The Ottawa free trader., 1875-09-04
MARTIAL GLORY.
sEcoyp ANNUAL REUNION OF LA SAIL
COUNTY SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
Sn Immense Gathering at La sale ON
Tuesday.
The men did cheer, tie boys did shout,
The women they did all turn out,
As Johnnie cane marching home.

we can say nothing, our history commencing at
Ottawa xt 10 O'clock when the Ottawa delega.
ton, headed by Bach's full band and under es.
cort Of the Streator Veteran Guards, proceeded
ND Columbus street to the Rock Island depot,
where, at 1880, they took special train for the
front. Seneca and Marsellles turned ont about
one hundred and ffty strong ana the Ottawa and
Streator delegations swelled the number to three
hundred At Utica some thirty more joined the
party
Arriving at La Salle we were met by the Com
snittee of reception and la Sale Light Guards,
who escorted the party to the Light Guard
armory, where we received orders to break ranks,
Being in q strange land and on good behavior
we proceeded to perform the joint duties OF sol
der and reporter, and organized squad for for
aging. After reconneitering two hardware
stores Snd a livery stable, our squad brought np
in the rear of the Central Hotel The smell Of
rations made them frantic, and a charge was
made on the kitchen upon full galiop. The
venerable cook looked grun, several pretty
waiting girls" volunteered the information which
was at the time considered Of much Importance,
viz.. that " the whole of ;he big guns are eating
by themselves in the dining ROOM" ballot
was taken and il was decided to eat likewise
There was some strategy, and then, with due
iormality the squad were ushered INTO the pres
ence of the elect. The table around which were
seated the heads of departments was gorgeously
decorated with posies and glassware. At the
head thereof sat the war worn veteran the hero
of hundred battles from whose brow a halo Of
lao, or,I , ITn,o
we have since learned that we were mistaken,
and that it was Gallagher, Of the Peru H0uid,
dressed up in clean shirtD. Opposite at the
other end Of the table, in all his glory, sat the
counterpart Of Governor Tildcn Of New York,
his excellency the Honorable Mathew Noonan,
Mayor Of La Sale Promiscuously scattered be.
twixt the two great lights were tapers of less
or degree, yet all blazing as grandly as either of
the other tallow dips There was gentleman
from Springfield, whose snowy beard and wrin-
lled brow told plainly that his remaining days
were few, whose mind once strong is growing
feeble, and whose power ONCE supreme is, like
the sands of the glass, fast running out. That
was Bcveridge, who is popularly supposed to be
the governor Of this great state. On the other
side Of the table was a contrast. With head
erect, his brilliant yefashing with Intelligence,
and cheek suffused with the blush of boyhoods
IGodcsty, sat our Congressman A. Campbell. His
bearing stamped him plainly as a man Of money,
and his wit kept the table in an uproar. At his
right was Capt. Cogswell, who "cant talk, !" but
who did fight and was now charging the carcass
q war worn rooster with becoming vaorl At
his left sat the Adiutant General, but owing to
having left his shoulder straps at home, and Beal
refusing TO lend him his, Ire had the appearance
of being little of, \ member Of the feeble
minded commission named Reynolds was thrown
IN for variety's sake, and last but not least was
H'obson, of the British navy. His department
was excellent and reflected great credit upon
the party. So much so indeed that sever h'after
her Majesty's name will be held in high repute" "
WE pINEp.
In connection with this repast we desire to say
aword forthe Central. Always courteous and ac-
commodating, they rushed in green corn and to.
matoes until we regretted that we were not q
buffalo. The dinner disposed Of, the days do
inss proper commenced
THE PROCESSION
was formed in the following order:
Orators and distinguished persons in car
riages.
Martial Band
Strcator Veteran Guards
Bach's Brass Band
Old Battle Flags.
Mexican Soldiers.
Ottawa Delegation.
Soldiers Of the Late War
npip nft tI,, "
carriage.
Peru Band
Latalle Light Guards.
Troy Grove Brass Band.
Catholic Temperance Society in Regalia.
La Sale Brass Band
Ancient Order Of Hibernians
Total Abstinence Band,
Turner's Society.
Lostant Band.
La Sahe and Peru Fire Departments
Citizens in Carriages
The procession was over a mile in length and
presented very imposing appearance. Il pro
ceeded through the principal streets, and theme,
west of the city some two miles to the groy,
where the speech making was gone through
with. Addresses were made by Governor Bever
idge, Adjutant General Hillard, Gen Reynolds
Capt Martin and Lieut.. Murdock, Of the Strea
tor Guards, Rev. ]. n. Smith, of Mendoza, ant
Maj. Watson, occupying in oll about three hours
The speeches were well prepared and delivered
in manner to please the vast throng. They
were notable as conceived in good taste, de
void of politics, and Of character TO encourag,
the annual reunion Of soldiers and their fami
lies. There were present representatives Of tn,
following organizations:
Representatives Of the lst III. Infantry Of Mex
ican war fame, and the following of late eiyi
war:
lith. III infrantry iith III. ingantry
18Th ." SD
|. l4th 5sth 4"
both 56th "
Z5d " Gath
4th I'D Z"