Farewell to Family

The services in the little village church that day were unusually impressive, and especially so in the evening. A few of the volunteers were present. The sermon, the hymns and the prayers were freighted with the deep emotions of the people. As we were on our way home, a terrific thunderstorm burst upon us. I thought "Is this an omen of what is before us?"

A public farewell meeting of the people had been arranged for the day of our departure. Hon. Owen Lovejoy, congressmen from or District, addressed the throng which gathered at 11 A.M. and presented a fine flag from the people to the company with the charge to maintain its honor. It was received by Captain Merriman, on behalf of his men, pushing our lives to its defense. After refreshments we marched to the station to be ready for the to 3:30 p.m. train for Quincy Illinois. The tragedy of the final parting can only be known to those who have witnessed such a scene. None but those who have experienced it can know the sacrifice that those who remained made when they said farewell to husbands, fathers, brothers and lovers, as they sent them to war. We who had departed tried to imagine the feeling of those loved ones as they returned to their lonely homes to take up the double burdens of life. As our train sped along, our spirits rose with the buoyancy of youth, and the hope and courage of strong young manhood, and the assurance that whatever we might have to face, "It was all for the old flag. "