Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-09-25
the RAFTsKAn's JOURNAL.


Susquehanna, and perhaps even in those of
the Hudson before the people of the North
could have recovered from the panic which
had seized upon the public mind. But
thanks-unnumbered thanks-for the daunt-
less Vaior OF the glorious Army Of the Po-
tomac, not only was the foe beaten and the
country saved from deep humiliation, but
the arrogant assumptions OF superior valor,
SO vauntingly advertised by Lee and his fol-
lowers, were utterly dispelled, and he and
they forced to fly for safety beyond the wa
ters of the Potomac
By Antietam' thunderbolts the Govern
ment escaped the dangers by which it was
menaced, and the people of the North were
saved from the terrible ravages of an inva-
ding army. Most appropriate is it then
that cemetery should be here prepared
Tor the reception OF the remains of the he
roes who gave up their lives on this field
that the nation might live, and a suitable
monument be erected TO their memory.
Whatever may be said of the Army of the
Potomac, as connected with any of its other
deeds, that which must be said OF it in con-
nectiGn with the battles OF Antietam and
Gettysburg viii preserve its reputation in
glory while martial valor is priced and indi-
vidual fortitude and heroism honored among
men.
| presume it viii not be deemed inappro-
pirate Tor me to place on record here the
the numbers of those military organizations
of Pennsylvania which participated in this
battle | believe no such record has been
made public, and therefore, it affords me
great qualification to be enabled to take ad-
vantage OF this opportunity to assert for
Pennsylvania her proper share in the hon.
ors which surround the battle field.
Fifty regiments of infantry, FIVE of caval-
ry, and six batteries of artillery fur
nished by the Keystone State were in the
battle Of Antietam. The official records and
these facts are replete with acknow ledgment
OF the splendid services rendered by these
men in the great conflict, and as Pennsyl-
vanian | am proud thus to adduce the facts
of history, to prove that my native State,
here, as elsewhere during the w0r, lent the
full strength of her numbers, as well as the
influence of her wisdom, in carrying the Gov
ernment to a glorious victory. Thus she
was in the late war, thus it has ever been,
and thus it will be with Pennsylvania when
ever liberty Or the perpetuity of the Union
is asSailed
While thus careful to preserve the record
Of Pennsy ylvanla participation in the events
which makes this locality classic ground, no
selfish feeling of State Pride, no contracted
desire to monopolize so great an honor for
any one PEOPLE, can induce me to deprive
others of the full share of the glory of An
tietam. The loyal soldiers of the country
won this victory and the memories Of the
citizens of Maine, New York. Ohio, Mary
land, Michigan, Iowa. or of other States who
perished here while contending for the I'm
ion, are just as dear and will be haowed as
sacredly by the people of Pennsylvania as
the memories of their own beloved sons who
here lie buried
The blood of the North, of the East and
of the West flowed in the same sacred
stream, and broke from the same ranks to
crimson the waters of Antietam, and when
the chill morning dawned upon the scene of
carnage, the Union dead from every section
were mingled upon the field of strife They
are brothers still beneath the same sod, and
while the dew continues to fall from Heav-
en- upon their union in the grave. our chill
dren and their children children will come
to worship at this shrine, to show their rev.
erence fer the patriotic dead, and to express
their grateful admiration for the memories
of those who perished that they might live
as treemen, in preserved Republic where
the will OF the people is the law of the
land, and where It's execution is equally
binding as duty upon the most exhalted
as well as the humblest of its citizens. /
have been speaking repeatedly for the last
two days. and will therefore conclude my re-
marks There are here Gov. Fenton, the
Governor of Maine and others, whom [
have no doubt you will be glad to hear.
lCheers: go on.
But Gov. Geary withdrew after introdu-
cling Gov. Fenton, of New York, who made
few remarks, after which the assembly
dispersed.