The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-21
Col JOHN w. RANKIN

VOLS, sept. II, ROY.
I Col. JOHN w RANKIN ..===
We meet tonight as comrades in arms
engaged in holy, just and righteous wa
for the maintenance of Constitutional lii
erty and right, and we at the same tim
regret that VIC meet for the last time j
that capacity. since your resignation a
commander of the regiment has been &C
cepted. In behalf of our regiment, whicl
you see encamped around US to night, ant
in the name of those brave heroes wht
fought by your side before Corinth, ane
more especially on the bloody battlefield
before luka, pouring out their life's blooe
In defence of cause of which you have
been 30 brave, so noble, SO heroic de
fender, we tender you this supper. as
token of our respect for our kind and
brave commander.
When we fully contemplate the induce
ments on the one side, and the seeming
terrors on the other, how can we find Ian
guage to express our admiration of your
patriotism, which induced you 10 abandon
lucrative business, and forego all the
pleasures of cherished home, an esti-
mable wife and loved children, and will
lingly yoke yourself to all the hardships
of an active field campaign, exposed to all
the changes of the seasons, its miasmas,
to contagious aud diseases of every char
acter. The 18th regiment is the offspring
Of your energy and patriotism. Out of
chaos you have brought order and disci
pine. inexperienced troops have become
veterans by your diligence, and now after
a campaign of six months, which has
wrested Corinth and Iuka from the pezti
lential breath of secession, We rejoice
that We have you here as our guest, and
at the same time mourn that your depar-
ture is 30 near at hand.
In these days of corruption and sordid
venality, we deem it high privilege. that
We cnn honor our commander and leader,
the soldier. unpolluted by any faint of
soMardce. Brave, heroic, chivalric and
1aring, the true and untainted gentleman,
Col. John w. Rankin.
If We have ever, by characterization or
otherwise given you the slightest offence.
ne beg your forgiveness, and assure you
hat not the slightest ill-will is harbored
~ any officer in your command towards
on the contrary, cannot but feel
hat We are losing one of our best friends,
,cst and ablest leaders, when you leave
Is. To you we in great measure
I'VE our proficiency in drill, and the va
ious military exellencies of our regiment,
md shall ever remember you, as kind
md generous commander.
In the name, then, of the brave boys
Of the 18th we bid you farewell, and in
yoke the blessings of heaven upon you
and your undertakings hereafter-and in
parting We tender you the following res
buttons
/. Resolved, That we have heard with
deep regret, that the resignation of our
Colonel, John W. Rankin, has been &C
cepted, and that circumstances beyond his
control have compelled him to retire from
the field at the very time when his pres
ence is most needed.
2. Resolved, That in him we have al
ways found kind and generous friend,
brave and heroic commander, whose whole
lime and energies have been devoted to
The Improvement, discipline, health and
comfort, of the men of his command, and
that his connection with the regiment will
ever be remembered with pleasure by
us all.
5. Resolved, That copy of the follow
ing address and resolutions, together with
The address of Col. j. W. Rankin, be
furnished to keokuk, Burlington and Des
Moines papers, and request their publica-
ton. Respectfully,
S. NJ. WISE, Major.
+. J McGoRRIsK, Asst Surgeon.
F. WooLsEY, Adjutant.
J L. Young, Captain Co. A.
J. b. Garrett, 1st Lieut.
c. p. johnson, I'd !"
w. II. Hoxie, Captain Co. B.
l.. w. Huston, ed Lieut.. !"
NJ Stapleton, Lieut.. Co. C
} +. Shelton, 2p Lieut.. Co. D.
A. Hull, lst Lieut.. Go. <.
w. L. johnson, I'd Lieut.. Co. E.
J. F. Walden. Capt, Co. +.
B. s. Morris, LIST Lieut.. g
John Brown, I'd !"
VIM. Horner, Captain Co. G.
ID. A. Craig. n