The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-01
TIL; VETERANS.
Their Re.UniOn on Thursday.

Thursday last was very successful ana an ell
ioyable day. The day broke bright and beauti-
full and continued so all day, and, whilc OUT Ill
the sun, was as pleasant US could be desired Ill
the shade of the grove. The city was decorated
with the national colors; and from the middle OF
the morning till late in the evening the sound OF
brass and martial bands recalled the old well-re-
membered "war times" though the faces of the
people had little Of that deep seriousness that
characterized them during the earlier sixties"
By the morning freight came the Streator
guards about % strong, and later the Marseilles
guards appeared, (about 80 mcn) both compan-
les being in uniform and wearing the air of ''vets'
for had they not tried the horrors of grim
yisaged wars wrinkled front" at Braidwood.
Their appearance added much to the attractive
ness of the reunion; indeed, so far us show was
intended by the reunion, they were the only at
traction, as they marched through the streets
headed by Bach's City Military Band.
The morning was spent by the veterans proper
in visiting their city acquaintance. At noon a
basket picnic was the order of the day and din
Icr from II. Walthcr's abundant supply. There
were not a large number Of soldiers present who
had enlisted in La Sale Co. These are rapidly
leaving, working westward, their places being
taken by members of eastern regiments The
old 10th was as well represented as any, some 80
being present; we noticed representatives from
The eth, 18th, 18th, 20th oath, Goth, Goth, Seth,
SD Oath GOTH 10th and 105th Infantry; Sd, 4th,
9TH, and 18th cavalry; Houghtaling's, Cogswell's,
Gampbell's, Henshaw's and Miller's Batteries,
Artillery; and many others. The assembly sol
dicrs, militia, and spectators could not have been
less than 5000.
In the afternoon took place the literary cxcr-
ciscs of the day which were very interesting, d.
=. Hitt Esq, presiding. After vocal music by Il
quartette of gentlemen and ladies, Vice Presi-
dent j. c. Campbell, of Strcator, delivered the al
dress of welcome. he said:
Lad,s G,d Gentlemen and Fe'iom Soldiers: In the
name of the La Sale County Soldiers and Sail
ors' Association, | rise to bid you hearty wei
come to this our Fourth Annual Reunion.
To the patriotic men of all parties and nation
aties who, although not with us in the field in
The body, yet were with us in the spirit; who
toilcd necessarily with head and hand that We
might be fed and clothed and paid; whose NOR
al support was almost as vital as success III the
field; who chccrfully submitted to any and all
burdens imposed for the prosecution of the war;
who rcjocCd with unspcal<abe JOY in our victor
les and dcplorcd our defeats; whose hearts were
as true to the union cause and its defenders as
the needle to the work pole. To you we extend
hearty welcome.
To the noble women Of our country, whose
Grand and heroic devotion to the cause can never,
never, be appreciated; who, with agoniZcd and
breaking hearts dedicated to liberty your dearest
treasures yet blessed lis with Il smile rs we turn
ed our faces southwark and babe Us we valued
your love and esteem to uphold the honor and
glory of the odd flag" you, whose untiring and
unsefsh love and devotion supplied us through
sanitary and christian commissions, with thou
sands Of ncccssaries and dclicacies which only
wOmans love could provide; you, who at home,
on the battlefield and in the Hospital, tcndcrly
nursed and cared for the sick and wounded; you,
whose earnest and fcrvent prayers assembled I'M
ceasinEly like mighty river of supplcation to
The throne of the God Of battles" interceding
IOr our cause and for our safety and well being
You, mothers and wives and sisters and daugh-
-crs of the heroes who fell, whose hearts have
been riVcn by the steel OF despair; you, who were
with us heart and soul in our dangers and trials
whose letters of sympathy, lOvcand encoura cement
formed the silver lining to the gloomy cloud of
war; those tears of affection and pity shed in our
behalf, would, if collected from pool of radiant
waters, drawn from the purest and hottest foun-
aims Of human emotions in which the very an
gels Of mercy and charity might battle without
stain or bcmish; to you, my noble countryWo-
men, language fails 10 convey the heartfelt wei
come we as soldiers extend.
To the brave men of the confederate army, who,
Tor four long and bloody years CALAMITY and he
lOically contcndcd for what YOU believed a just
cause; 70 whose unilinChiug yalor and patient
der here assembled will bear witness. In this
blessed hour of peace and fraternity, when at last
the unnatural name of rebels and rebel states is
slowly and surely and let lis hope, forever sink
INC beneath the horizon of our pOlitiC,-tO YOU
We extend the welcome that brave men deserve
To the many distinguished gentlemen whom !
see around me, whose privilege 1t was Ia hoId
commissions from the government, To whom was
entrusted the management and care OF compah-
;cs, regiments and armies, whose names are hon
orally enrolled in the history of your country;
toyou, who have been our companions in toiland
danger and by your bravery ana AFFINITY lea us
through the very gates ii dcath 10 victory, we
extend as soldiers, welcome.
Buttoyou, my comrades of the rank and file, What
shall say? You, with whom side 10y side and
shoulder to shoulder, was baptized by the frey
ordeal Of shot and shell, the shrek of the wound
ed and the groan Of the dying, sprinkled with the
blood of heroes into the great congregation of
veterans of the Republic; you, who have endured
0ncOmplainingly the fatigucs of long and weary
marches in rain and in shine in heat and in cold,
frequently without food and without shelter;
who have year after year carried your musket
and knapsack without hope of reward or prefer
ment; who have exposed yourselves to and suf-
fered by the ravages of the deadly diseases Incl
dental TO southern climate; who have done
your whole duty in the camp and on the scout;
on the picket and in the deadly skirmsh lire;
YOU, who with youth and health and strength and
al that makes life desirable, have heard uuhnch-
ingly the order given to assault the encmy's line
of heavy entertainments and batteries and having
heard, have calmly obcycd: YOU, who stricken by
disease or torn by bullet or shell, are here to-G.y
living witnesses of the cruelty of war in voUi
wan and shattered bodies you, who through
storms Of deadly missiles amid the manglcd dead
and dying, where death stalked, fcrcelv abroad
like an arcnging angel, have, 10y your undaunted
courage and valor compelled respect and admir-
alton wherever our flag floats for the name of the
American Volunteer; YOU who are bound TO
'.cther by that great mysterious bond Of sympa
which who ln e 1FIt- 4,
cr in the same cause can feel:
Toyou all, comrades of the rank and file " a.,
my and navy extend comradc.'s cordjal gTect
ing and welcome.
am done talking OF the living ii me gran
the tribute Of q moment to tl,r oiorinu. dad I
there heart in all this as>cghlsec in which TIL
tendrils Of fond rem embrancc do rAt s,ill elm.
70 the form Of some. loved friend or relative VIII