The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-01-03
The Battle Of Nashville.

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was largo attendance. The militia
ry and civic display was dispensed
{ with on account Of tho rain, and the
! meeting was held in the Hall Of the
House Of Representatives, which was
wrcathed in evergreeus aud orna-
montod with flags. About nom, Ma
jor General Thomes and Gov Brown,
Low entered, walking nrm ip arm, nc.
companicd by other distinguished
gentlemen, who wCr, greeted with en-.
thusiastic applause.
The proceedings were opened with
an appropriate prayer by Chaplain
Allen. Resolutions complimentary
to General Thomas were then present.
cd and passed, when Mr.. Senter made
an.able and patriotic speech Gov
Brownlow thon stepped forward, and
in clear, distinct and thrilling tones
pronounced tho following spooch.
lHDor General Thomas
The pleasant daty dovolves upou
me, Of presenting to you, on this in.
tcresting occasion, tho elegant gold
medal voted to you something like a
year ago by the General Assembly off
Tennessee, whose mombors-Scuators
and Rcprcscntatives-now surround
you. And, although this medal Is the
iipest article Of its kind yet executed
in America. its value TO you does not
consist In the amount ofthc precious
metal IL contains, nor yet iu tho OK
quisito workmanship Of the artist, bat
iu the motives which prompted the
gift, aud tho patriotic source it cman
alos from. IL is intended to express
thc high regard in which you arc hold
by loyal Tennessee Legislature, as
o military chieitain, n tried aud devo.
ted patrioti and modest, dnassum-
ing gentleman. ..nv
General, 10 no spirit Of faticry, ri,
must be permitted to say TO you that I
in great struggle of four years which h
recently cony0lted the nation, of all
our military commanders, you are,
perhaps, the only one that never lost .
a battle, and in tho government of 4
armies aud departments never made q
There is something worry nppropri-
ate in the presentation Of this medal ,
to-day-and ia this Capitol--thc an-
niversary of the battle Of Nashville.
Two years ago to day, at the head OF
a gallant army, you were engaged in /
deadly conflict with tho enemies Of
our country around this city aud two |
years ago tomorrow you closed out |
that conflict, saving this city from /
ruin, and sending the cohorts Of troa- i
son bowling into Dixie-"Away /
down South in Dixie" A portion OF /
tho enemy remained, to receive their I
long lost rights--the only rights
that traitors are entitled to-fdneral d
rights W n
Trusting that you may never have I
occasion 70 command another, army |
on tho field Of carnage, aud that yon G
may live long TO enjoy the fruits Of 4
the Victories you have contributed to
achieve, | hand this medal over tooned /
who never will dishonor il. v
GEN. THOMAS REPLY. :
Gen. Thomas, in full dress uniform /;
low walked to tho clerks desk and I,
an cxtemporaneous address OF
which thrilled every heart. lie spoke h,
almly, aud oyory word was distinctly Il
pronounced, llo said that he was II,
cnsiblc Of tho high honor conferred a,
lpon him, but was entirely unable in in
appropriate tormo to express his APP ID
probation Of it. But be assured | Itu
thank you sincerely for tho compli- II
ment you have paid me, and especial c,
ly for tho references madc to the SOL Il
diers'of my command.
About forty years ago received Il
my commission in tho army, and ral
then took a solemn oath to support a.
tho Constitution, aud to be true aud ii
loyal 70 the United States. l have .,
ondoavored to keep that n,
bath to this day, | iolt il my duty, W,
lmong other reasons for observing
that oath,Tto return to the Govern III
ncnt some littlo benefit for the edu- wi
,ation il gave ne. But | will not m
speak of myscll-for | cannot do so in
Without egotism-but of tho brave No
oldiors who LEFT their homes aud in
business, aud all tho ondcarments of M
'rivatc life, aud devoted their lives iel
. their country, It always affords me n,
noSprSssible pleasure to speak. No ri
ther country on the earth ever bro. mr.
ueed such an arny--an army of cit Ith
1eus, well Informed and in good cir IN
!,
lie tbon referred to General Shor-
lan's advance to Atlanta, pushing mn
oiore him bold aud gallant army, re,
nd Of the situation at that timc IVA
herman determined to march TO Sa- co.
suuah, aud no (Thomas) was orior kc
to takc care of Hood, eiihcr to ful- m,
Nv aud harrssi him, or to re ist his IVA
rogross. He spoke Of Hoods Wig so
'cus march to Nashville; Of his own nj,
ilienlty in collecting aud orgauizing lax
, army for The deicnce Of the city No
his struggle to delay Hoods march; NJ,
the necessary delays arising from ey
10 condition of the weather, aud IS,
zen oftho battle. On the first day
that ssitlo our men fought, he said an
i'm almost as much order as it they 10
I'd been on review, aud the assaults NJ,
/ the second day were the most gall n
Mt he over witnessed. lIo regarded DO
ood's army as the strongest aud the iin
oat daring tho enemy had. | am IN
ad. he said. az the Importantly 10 u.