The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-05-24
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Boys in Blue!
Soldiers Meeting at Grand View.

GRAND VIEW, Ind, May 19.
Editors Journal:
This has been glorious day, not
withstanding the heat and dust The
Spencer County soldier boys met to
renew the friendships of the past, and
rejoice in the light of the sun of
liberty,
The speeches were mostly brief and
to the point, Astounding with incidents
of camp and army life. There is a
world of unwritten history among the
varied and multiplied occurrences Of
the war that are remembered only by
the. actors themselves. Gen. Veatch
made the speech, occupying an hour
in its delivery. We can only give
your readers very meager sketch.
He said, soldier is term which
means a great deal-'tis a high honor,
a lofty +itlA-it means privation, hard
ship, suffering and blood. Yet ctt6ze'e
is an older and higher title. Itmeans
peace, happiness, contentment, social
comfort, morality and religion-all
noble, high, and hallowing in their
influence and dear to the hearts OF
men. A citizen soldier, then, is the
noblest heritage of free country-the
surest trust Of civilized and enlight-
ened people for self-dcfense.
Battle scenes need not be described.
Soldiers knew it already; citizens had
read it all, and more too, In the pa
pers. Citizens, when you desire to
know more about war, if you have a
chance, just 90 and see. Armies of
regular troops are played out for
national defense. Discipline can be
acquired in few weeks, and the citi-
zeas, rather than the professional sol
der, must uphold this country. What
do you owe the citizen soldiers?
You owe him debt that can never be
paid! Heap upon him all honor, all
wealth, all praise and it is no compen-
sation for broken constitutions, MAIN
ed limbs, or life itself. They swept
the war line from your doors and car
ried it into the heart of the enemy's
country. They saved your houses
from ruin. Lord Russell said, virtu-
ally. that our Union was thing of the
past. To-day he would recall at al
and wish it forgotten, for the Union
vas saved se our citizen soldiery
muddy ground while you slept, they
fought; you heaped up your wealth
in abundance, and they endured al
hardships and privations for $13 pei
month. Equalize their bounty; pen
sion the disabled and the widowed
help the orphan in early life, and then
you have discharged but 1.-THE Of
your Obligations and your debt Of
gratitude, = .zz-
The speaker paid a glowing tribute
to the patriotic and benevolence Of
the Sanitary and Christian Cnmmis-
sions. He said we had true friends
at home who encouraged their friends
in the army. Others were eowardly
sneaks of traitors, who would neither
fight for or against us. Their history
can be written in half dozen lines
their crime in a single word-teason
Wives, daughters, and sisters cheered
US on. Men of strong arms and iii
we are to believe them of brave
hearts, gave no word of cheer.
Having said this much about our
make-beleve friends, he left them in
their glory The crowd listened very
attentiyelys and the speaker was re-
peatedly cheered.
Between two and three thousand
only were present, as the notice of the
meeting was short, and not extensive
ly circulated w. aN3
Everything passed off very pleas
antly and quietly. 1t was determined
to meet again on the Fourth of July
next. / must close.
Yours, UNION BLUE.
RocKPoRT, IND, May q, 1866
Editors Evansville Journal: e
Last Saturday was great day fol-