The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-05-23
THE stP is over.
But The Survivors On the Union Side
Like to Talk Aboutit,
And assemble TogeH.er TO ?ysPet-
ute The Memories of BY
Gone Days.
Unfortunately, However, the Rain
of Yesterday Put Out the Old
Time Camp Fire,
And the Re-Unioners Had TO Adjourn
to Laing's Hall to Hear the
Speeches and the
Music.
From Saturday Mornings DaiIy.I


Yesterday opened auspicIousIy enough, but
before the day mad faT advanced the gather
ing rain clouds, that before ten O'Clock settled
dull gIowering over the city, beiokened
the storm, which soon broke and sent sheets
Of rain upon the festival preparations win
which many parts OF the town were deckeu.
About hnIi-past ten O'Clock, when the nfs'
excursion train was about TO enter the Union
depot, the rain began TO fall, and from iha'
time at intervals during the entire day
TIE sHowERs CONTINUED,
prohibiting the anticipated parade and the
holding of the exercifes al the camp grounds
on the Fort Leayenworth reservation. AT
1910 an excursion train, consisting of eight
heavily laden coaches, arrived frem Kansas
city; shortly afterwards the Kansas Psciiic
came in with about as many, together with
the Topeka Cornet Band, containing excur-
sionists from along the line of that road; the
Kansas Central came in with Six well filled
ears, while the regular trains on the Rock
island, Missouri Pacific, X, c, ST. Joe * e. b.,
and other roads brought in many more.
There were fully
TWO THOUSAND STRANGERS
were in the city yesterday, many OF whom
remained over the night and will participate
the Missouri Pacific also brought up the Kan
sas City Central Rand, No. !. II being i'm
practicable to hold the exercises at the camp
grounds, Laing's Hall was secured, and
shortly after one O'Clock ii was well filled.
Ex-senator Caldwell presided, and Col. GILL
patrick made the welcoming address.
The stage was occupied by the regimental
band of the 2sd Infantry, the Topeka Cornet
no IN
speakers, several survivors Of the Mexican
war, and prominent gentlemen from this and
other cities.
In his address upon taking the chair
EX-SENATOR CALDWELL SAID:
SoIdiers and FelLO,0 Caizens We welcome
you most heartily TO our city and hope that
your stay maybe at once profitable and pleas.
ant We expected a bright day, but have
been most sadly disappointed. We invited
yon TO participate with us in our exercises OF
to-day, but the elements are against us. The
spirit of patriotism which animates us is
still bright and undimmed, however, and is
something the fury of the elements cannot
quench. The citizens desire to do all in theii
power to contribute to your pleasure, and we
cannot do more. will not detain you Ion.
ger, but will introduce TO you Col. Giilpat-
rick.
The. Colonel then came forward, after
Z music by the band, and addressed the assem-
b!age as follows:
COL. GILLPATRICK's ADIaREss.
FeliOl0 Soldiers and Felt0,0 Citizens:
II has been assigned TO me TO speak to you
assembled here upon an invitation sent, a
word OF wclcome-a brief and friendly greet.
ing. This 10 ali do; and in the name of all
the people of the place salute you.
II any come in Indulgence, perchance with
The Hlu oil ARTIFICIAL limb. cTutcl. cane,
may IL be said of the hospitable householder
of DeavenwOrth on this occasion that
"The broken soldier kindly babe to stay.
Sat by his IRE and talked the night away
Since the disbandingof the volunteer SOL
diery Of the war, thirteen iyears have passed,
and in tins time there has been no general
gathering of the old soldiers in Kansas,
though such reunions are common enough
in eastern and more populous States. These
nretlng years have borne away many most
dear to US IN life, and dimmed the recollec-
zion OF. the soldier life.
To brighten fading memories of the past
tbs meeting here was called, where soldiers
Of Kansas regiments and of other states, now
kinsans by adoption, or any such who chose
TO come, might re-unite, TO meet as soldiers
viii on THROUGH.
OF these reunions no carping critic can
complain. If SO, he'd keep asunder blood re-
lations, sever families and scatter kindred TO
Tie winds.
Ills well that we should cherish one anoth-
CT, Tor custom casts a chary eye on living sol.
dleTs- II has been written of the English
people, "again and again they have seen
their noblest descend into the grave, and
have thought il enough to garland the tomb
stone where they had not crow ned the brow"
Somehow the soldiers life and deeds shine
forth in fall orbed brightness only after
death.
Costly monuments arise above the soldier
dead, with names and noble epitaphs engrsv
ed thereon. Towns and cities vie one with
another thus To pay a lasting tribute 10 the
memory of The slain.
Artists al Florence, and sculptors at the
Roman capital ply busy hands. to feed this
patriotic zeal. And the impulse is noble
one, and VIII stimulate in future, other no
bic deeds. But IL should not be forgotten,
while honor is due to the dead, that gratitude
belongs To those who live.
IL were indeed, cool comfort for n needy
soldier, unhappliy without disabling wounds
and 50 not on the pension rolls-to point
HIM 10 a stone monument, TO feast upon an
epiiah.
This however, is the fashion of the past,
and of the present age. And soldiers leave
Ia poets and philosophers all such compli-
mentS. They acted well their part, bearing
The hardshlps of the war, and boast not of
me risks they run They ask no odds IN
civil life. The hand that held the sword,
lakes 10 the plough, the pen, and pruning
hook and wins.
You meet by natural laws, impeIled
lions OF the past.
How blest the secret Tie that binds
In union sweet according minds"
You Will recall inspired by che presence of
comrades OF the war, the scenes of camp and
field, OF victory and defeat, of harsiships on
the march, in camp and hospital; the cam
paign of the battle field, the funeral dIrge,
and then the hours of ease, your boon COM
panions and the gay spent festive nights, "
when TO drown the memory of the past, and
thoughts of dangers yet 10 come, you spent
thetime in reyelrv.
Well might these thronging recollections
stir up vicious habit of the past, and lead
TO wassail and excess, but now with those
who wear the blue ribbon we trim or foot.
steps To the peaceful temperate ways Of life.
Let us, at this reunion, make friends anew
make friends of soldiers never known he
fore, from different armies gathered here
Let the waIchwords of the Grand Army of
the Republic, "Fraternity, Charity and 10y
atty" be the spirit of the hour. Learn how
comrades in life's battle stand this one con-
graduate and that one cheer and, above all,
forget the selfish aims OF life, that for a day,
apart from toll and care, from thoughts OF Ia
Dor, law or politics. from mourning, mer-
chandlse money, each man may have a
merry time. Shake hapds sround,
"And wen talk n cap o kindness yet,
For the days or old lang syne."