The 1891 Civil War Monument Dedication Ceremony in Shirley, MA

 From a newspaper article dated Saturday, June 6, 1891:

On Saturday afternoon, May 30, 1891, the Civil War monument on Shirley Center common was formally dedicated. The George S. Boutwell post 48, G.A.R., of Ayer accompanied by the Sons of Veterans and the Woman’s Relief Corps, decorated the graves in the old cemetery after which they marched to the town hall, where they, together with the invited guests, and a large number of citizens, partook of a collation provided by the ladies of the town. After dinner a procession was formed, including the G. A. R., Harvard band, Sons of Veterans, Woman’s Relief Corps and school children. The procession passed round the common and formed around the monument in front of the platform where well-known citizens and invited guests sat.

           
The assemblage was called to order by J. P. Hazen, chairman of the selectmen.  Rev. A. G. Todd, pastor of the Orthodox church in Shirley Village, offered prayer, followed by a report by E. L. White, chairman of the monument committee. At the end of which the post and audience gave three rousing cheers and a tiger for H. A. Pevear, the summer resident who proposed the idea of the monument to the town in 1890 and provided funding for the project. The children then sang America.

 

An impressive dedicatory service of the G. A. R. followed. The post and relief corps decorated the monument with flowers in memory of the dead in unknown graves in distant lands and the school children sang
Rest, Heroes, Rest. The orator of the day was Rev. A. F. Newton of Marlborough who gave an address interrupted by frequent applause.

H. A. Pevear gave an address, followed by several other speakers. Melvin W. Longley, on behalf of the committee on dedication, thanked the Post and all others who had so generously assisted in the success of the dedication of the monument.

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Henry A. Pevear’s Address:
 “No nation honors its heroes with pensions and monuments as does the United State. More than any other section, New England excels in erecting lasting tributes to the memory of those who have performed services in her interests. England honors her generals and her admirals and in many cases gives them a place in Westminster, while those who have served in the ranks seem to have less respect paid them than is received by the citizen soldiery of the republic. The south that rebelled furnished just as brave soldiers as ever fought on any field; the most of those that were killed in the war lie in the graves unmakes by slab or shaft to tell who they were, or whence they came. In striking contrast with the beautiful cemeteries of Fredericksburg, Chattanooga and Gettysburg, the resting place of Union soldiers who fell in the service, is the cemetery at Richmond, where wooden pins, driven promiscuously without name or date, and one simple pile of stones–cobblestones, in pyramid shape, is all that marks the resting places of the many thousands of brave but misguided men who fancies they were being deprived of their rights as sovereign states. We have this day dedicated a lasting monument to the men who represented Shirley in our struggle for the Union. We cannot speak to strongly of their sacrifices or honor them for their deeds too much. When they heard and heeded the nation’s call, some of you were made widow, some of you fatherless, perhaps some of you childless. Brother and sister clasped the brother’s hand for the last time.

Father! Mothers! teach your children the meaning of all this, the meaning g of that flag that floats there in plain sight of all–its benefits and its costs–that they may teach it to the generations following, as Moses commanded the children of Israel to do for benefits received and deliverances from enemies.

While personally I made little sacrifice to quell the rebellion, het I know something of its cost to many families. I saw mothers part with their sons, children with their fathers, wives with their husbands, sweethearts with their lovers for the last time. I heard the sobbing, “God bless you.” That is sacrifice. When I saw this I felt I was not doing my whole duty. I went to the mustering physicians that were mustering in the troops and, upon an examination, I found I was not sound for service, but I found one that was an alien, to whom I paid $750 to go in my stead, and I received from the government a document to show that I had served in the war.

I have little patience with those people who speak with approbation of those men who fired upon our flag. Dr. Lindsay, of St. Paul’s church, Boston, and ex-confederate, in his address to the post at Hingham last Sunday, made use of the following expression: “Generosity to foes was a trait of the soldiers of both armies.” Dr. Lindsay knows, or should know, that it was not true of those in command. Let him learn the history of Libby, of Andersonville and of Belle Isle. At the latter place, philanthropic women were refused permission to administer to the needs of sick soldiers by the so-called President Davis, and I am informed that Gen. Lee was cognizant of the fact. Those of you who have visited Belle Isle will recall with me that line of earth known as the “dead line.” It was there that our boys, and there were many hundreds of them confined here, having become desperate at their condition, purposely crossed the dead line that they might end their sufferings by rebel bullets.

Time has brought its changes. There are, today, no more staunch Union men than some that fought in confederate ranks; more than one has said to me “it was well we did not have our way about it.” Very many of the younger confederate soldiers knew little, at the time, what the issue was and why men on both sides were being shot down.

Soldiers, you who know what it is to face the enemy on the battlefield, we owe you a debt we can never pay. To you members of the relief corps I would say: “Continue in your labor of love – the Lord will reward you.” To sons of veterans I would say: Strive to be men worthy to be known as sons of such honored sires. Let your principles be as fixed as younger granite shaft. To the men and women of Shirley: I am glad to look into your faces and congratulate you upon having a monument to the memory of your noble sons who gave their lives to purchase what we now enjoy. God bless you all.”