The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-15
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The following p4Elotic iets<r, irvni
General GEosaE w. MoaeAS, of nj.
Vernon, Ohio, was read at the meetingof
the Mexican War Veterans, held in New
ark on the 4th of July:
Mt. VERNON, o., July 2.
DEAR SIR: Until this morning it had
been my hope to meet my comrades OF
the Mexican WAT at Newark on the
Fourth. Circumstances beyond my con-
troll will prevent me doing so. My COM
fort is that their disappointment cannot
be so great as mine.
Gratitude towards those who have
fought the battles of their country has
characterized all nations. In this respect no
people have been in advance OF our own
countrymen. The memory OF the soldiers
of the revolution is held in reverence,
and the surviving soldiers of the war of
1872 are everywhere treated with dlstln-
guished honor and respect Both enjoyed
the bounties of the Republic; while more
recently the Soldiers Homes" and the
schools for the soldiers orphans, together
with the pension list, attest the countrys
high appreciation of the services OF the
brave men who fought in the late war
for the preservation of. the Union.
1t is. however of the soldiers Of the
war with Mexico of whom desire now to
speak, for it was to meet them that was
invited to attend your celebration.
Our country had enjoyed the repose OF
peace for third of Il century, when the
invasion of our territory by Mexico IN
augurated two years of illustrious and
successful war. Two years of war, with
out the loss of single battle! Two years
of war, in which, as a rule, our soldiers
fought five times their own numbers!
Two years of war, in which nation of
eight millions was invaded by little
army which would not have constituted
an advance guard TO either of the great
armies during the grand and terrible
drama but So lately clescdl Two years
of war, which determined the boundary
of Texas; added New Mexico and the
vast dominion, including California, out
side ofthe Louisiana purchase extending
from the crest of the Rocky Mountains
westward To the sea! Two years of war
which commenced by finding the Mcxi-
cans naughty, Wanting and cruel enc
mics, and closed by finding the same
peope inviting their conquerors to re-
tain possession Of their country rs pro-
tectors and friends.
The republic with muniiicence
worthy of it, greatness, granted pensions
To the survivors of the wars of the Revo-
luton and 1872.
The remnant Of the veterans who con-
duered at PalO Alto and Rcsaca, at Mon
tcrlv and Buena Vista, at Vera Cruz and
Cerro Gordo, and in the rapid and bril-
liant series Of victories in the Valley of
Mexico, which began with ContreraS and
ChcrubuSco, and closed with MOlino del
Rcy, Chapultcpec, and the storming of
the city of the Montezumas, are they not
worthy of the same need of gratitude?
But few of these men are alive to 10y
the generous bounty Of their fellow citi-
zens. The great chieftainS of that army,
Taylor, Scott, Worth, Wool, Twiggs and
Kearney, sleep in their immortal graves;
but from their very tombS there comes
an appeal in behalf of thor old surviving
Comrades.
Ohio sent to the fields of Mcxiep, one
Brigadicr General, five regiments Of in
fantrv, and several independent compa-
MES of cavalry.
The accomplished General Homer died
ut Monterey; and Mitchell, Colonel of
the lSt Curtis, of the 3D. Brough, of the
4th, and Irwin, of the 9Th, good men and
true, all Slunbcr in their graves, and the
writer of this appeal on behalf of his
comrades, is the only survivor Of the five
Ohio Colonies in that war. 1t was his
fortune To command the "a Ohio, under
Taylor, during the first, and the 18th
regular infantry under Scott, during the
second Year of the war. Of the field
officers of the ID, two Of the three, and
of the 10Th, three out of the four are
dead.
OF two full companies sent to Mexico,
by Knox county, only eight men survive,
and the probability is that the same pro-
portion will hold good as to the soldiers
sent from YOUR own good county of Lick
ing, and it may he asserted with safety
that not more than six out Of every hun
drcd of the soldiers of Mexico are now
living. Grant pensions to the fragment
of once proud and victorious army, but
limit L. the company officers and their
men, and lei this act of justice be- done
before the survivors are added to the re-
mnrsclcSS roll of death.
The American p"opl" are as generous
rs they are brave, and Congress does not
represent them in denying IL the vctcr
ans of Mexico the same measures of graft
tudc which was extended Ia the heroes of
the revolution and the war of 1872.
Greet my old comrades for me; say
that though absent in person, | am with
them in the sacred ties which bind to-
gcthcr the hearts of those who served in
Il common cause. Truly yours.
GEORGE W. MORGAN.
CAPTAIN JAMES ii. SMITH, Secretary
of the Association of Veterans of the
Mexican War.