, 1864-03-09
FEEONI EENTERxAEAIA.


Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Trtbunc.1
| CENTBA1IA, H., March T. 1864.
This has been glorious day in Egypt. Thou
fapds Of citizens Of Marion md adjoining countfe
a7iscd at IN carly hour to join In the honor8 to th
4sth Illinois veteran volunteers. The train as7iy
ing at Q q. N. brought Gov. Yates md stat, Hon
Jcsse Z. Dubois, auditor, and Hon. Q. N. Hatch
Secretary Of State, and Gen. ". O benton, of In
diana, who were received By . Committee OF citi
zeDs and escorted to the Centra1ia House.
The train from Cairo brought Gen. Haynlc, Col
McCook OF tie s1st Illinois voluntecrs, and delesn
tions from the counties eonth. At II O'Clock th.
18Th was reviewed By Cor. Tates, Gems. Bentor
and Esynic md Col. Pease Of the 18th ullno!,
volunteers. at IL O'Clock n snmptuous dinner WIS
prepared BY the loyal ladies' Of Ccntralla and Mari
On county, which reelected the highest credit OF
their tastc and libe1ality, The dining hall WIS
beautifully decorated with hagr, banners, md pat
rlotic dericet, all Indicating the fullest sympathy
Southern Illinois In the measures Of the Govern.
meut In the prosecution Of the war. At2o'clocs
the immense crowd, numbering fully 5000, Assem-.
bled at the Christian Church, outaldc Of which
the speakers stand wse erected.
The meeting was called to order, and Tho..
Qulek, OF Mehyiew, appointed President, and G,
D. Fletcher, Of the Cent1alta Sentinel, Secretary,
After patriotic music ly the glec club, Gov Yates
was introduced TO the audience, and for two hours
held that vast concouree spell bound, In 4 speech
pronounced by MI to be the happlest OF his 1lfe He
dtst addressed the 18th ILL., veteran rolunteerx uu-
der command Of that intrepid officer, COL Luciau
Greathouse thanking them for the large shs1e theT
have contributed In securing achievements which
haFe e1nblazoned tho banner Of the Union.
He paid handsome tribute to Gen. Benton, Of
Indtana, present on the 1aland, whom he had met
in the Vicksburg campaign, commanding a brigade
NJ hN d1t6 ri. {nfn ~.
eth and 1tth Indiana infantry, and 1st Indiana bat
tesy, and to Gen. HAJnie, who organized the 45th
and took 1t to the field. His review Of tho record
Whlsh 41nols has made In the war, the distin-
Se6S s1a & S tSc e 6er
thrilling Interest, and WAS received By the m11ti.
tide with deatenlng chcar4. he reviewed the
tases 81 the W. ts lastness Of the acts and meas
ures Of the Administration In support OF the Gov
ernment, the necessity Of the Proclamation Of
Emancipation, and its ireyotahl1ity. that the poll
s. 6s4s n b M .asen
The copPs1hesds of nnois @ I'D diae:s; ,se Northern
sne she Sae Ts &
from Ids excc1leneJ. Il Is impossible to eend By
this medium nythinE like correct synopsis Of his
people seemed thoroughly united IN lie rnthnslas-
S s sppsss H. s1 xsh ess% tHs @
eecncd to catch the enthusiasm Inspired by Tie
presence Of bis Gallant old veterans. He did not
lie Go5etues position ~ in he Aa mest eaooisse os
1ssl %sa,t and }, intsTsstns h;E speech haze xst
thst tie reconstruction policy q the president va;
all the South should ask aud 1norc liberal thsn
they deserved and II any refused to accept 1t they
81 e tsSa!ed etSs t$e ass
q negroes n any way the Government could make
them available asalpst traitors, and urged big old
1nented ueutensnt-Colonel Smith, who, on bis
dying couch On the field At Donenlson, conj1sed
them to fight eonraeeopsly until eyesy traitor
fully Tindicated.
Gen. Benton then made d short, stirring and c.o-
s to the hs sstss9 ss
Of battle and testi1ed to TIC love and esteem ia
which he is he'd b the soldiers Of the SorthFest
e6S e o fRt tSe Gnf III hs hGssSa ps%e from %a.
As q houeeho1d word and pronounced a.
theE speak ef their wires and children, and thai
a @ RehsGa
in this Union, it was Governor Morton. And If
Illinois troops were e1ceiied by any, 1t, was By
tween 1ndiana; II there WIS one 1t was fnaginary
He neyer thought when In tho greatest peril on the
field Of battle whcthcE he called on Illinois lndl-
was ali right for they never turned their backs on
TIC eremy yet, and never would. He said he loved
tie soldiers Of the great northwest that had dono
enough hard lighting to take all the wind and
backbone out Of those Southern braradoes, who
few SeaEs since said that ono of them could whip
18th to prove how elegantly the ehiv1lry bent their
knees and surrendered. Tic said we Ind a right to
Ieel little proud Of o1r Western army, for, al
thoash the Army Of the Potomac had fine fighting
material it had yet failed to come to time on Rich
ond. and that be now only begged that they woald
saSe themselves from being whipped, and the
around and como Into Richmond at the back door,
General Bcnton's eloquencc and logic is OF tie
pnrest type. and abonnds in tho 1harpest wit.
wssmcst enthusiasm. and lofty patriotism.