The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-09-22

Geo. Bissell, w. w. Calhoun,
John Waddell, Hugh Buckley,
Jacob Rickart I'll. G. Skinner,
81. G. Odeli, J.P. Sutiiff,
Wells Miner, IL. w. Sherman,
j. H. Goddard, Ezra Spera,
A. T. WilIyard, L. N. Willyard,
P. d. Stephenson, c. j. Gillis,
P. L. Hunt.
A number of new members were
admitted, and dues collected from
former members. The following off,
GERS were then elected for the ensuing
year:
President-Morris Porter, Euclid,
Ohio.
Vice PresideDt-W. w. Calhoun,
East Cleveland, o.
Secretary-John 81. Oakley, Raven
ma, o.
Treasury-Hugh Buckley, East
Cleveland, o.
Executive Committce-Col. C. S.
Cotter, j. B. Russell and 81. p. Brad
ford, Ravenna, o.
It was decided to hold the next
meeting at Ravenna, ON the 4th of
October, 1871.
The letter from Capt. Dilger beiug
called for, the Secretary proceeded to
read it as follows:
SPRfNerIELD, Sept. 5th 1870.
My DEAR FRIENDS AND CoMRADEs =
Unforeseen events prevent me from
attending your reunion; feel sadly
disappointed. How dearly had
longed to see you again, once more to
shake hands with you in true old
style and to talk over the glorious
events which Providence permitted
as to take an active part in, and now
4 have only these lines to assure Won
of my unaltered affection and of nv
everlasting gratitude for all that you
have helped me, in your patriotic zeal
and unwavering gallantry, to achieve
In the great Struggle for the preserva-
ton of our glorious Republic. .as
Hardly able to understand and
speak your country's tongue,-infla-
enced and surrounded BY narrow
minded prejudices, purposely fostered
in the army we served in /; with no
one sincerely willing to assist me but
enough to deceive me in every in
stance, with no legal right to COM
mand authOfity-you must admit such
conditions were not very encouraging,
and confess now, that when I was
ordered to take command of the bat
terry, had no great confidence that
I would be able to organize the battery
and restore to you the true esprit OF
Republican soldiers, which had been,
as believe and know, purposely
ruined within the command. But
tried it. whether have lie N success J.
fui or not,I will not decide. One
thing however, l know, that, three
years after that day, when we parted
at Chattanooga, only q few. were
amongst you who went discontented
and grudging, and let me say to you,
that it was satisfaction to me that
these very individuals did not like
me. They may grudge on, if they are
gratified by it, whenever / did hurt
any one by harsh words, it was in the
heat of passion, in the excitement oil
critical moments, for the best of the
service and never to the benefit OF
myself. Many things have happened
for which had to submit to your Sc
we're criticism, but some of you know
and understand me when / tell YOU
| that was too proud to take revenge
for personal insults, when I had the
power to do SO and things remained
so unchanged. which ought perhaps
to have been altered in the verv inter.
est of the service. 1t is over;I have
forgiven and forgotten, follow my ex-
ample /; and now farewell all unpleas.
ant thoughts.
| Let Walker take his little trumpet
and give the signal to monnt, and ride
with me once more over the scenes Of
our military triuInphs. Let us star
again over the majestic blue mountainl
of Virginia and live over again thos,
idyllic times at Luray where under
Popes wise orders the turkeys Wer,
SO tender and the beef SO tough, thl
iapples so sour and the honey SO sweet
tlwhether there was still sweeter thing
to be had, do not know, but some o
you, I believe made practical expert
ments). Luray where we had to figh
!. that bloodless battle against iInagina
Try enemies on the other side of th
q Shenandoah, sweet times, how fas
they passed and how our luxuriou
meals soon were changed into baco
!; and raw corn when we hurried bacl
/ for the battlefield of Cedar Mountain
We arrived too late the day was de
cided against us before, and now fol
10 wed that fatiguing campaign alon
the Rappahanock, Sulphur SPRING
ii Beverly Ford, Waterloo Bridge an,
!, all the engagements of the commem
. iorable race with the enemy for Wasl
' ington. which ended with the secon
: Bull Run, and our retreat into tf
: fortifcations of the capital.
Il Do You remember our duel wit
the great rebel battery Oh the hills b,
;. hind Groveton, which we had
r figth for six long hours alone? Agai
: IL can hear your shouts, when, after
Il lang. contest, your well directed shell
!. blew up that rebel caisson, and SOC
I the timber followed; how cheerful
d did you shout and how deep did O,
g g chief buglar7 dodge his head, Wft
v an occasional twelve-pounder four
II its way into his vicinity ? Thr,
. years afterwards the bleached bones
u our poor horses gave still testimoI
it of the position we had SO manful
h held, and the second day do you re
ollect how we reraIsed that Aiaban
:, Brigade !? When the day was irrepar
i bly, lost, how we covered the retire
le of the army towards CenterviHe, on
d leaving our position to be the la
/. lcommand to cross the stone bridl
before its destruction We never b,
ls any credit for it but we have done
2, If the Generals have no memory
I, such events, the brave boys with
l. lrecollect. Of the gay day aroul
Washington--of the great meeting
cash near Arlington of the tedio
sft camp life at Fairfax / will not spea
m Nor will dwell on the time of n
removal from command and, the j
- trigues and eoAspirapies pesnltil
from that hated inactivity of the COZ
~ mand encouraged by the low al
d mean characters having control ov
II the same, directly and Indirectly.
:. did not care, Iiknew was right, b
felt sorry for your gallant batter
10 until soon after obtained as an amr
q, satisfaction, through the head of yo
N noble State, my commission. Now