Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-02-01


the following remark, made by Capt. Them
as Browncll, Of this city, at the receD
meeting Of the soldiers of the war Of 1871:
at Washington -
CAPT. OWNELL'S SPEECH
Gen Coombs, Of Kentucky, having nd.
dressed the convention of soldiers Of tht
war OF 1919, hid in this city on the s,b
inst, Capt Brownell, Of the United S,stes
navy, a delegate from Rhode Island, res
ponded ~ f'llows:
MIR. President and brother veterans oI
the war Of 1915: did not intend 10
have trespsssed upon the time Of this con.
veniion, or to have asked ITS indulgence
even for moment. Sir, to be q member
of this body | felt was honor quite sufi-
cient for Inc, and have no doubt every
other member reciprocates that feeling
But, sir, MS stand here solitary and alone,
being the only delegate of the sailors in
this BODY, and much having been said, aud
Justly too, in praise OF the gallant conduc,
Of the soldiers, | thought, sir, that ought
to say n word in favor of that arm of the
service to which have the honor 10 be-
long, and whic represent here.
Sir, the praise so justly bestowed upon
he patriotic sons ofKentucky by my friend
Gen. COMBS, is true praise but some
whom represent, sir, and wyself, were
actors in the same scenes, standing should
er 10 shoulder wi those brave men and
should we, sir, because we wore the short
jackets, BIZ forgotten? No, sir; and know
my friend did not intend to pass us by. His
whole thoughts were upon Kentucky; bu,
am sure he is willing 10 admit our parti-
cipaton in all the glorious deeds which
they performed.
Sir, the soldiers which represent were
the volunteers and militia of the State, and
may be called minute-men. They were
from their position, directly, as it were, up
on the ocean, where more or less of The en-
emy's cruisers were in sight almost daily.
They were constantly threatened with in
vasion, and it may he truly said that they
were on duty as picquet-guard during
the war, and they did twice during the war
beat oil tho British cruisers, and the lives
and property Of those run on the shore
were thereby saved and these gallant men,
cf both arms of the service, ask to be inclu-
ded in whatever bounty may be dealt out
by government.
Sir, came not here to eulogize my own
little Stat, which believe the record will
show did her whole duty, both in the revo-
lutionary war and in the war of lSl2-ihe
first and second wars of independence. II
is, am sure, sufficient for me TO say that |
represent the patriotic State of Rhode Is
land, the State which gave to the country a
Green and Perry, and host OF other
brave and patriotic men.
Sir, time will not permit me to go into
details of the gallant services of her sons
and their devotion to the cause of their
country, much less to particularize Their
acts in the cause of liberty. No, sir, viii
leave this to history, which shows, among
other things, that it was Rhode Island tina
conceived the idea OF navy for the colo
MES, and built, armed, equipped, otlicereu
and manned it. Sir, Rhode Island had tn
first and last admiral, and he one OF heI
| sons.
Sir, trust it will be pardonable in me to
speak here Of myself, have seen some
little service, during every hour of the war
from the Atlantic to the upper lakes. had
the good fortune to Cooperate with the ar
my at Fort George, Little York, and was
in The battle at Ere with Harrison al
Maiden and the river Thames, and was in
the field on that day. was. the senior Of
ficer of ihree vessels ordered to Buffalo to
cooperate and aid in crossing Gen. Browns
army to Fort Erie was there during The
siege Of that place. commanded a part Of
the force which surprised and drove out the
garrison at Dover, having first crossed into
the en- my's country as a spy to get the ne
cessary information before the attack
Well, sir, two hundred sailors and one hun
dred infantry, crossed the lake and march
cd seven miles in the dead Of night, drove
out seven hundred British troops, burnt the
place, and thereby prevented the medtated
attack upon, and the destruction of, tho feet
at Erie.
Sir, il will be seen that the sailors con.
tribued somewhat TO our glorious a,hieve-
men is during tho war, and am sure tha
there is no veteran here who will lot say,
Place the soldier AID the sailor siIe by side
where they stood in times that tried mems
souls, and let them share, sir, OF whatever
may be meted out 10 them by grateful
country
thauk you, sir, and tn, convention for
your kind indulgence.
After Captain Brownell had concluded,
Gen. Coombs rose and said, that everything
uttered by his friend was true and il he
Gen. Coombs) had omitted to make spe-
cial mention Of the gallant little State OF
Rhode Island, in his hasty, desultory re-
marks, it was because he knew that noble
| Commonwealth was too well represented in