May that same God who has given so many brave
hearts to defend it, continue to preserve it, and may it
give light and liberty to millions who are yet groaning
under tyranny and oppression. But we would not pass
by unnoticed the many noble brave men who offered
themselves a willing sacrifice upon our country's altar
in defense of that national banner. The voices of our
fallen comrades are borne to us in solemn silence by
every breeze that fans our brow. The South is billowed
with the graves where sleep the patriot martyrs of constitutional
liberty, until the resurrection morn. We hold
them dear to our hearts, for may it never be forgotten
that their deeds of valor facilitated the consummation of
the glorious results which have just been achieved.
Though they be dead, they yet speak, and will continue
to speak to the end of all time, and dear to each patriot
heart will ever be the memory of those who died in
defense of the Union.
"There are many
Patriots have toiled in their country's cause,
Bled nobly, and their deeds, as they deserve,
Receive proud recompense. We give in charge
Their names to the sweet lyre. The historic muse
Proud of her charge, marches with it down
To latest time: and sculpture, in her turn,
Gives bond, in stone and ever-during brass,
To guard and immortalize her trust."
[**F2: Possible that block quote ends here. It is really unclear what is and is not part of the letter] At Bladensburg we went into camp, and remained until June 10. Marched to Washington at 8 P. M., and embarked on the cars of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and steamed away homeward, bound to Parkersburg by way of Grafton, West Virginia, thence by boat to Louisville, Kentucky; moved five miles into the country, where we remained until the 13th day of July, when we were mustered out. Repairing to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio, we were paid off and
