| Show decoration day iu in the south this Is a short sketch of a pleasant day spent at the Mill springs national military cemetery on decoration day may 30 1898 at nancy situated in the west central part of pulaski county kentucky something over a score and a halt half years have passed since we were engaged in a desperate struggle testing whether the great republic should be divided which our forefathers over six score years ago brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal we met near a great battle field where some of the noble sons of said nation lost their lifes mood blood to maintain the honor of the stars and stripes yea on the ground of their final resting place to pay our respects to them as all axe are aware that tha t this day may has been set apart tor for that purpose the people of the south who live close to the hallowed spots look with anxiety for the day to arrive when they can show their esteem for their noble dead we as representatives of utah were no less loyal in showing our patriotism on this occasion we enjoyed meeting with our friends and fellow citizens and partaking of the spirit of the occasion casion ac with them we had just closed a series of meetings about eight miles from the cemetery and our friends enjoined upon us to accompany them and we were pleased at the opportunity the morning arrived and we became somewhat discouraged as it looked so much like rain but we were pleased finally to observe that it was only a threat for as the day proceeded the weather was beautiful not extra warm as there was a cool refreshing breeze all day and the heat of the sun being shut off by the clouds as they floated through the ajr air A few moments quickly passed away when we heard the welcome words this way brethren we have room for you we were soon seated in a three inch old hickory wagon on two oak split bottom chairs and the long eared quadrupeds mules were soon esteemed up and we sped along about three miles per hour over the hils and through the beautiful woods toward the cemetery Diffie merent Di rent points of interest were explained to us by the driver one of which was the battle of Mili springs As we passed over the battleground battle ground the tree by which gen Bolli cofer fell was pointed our to us A As soon agthe as the rebels saw their leader was killed they fell back to their entrenchments but soon vacated them and fled the union boys being victorious after a pleasant journey we arrived sit at the long looked for place and immediately began to view the beauties of the cemetery which has an admirable situation because of its elevation everything is nicely arranged the yard is laid out in six sections covered with a beautiful carpet of blue grass decorated with various trees and flowers giving out their perfume making it pleasant and grand A rook rock wall surrounds the yard in an oval shape making an am inclosure Ino losure of about two acres A row of shade trees Is inside inrid e of the wall and a nice promenade on the inside of them with the stars slaps and stripes floating at half mast in the center which makes a sight very grand to behold there are bodies in all of which we exe soldiers both white and colored 01 of which are unknown As nature has its ita charms so also hid the pen when guided by a thou ats mind as can be observed froni from the fid lowing beautiful verses which can found in the midst of this sac sacred a apoi on farms eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread pr ea d v and glory guards with sole solemn mn r the bivouac of the dead r rest our embalmed embalm ed and sacred dead d dear as the blood ye gave no impious footsteps here shall t brettl the herbage of your grave the muffled drums sad roll has bea the soldiers last tattoo s no more on lifes parade shall meet that brave and fallen few B we became acquainted with the BUB In who lived just outside outi de J the wall in a very neat little hooi with beautiful surroundings d seemed to manifest great interest in a and gave us a great deal of vla information invited us into his ad ofila had us register etc and wheat learned that we were fran utah he tail us he had been there I 1 and never er V joyed himself in his hie life better thi while he was floating on the waters wa the great salt lake 3 we spent the atter afternoon noon in ta the sights and in observing tho the m ferent classes and rl the people and went down too to the atal and listened to the speaking ile g S principal speech was made 1 a young christian minister E showed the unity of the pe now under the present cond the people headed by the old sol boldn then marched into the cemetery j decorated the graves by placing aa aia and a rose at each tombstone 1 the afternoon was almost a re of the forenoon A collection was taken up to ell cl and feed the volunteers of had not beit enlisted in the aws anny almy and who were at a barn at 15 ington ing ton and could not get out on y rade on account of their we axe are very great ful for the new which comes regularly and its col column are scanned with greaff pleasure f respectfully WM KING 1 I PHILIP T kent Ken kenthie tuie |
