The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-03-16
ANNIVERSARY OF PEA RIDGE


On "Wednesday evening, March l0ta,
the Anniversary OF the battle of Pea Ridge
was celebrated in ST. Louis. and amongs,
others Gen.. Rosecrans made speechj on
the occasion. Below we give the Substance
Of his remarks as reported in the Missouri
| Democrat:
He said /: At this social board, as SOL
diers assemble to commemorate one of our
great victories, aud while return thanks
to you for drinking toast in honor oil
myself, and to Gen. Mcneil for Offering
it, | cannot but say few words about
the Missouri troops. Of our cause need
say nothing. The hearts of all who are
here present beat responsive 10 that cause
the cause OF human freedom-the cause
of free government Returning to you
my thanks, l must add my testimonials to
those which Gen. Gray has given to the
Missouri troops.
knew of your early difficulties only
by newspaper reports. and | must confess
| was pretty busy during the time that
the newspapers also were busy. | have
had my share of frontier troubles. Since
the commencement of the war, plenty OF
| good men have been on the frontier, and
plenty of good men have suffered.
have been in several tight places myself,
but.I never got scratch, and have no
testimonial to show, except the record oi
history. But | have fought with Nissou-
| ri troops that have been under nv com
mand. | have known them we'll. No
better troops have | ever commanded,
than the troops OF the State of Missouri.
[Cheers. None. They have never fail
ed in their duty. either in camp. on re-
connoisance, or in the bloodies. of the
fght-always true and always faithful
| fcbeers. aud could not but feel graft
tied that Gen. Gray, in speaking of them,
showed that appreciation which is due
them. can very well understand how
you, gentlemen, started out in this State,
having been, as said, upon The frontier,
among q mixed population, some Of which
we're disloyai, some of which never took
sides-neutral, you know, derisive lsugh.
ter and some few which were loyal and
| l.
ceme in every nations history, as come
they always do, some time or other
! when the nations crisis appears, when
noble souls are found in all the walks oI
life. ready to come forward, from the low.
liest and uneducated, to the highest; and
in this great struggle for human freedom
feel from my heart of hearts, that none
: of you have yet, by comparison, apprecia.
ted yourselves as history will hereafter
|, appreciate you. There is no doubt in N :
! mind at all of the truth of what General
Gray said, that you will feel proud, and
that your great grandchildren will fee
proud Of the part you have taken 10 the
defense Of your country-and when tbs
mists that now hide the little things in
this war are cleared away, from the men
who have taken part in it, and who step
ped forward in time, regardless of self
interest, without fear Of public opinion
without hope Of reward, animated BY the
love Of human liberty, then will the poets
sing, and the historians tell the stories
better than they can be told at the suppe,
tonight.
Of course it is not for me to enter int
details. But might mention one of the
! sharpest battles in all the war, wherein
Missouri troops rolled back the tide. 1
is due to them, aad 1t must be gratifying
to you to know it. At the battle Of lux,
| was charged with getting in the rear 0
the enemy. By some accident l happen
ed, unfortunately. to be the only bod,
that fought. Our expectation was tha
the enemy would be attacked from anoth
or direction before We arrived, that ",
would be able to occupy their rear, an,
/ that we would effect the operation of whicl
We have so often heard, but seldom see,
performed-thatis--bag them. (Lauyh
teri We came near succee ding ia vba
$ we. call "baggipg the enemy" and tina
is the only. time I ever sav chance of il
: fIt happeped that the enemy Tas not Z,
lacked, ana Il happened that We Hsd i
e bear the brunt Of The fight from haif- pas
. Tour till half past seven. was at frst i
1.-The rsa1. md lshsn i caus te46S frna,
where / knsw sharp fight was aoin
# on. | Sound Bssnsr and his men 81 q
9 36th pouring giagsapeaa2s sinister tplss1
rtb'y warm. At halfpast Ssvsh Z asod