The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-02-13
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Meeting Of the Veteran Heroes Of
the Western Army,

OF Tue veteran soldiers OF thc De
partmcnt Of the Cumberland met a
Cincinnati on tho 9th inst. Col
STANLEY MATTHEWS, delivered The
welcoming address. Aftor fow pro
liminary remarks, he said
II now bid you Welcome to The
pleasing duties Of our reunion, and
congratulate you on tho hearty and
enthusiastic response, furnished BY
your presence, 10 the summons which
has assembled you.
The most commanding element oi
our nature is, the capacity and
desire Of fellowship which we call an
instinct Of society. Tho impulses
which bind men together in associa
ton, are far stronger and deeper
than any tendencies to iudividualism
and insolstion. They are 80 active
and 40 universal, that they mako con
slant pro, isions for their own propa-
CATION and increase by turning what
appear to be the common accidents OF
life into means ofgrowth, as roses feed
on mir and earth, and light and decd,
so that the chance coming together OF
men often furnish a sufficient reason
for their coming together again.
How do these reasons multiply
when they have been associated, as
wo have been, for a considerable
length Of time and during many VIC
issitudos; drawn together by n cheer
ful act of choice, aud so voluntarily;
and yet undor the irresistible impulse
Of n sense Of duty and passion for a
cause, and so involuutnrily; impelled
by love OF country, lofty and
honorable ambition to defend and
protect her integrity nt home, to maiu-
tain her namo, her fame, her power
abroad united by a sonso Of danger,
which so far from begetting fear,
exalted courage and created the ca
pacity to defy and overcome il; shar-
ing in the common excitement of soci
city and supported by its sympathy;
compacted together in tho orderly
fellowship of military organization
and dicipline; acting as one man with
one will meeting the samo hardships,
oucouutoring the samc dangers, with
one object aud hope; and that accom-.
plishod aud realized in tho common
success; proud, in tho recollection oi
noble past. pobly done; rejoicing il
tho attainment Of tho general good
partners in each others honor and
reputation; soIrowiug jointly over the
fall Of brave companions and touched
with tho samo compassion for suffer.
ing survivors.
These arc the tics that bind il
perpetual fellowship, companions in
arms, enrolled in the rostor of the
Army of the Cumberland Cheers. |
We have not met to form new
association. We are gathered togeth-
or to put into form tho terms Of the
old one.
do not forget, and on this occa-
sion would not wish to appear to dc
so, that the memories wo arc met tc
hallow arc indissolubly blended will
tho sadness engondered by recol
lection of the nature Of tho contest
from which they spriug--o civil war.
"What is writ, is writ" We car
not alter the irrevocablc past. The
facts Of history must forever stand
Those who took arms against rebel
lion arc not to be charged as sharcrt
of its guilt; those who suppressed il
arc not to be called on for apologies
Its loss aud its shame rests whore tn,
providence orGod has fixed them, upor
tho heads ofits authors.
But, believing as l do, that tn,
cause for which our armies Tough
was and is tho cause of true republi
can liberty, tho viudicatiou of consti
tutioual government, that it may be
the guardian of the inalionablo right,
of universal man, and Of true christian
civilization, which pledges the strength
tho wclth, the knowledge of the whole
to the help of tho weak, tho poor, The
ignorent; that all may have the equal
it's of opportunity rejoice also, il
tho belief that the time will come, Ger.
tainly and soon, whom the loss and
tho shame Of the rebellion will bC
buried out Of sight aud memory, anC
whom in the common prosperity
which shall spring out Of its ashes
all classes and sections shall gladly
celebrate tho victories which destroyed
It. Great applause,
This must be the result, whatevc
be the fate Of parties or the course o
political events. These live an,
movo and have their being on the sur
face, Principle lies deeper, aud tn
two dcminantan indestructible ideas
which the success Of our arms has in
corporated into our history-thc per
petual nature Of our national history
aud tho sacredncss of individual free
dom-in spite Of oSstrueticns an,
reactions, aud without tho aid o
legislative machiaSry, will, like
Determined things to dos my
Hold, uubewailed, their way"
The terms Of tho circular | hav
read embrace the officers of the formo
Army of tho Ohio, the same is every
thing, but in uamc, with the army Q
the Cumberland, aud accordingly, tn
Committee Of Arrangements deem
within their province to extend
special invitation TO meet with us, t
Major General ID, c, Buell., the organ
ilcr aud commander Of the army o
the Ohio, LCheers, Itis no part o
my duty to pyesent a history IF either
That has been assigned to moro com
petent hands. But even in this salu
tation | ought not to pass, withou
grateful mention, the namo of tha
gallant soldier, who, from the mis-
taken judgement aud sights Of co
temporary criticism, must appeal 70
justice TO the better knowledge o
those whom he educated, organize,