The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-30
GEN. sHERMAN'S SPEECH.

At the recent Reunion Of the officers Of
the Army Of Tennessee, Gen. Sherman
mnde speech, which has been very gener-
ally alluded to by the press. wepublish the
principal parts Of Il, aud assure the reader
that Il will be found Of great interest:
Whilst our parlor kniGhts-bold In words
hut not in decls-were crying aloud "On to
Richmond" Break the backbone OF rebel
lion," ;" Crush the monster In the bud, and
other harmless general expressions of moro
sound than fury. quietly, without noise or
confusion. without boasting or bluster, with
out the sound Of the trumpet or Of the press,
On army, mostly OF Western men, had assem-
bled st Cairo aud Paducsh, under the leader
ship Of him whom We delight to call our chief.
embarked upon their frsil steamboats,. and,
conveyed by the gallant navy under Commo-
dore FOote, turned their course up the Ten
nessee river and sssumed the proud title OF the
Army Of the Tennessee" Hardly Was the
fact known bef re the country was electrified
by the glad tidings that Henry and Donelson
had fallen, that the boasted rebel line was brok-
en- In twain and that ITS ends and fragments
had been loOsened and we're falling back IN
confusion TO safe place.
Then on to Shiloh. where we fought the reb-
els one OF those hard and bloody battles worthy
to be called an epoch In the war itself; and
with the aid OF our comrade army OF the Cum
bsrlsnd we drove them back. and beyond their
second chosen line to Corinth. Here these
two armies, destined TO play so important
part In the future war. parted for time-the
one eastward and the other westward-lookins
to that majestic artery Of our country. the
Mississippi river. The navy. ever bold and
gallant, aiding us on land and following up
all successes. had pushed down the Mississippi,
and like the swoop Of On eagle had pouncet
upon and crushed at q single bl0w the rebel
fleet at Memphis. Then on 10 Vicksburg; but
her Gibralter.like walls. crowned by battery on
battery, barrel their passage and de6ed as
sault. Again the army Of the Tennessee WAS
put In motion. and after whole year OF toll
and battle, varied In adventure that would oil
last to the army and navy, lei by two heroes
that have no superiors In any country, and
both OF whom still live To reap the rewards VI
their labors- Grant and Porter.
That ath Of July. 1867 thus became doubly
glorious In our country's calendar. twas not
for all of us 10 celebrate that day In wine and
rejoicing, for sons of " had a. content OUT
selves with water taken from those ,lirty ponds
about Jackson, pois"ne'i by the dead caIcssses
OF a fleeing army; hut others ot you did be-
hold our flag arise IN that white Court House
In vicksburg, which hal 81 long been the
target for our artillery; sni that other scene
Of exquisite interest. when every gunboat and
every steamer came pouring out from nook
and cave above an,l from the dark waters OF
the deadly Ya1s,, anI hurried down 10 that
leyee; wherr. Tor ~ long time. they had been
strlngers. have often thought In my dreams
Of the " Luminsry," bright asa fairy, deckei
of with her flags, ant streaming down the
turbiI waters OF the Mississippi. proclaiming
~ sh.s shnN FtS
free, and that her waters went unvexed 10
the sea-" You nor I. nor any of US, will
again experience the Joy of that day, and "
the Army Of the Tennessee hsd then gone out
Of existence. the people Of this country would
owe us debt of gratitude hard to repay.
But the enl was not yet.
Our ccmrade Army Of the Cumberland, far
away In the mountains of East Tennessee, called
for help and We hsl to 60. Through forests.
over rivers, through the mud, aud over the
rocks. We paused not ill Lookout Mountain.
with Its rebel batteries, frowued down upon us
and our belesgured comrades In Chattanooga.
You remember | was summoned aheai of you
TO meet Gen. Grant In ChsttsncocA, snd ! re-
gall my feelings. ~ standing with him 90 the
parspet Of Fort Wool. he pointed out TO mo
The circling rebel camps, With their ,p'cken
walking their posts 10 clear daylight Close up
to our line. then realised that our troops
unaccustOmei tO such c'oee quarters, only
awaited your arrival ~ cut the Gordian knot
and let his army free. So impatient vn he
that. after receiving his orders, ] hastened
back "a meet you at Bridgeport, pulling sn
oar mys,lf. one bright moonlight night, down
those thirty miles Of the river. and without al
lowing you moments re''' hurried you 1'r-
ward.
Yuu know the sequel. how We massed behind
those hills, and laid thst pontoon bridge below
Chcamaugs at night and hasiily marched to
the top of Mission Ridge. The prolopgatiou
of Brsrp's line Of investmsnt-clearly, there
was not room there for Us both and one of ~
had 20 Quit; We had not the remotess intention
of Going, and Bragg fsll into the very trsp
which our General hsd Get for him. lie drew
from his csntre, ~ against ~. 10 sneh an ex-
tent. that Thomas. With the Army OF the Gum.
berlsnd, burst out Of his istrrschnepts and
swept the rebel host % thsi Mission Edge,
And psused not till the broken frsg1suts had
escaped beyond Rinegold 0sp, leaving 10 mas
teru In the Tennessee valley. We, too, took
p.rt In the pursuit; and hndlng ourselves In
ibe omen country st Grsysville, and knowing
tbe p.,yerty Of the storehouses at Chattanooga.
I rot leave 10 conduct you up 10 the Havassee,
tbe very garden Of the old Cherokses, Whses
hopei TO hud meal for 700. and at lesst corn
staits for our horses. Bot We bod hardly
reached that river WIEN Wilson, the ever-nes-
seneer Of hard work. cams bearing lsttsrs to
me frpm General Grant saying that he hated
to call ms Zoe more marching. but there vss No
alternative.
We we're already Ghy miles iu the direction
Of Rockville, where Burnside vE elvssly BE-