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DEDICATION

  Soldiers’ Monument,  

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BY Ronmnrr 'PECK1'-IAM,‘~AGED 83 Y1+:dA;1a2s§;.,A

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‘ V Mww ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
 V This 1°oem*13.%founcLed on the history of the countryfrom the landing % “
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A’   PUBLISHEDTBY AUTHOR.

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%Ded'£o*ated “to stlw « Friends  the fallen Solldieks. in the late war, 
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 868  

  

EXORDIUM.

This Anniversary of our Nataional. life,

Which was gained by seven years most bloody strife;
"We have met to celebrate  the day of our birth,
Our aeyhievement: of f'1-eedom here to set f'orth.
Though when we had broken that hard foreign yoke,
And cast off‘ its hands with a determined stroke,

A ‘foe in our :midstdid destroy our fair hope, A

Which proved more tyrannic than the hard British yoke :

This foe like a serpent coiled around the State,

And instead of freecldin brought malice and hate;

To destroy this n1onster was a struggle for yeare,
Which kept the country together by the ears.

At length its friends with design to save rite life;

Had a four years War of cruel, bitter strife. i
Themeans they had taken to preee"rve this fouls beast,
Proved its dissolution and the Oou11t1-y’isre1ease.
Those who were rslainwho went from this town,;.
Have their names placed on this chaste granite Stone,
To dedicate which is the design of this meeting.

Then toall here present we tender our greeting.
Feeling grieved when we think how many were ‘slain,
But rejoicing their valorour cause did maintain.
What comes, a synopsis of our National past,

From its first dawn, down to Andrew the last.

POEM FOR DEDICATION.

.._.......- .___;__

From eastern shores our fathers came,
To settle this our wide domain; y

  T They left their homes that they might be
In conscience and in mind more free;
From oppressive laws too hard to bear,
Which were made and executed there:
flaws that were based upon the plan
To disannul the rights of man ;
The right to serve their Saviour God,

  As they received His holy word.

’ They left all Worldly things behind,
For this mostyprecious joy to find." T
On Plymouthrock they all were landed,
In holiest, firmest compact banded,

‘WTO form a State, the rule should be,
That all in conscience should be free 5
The God and Saviour they adored,

T « Should be theirloved and sovereign Lord;  r
. They would obey and seek His care, A

Assured that God does answer prayer.
New this smallband, about five score,
Thus landed on this bleak coldrshore,  T
Took root ‘and spread to such extent, it
That they’ve o’erspread the continent.
T They had grown rich and high in stat"egm,

And had the nameof a great nation. 

4

Now another band from the same shore,
Had gone more south some time before,
Akl1C-l.i,Sel3tle(ll.—-—'l3l1€3lI' aim was to get gold ;.
Forthis Humanity was bought and sold.
This traffic gained a wide domain,

Until 2. Revolution came.

The Father-land thought they had right
To make all slaves, both black and white.

This did arouse the country’s mettle,

"Till they in arms the cause did settle.
Then did the Puritan and Cavalier,
Becorne good friends, as it will appear,
To fight the power of old John Bull,
Whose tyrannic way was at its full.

The Cavaliers had in England borne sway,
Since Oliver Cro1:nwell’s puritan day ;

e For he had conquered proud Charles the First,
With the loss of whose head their power was crushed,

Cromwellreigned twelve years as LordProteictor,
His feeble son, too,of greatness no reflector.
The Nobles were fearful the Plebeian race,
Might rise, and fill some honorable place; i

A To crush outtheir hopes, and keepthe poor down,
a They decided to bring backKing Charles’ son;

He being seated on the throne of his father,

There was soon, persecution, murder and slaughter.
The best blood of England was made now toflow,
Tyranny was rampant, the people brought low.

A Thus did the Cavaliers gain back their power,
C _And by oppression have held to this hour.

Here may be a reason for their aiding the South,

l And trying so hard, tobreak down the North.

’Twas their dear friends Cavaliers, born to command,

A A A Whom theydid esteempas the elite of the land.

5..

‘Twas the ruling powers that were our foes,
Most of the people did espouse ourcause.

Let us now turn back to that most solemn hour
When our feebleStates had to fight a great power.
But they trusted in God, whose power and might.
Would he their succor in the unequal fight. V
To help their cause in the sight of just heaven,
They declared to all their rights should be given,
All men, under Gold, had right to be free,

And they now proclaimed that so it should be;
Such views at the North were deemed a power,
And all were made free from that glad hour. a
The South still clinging to their former plan,
Most wickedly enslaved their fellow-man.

In this they were greatly helped from the N orth,
By persons in league with the shameless South.
So allmen who ruled o’er this western nation,

a Were chosen to aid this wicked relation.

Those who sought oflice had never e chance,
Unless their views were known in advance,

That man had a right to the unpaid toil,

Of all he wish’d to work on his soil.

Laws were oft made‘ to helpthc oppressor, y A
Whilst the down-trodden slave had no redressor;
Yet there were a few‘ of the plebeian race,

Who taught that Slavery was ‘a wicked? disgrace;
These were derided by high and hylow, A
Were often scourg’d and imprisoned too.

But though they were hated, yet it was plain
That their doctrine had a continual gain. T

The North became chang’d in politicalaim,
A Broke old party‘ ties, took Republicanname;
T A” name which importedthat all should be free,
’ Enjoying alike their true liberty. T is T *

6,
For their choice of i President,‘Fremont was selected,

But imbecile Buchanan was elected. A
He. gave the South their wish’d for preparation,

By an official stealing of’ arms from. the nation.

So that, if by chance the Republican succeed

In the next choice, they’ll be ready to secede. T
Having stolen arms as theythought enough, ‘

To Whipall this cowardly puritan stuff,

They deem’d themselves strong and in a high station,
And would either rule or break down the nation,

So that, if the North did not to them accede,

They were determined at once to secede.

Now at the next Presidential choice,

In which the ‘States all had a voice, T

Abraham“ Lincoln was fairly elected.

This brought the South to the course they’d selected,
For he was no friend to S1avery’s cause

Nor would he give aid in maintaining its laws. A

It might‘ remain where it was in itsglory, 7 t

But not spread farther “in newterritory. I

These fiery men scorn’d this degra'dation,*

So carried out their league to destroy the nation.
Then rashly, Fort Sumpter they fired upon, i i
And thus the Rebellion was fairly begun.

The North, unprepared, were forc’d to the strife,
As all were at stake, even Nationallife. =

The Rebs were elated and proudly did boast,
That few, of their number could scatter our hosts.
Those at the North became more united,

 

..,edging theirall till each Wrongshould" be righted. T

They were ready to march atthe word of command,
To rescue our nation‘ from treason’s foul hand. . 
Our ovvnbrave State was foremostt to go,‘ 4 A

 And at word of command,“ strikethe"trfirstibloW.~5

 

 

'7

r In Westminster, all hearts beat for the right;
And our brave boys started quick for the fight.
They had a desire to give their best aid, A
And to meet thefoe they were never afraid;
Yet many. of our boys have lost their life,

In facing this wicked, rebellions strife.

This Stone is raised to tell the story

Of those who fell; and to speak their glory.
Some were shot down in heatof battle, "
Inthe smoke and roar of cannon”s rattle;
Where shells were flying and bursting around,
While horses and men were strewing the ground.
I-Ieartnrencling indeed mustbe the sad sight,

~ To see such dead heaps at every fight,

Not only the dead, but wounded ones too,
Promiscuously lying, brought toonr view.

Thus our sons and our brothers were scatteredearound A

Whilst their bloodiwa-s flowing to fatten the ground.
Some that were maim"’d have returned to their home.
With the loss of an arm or perhaps an arm bone.
Such limb, made useless, hangs dangling around; i
N o remedy for it, as yet,lias been found.  A

' Some took disease from the foul prison air,

And some from the food of which they did share,
Once more coming home in hopes to amend,
Have sunk swiftly down ‘till life had an end.
Some dying in hospitals, of sickness or wounds,
Have been brought home to lie in our grounds.
But there. was a class, whose deplorable state

A Fills me with griefitheir cause to relate. ._   it “ “

Tliesewere the prisoners taken in battle, . l   
And put intopens. like herds of’ cattle; M
There without shelter from a burning sun, A A

t ‘Whose scorching rays they could not shun;

  

8

At night the éiewy ground their beef,

With swine’s food in small pittance fecl.
At Andersonville in Georgia State, ’ A
Thirteen‘ thousand met their cruel fate.
These brave young men who fe~ar"cl no fee ~
In open fight, were thus brought low,

By acts of cruelty and starvation,
Disgracefnl to a. barbarozts nation.
ThoA,AseAacts of ontrage and of spite, A

To those whodid our battles figlltm

But who, by chance, fell in their liands,

No clonbt came thus by J e-ff’s cominanclsa.
He, of all, was the great arch-traitor,

And was the poor mar1"s freedom hater;
Whom the Rebs had matte their highest chief;
Knowing his feelings and belief; i

 was 9. Cataline at heart,

And Would? to all snch views impart,
They sought for this his elevation, V

i That he might thus destroy the nation; a

He would break clown with his Aown hanci,

A The Magma Char-ta of the ‘land!’

Like Hiaman heel a. Wratthfnl brow,

For at who woulamot to him bow ;.

And if no gallows he “eonaldr see,

Woulci haveithern hung on branch or tree-..
Those iof‘the;So11«thi who‘ lov"d the nation,

Generally had this elevation; A
i Afndilionr men ‘that h«elia& ta1‘<en~,“ _ l
A A  treated as if Giod-forsaken ;.A l

 scanty food so mean and coarse, i it
It wasnot fit for swine or horse. ‘ A A
Thusinithis pen theyallmust lie, r j it

And by starvation most would die 5

 

A s

They boasting they could take more life
In this Way, than by deadly strife. V
They barbarous followed in the Wake
Of Indian, scalping those they take.
Such treatment to those in their hands,
With mean cowardice truly it brands;
For the brave will not be cruel to those,
‘-Whom they have taken captive from their foes ;
They’ll use them kindly with bread and meat,
And give them quite enough to eat; "’ t
if they are sick the Doctor is there
To heal them by his constant care.
At all the prisons in each rebel State,
Hunger pr-ov"dto be the prisonersitfate. r
But at Andersonville most did die, ”
And in their trenches ow do lie.‘
Amongst the names upon this stone,
Is one who died there, the writers son; A
His name with others can now be read, a  
As one amongst the starved dead.   a
‘With pain and grief I must relate it,
But as a specimen It would state it;
For the great number who died there,
Did like my son, starvation share.
It was here John Howe did meethis fate,
As this memorial stone does relate.
Now all such treatment will turn out,
Toinjure those who brought it about; 
For all kindness shown to acaptive foe, 
Heaveu”’s blessings will to the actor flow; ,
A Now whenthe prophet Elijah had led   it V
The Syrian host to his king,  ~ i 2 » A A it
He commandedvthat they should be fed, a
As being the most noble thing.     

   

10

This had the desired effect
Upon Israelis enemies’ hosts,
For Syria did no “more collect
A force toinvadle Israel’s coasts.
Thus the brave in their kindness succeed,
For God grants his blessing on those;
But“ the cowardly cruel in deed,
Will be trampled down by their foes. A
Many; felt that our blows were too tender,
To succeed when the Slave helped the foe,
The only way to make them surrender,
Was With the sword to cut Slavery in two“.
Forslavery was felt the only reason
Of all this-avast rebellious treason; T
To kill the monster, then, outright,
Would be the means to stop the fight.
This many persons well did see A 
That every slave should be set free ;;
Not for their benefit alone, \
But that the Rebels be o’erthrown, T
Charles Sumner us’d his powerfal aid‘,
With President Lincoln, to invade

With Proclamation this foul stain; A W
i That our country might be one again. A

That weyfrom strife beset quite free,

it And all enjoy their liberty. 
This proclamation most ‘did receive=
W With joy, as it would fully relieve

The down-troddenandtheioppressed;  T

; With faith-ourcausewould; nowigbe blestr, W A

This prov’dthe— oase,Hsi'nce from that time,  J i ~

The Rebel cause dyyidsmuch idyeclinle.» 

. Our Greneralsyyg changedfrom bad to o«o.a,r it ‘ * r i it -

T In high elevation iiouraarmiesy. risitooid   y‘

 

 

11

They fought more earnest as they could see
Theirnaim was to make all nienfree.

V The effect of this kind demonstration,  

Was deeply felt o‘erall the nation ;
And to all who lov’dva righteous deed,
They felt as from a cancer freed;  

~ The South still  more bitter spite, T

And felt more zealous the North to fight ;

To hold their slaves with a firmer hand;

But they their rights began to understand.
They would ‘seek our armies to protect this right,
And then forthe Union werewilling to fight.
The Slaves «thus enlisteon our side, A i
For to fight in our cause they had a pride,
For it would raise them from their degradation,
And make them men in a higher station.

Then no man living they could reckon, A

So good a friend as Master Lincoln;

M Who in their cause did interpose, T

And free them from their bitterest foes.

This blow now struck at their corner-stone,
Would cause the structure to fall down. A A
But for outward props theysought an alliance
With foreign powers as a great reliance;

To give them aid thatthey might well defend,
The wicked cause of slavery to the bittervencl.

Thus they invoked John iBul1”smolst willing power, ‘

To aid them on the North their spite to shower.

; A The Queen tostart with, declared aneutrality,
, Putting the Rebels and Patriots on equality;

The wish nodoubt was fatherto theaim,   T
In helping to divide our wide domain.‘

A The Throne of England had aijealiouslfear, it  
A Of ourincreasing 7po:werifrom year to year, '  '

 

12

And if by chance therltebels should succeed,

It would be to John a most welcome deed.

The Subjects thus well knew the Royal feeling,
And then with Rebels open’d shop for dealing; r p
They dealt ‘out to them coin without any stint,  

As though theS‘ubject was owner of the mint.‘

They took their Bonds for monw or for cotton,
Which they may keep until they are‘ forgotten.

. Mason, of Virginia was sent an Envoy there,

49

Warlike ships were built for Rebel use,

With B1'it-is-l1 sailors on our ships to cruise.
The Alabama, for Captain Semmeswas made,
That he upon our commerce mightinvade ; .
With this ship did roam the ocean o’er,
Destroying our craft by the many score.

Our war vessels had long been in search

Of the Alabama with its piratical wretch;

At length Captain Winslow found him in port,
On the French coast, where he had kind resort,
Offered him battle with his noble ship.

And he had justthe talent such business to prepare.

‘ Semmes did accept, sure Winslow he could whip.
When Semmes came out a British craft did follow, ‘
To give him aid if he should come to sorrow. 

The Alabama sunk in this wild commotion ;

i Sernmes and his crew were floating inthe ocean.
. , Winslow was active his lawful spoils to save,
. From their agoingrrdown into a watery grave. T

The Britishacraft would aid to save the crew,

it Having picked up Semmes, and others, then withdrew ”

Then sailing straightto his hrome-bound rest,

TheycherishedSemmes astheir most noble guest. A

It is said that fortune follows the brave; , T
Then the reverse will be the lot of the knave;.yw r

13

Thus it prov’cl true to John Bull and others,

For they lost their aim on these seaward robbers.
Had they been brave and done what was right,
They would have been clear in aiding this fight.
But While they were zealous in driving the wedge,
To divide our country with their greatBenker’s sledge
It has turned out to be at their own cost,

For their money, cherncterencl all they’ve lost.
Onthe otherside the Channel, at the Frencl1men’sl1on1e
They were anxious in our trouble to get :1 bone.
Bonaparte thought to him it was he chance,

In our trouble, his dominions to advance ; T
Helookeclecross tlieocenn for 3. piece to strike the blow,
He saw the vecilleting power of feeble Mexico;
This country he would conquer, put 21, king upon its

throne, '

“Who to himwould be a. vessel and liie mighty povv’r own.

This divided country thus fell into his hands,
Mexi1nilien on the throne, he then vvithdrevv his bands.
A hostile povverwes left which gained day by day,

  This did o’erthrovv the king and take his power away.

He was tried and shot, thus ended his ‘toil,

And all French power on A1neri‘ce.11 soil.

It is one thing for l3cneperte to uphold the Pope, A
Where tyranny, with ignorance, have n. fulliscope 3

But to meddle where freedom and intelligence dwell,

Has teught him 3. lesson that may last him u spell.
The Monroedoctrine, ell can comprehend, .
Is to keep Foreignpowersfrom ‘America.n lend.
Let us now turn beck, endlook once more
Over the ground vve’ve gone before; A

. For there is much that is left behind, T T A T,

And see What will be brought to mind.

T p A. General Scott first had the command

14

Over all the armies in our land. .

He had been brave, faithful and true A

To what the country Wished him to do ; T T

But his great age had so enfeebled his mind,
That from his high station he soon resigned. r . 
Then did McClellan‘ have his high post,

Who it was thought would equal a host.

He was esteemed to be great to command ;
Would soon beat the Rebels all over the land ;
He would soon show in his military art,

That he Was’nt second to old Bonaparte.

The country felt the place was well filled,

For his great army was nobly drilled.

But when he had orders to march to the fight,

_ He would give in reply that something Want right.
_ T His men must be clothed, or they could not go,

Orhis, army too small to conquer the foe ;
He Would magnify the rebs a great host,

A When his own. army was truly the most.

Thus he did linger in striking a blow,
’Till the foe could collect and fortify too.
When he was urged and began to fight,

T s The Rebs We_re- prepared, and put him to flight.

He in‘ is battles quite often had defeat,
Showing hisskill was greatest in retreat.

4 Now, ?when the President took up his case,

Andfrom his position gave him release,
Then Pope and l3urnsidehad the sameplace,
And fighting Joe Hooker each run his race.
But in the rstruggleT of all these three,

H. N one luwereqqaqble to grapple with Lee. ; A

Old Abe look’d around, and feeling a, Want, A a
To fill the high place, took General. Grant. T
Grant took his army close to the foe,

15%

And like a Bull dog held on them so,  

His men the foe did almost entwine,

Whilst he declar’d he’d fight on that line.
Richmond was the place of the great resort,
Where Jeff. and associates held their high court,
It was this place Grant was determined to take
And thus the rebellion terribly shake.

Lee keptshis ground While he could stay,
Andthen with his men they all ran away;
Grant folloW’d hard and in a fair fight,

He conquered the foe to the country’s delight.
Now when J eff. found all was defeat, a A
Himself was in danger, beat a retreat;

But that he might be exposed the less, T

He abandon’d his own and tool: his wife’s dress.
Thus in female attire with his wife and friends
He flies from his place, and his power thus ends.
But the country Wish’d not to forsake him,
Andso a bounty was o1’fer’d to take him;

He was found with his petticoats en, T A

Thus he was talazentr and hurried along.‘

They placed him in old Fortress Monroe,

And ‘thus J eff. Davis was brought very low.
Yet though in our prison his diet was good,

He having a plentyiof eeccellent food.

Make a contrast of our noble. younglamen, .r
When they were co'op’d in his foul prison pen, if

Where they had doled out the meanest of fodder, T

To sacrifice them by his cowardlyorder. A l
Has not justice call’d 'butcall’d‘in vain,
That he shouldbe dealt withfor these slain?

By such cruelagonijes of starvation, i

That malsresfone shudder at the relation.
Say not he’s~a gireatrman and held a thigh station,

16

And so must be honor’d by all of the nation;

He must not be dealt with like one in low place,
For that would his honorable greatness deface.

O1 shame on such mean thoughts looking on men,
Because of the trappings that may surround them.
It is not the station, the wealth or the power,

That has a claim on our hearts, or incense to shower,
In God’s Word we are told how the rich and the great,
Are often fill’d» with malice, envy and hate.

’TWas Herod the Great that made mothers to weep,
By slaying their infant sons like flocks of sheep.
For his jealousy pointed to arrival there,‘

Who he fear’d would seek his throne to share.
What his fears thus pictur’d malice would defeat,
Though the blood of innocence should fill the street.
Man may have improv’d in the outward life,

So that in society there is less strife.

Yet the natural heart is alike in all,

And so it has been ever since the fall ; c

For “as in water face . answereth face, a

So the heartof many to man” in his place.

But here clos’d along and tedious strife,

, Which cost the countrymuch treasure and life.

For all the RebellG‘renerals had submitted to be A
In the same category rwithGeneral Lee,
Then the fierce battles, the clank of war vvasnot,

And in our land the Temple of T Janus shut.

All look’d as though a peaceful calm would be,

As the South wererhumble, and all ‘men made free. 

But alas! our hopes were scattered into air,

. Byavvhirlwindthat made the World to stare A

Thus a great calamity I must here relate,
That fill’cl with mourning e‘v’ry free state 

 It came likea thunder-clap fwm a clear sky,

17

Or the whirlwind that caus’d all Job’s sons to die.
This was no less than the assassination

Of our President, the head of the nation;

That noble man, our good Mr. Lincoln,

Of Whom all Patriots delighted to think on.

There was a plot to strike a foul blow, a

To lay all the heads of government“ low ;,

T For each member a vile fee was appointed,

But in this plot they fai1’d to be united.

To bring Mr. Lincoln within their base plan,

He must go to the play, and Booth was theman
To fire the bullet right through his head,

That he might be sure to leave him quite dead.
When this gross act he had brought about,

The villain had got to make his was out;

To do it most speedy, he had to jump down ;

His spur caught a curtain and broke a leg bone.
Thus justice at once began to effect him,

Which proved the means soon to detect him.
Tho’ he eseap’d for a While in horrid despair,

He was traeid to a barn, and he was shotthere.
Thus it is often prov’d God’s Wrath is not slow
To strike down the villain who strikes a vile blow.

A For Lincoln they mourn, as the noble and brave,
A second Washington, his country did save.

He carried us through this terrible strife,

And then atits close, he lost his Ownlife.

In the Whole course of his Administration, T

It required at great eflbrt to save the Nation.
His mind it vvasthought, was often too slow, i
But whenit was fixed,,wou1cl never let go,

He scanned allhis measures, andtook the best Way,

As resaltscrlearly prove, up to vythisday. ,

He was brave, conscientious, noble andkind, A A A A

  18

Trusting in God, he had a calm mind.

It was in the Saviour hehad found peace, a
And from the dread of the future had a release.
His love to his God made his heart tender,

And for man and his country cal noble defender.
Though strictly just,‘ was mild and gentle,

To friend and foe alwaysseem’d parental.

As has been said of some great man,

“ We shall hardly look on his like again.”

His deathto the nation is not only a loss, . i
But has proved to be a terrible cross,

For it brought Johnson, next in command,

To be the President over the land.

When he for this office had taken the oath

It appeared he was a good friend of the Worth;
For to all that ca1l’cl on him, and many there Was,
He declar’d he’d sustain the country’s cause--—

That he would be active andin good season,

 

To punish the leaders in this vile treason ;

He would make them feel how bitter their cause
To be such traitors to National laws 5

They should feel the effect of his strong hand,
In the confiscation ofrtheir land;

Dividing up each great plantation

~= “ To give the poor a good “home station.

Thus he gave utterance to each and to all,

' Who to learnhis views did on him call._

But alas, his Word has proved but naught, .
For in a short time he turned about,

Showing he was false to all his professions,
And giving fthelie to thesenobleexpressions, it
For instead of punishingthese vile men,

Has granted pardons to the Worst of them.
Thishe has done for all that didapply,

19

Without requiring a good reason why,

He adopted la policy he called his own,

To restore to citizenship‘ each mother’s son;

He would ask from them no repentance or aim; ,
But all might this prerogative claim.

What made such a change in J ohnson’s mind?
At first so patriotic, so wise and refined ;

Was it not a gilding from his predecessor,

That soon were off and left the old transgressor?
Jeff Davis was kept at Fortress Monroe,

But now they have let this arch-traitor go.

They took a bond of ten men to pay. A
One hundred thousand if he ran away.

But now they’ve released these men from their borrai.
So they’1l getnothing if he should abscond.

' Thus every promise to punish vile treason,

Has flown to the winds without any reason.
On Congress alonerwe have had to depend,
To save the nation, itsrights to defend,
Against wild schism in this darkest hour, a
The one man policy and the veto power;   i

i Which Johnson often used on the laws they mad;

But they as often passed them over his head;
So that his policy has no solid foundation,

it For his power is check-matedfor to save the natiam,

It was expected Congress would impeach him
When they met, as soon as they could, reach him,
For the committee that did on his case preside,

, Reported he ought to be set aside.

But Congressdecided it would hardly pay a v
To try, him, as he had but a year for to stay.

' So they lethim‘ goon, to fill up his race,

Whilst they hold the reins to keep him in placee.  A

so

I hope this will teach conventions a lesson,
That they may in selection use more discretion. if
Johnson now felt that HE was a POWER

Which did make Congress and others to cower,
Now he could go on with his tyrannic sway,
And rule o’er the country in his own way.

For Congress had shown such fear of his station,
Lest impeachment should embroil the nation 5
Then the party that had given him the seat,
Might be broken up with a sad defeat.

Thus feeling, he tool: an obstinate stand,

T Not to execute all laws of the land.  

For Congress was only a rump in position,
Their acts did not bind hlllil in that condition,
Being chosen when the land was in twain,

All their proceedings in law was in vain.

He did not reflect upon his own case,

That he was elected the same to his place.
Only less legal to agree withhis view,

For his home is amongst the, secession crew.
Ungratefulyfor favors on him conferred, A

His whole demeanor has been most absurd.
Now Congress is firm to stop his rash course, A
For he has been daily growing much worse. C
The Secretary of War he ordered to leave,

For to General Thomas his place he would give.
Stanton had rights by the Senate conferred,
Which made J ohnson’s Cacti wrong and absurd. T
The House for impeachment then did decide,
And beforepthe Senate his éasewillbe tried.
The Clerk called him then for to draw nan,  
To answer for what thendid ‘appea r, if T

A As acts unlawful and contumacious, .

 :ji’;';;!"a?:_“;:%n<.?:z,«~_u_. _ =

21'

And words which seemed to be audacious.

To all this he replies in a very long yarn.

To them or the country he’d never done harm,
He had done nothing bad or unlawful,

‘Or used words which were deemed so awful.

He had only used the right of each citizen,
Toward Congress, to use his just criticism.
Ifle asked for more time forty days and nights,
That he inight defend his Presidential rights.
Law made him the head of the llational arms‘,

But his wheels were so blocked he felt some alarm.

Against all his views an opposition led,

And all his vetoes were passed o’er his head.
He was sure he meant to do r'igl1t in all cases,
But he would not draw in Coiigressional traces.
Thus they accused, him of the gravest of sin, A
And trying their best to decapitate him.

Chief Justice Chase is the one to preside A
Over the Court while Johnson is tried.

He was formerlya Republican Senator,

But has now become a Judicial Mentor.

He deemed that the right to him did attain,
What facts to admit and law to explain.

The triers alone had power to prevent,

“ But the prosecutors no right to dissent.

Thus formed, this tribunal slowly moves on,"
We hope with design not to cover up wrong.
General Butlerdid well open this case.
Comparing each item with John:son’s vile race.
The witnesses proved "each specification true,
In his unlawful acts, and vile speeches too.
Towards this great trial the country does turn,
With anxious feelingsits result for to learn 3% r A

22

With a trembling hope that the final ‘decision S
Will put Johnson back to a huxnble condition,

For his course in this highest political place,

Was to elevate traitors to the nation’s disgrace.
Should he be acquitted the country will mourn,
And those who should do it be held up to scorn.
Thus feeling, being. near we hope to the end,

Our hopes and fears do alternately blend.

Should our hope he fruition We then should rejoice,

Andilin grateful emotion praise God with glad voice.

We should hope He had mercies still in store,
Though our ingratitude for favors heretofore, r

Our sins as a people have reached up to God, l
And in this Rebellion srnarted from his rod.

Wlie11 our arms were victorious we hoped for relief‘,
Then Lincoln was shot and brought us to_ grief. i
To fill up the gap, Johnson tookhis high place,
But was an antipode to Lincoln’s mild grace.
Instead of seeking the good of the nation,

He was trying to build tip his own ‘elevation.

He has found sycophants in Cabinet places,

Who were ready to aid and work in his traces.
Stanton alone Wouldnot Work in his yoke,

For this he would tnlaze off his head with a stroke.
0! Horrible! Horrible! what can I say?

For Johnson is cleared is the news of the day.  
The country‘ will grieve at such areport,.

r Almost as much aswhen Lincoln was shot.
i ~ For all wholoved ourllepnblican nation,‘
A Hairefelt he clisgraced us in this high station, a r
_ “When we think. how this trialhas tulrned out, A A
That rnenwe‘ have honored have brought it about; .

Men A thought i lionorable, . noble deb aters, t

23

Nonecould have feared to good government, traitors...

it has been told that a million of money,

Has been offered for votes as a stimulant bounty 3
Some may give heed till it swells in their eyes,
Their consciences stretch and they grasp at the prize,
But let it be noted if such ones there be,

That those thus made rich can"t fromtreachorship flee.
l,,lTheir country"s decision, as Arnold’s of old,

" Will stamp them as traitors to be bought and sold.

‘We will make out a schedule of what is known ‘

Of those in the army who died from this town:

In making our list there will be found, some

Went from some other place when this was their home,
They having had their residences here,

So on this stone their names do appear.

Albert Brooks in Charles river‘ was drowned,

He was brought home, for his body was found.
George F. Benjaxnin, the next to relate,

G Was lost at Bal1’s Bluff, no one knew his fate.

George W. Findall was killed outright, A
On the fifteenth of May at Laurel Hill fight.
‘Walter Sawtclle was wounded in May,

And died at Portsmouth, while on his way.
George W. Miller had a sickness so sore, '
That he died in a hospital at Baltimore.
Farwell Sawin, who was a son of James ,S., ,
Died of small-pox in grievous distress,
Wallace W. Butterfield, Mrs. Hi1l’s Son, ,
Died at a hospital inWashigton. ,

r Marcus M. Coolidge hadleft his own State, v *

Enlisted from Missouri and there met his fate.

Charles W. Hartwelldied at Fortress Monroe,
a At the most tender ageatrwhiohhe could go.

24

Horace S. Woodward of wounds did expire,
But there is no record to tell us justwhere. V
Edward 0. Young of Massachusetts Volunteers,
Died at Fred*eri;csburg aged twenty years.
Amos H. Partridge, though no bird of prey,
Was caged in Virginia, his life taken away.
Josiah Foster was shot, as it appears,

Near Petersburg, aged forty-one years.
Harrison P. Sawin was sick unto death, ,
And in Virginia hospital gave up his breath.
Cyrus K. Miller with fever did die,

Enlisted from Illinois-——-—near Vicksburg doth lie.

r His brother Charles A. who was a Corporal,
l Died of Wounds at Hampton, Va. hospital-

Henry Cutting, leaving children and Wife,
At Knoxville, with sickness lost his life.

, James E. Puffer, killed at the bloody fray’,

When the Rebels invaded Pennsylvania.
Nelson Z. Bathrick, as it now appears,
Woundedaud died aged thirty-one years.
George  Page, as some had done before,

i Died of severe wounds at Baltimore.

Marcus 3'. Hagar, While taking a trip,

‘To Louisiana died on board the ship.

Joseph P. Rice was killed outright, A
Being Junior Colonel at.Chantilla fight...
Charles Curnniings who led a veteran band,

Of Vermont Volunteers which he did icornnrand,

'Was shot and killed at Poplar Spring Church, .

V In frontof iP‘eters'burg while on their march... V
   Israel his brother from Fitcliburg did go,

Of Wounds he at Knoxville diedalso.” it
Up to ’63 but few of these were ‘lost,

35

‘But in ’64 the number was far the most.  

The townwas patriotic, and ready to send,
Their whole quota the country to defend.
Paying aybounty one hundredtwenty-five,
All that the statute allowed them to give.
Those who had sons of right age to enlist,
But very few fathers were found to resist.
Some sent their allfrom one up to four,

Many ones lost their lives and returned no more.

In the case, of the four, two of them did fall,
The third had an arm spoilt by a musket ball.
Of those who had Commissions there were five,
Of whom but two have returned home alive.
One a Captain in the military line, A

The other where a martyr’s face did shine.
There is one young man, native of this town,
Who from his exploits has a great renown:
Nelson A. Miles once the boy of our schools,
Where he us’d to play truant and disobey rules,
While learning it to read, to spell and to write,
And inhisboyhood was learning to fight; A A
At length he went to Boston and enter’d a store,
To ‘fill up his head with mercantile lore 3 A
When this war broke out and just began,  A
To be ready to go he was the man. A

That  might be fitted to act well his part,

He took lessons in the military art.
Then did acceptaiLieutenant’s position, A

’ r In the Tw.enty-second commanded by Wilson. ,T
But he did not stay long in this humble post, p i
A Forin a short timehe cormnandeda host, A . it

. I-Iis brav’ry,.and skill made him rise very fast, ,

Becoming a Major General at last. ,

  26

Thoughyoungest General our armies afford;
To him skill and brav’ry the records accorrl.

Let young men whowoulcl wish to rise,
rHave a good standarcl before their eyes;
i In whatever business be your aim,

Don’t set your hearts on futAure fame.
Seek to do right do all things thorough,

T Then true fame will be sure to follow.‘

“ Honor and shame from no conditions rise,
Act well your part there all the honor lies.” A
Recurring again to What now is done,’ A

In raising up this memorial stone,

Those names -upon it tell us their end,

How each has sacrificed some dearest friend.
They left us in health no more to return,
Whilstfwe their absence are ‘left to mourn.
May We not hopeithey’ve gone to their rest, ‘
In the regions of light amongst the blest: A
They shall there be free from sorrowand pain,
Let us all then prepare to meet them again. A

i To the Townbe all honor for What they have done T
A In cheerfully raisingthis chaste granite stone. A
Though at great cost, they were willingto dowhit,

 i Let all give them praise who take pleasurrre to View it,

To the friends of the dead when their names they do
‘find,rm‘ 

  ’T'wil1 be sooting, yet sorrowfully bring the lost to

A their mind; A 1 i A
But in their grief they may havethe consolation

f To think this sacrifice was for the saving the nation. A

\ ii i