The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-31
was one of the bravest of men, and the

was one of the bravest of men, and the
pattern of an accomplished officer. His
fidelity and kindness to his command
had won all the stern love which one
| soldier can bear another. On the spJt
where he fell a statue of him will be
erected next month, to which each of
you considered it privilege to con-
tribute your mite.
AS perhaps weary you with your
own eulogies, my comrades, / will re-
vert TO your further career but briefly.
After Gettysburg followed succession
of marchings and coJnter marchings
with occasional skirmishes until the bat
tie of Mine Run closed the campaign of
'63. In thefollowing May began the series
OF important actions, of the Wilderness,
Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania Court House
North Anna River, and Bethesda
Church. In all these the Reserves took
an active part. They maintained the
old lustre of their name undimmed.
They were fighting for the glory of
their yet unsuilied banner, and the re.
putation of our beloved Common
wealth.
| Their term of service had expired be.
fore the battle of Bethesda Church, yet
| those devoted men stayed to meet the
enemy once more, although the charms
of repose and the allurements of home
beckoned them from the field; Bethesda
Church thus bereft many q gallant Re-
serve of the opportunity of seeing home
and friends. After this action the Penn
| sylvania Reserve Corps withdrew from
the service, which for three years they
| had 80 honored, and sought that repose
which they SO richly merited. You re-
| member the rejoiclngs which welcomed
your progress homeward. AT Harris.
| burg you were hailed with public tri-
umph, such as greeted conqueror of
old. The arrival of regiment or COM
pany at town or village was the signal
of gala-day. Yet amid this Joy many
heart was wrapped in the silent dra-
perry of woe. The Reserves had gone
forth corps of fifteen thousand men,
and had dWindled to less than brig
ade. The spectacle of your wasted
ranks, where so many familiar faces
were wanting, struck to the heart of
many a mother, wife, sister, or child,
the keenest realization of bereavement.
have said that the Reserve Corps
left the service after the battle of Beth
esda Church. But some re-enlisted and
continued with the army of the Poto-
mac until the end. will not speak of
those who remained. We were few In
number, but we endeavored to MAIN
tain the honor of the Reserve banner,
and preserve untarnisbed the traditional
lustre of our name. AT Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Five Forks, and at Appo-
mattoX Court House, you were repre-
sented. Therefore, my comrades, the
Reserve standard was borne in every
battle fought by the army of the Poto-
mac, until the fall of Richmond gave
peace to our weary land.
/ have thus far traced feebly the ca
reer of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps
as illustrative of the conduct of our
Commonwealth in the war for the Uni
on. L have chosen that Corps, since it
is the appropriate one for the present
occasion, and as in it is found the type
and example of that vast body of self
contributed in the mighty contest.
Dropping then "the pomp and circuid-
stance of war;" let US view our native
State in its other and peaceful aspect. She
Is the geographical, political and moral
| centre of the United States. She stands
among the foremost in the arts of peace
as in those of war; and in material re.
sources she Is peerless. She is the cham
pion producer of the Union and pre-.
pared for any emergency in any respect.
Does thecountry need iron in its various
mountain that diversifies our rugged
landscape offers its priceless mineral
treasures. Coal to work it? The lavish
hand of nature has built the very foun-
datiOns of our broad surface of this sa-
BILE wealth. Our vast fields of teeming
crops and countless ffocks, abundance
for all, tell of the husbandman's thrift
and promise. The mariner treads the
deck of Pennsylvania oak, launched
| from Pennsylvania dockyards. Our
artificers apply their skillful hauds to
| everything that can minister to the
| need, comfort or luxury Of mankind.
of molten iron, the rattle of the shuttle
and the click of the reaper sunite in
triumphant chorus of varied Industries.
Let the preservation of those industries
and their multiplication be the study
and aim of every Pennsylvanian who
| loves his State and values her prosperity.
| We are community of workers. The
true Pennsylvania is the laboring
man. The brawny-armed and hard
handed son of toll, whether he pushes
the plane, Yields the hammer or follows
the ploW, is the representative of our
people. To the working man we owe
our prosperity and our position among
| the States to-day. His prosperity is
that of the State itself. His good should
| be our study.
Does the nation need men? Pennsyl-
vania's eight hundred thousand stall
wart sons of intelligence and patriotism
are at its service. What they have done
is the best guarantee of what they can
and will do. The soil that bred them
is not exhausted. 1t teens with such.
In State craft our Commonwealth has
furnished masters. In law, Gibson,
Tilghman and Sharswood have and viii
have their successors. Their mantles
will fall on jurist5 no less renowned
than they. In meeicine, our State pos
seSses the oldest and foremost schools Of
the continent. Colleges and univeisi.
ties radiate their benign influences from
every quarter of our territory. oar
Common school system Is the model tor
the world. 1t is voluntary as becomes
freemen. We have raised vast edura-
tional establishments where a grateful
State maintains and trains the children
of her fallen soldiers. TO Governor
Curtin we are indebted for this justice
to our comrades. His was the mind
that suggested, and the heart that
executed this scheme of practical era -
itude, His kindness and care for Us
and our comrades does not close wi n
, life, but extends to our children AT
ter us.
Our magnificent stretch of territory
affords almost every variety of clima'G
and production of the sot. The braciu1
; north and mellow south are repres' ~
ted within our distinct boundaries.
Every section has its peculiar excel
lence and modification Of wealth. The
northwest contributes with lavish hand
the riches of petrol cum. The west and
centre rejoice in wool and grain while
the whole State pours forth coal and
iron in profusion. The city of Philadci-
phia has more capital invested in Euu-
Atlantic, and Pittsburg, the Birming.
ham of America, is not far behind. The
busy hum of the factory and song Of the
: husbandman, are heard on every hill
; and in every valley throughout our
entire extent. Our northwest and
I southeast diagonal terminates at eacf
. extremity in two Of the finest harbors IL
! the United States-at Erie and Phila