Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-11-21
GEN. NILES.

ciated-BiSma1ck O0ve1s Itself
With Glory and Cheers . Solmsrs
Heaxt-rThe. Suppse-Spedehss 10.
-Goa. Miles Rosponds to JosePh?
-ths.Young-1ka
4dttin9-B1u Heard Fro2-aad
Observation-Disclosures
His-Gun stu Ready to Ds6sDd His
Ftisuds-Tho Da1oe, &o.
ss3sl(0lday 1SInil@. :lsar1ing thst Gen.
Miles would bs in the city that evening,
somebody suggested tho idea that ,
banquet should be given in his honor.
: The idea was no sooner suggested than
It was acted upon. There WAS no time
to arrange committees; . few live men
took hold Of the matter. and al did
their level best to make the thing ,
success; ard in this connection We de-
sire to say that some who deserved
position in the programme may have
escaped attention, and in the hurry the
letters of invitation may not. have bsen
properly distributed, but NO slight was
intended, and every citizen Of Bis
narck who cared to attend would have
been welcome; and every gentleman
stopping in the city for the time being,
it was hoped would lend hand in our
efforts to show proper appreciation of
the worth and service of the guest Q!
the evening. OF course subscriptions
were invited to foot the bills, but this
was not intended as an admission fee.
The order of toasts was prepared hur-
riedly, the object in view being bright
lively speeches in response to toasts
appropriate to the occasion.
The letter Of invitation to Gen. hiles,
his reply and the progranmewere pub
lished in the last TRIBUNE.
ATOP. II. the citizeus commenced Ito
assemble and were presented to our
distinguished guest and to his aides,
Capt. Baldwin and Lieut.. Bailey, the
latter being on crutches.
Supper was served at 81 P. NJ, to
about one hundred and fifty. A refer
ence to the bill of fare will show that
it was IN elaborate one and would have
dens credit to any eastern city. Music
by tho 7th Galway band. wine and
speeches followed. The limited space
ct our disposal will not permit more
than . passing notice Of the speeches,
which, without exception, were lively
and we'll put, and met with meritsd sp-
proval.
Col. VIM. Thompson's response to
"The army" was magnificent effort
though rather lengthy for ths occasion,
and fairly bristled with good points.
Psrson Brownlow, in his palmy days,
could not have denounced his opponents
mere severely than this good old Demo
crat denounced the course pursued by
the majority in the lower house Of
congress in relation to army matters.
In this connection it is not inappropri-
ate to mention the fact that the SOL
diers of the 7th cavalry on their return
from . seven months campaign, escort
ing the Nez Perees, had their pockets
inside out in remembrance Of the empty
rewards rendered cur frontier protect
ors bY the patriotic coDgressmeD.
The Colonels speech was opened by a
high compliment to Gen. Miles, whom
he regarded as the leading spirit in the
much abused United States army.
The brilliant orator and 1excellent
gentleman, w. w. Erwin, Of st: Pau,
who is in the city on professional busi-
ness, was selected by the committee to
respond to the toast, "Gen. Nelson A.
Miles," but his absence is explained by
the following letter, which was read:
BISMARCK, Nov. 9th.-Gentlemen:
Finding myself suddenly indispesed
write you my request to explain to
Gen. Miles, the heroic chief Of the
army of America, the absence Of one
Of bis humblest but most devoted ad-
mi1ers. I entreat you, gentlemen, that
YOU will do as we'll by me as the Gen
sral did by the hope which the. dead
Custer left as Legacy to us all.
have the honor to remain; very
respectfully, your obed:ent servant,
w. w. ERWIN.
Learning of Mr.. Erwin's ipdisposi
ton but a few moments before the ex-
ercises commenced, the committee press
ed their chairman, Mr.. John A. StoJ ell,
who is always brilliant, into service,
and he responded with his usual felici-
ty, but briefly, of course, to the toast,
and did himself and the occasion
credit. While Gen. Miles was yet
blushing. being deeply affected by the
compliments Is paid him in Mr.. Sto-elps
response, Maj. Garland, who was ex::
Lected to tell the party something Of
campaigning, being absent, he was
called to respond to Joseph.
GEN. NILES SPEECH.
The General said he was taken COM
pletely by surprise. He had anticipa-
ted nothing Of this sort. HB dutie.
as = soldier had called hin to the city
and it surprised 8 veil = pleased
him to bs received in So entertaining .
manner. He complimented the. energy
and intslligsncS Of frontier speople, ex-
pressed surprise 1t the progress made