The Ohio in the Civil War Message Board

Opdycke's Brigade

This is only the last paragraph of the Address delivered in the Supreme Court Room,State Capitol Building,Springfield Illinois,on the occation of the tenth reunion of survivors,73rd Regt.Ill.Vol.Inft.,Tuesday,September 29,1896 by William R.Lawrence,late Lt.,Co.C.Danville,Ill.as it is longer then I remembered.There are only two copies left in existance one at Springfield,IL. and there is a copy in Ohio at the state library because the 73rd was a part of Opdycke's Brigade.I can copy and mail if you would like.

"We are bringing up the rear of that vast Army that has advanced and crossed the river, and now at rest,bivouacking in the silent camp that has not outposts or picket line,or smoldering fagot;where no tramp of sentinel is heard;beyond which there is no day of weary marching;no night of sleepless watching,nor sounds of thundering guns,whistling shot,or shout of battle. "They sleep the sleep that knows no waking."With them is their commander in chief the immortal Lincoln and there gathered the great soldiers Grant,and Sherman,and Sheridan and Thomas, and Logan and Mead,and Porter and Farragut;and hosts of other gallant leaders,noble companions of the dead. And when those last weary foot of the rear gaurd,shall have crossed over,and passed into the lines that seperate life and that nioseless bivouc,where all shall lie undisturbed until the morn when the great trump of archangel shall sound the last reveille over the land and over sea, and which shall awake the sleepers to that final and grand review before,one whose eye sees every equiptment and overlooks no neglect; may you then,and all your departed comrades pass that inspection with out blemish to be found upon your armor,and recieve the praise;"well done good and faithfull servant.""