Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-10-24

We take from the MdyspiHe Eagle OF Oct, 9Th,
the following account Of the meeting Of OLD SOL
lately held in that city and OF the remarks Of
Gov. Chambers and Judge Reid on the occasion
Gov c. voluntee or aid to Gen. Harrison in his
North Western Campaigns, in the last war with
Great Britain, and as such was engaged in the bat
tie OF the Thames on the 5th Of October 1914:
NIeetin: Of Old Soldiers.
On Saturday last, the 9th inst, the anniversary
of the battle OF the Thames, a remnant of the Old
Soldiers in this and the accent counties, number
ing about thirty, met together this city. They
assembled at the court house, where, after hour
spent in warm and cordial greetings and social con-
versation, and the reading Of the late act of Con-
gress granting them bounty lands, they were brief
~ addressed By Hon. John Chambers.
.avs,tsa :, .as,s .assrs ssTSsss IL s, 81 W.
privations, hardships and suferings Of the North
Western Army, penetrating the wilderness, often
times reduced almost TO starvation and frequently
making their beds literally in the water and mud Of
the swamps.
He referred to the Bounty Land Act just read.-
He expressed himself in terms OF strong indigna-
ton at the inadequacy OF the grants and at the
diness with which this stinted OF JUS
tce was doled out, and drew a strong contrast be-
tween the provision giving 40 to the Old
der and the to give 100 acres to every
foreigner. AS Cor himself, he had never received
either pay land for his military services and he
would never ask OF receive either. He was a mere
volunteer in the staff, not emitted by law to COM
pensatlon. But Old Soldiers entitled to land;
they had well earned it by their patriotism, valor
and dangerous services; they should have received
it long ago and in more liberal quantity than Offer
cd by this act. Others would decide for them
selves; he only spoke his sentiments and feel
ings; but he apprehended few Of the ole soldiers
many of them, like himself, arrived a. the age OF
three score years and ten. could derive any
al benefit from this late act-a mockery of ustice
and magnanimlty on the part Of the government,
Gov. Chambers required again to the days of Il a
and peril through which they had passed. The
recollection of common services and suiferings
endeared the old soldiers to one another. He new.
met one of them, al any time or mace, but he
found in him and felt towards him, the shirt of 2
| friend and brother. Now that their ranks were
thinned till but few feeble comrades remained
tottering to the grave, his feelings of fraternt,
were stronger and warmer than ever. He reioiced
that this occasion had brought together even the
few survivors here present. He greeted them cor.
daily and tenderly. It was not probable they
would all ever meet again this earth; but he in.
voked the blessings OF Heaven uron them all for
the few lingering days Of their eaythly soiourn and
he hoped that at the grea: muster, they would ali
be reunited, and join hands forever with all thei,
departed comrades who had preceded them to their
final reward. not one missing at roll-call.
We do not pretend to quote the touching Ian.
guage Of Gov. Chambers. In expressing himself
he struggled with strong emotions-his utterance
was choked-and it was manifest that his memory
was with the past and his heart with his comrades
But even his faltering accents bore the expression
ofthe truest eloQuence; and electrical sympathy
pervaded every bosom and every eye.
The Hon. Walker Reid followed in few remarks
cordially responding 10 the and fraternalcx x.
pressions Of Gov. Chambers. He made an impress
sive alusion to the probable fact that they would
never, all Of them, see each others faces again
which made the occasion to him one Of inc xpre
| IDLE tenderness. He entirely concurred with Gov
Chambers, as to the insufhciency Of the Bounty
Land act: but was nevertheless disposed to be con.
| tent with it. Its provisions, inadequate as they
were, still recognized their services and was an
acknowledgement of merit which he priced beyond
the pecunlary value OF the gift.
Judge Reid spoke with great emphasis and ear.
nestness, and his whole heart seemed TO be pour.
ed out in the expressio OF his kindly sympathies
towards his companions in arms.
The company then proceeded to the Lee House
where Mr. Culbertson had prepared sumptuous
dinner for the occasion, Gov. Chambers presiding
The cloth removed. an hour was passed in reci.
ting anecdotes of old campaigns and s'fghting bat
ties DER again. irterspersed now and then by vol
unteer toasts.