Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-07-08

sabbath morning reigns over the spot
where ragged the fearful and deadly
struggle, for the possession Of our
mountain city.
North and East of Saunders ensau.
guined heights where their ashes and
smoking ruins told of wars fearful
desolation-are now seen the blooming
gardens and vine clad happy homes
OF "A coutented and prosperous people
But better-far better than all these the
discordant passions war engendered
which then ranked In the breasts of a
devided people; have vanished like the
smoke of battle that enveloped the
contending armies-and the blue and
gray sleep not more peacefully near
each other In our beautiful Cemeteries
than do those who surviving the strug-
lie then entertained different political
creeds-fghting under different ban
ners now labor side by side to secure
for all future time, the unity of this
vast national dOmain-to re-establish
good feelings toward each other, and
patriotic sentiments toward the Gen
eral Government, that we may be, not
only the freest and happiest, but soon
the wealthiest and most powerful ma
ton of the earth. Sir, on
this the anniversary of the
nations birth day, you are here sur
rounded by men from the ranks of
both armies, who have met not only to
celebrate this day, but to welcome you
back to the scenes of your toll and
battles.
You came among us in the darkest
hours of our history, and brought us
che protection of our country's flag,
and though in the absence of civil au-
thority you were clothed with almost
absolute power, you dealt kindly
and tenderly with our defenseless peo-
pie, whether of the one side or the
other, and of all our Generals you best
understood and appreciated our people
and their unhappy condition. And in
the name of that people | bid you
welcome.
And though your own State has
honored you by making you for six
years its Chief XecutiVe-and allow
US to hope they are soon TO add addi-
tional evidence of their admiration
and coniidence-yet, go where you
will, be your LOT cast wheresoever It
may, there will ever be waiting YOU
the warmest welcome to the hearts aud
homes of East Tennessee. Ladies and
gentlemen, General A. K. Burnside.
Mr.. President:
1t gives me pleasure to meet you and
your associates to-day. When / re-
ceived several weeks ago letter of
Mr.. Seaman, on behalf of your Union,
rendering me most cordial invitation
to join your association, to-day, in Gel
ebrating this our national anniversary,
determined to pass a portion OF the
day with you il possible, as had al
ready decided to make an effort to Wis
it my friends in Knoxville on this day.
When / found it was possible to start
| telegraphed him TO that effect, and
said 1t would give me great pleasure to
meet you and to speak to you not eX-
coed ten minutes. 1t now gives me
pleasure to fulfill that promise.
L congratulate you upon the
success which is attending your
meeting, and am gratified be-
yond measure in the reception given
to me by your Association, and the
thousands of our fellow-citizens assem-
bled in this beautiful grove.
Toyou, Col. Thornburgh, allow me to
present my thanks for the kind words
you have spoken to me. lam not enti-
tied TO the full measure of praise that you
have bestowed upon me. To my com
rades, who, like you, were gallant SOL
diers in the field, that praise is due for
the work done in East Tennessee. 1t
is now near eleven years ago that /
crossed one of the great chains of
mountains by which you are surround
ed. Then was at the head of an armed
host, not for invasion, but for pro-
lection of your people. \ long time be-
fore was ordered to a command in the
West, my heart had been moved by the
many grand examples of their patriot
ism, and as soon as / assumed COM
mand of the Department of the Ohio,
arrangements were at once inaugurated
for march into East Tennessee. At
my headquarters in Cincinnati, the
refugees from this section were con-
slant and welcome visitors. They were
of infinite service to the government,
not only as advisors, scouts and guides,
but as disciplined gallant soldiers,
making up, as they did, some of the
finest regiments in the army. Their
devotion to the cause, and their thor
Ough cooperation with me in all my
work in this department, have endear-
ed them to me and their other comrades
dC1O L AM Bidl W nlttI
so many of them here to-day. The
survivors of the gallant old Ninth and
Twenty-Third army corps join me
in friendly greetings to them. Com
iined, they formed a command of
which any General might be proud.
i will not attempt detailed account
of their services here; they are as
fresh in your memories as in mine.
We have but to recall Cumberland
Gap, Blue Spring, Campbell Station
and Knoxville to have their services
vivMly before us. But on an occasion
like this, it is not meet to dwell upon
the details of these conflicts. We
should rather draw the curtain over
them. Let US unite as brother freemen,
ia thanking God that these conflicts are
over; that our country is again at
peace; and although some of the sad /
dening effects of the war are still APP
parent, let us hope and believe they !
are rapidly passing away, and that the /.
coming generations will only remember |
1t as aconHict between their fOrefathers, |
who were brothers, and in which equal |
gallantry and devotion to the cause /
for which they were fighting, were
shown by both sides. BY this l do !