The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-10-28

the chair, and addressed the meeting fc
few moments in behalf of the gallar
l4th, speaking stirring words Of prais
for the living and for the dead. His ad
dress was loudly applauded
The Rev. Mr.. Weed, pastor of th
Sands Street Methodist Church, Brook
yn, was next introduced, and his elo
quent and earnest thoughts for freedom
called down the house at the close OF al
most every paragraph. When he retir
ed, the band discoursed inspiring music
composed in honor Of the Brooklyn 18th
ending with serenade, in which wer
beautifully inwrought snatches Of Hal
Columbia, StarSpangled Banner, ant
Yankee Doodle, which put the immens
crowd into uproarious good -humor.
The chairman, at this stage of pro
ceedlngs, startled the audience with The
announcement that he was about ito in
roduce a stranger, and straightway pre-
sented Henry Ward Beecher, who set al
IN roar by comical shrug of the shoul
ders, saying 4" The President is mis-
taken, gentlemen and ladies, I've been
here before !''
Mr.. Beecher recoun,ed some of the
valiant deeds of the 18th restated the
OBJECT of the meeting touching every
heart with his appeals, and ending his
remarks by an offer to who would donate
ten dollars for each ten new recruits.
While lie was calling for followers, a
note was handed the chairman and read
aloud, 6 Two ten dollar bills from lady
for the two first recruits" Soon voice
cried out, One hundred dollars-echo
answered near by, One hundred new
voice said Filly-echo answered Fifty.
twenty five, ten, fifty, one hundred,
three hundred, ten, five, thirty and on
rolled the stream as fast as the treasurers
could note down names and places Of
residence A note was handed up.
" One thousand from the Grocers' Asso-
clatlon in New York" From the first,
every donation had been greeted with a
hearty cheer. but now there burst forth
such volume OF enthusiasm as made
the very building tremble, and thrice re-
peated. /" Cash. was called from every
part of the house cards came down like
snowfakes from the galleries and busy
hands caught them, and handed them up
10 be read aloud
Nh Odell and Mr. Beecher stood at
the two extremes of the desk, looking
like two brothers, in the glow Of the gas
hght-or it might have been tha, the
same noble object shed the same glow of
glorious emotion over the faces of each.
Wit and mirth seemed personifed, al d
the merry JeSts, like flashes oi electricity,
sparkIed and glowed before us, waken.
ing perfect lhurders of applause that
went rolling on--only ending 10 make
place for others. Now and then we were
stllled into silence by words like those
+" From a mother, whose only son is
member of The 14th.' From father.
whose son was killed at Bull Run, fight
ing in the 18th" Gone dollar, all |
have" was another announcement.-
F" From poor working woman" anoth-
er. Oh +. one needs to see, TO live, and
feel such scene to be magnetized by
The three thousand throbbing loyal hearts,
all beating in unison to feel the power
of three thousand pair of eyes-looking
over into the future of our beloved coun-
try-to the time when peace shall wave
the Stars and Stripes Of freedom over a
nation disenthraled, over world eman.
feel its effect.
Mr. Beecher remarked that money was
more plenty than recruits, and forthwith
there was an offer, and shouts OF welcome
greeted the raw soldier, then and there.
By and-by, two young boys offered as
drummer boys, and were introduced
from the platform to the audience-Wm.
Smith and Edward Taylor. All what
sight was tha, Childhood coming forth
and offering itself on the altar of the
country, to beat time for the great tramp
OF the nation toward Liberty. Oh |!
Jesus, Son of Mary, keep the dear ones
IN the hollow of thine hand" was doubt.
less the silent prayer ofa thousand moth.
ers' hearts. Sill the work went on.
Those that could not contribute in
. hves" and tens" were presented
with the plate, and woman's hands drop
ped gently their mite. piIing ii up with
. crumbs" as Mr. b. called them, in
shape OF bills and change.
AT half past nine, Chairman Odsll pro.
posed that the members of the Regiment
present should rise in their places and
be introduced to the audience, But the
cry was, " Let them take the platform !"
and amid the most earnest aud heartfelt
demonstration, four wounded men climb
ed 10 the stand. One, tho chain man
said, must be exeused-he could not
mount the steps. Yes | can" was the
reply. and the gallant Captain, wounded
at the last battle Of Manassas. worked his
way painfully up the side of his compan.
ion. There was Stiffness for a moment
then rustic of garments, as mothers.
wives, sisters, and daughters strained
forward TO catch glimpse of the wound
ed, crippled soldier--aye. there was a
lull IN the storm, intense, thrilling. But
when, in his place, he turned, and swing
ing as it were on his crutehes. he barred
his manly brow, and bowed to his friends,
no pen can portray the fleet of lhst loud
prolonged. and thrice-repeated cheer,
that told those bruised and SCARED men
Of the gratitude of their countrymen.