The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-30

beginning anu contemplate The events, III uocs
seem rs though time enough had passed to
have made an ordinary century.
You came here to-day to pay your respects to
the soldiers ofthe 11th regiment. You came
not so much to refresh your minds on the
events, but to honor that regiment | came
for no other purpose but tor the respect and
love | bear it and l could not decline an
invitation to meet them once more. In my
minds eye | can see the regiment now as it
was at Springfield and as it marched from
place to place south. i can almost see the
stately form of mild, modest Wallace Tap
plause). We were most intimate, meeting dai-
ly. From April, 1861 we were often, often to-
gather and knowing HIM as did | came here
to pay my respects to his memory. When l
think of him dead, and Ransom dead, and
Logan spared, Tillson spared, ana Oglesby
spared, ask why should it be? And yet, l
thank God that am spared to be here today
to speak few words In their praise.
How fearful a thing would 1t be to ask you
young men before me here today to walk out
upon the streets and be shot down for some
person, yet not one who was killed of that
regiment but died for you. What more can
man give TO any cause than his life? Oh!
how contemplate, sickening disgusting, Is
the poor miserable idea of sacrificing prop
erty, wealth or position, compared with the
| loss of life! Who does not feel the great,
precious boon of living. Wellve from morn.
ing to night, on the perpetual gu cire to pro-
tect our lives. lie alluded to the horrors of
war and referring to the prayer today, who
did not say amen in their hearts, that war
might cease and peace remain forever. ZAP
plause). We still feel the effects of the war, in
The memory of those loved ones we have lost.
Though over ant at this terrible cost it has
brought us united country. 1t is the voice
Of every man and woman that ''the Union, it
must and shall be preserved"
The men oi'the eleventh. actuated by this
sentiment, went into the war, not for wealth,
position or power, but saying tiguratively
you shall not rend our Dag or ruin the ma
ton" (Applause)
This was the point of dispute-to divide
and ruin the country. 1t was not done, and
is now firmer than ever, and respected by all
nations. 1t stands only to confer happiness
upon women and men. 1t tramples on no
human right; its sole and universal purpose
is to confer happiness upon mankind. Zap
lplause.) l do not care who may run this
government, whether it may be the republi-
can or democratic party,-whoever it is II
must preserve this idea They must make
the people happy.
The speaker gave a review of the exploits
of the 18th at Fort Henry and at Fort Don.
elson, and described battle as being differ
ent from tea party. Laughter) There
were many soldiers who would have been glad
--devillsh glad.-if there had been no battles
Uaughter.)
In recounting the scenes at the battle OF
Fort Donelson he mentioned the wounding
of Gen. Logan, who was shot through the
arm, and the bravery and noble bearing OF
Gen. Wallace, and the not less heroic Ran
SON. He paid high tribute to Gen Wallace
as subordinate officer. | always consulted
Wallace, and as l repeatedly told him, and as
| say here, frequently regretted that Wallace
was not above instead of below me in com
mand (Applause) He mentioned the fail
ure of their ammunition in the fight at Donel
son. We had forty rounds of ammunition
each, besides every soldier haG forty or fifty
more rounds IN his breeches pocket, but ear
ly in the afternoon our ammunition was all
gone. He explained how the weight of the
rebel attack fell upon Wallace's regiment
and how he saw the brave Ransom urging
bis men, where there could be no other result
than universal and certain death. He de.
when Ransom brought to him the fragments
of his noble regiment. / saw Wallace for the
last time about ten o'clock in the morning
of the fight at Pittsburgh Landing. He had
lust been put in command of division of ten
J or twelve regiments. One of the most noble,
one of the purest one of the best men l ever
knew, on that day, booted and spurred, fell
dead upon that field. Oh! why should he
have fallens Had he lived he would have
been shining mark in the war, and remem.
bered and honored by his state He gave his
life to his country,-a noble sacrifice in a no
BILE cause. (Applause) He fell in defence
of principle, as did his brave companions.
II was devotion to an idea, to his country.
Will any man ever so far forget himself as TO
speak an unknd word of a soldier who serv,
ed IN the war or gave his life to preserve the
Union. (Applause) There is one recon-
pense Tor all that we. soldiers have suffered.
1t is gratitude of men, the love and appro-
baton of women, and the qualification of
knowing that we have labored and sacrificed
and ventured our lives for the country. Hap
Ply and proud should you of the 11th be when
, you look back at your splendid, spotless
record. Now you are enjoying the fruits of
your labors. You have liberty, prosperity,
peace. One or two things | want now. |
am not content with an open declaration OF