The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-16

/ ing, the first battles IN the West, The
eager demand for men, the victory o
Fort DoDelson. the field Of Shiloh
the opening of the Mississippi, the
siege of Vicksburg, the surrender o.
I the rebel armies, the joy of thai
turned to grief bv the death Of the
Nations Chief, the final march &c
Washington, the grand review at the
nations capital, the muster out: AL
J of these events were passed IN review
I by the speaker.
Gen, Charles Croft then delivered
an oration OF over an hours length
on the Army of the Cumberland. His
discourse was principally devoted to
the consideration Of the following
topics:
First--The prominent characters
tics Of tie rebellion. hA
Sec6ud-Tne origin Of the Army of
the Cumberland, and its exploits in
the great struggle for the life of the
Republic.
Third-Its peculiarities as distinct
army in the field.
Fourth-The teachings of the war.
He briefly alluded to the long chain
of causes, stretching through more
than a generation, which had estrayed
the North and South. It was not any
single cause which brought about the
war, but a combination of many. The
most noteworthy o. these causes was
the persistent effort made by the
South so to shape the Federal leglsla-
tien as to foster and extend the lnsti-
tuition of African slavery and to es-
tablish certain political dogmas known
as the doctrine of State Rights. This
rebellion, stripped of all political
aud other surroundings, was an effort
on the part of eleven States Of the
Union, by force of arms. to throw of
the Federal Government and estab-
lish a confederation which should
perpetuate the barbarisms of African
slavery and perpetuate the heresy of
State rights. Itwas fratTicidal war;
the hand of the brother was arrayed
against brother, and father against
son; it was a war of sentiment: the
South was fighting for cherished set
OF social and political ideas,
which had been instiiIed from
the cradle upwards, and the
North at the start centended for
the integrity of our Government, but
as the contest deepened, the freedom
of the negro assumed a prominent
position, and before the war closed
this became a ruling sentiment.
The Army of the Cumberland had
its origin as follows: The germ of the
Army of the Cumberland consisted of
that portion of the Federal sOldiery
first organized at Louisville, KY, in
the Summer of 1861, by Gen. Robert
The bulk Of these original
troops were Western volunteers,
chiefly from the States af Ohio, Indi-
ana and Kentucky. Gen. Anderson was
succeeded in command by Gen. w. L.
Sherman, and be by Gen. Buell., who
was in his turn succeeded by Gen.
Rosecrans, and finally Gen. q. II,
Thomas became its leader.
Gen. Croft minutely detailed the
operations of the Army Of the Cum
berland from the beginning to the
close of its exertions.
Gen. j. d. Cox spoke for the Army
of tho Ohio. Although he was here as
the representative of the Army Of the !
Ohio, he would speak only briefly of
W hat related to that organization, but
hasten to the inquiry how an army
society may be made to produce some
desirable results, by throwing light on
the history of the war or by thor
ough and scientific criticism of its
events? The Army of the Ohio which
last bore that name was organized In
the Summer OF 1863, and consisted, at
that time, OF the Ninth and Twenty
third Corps and q Cavalry corps, be-
sides the earrisOns of troops in vari-
Gus parts Of the Department. It's
regiments came from Ohio, Indi-
ana, Illinois, Kentucky and East
and during the first
year of its new organization,
had the benefit of the systematic dis
cipline of General Hartsutf. After
brief period it passed under the con
troll of Stoneman; and finally, aad
just before the opening of the Spring
Of 1864, the present Secretary of War,
General Schofeld, became its perma
nent commander.
General Cox then traced the fight |
ing history of the Army oil the Ohio /
from its Inauguration to its close. 4
His Grafton was more than an hour 4
in length.
General Cogswell spoke for the Arsa
my OF Georgia. The following is the /
opening paragraph:
More than three years and half have
now passed since we laid down our nrns I
and were finally disbanded. iuce turn I
ing from the arts Of war, we took up tho i
better arts of peace, and although now 4
neither war nor run1Ors OF war disturb rs, &
but peace rather is every where assured, (
and the old dag. more than ever. now the /
and valor. floats under every sky 4
respected and unassailed. Yet are ]
we mere, former mem bers or Sherman'S 4
aFUV- once assem- DiAI at the call
our commanders; but ft is to meet as cftI- I
zens, quietly and ina peace, in a loyal city, I
tde musket, no Tumbling of the artillery. 4
no wagons blocking uD the roads, and Z
with neither war nor paDoply OF war. We 1
meet not because we are s9l3iers, but be- /
cause we have been soldiers, and because. I
here and at this time, We want to revise /
the associations OF our past: TO recall to (
memor. the experienceS of catnD. the
Divoaac, and the lield; to Strengthen those I
which are only knorn n those +
who have fought By eacG others sides ana Z
which are not broken by every breeze /
that blows. We maet 10 refresh our 4
memory of those deeds which so TO make I
up the brilliant record OF our Co ntrymen I
in arms on so many fields of bate; we +
meet TO bring again to mind ttfat com /
nu nion of exposure, OF harasnIps. OF OAR 4
Ing, of pleas are and OF pain. of glory and /
of V Glory, which has already made us, 4
present and absent, brothers foreyerm ore. /
Gen. CogsweIl detailed the maren to
the sea, IN Which this army bore a 1
part. This was followed /
by music by the band, and taps by
the drum corps, and then the audience /
--latest by Atlantic Cable. !
The Insurrection in Cadiz