Day Memories du lieu suivant : Coffeyville, Kansas • 1

It is for us, the living, rather to he dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under Clod, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of (he people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth Gettysburg Address. Volimin 1 COFFKYVI KANSAS, AlKHJST, 1911. Number then the colors wavered; forward the sergeant fell; Hut another bore them upward bore them steadily and well: Above the loyal columns, at duty's high command, Until a cruel bullet snatched the stan dard from his hand. "Then forward sprang the (''hi- 'To falter is to die! We are almost at the summit!" and wav'-' 'V nvr on And wl ''''grandly greeted the low deseeding sun, A halo shone around it, the victory "Why Brinjr It Up Today." Four wean ears of conlliel. tor the land their va lor hirst Forty more of battle for Fife and home and rest.

I la ve dimmed the eye that glistened along Hie ride's track, And imposed a heavier burden than gun or ha versaek. Hut now and then the Camp 'lire is lighted up anew. And camp and lie hi and battle again appear in view: While in the light and shadow of that heroic strife, They call to mind the glory of a Union soldier's life. So the veterans assemble without, the old command, To look in friendly faces and grasp a com end's hand; To talk of distant peril and deeds of wondrous might, Wrought out through this conviction, "The Union cause to right!" ID was won One night the scattered columns camel together round the- blaze Of the mystic, Magic -Camp-fire as it shone in other days, Where the old hut thrilling story was being told by one Who, though Ihey railed him "Captain," earned the title with a gun. llow strangely memory wakened, ashe talked of other days! Of the Army of the Cumberland, with its persistent ways.

For service always ready: so cjuick the foe to meet! But slow to learn thelesson of "March ing in retreat. He talked ot'Chickamauga, where almost two to one, The rehels found it di.dicult to make the Radgers run. LSf-- The speaker paused a moment. That conllict with the foe Seemed real to the veterans as Forty years ago. And in the glowing camp-lire his comrades seemed to see-That struggle for the Union and the Flag that made us tree.

The vision passed. The speaker, his storv at an end, Looking beyond the circle, couh1 scarcely comprehend How some should care so little and even lightly say, "1 thought the war was over: wny bring it up today?" thoughtless generations! The spirit that would sneer At deeds of noble daring, is horn of selfish fear! Who shares not in the glory of that which made us great, Would be a poor defender of the honor of the State. Far better is the glory of su tiering and strife For the virtues and realities that make the nations life, Than all conceit of wisdom, or pride of rank, or greed, "Without the precious memory of one heroic deed! Then let us tell the story despite the canting phrase That it keeps alive the hatred of those discordant davs. For if the struggle by those who wore the blue, Through every generation, 'tis worth the telling too, HORN 1809 DIED 1365. Hut, comrads, 'twas no picnic to get the colors there, Against that leaden that filled the mountain air! The stall all scarred and broken; the folds so rent and stained.

And then the old fire kindled, as. lift ing up his eyes. Told a sad triumphant story when the He saw the shining bayonets across storm of battled waned. the Eastern skies "No tidings yet from 1 looker-the signal to begin; Hard fighting yet with Sherman the center must go in! And the echo of the order had scaice-ly died away, moving columns overran the ranks of "gray." "The mountain like a monster, flashed defiance from its face! Hut not a comrade faltered in that exalted race. Until upon its summit we raised the honored 11 a g', And our compliments presented to the living All, Hragg.

"The second line was taken and then wo paused to rest Just long enough, to rally before we took the crest, "On Mission Ridge they bristled across the western face. Three lines of steel, beginning along the mountain's base: We heard the guns of Sherman pressing hard the rebel right. And wondered if the center could take the imaged height, And the color-bearer shouted to the comrades pressing near, 'Remember and they answ: red ch.