Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-02-27

PRAYER, by Rev. K. B. Morrison.
SoNG-The Star Spangled Banner.
Reading of Washington's Farewell
Address, by Rev. E. B. Morrison.
| SONe-Grave of Washington.
ADDRESS BY COL. BUcKLAND.
Col. r. p. Buckland, of the I'D 0.
V. l., who had arrived at home few
days previous, now took the stand
and was greeted with three tremen-
dous cheers. He spoke with deep
emotion of the circumstances con-
nected with his separation from his
fellow citizens during the year past
the scenes of trial he had witnessed
and participated in, and the present
happy meeting with his neighbors
and friends on the anniversary of the
birth of Washington. He felt that he
had not words to adequately express
his feelings. His audience were par
ticularly interested in the gallant
Reg't which he had the honor to COM
mand, and of it he proceeded to give
a briefhistory. The regiment had suf-
fered much from sickness in the early
part Of its career, and was in a very
enfeebled condition when itwas call
ed upon to participate in the protract-
ed and fearful struggle at Shiloh. OF
800 there were but 500 well men in the
regiment at the time of that battle.
He paid a high compliment to the
conduct of his men on that memora-
BILE occasion, and said that the BRAY
cry and firmness they evinced, rem
dered the first two hours of the con-
test the proudest of his life. All
stories about surprises, so far as they
were concerned, were false. The
brigade ofwhich he was in command,
was in line two hours. before the at
tack, and advanced full forty rods to
meet the enemy. The rebels did not
advance rod until his brigade were
ordered back by Gen. Sherman, and
it was probable that, had they re-
manned ten minutes longer, the en-
tire brigade would have been taken
prisoners. His men slept on the field
in sight and in hearing of the enemy.
On Monday the I'D were under fire
until the foe retreated.
Col. Buckland then spoke of the
extreme exhaustion of the regiment
after that battle, and of-the patience
of his men under accumulating hard
ships. He spoke feelingly of the
sickness and deaths in the regiment
in its progress from Shiloh to Mem
phis. Every mile of their route was
marked by the grave of some brave
comrade, and it seemed, at times, as
if the regiment would go to destruc-
ton. At Fort Pickering, however,
the regiment recovered its health
and efficiency, and was now in as
good fighting condition as ever.
In regard to the war, he said we
must either conquer the rebels, or
they will conquer us. They spurn
all propositions OF compromise, and
trample upon the flag of our country.
lfany one was willing to compromise
with men who thus treat our flag,
then that person is a traitor himself.
Separation was not peace. Con
tinual war, continual war taxes, and
standing armies would be the inevita-
bic result of separation. We must
fight it out to the end, or submit in
disgrace, with the certainty of civil
war in our midst The rebellion
must be put down by force of arms.
Whatever it cost in men or money, it
must be done. What the soldiers
wanted was the moral support of
their friends at home. They would
fight the better, and endure hard
ships with the more cheerfuIness if
assured of the approval and sym
pathy of their fellow citizens at
home. az .as \
He .exhorted patience on the part
Of the people. Everything could not
be. accomplished in a month or a
year. Neutrality-suspicious. be taken
next week or next month, but en-
courage the soldiers by your moral
support and they acilk take Vioks-
burg He ayowed his confidence in
an overruling Providence, and his
firm belief that all would come out
right in the end, More trials, per
haps, We're in store for us, hut we
should meet them as brave mens-
The result was fraught with mo-
mentous consequences not only to
this nation but the whole human
race. But one sentiment animated
the soldiers, and that was, they would