The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-03

during the war, /, ss governor,
issued % ,SS4 commissions to officers of lndi-
ana regiments and batteries. A large pro-
portion of these were to I'LL vacancies, OF
course, occasioned b- death and resigna-
tions. Indiana troops fought during the
war in six states ard one territory, from
Pennsylvania to Texas. They were in 3O0
engagements, in TIE first battle fought, after
Mr.. Lincoln made his first call for troops, and
in the last battle of the war. The first was
at Phillippi, in Western Virginia. We
sShought at the time that il was very
large affair.
WE WERE ALL EXCITED ABOUT 1T.
remember that the bells of Indianapolis
were rung. When compared with the great
battles it was rather small affair. The
last battle was fought at Palmetto Ranche,
near the old battle field of Palo Alto, where
about $50 Indiana troops, belonging TO the
34th regiment, were in conflict with 500
rebels and battery OF six guns. 1t is inn
of the sacrifices made by the
people of Indiana in the way
of money and property entirely aside from
the taxes which we have paid and are paying
TO defray the expenses of the war and to
pay the national debt. The different eoun-
ties and cities in Indiana and townships
and tae smaller towns in
their corporate capacities voluntarily
contributed and paid much for the
relief OF soldiers families, for local bounties
and other military contingent expenses. As
shown by the records, this sums I'D So.
25S. $40. This docs not embrace tho contri-
buttons, made by private individuals, of
money and property for sanitary purposes
OF which We can get no accurate eSti-
mates. \ compilation has been made
by the adjutant general, $50 900 would
cover the voluntary contributions of the
LII IT, IT, H..
nothing ADORE other states, but L claim for
her as much. l do not claim that her
troops were braver and fought better
than the troops of other states,
but i do claim with just pride that
they were Just IS brave and fought as well,
and were everywhere as much distinguished
as the troops of other states. That is all
that these brave men would ask, and that
they claim as their right. When first be-
gan the appointment OF officers during the
war, not understanding the business, IT be-
ing all new to me as 1t was to most OF
you,
TRIED To PLEASE EVERYBODY
and bis friends, and l soon found that it
wouldn't do, that it was impossible. Then
determined that would follow the die
tates of my own Judgment, without fear or
favor, and do the best l could. didn't
know whether would get out of the war
with single. friend or not, but haG got 10
the point when / felt that it would
make no difference. / sometimes made mis-
takes; sometimes 1 appointed the wrong
officers from Indiana, as body, wo1ld COM
pare favorably with the officers from any
other state, and that so few of them dis
graced the flag and the state and dishonored
their commissions. OF the private soldiers
from Indiana 1 need speak no
annal of the war. Their praises are upon
every tongue. Whatever may have been
said of Indiana before that time, for the mis-
fortune of the second regiment In Mexico,
for which that regiment was in no wise to
blame, after the last war nothing has
day no state in the Union
stands higher than does the state of Indi-
ana. Every regiment to me had separate,
solemn history from the time it was first
projected, aud the tcst recruiting officer
was appointed until it was organized to take
the field, its battles, its victories ard disas-
ters, until its final return with
tbinned ranks, with comparatively
few stern, solemn men who bad
/ lett many OF their comrades in far distant
and unmarked graves. Each regiment
then, has distinct and specific history with
me. AS many of you will remember, it was
my custom whom regiment
to march to the Union Depot at the head OF
it. While the boys always went
cheering down the streets as if they
were going to a festival, was always op
pressed with the sad thought, how many o
these gallant men will return? / could no
1keep feeling my own responsibility for thu:
sending them into the jaws Of, death.
could only resolve 10 do all in M
power to provide for their com
fort in the field and bring them safely
back. But time does not permit me 10 dwell
longer upon this subject, althoughit is ful
} of so many sad, deep, touching recollsc-
tions. The war is over now. Here we are,
ten years afterwards, peaceful assembly
in community growing stroDgel
day by dsy, month by month
! full of prosperity, and with unboundeC
prospects for the future. If you were to fee
what you have gained b. what it has cos
compute the value of that which is gained
and yet when we do compute the value o
tnat which was gained, we reflect how
J cheaply, after all, it was purchased. AL
. though the flower OF the youth of Indians
went to the field, and although the mos
courageous and generous blood of the stat'
was she'd we should feel that the cost of th,
, liberty of .the country, preserved an6
7 united was worth all that, and what wa
3 lost from the other states. Now, my
3 friends, come to ask you another question
These considerations are all above th
, selfish considerations of the hour. Their
3 are
: QUESTIONS WHICH ELEVATE THENsELvE
! far above all parties and sects, an,
1 that dominate all parties aud all times
: Now, let me call your attention to one of tn
,, questions which it is important for you ant
your children. What was it that made tn
t rebellion possibl e, that made it possible il
FIVE months, to organize a confed
, eracy, embracing IL states ant
100000 of people which
took us four years to conquer with all th'
attendant sacrifices to which / have alluded
9 What was it that made it possible to organ
ize this hostile confeleracy? 1t was no
slavery alone. That was the great stimulus
it was the great motive. 1t furnished all tn
J passion. But that of itself was wholly in