Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-08-17
HOW The 25th Ohio Battery
spent the 4th I'm Fort Steele,
Arkansas. =


At II a. m, they fred the Nations
salute Of thirty-six guns. After the fl
uIg, they refreshed themselves on a bal
rel of beer.
At retreat roll call, calls were made fo
Capt. Hadley, he refused to comply
Calls for Lieut.. Doolittle, Mol Calls wer
then made for the noncommissioned off
cers-they would not come-the boy
would not be bluffed thus, they would
listen 10 a private. Loud calls were thel
made for private Jack Herif, he cam,
forward and said:
FELLOW SoLDIERs-for the first time
since | am in the service of my country
! attempt to address you. You all know
l ann not in the habit of speech making
1 would much rather be q silent partici
pater on this occasion, had not our off
GERS slghted US, and were it not tina
there are times when silence is a crime
Tour eager calls prompt me to speak
IL response allow me to return you my
slncere thanks Cheer, and cries 90 on.
To-day fellow soldiers, i have wit
messed a beautiful scene. The celebra.
ton of the anniversary of our national
birth-right. The booming of thirty-six
guns, the dedication of Fl. Steele into
the service of our devoted country. The
baptism of our banner of Stars and
Stripes. And as each one of you drank
your cup to the dregs, you acknowledged
a solemn vow, that, that banner should
trail an the dust in dishonor, only, when
you had shed the last drop OF your life's
blood.
This to me, fellow soldiers, is indeed a
hAar, g -
beautiful pole in Fort Steele, you will be
obliged to leave here, you will take your
colors with you, and with the proud as
surance, yon have in your brave Division
commander, who first distinguished him
self as a line officer at C~arthathage, No,
won the respect and esteem of his fellow
men, and when his term of enlistment
had expired, went back t the State OF
Wisconsin raised a regiment of men, sec
ond 10 no other in the service OF the uni.
ted States for discipline and good soldier
ly conduct.
At a time when we were about to be be-
trayed into the hands of our country's
foe, at a time we as a frontier army, were
about TO be annihilated, when we were
about to be starved, he again distinguish
ed himself as a field officer, by rescuing
US from our imminent danger. One year
ago o -day, in the city of Helena, Ark,
with but a handful of men, like the he
roic jackson at New Orleans. He again
distinguished himself as General. Loud
cheers.
With the assurance you have in your
brave General, you will plant the Stars
and Stripes on the Notifications and ram
parts of Camden and Shreveport. When
you have opened communication along
the lines of Red River, you will again re-
turn to Little Rock, to view your handy
Workmanship! This beautiful pole will
still remain here as a trophy Of the old
18th Ohio Battery. =
When Gen. Grant has closed the war.
when We are ali at home discharged from
the service, this pole will still remain
here to bear alott those proud colors that
hurled defiance to the world. Yes
fellow soldiers, 1t will remain here as a
trophy in your memories, as did the mon
umenT al Bunker Hill, in the memories
OF your fathers! Cheers.
But, must not detain you longer on
these interesting topics, things of higher
occupy our mind What
man is here with me from the old I'd Ohio
Volunteer Cavalry, that does not remem-
Der how we stood side by side on Univer.
slty Heights, fourteen hundred strong,
uplIfted hands, in the presence OF
Sod, and high Heaven, swear TO support
Lhe Constitution OF the United States,
b same, pledged our lives, our
liberties, and our sacred honor, at the al
lar OF our country. Devotediy, patriot
and with such an ambition as could
lot be wounded. Armed and equipped.
rom those beautiful fertile regions of
he Western Reserve, to the wild unhab-
ted regions a savage indian country.
secuted the border counties of Mis-
souri, and Kansas, over and over againl
Coonskin Prairie, the Indian Nation, and
lack again to Kansas, until our Horses
all worn out; one half of our men
lead and discharged. The expected Star
lid not come, so our bold Eagle took the
liberty TO relieve himself. Then fellow
oldiers, began such q system of whole
ale human slavery, as no other soldiers
ave before nor since experienced Ev-
ry man was bound TO be Captain or lst
sold like Joseph by our own
into worse than Egyptian bond
&c. What Roman has known deeper
Irongs? And yet after all these things,
hen u country called for US again.
'ou did not hesitate a moment, but came
nth nobly to her call. Your friends hon.
you for this, your country expects this
t you, the Congress of the United States
you their thanks, aud God does
OF only expect this of you, but with a
oice of unmistakable authority demands
lis of you. For a republican govern
IeEt, is In coneomitant relation with the
IDLE, tbs a promotion of Bible civil gov
|.
That Government is purest where God :
one is Kingl That government, VIII ere !
en- make and obey their own lawsl :
hat government, the pride of the earth,
As been the desire of all good men. !
The Platos of Greece, the Catos of !
ONE, the Tells of Switzerland, the Sid !.
.y's of England, and the Washington's !
America, have fought and:sighed, have !
ed and died. In this grand army, fell :
W soldiers, re are noo enlisted. With !
CHI worthless by our sides, with such a !
use before Jul eyes, let us march on like J
e honored champions of God and of =
imam rightsl tCheers. But | have
much longer than ! had an
in the beginning [Cries of go
j. :,
Allow me then, to annex all our duties
you are all aware of the coming,
ntest next fall. Never since our Crea- r
!, called this world into being, was there :
er q time like this. Before us stands 4
armed force and almost unconquera- r
, foe. Behind in conventions and eau :.
ses assembled, are a party of men, who q,
back banished traitors, give aid and a,
nfort to rebels, defy the chief magis- n
tie of the United States, dare his Gen ].
is, threaten revolution in the north to -
p the war!!! -
Now standing as we do, between these II,
D elements, between these two fires, n
at is u duty to do? My course is 81
in before me, the same to you. Then ,
us fight and be free! or let us fight and az
Loud Cheers.1 Let US fight trait n.
wherever we find them. And let US n
e for the Union at every election. n