Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-10-08
LAST words Of Gen Wm 3. Iytls 70
his Count1ymen.
A NOBLE SPEECH FROM A NOBLE
SOLDIER.

oeIore the war, was less likely to be called
N Abolitionist" than General William
a. Iytle. All his life he bad been Deme-
crst and had the rebels not inaugurated
war upon the Government he doubtless
would be so still. But he threw aside oil
mere party questions when his Govern
ment was attacked, and gave all his ener-
gies to the cause of his country in the field.
Even the Richmond papers, in narrating
the battle at Carnifex Ferry, spoke of Gen
eral then Colonel Lytle as "one of the
bravest Of the brave" He was wounded
at Perryville, and shortlyafter was commits
stoned Brigadier General The members
Of his old regiment (the 10th Ohio pre-
sented him with gold Maltese Cross, as
token of their regard. The presentation
was made about two months ago, after the
Peace men" Of the North had developed
their reasonable plans. The reply of
General Lytle was a magnificent one, and
We publish it in full. Read in the light of
the dying glory which Chickamauga
spread around the brave author, who
there fell at the head of his brigade, it will
strike home TO the heart of every soldier,
and every former political associate of the
lsmented dead:
GENERAL LYTLE's SPEECH.
COLONEL AND GENTLEMEN OF THE TENTH
0uro TyPAuTRY.
My Cd Friends and Con1Yd3es-I can not
tell you how deeply 1 am touched by this
beautiful testimonial. I am very glad to
learn that, although you have not for a
long time been under my command, you
have not forgotten me, and feel it also an
especial honor that yol have taken the
trouble 10 visit me in our camp in the
mountains to make me this present in the
midst Of a campaign, and at, fear, great
personal Inconvenience. In all sincerity
can say TO you that never did the heart
of a soldier Of the Old Guard best higher
no, not even when at the hands of the
"Little Corporal" himself he received the
Cross Of the Legion-thsn does mine to-
day. Come what may to me tomorrow or
in days beyond come what may, IS, under
the leadership Of our gallant chief, the in
vincible Rosecrans, this Army Of the Cum
berland follows his happy star through the
eventful drama of the war, at least TO me
this token, from the cherished comrades
with whom entered the service, is secure.
So long as, in Gods providence, my life
is spared, shall look on it, gentlemen
and be reminded Of many 3 stirring Incl
dent, both in your experience and mine.
It will recall the pale and troubled faces
with which men stood in the black shad
ows that stroVe before civil war, and the
horror that thrilled our breasts when the
rebellion first proclaimed itself by overt
acts; the revered and holy flag Of the ns-
ton was fred on by parricidsl hands ct
Charleston. 1t will bring back to me II e
fiery and tumultuous gatherings Of armed
men that rallied to defend it. will re
member, as gaze on it, thousand incl
dents connected with Cur camps at Hsrri-
son and Dennison. 1t will remind me Of
the long and weary marches when our SOL
itsry column threaded the mountain detiles
of Western Virginia, of the memorable 8th
Of October ct Csrnifex Ferry, when your
ranks, plowed by shot and shell, stood fast
and firm until the enemy fell hack across
the Gauley under cover Of the night the
movement masked by darkness aud the
roar Of the mountain stream. 1t will re-
mind me Of the brave Milroy; Of FItzgib-
bon, the color bearer; of Kavanaugh and
Kennedy, of many 8 hero soldier whose
name We will keep green in memory; Of
that red autumssi day, at Chaplin Hills,
when Jackson, Terrill, Jones and Camp
bell fell, their names crowned with the
deathless laurel when, in your own brig
sde the cbiYslry Of Ohio and Kentucky,
and Indiana and Michigan, added a new
and glorious leaf to the sombre annals Of
the dark and bloody ground.
will be reminded too, ss gaze upon
its emerald and its shamrock, the signiA-
cant emblems with which your taste and
the craft Of the artizan have enriched it,
Of that gallant and beautiful island of the
sea, the devotion Of whose children to my
country and their country, has been so
gloriously manifested in this hour Of her
bitterest travail.
String with fresh chords the Irish harp,
worn with recounting the triumphs Of
your race, to breathe in new and yet
loftier strains of minstrelsy their deeds
in arms and deeds of noble daring during
this rebellion. Let the pale cheek of
Erin, as she watches across the deep, GRIM |
son with exultation at the names Of Cor |
corsn and Meagher, and the record of
your gallant regiment, the armed witness |
before this, your generation, to the undy- |
ing fame of Richard Montgomery.
will not deny, gentlemen, that when |
on reporting to this department, found |
yeu were to be no longer in my command, |
felt that sense of loneliness and isola-
iion natural to one whose old army 1850 |
Citations were broken up. My present |
command will pardon me for saying this, |
know, Tor in my Judgment, no man who
forgets his old friends deserves to make /
new ones. But long since have felt per-
feetly at home, and l cannot let this the |
first occasion that has presented itself,
pass by without expressing TO the officers
and men of the lst Brigade my heartfelt
thanks for the warm and generous vel
come they have awarded TO a stranger.
Gentlemen Of the 10th Ohio, you see
around you your brethren in arms, the
men Of SheFidan's division; men from
the Northwest, from the clans of the peo-
pie, who pitch their tents on the prairies
Uf Illinois, and Michigan, and Wisconsin,
and by the shores Of the great lakes, vete-
rams of Pea Ridge, Perryville and Stone
River. When the next fight comes on,
may they and the old 10th stand shoulder
to shoulder, and see by whom, in glorious
emulation, our battle flags into the ranks
Of the onemy can be flung the furthest
aud followed the closest. Nor will it di-
minish your interest in this brigade to
tell you It was once commanded by the
pure and heroic Sill-Sll, whom you
knew SO well last year, during your cam
psign in Northern Alabama. Than his,
the war has developed no nobler spirit.
The Military Academy at West Point
might point to his name alone, and stand
last in the affections Of the people. Ohio