River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-27
Colonel Villas.

Colonel Villas spoke on "Our First
Commander, General U. s. Grant" IN the
following words:
Your call invites me, sir, am con-
scious, to give expression to the pro-
found feeling with which every heart of
our assembled companions responds to
the stirring sentiment. But how shall
/ attempt TO choose, in the brief COM
pass the occasion allows, from the null
titudinous thoughts that crowd the
mind? Our 6rst commander, the Illus
trious General whose fame has grown to
fill the world! Nay, morel Our old band
of the Tennessee was his first armyl
What honorable memories of old asso-
citation, you, com panions, may now re-
call
How splendid was your entrance
on the scene of arms The anxious eye
of the North had long been fixed intent
ly on the eastern theater, almost un-
conscious of the new-tormed army of
the Tennessee and its unknown general.
Suddenly there fell on the startled ear
the roar of your fight at Donelson, and
your chieftain's victorious cry,-whicn
walked the country's heart to ecstasy,
and rung, like prophetic knell, the
doom our army of salvation bore to
rebels-"Nothing but unconditional sur
render"
Then, but few days later, there burst
at Shiloh, on his army of the Tennessee,
the fame and fury of
THE FIRST GREAT FIELD FIGHT
of the war. In desperate doubt, the
nightfall of the bloody day closed on the
unequal struggle. Higher, then, rose
the iron resolution of that great COM
manderl Urged by cautious counsel to
prepare way for retreat, with trust
in your valor, he gave the Characters
tic answer, ~ have not despaired of
whipping them YETI And loyalty, on
the morrow, was he INDICATED in that
reliance, as he rode before his soldlery,
driving the enemy over the victorious
field.
How 'arkly comes back in rec
objection, the long and dismal toll IN tie
J estilentlal swamps before impregnaole
Vicksburgl The sky was overriding
in gloom, and the soaked earth sunk
under the foot. Unlit by the fash of pow
der, unheralded by the noise of arms,
in miserable darkness, the last enemy
irresistibly piled his fatal work, chang
ing the river levees- where only was SOLD
ground for burial,-into tombs for our
trebly.decimated ranks. Then, again,nsw
light broke from his troubled genius on
the scene, and displayed the p sible
path for valor. Breaking past the
rebel battlements, and across the great
river, ne flung our army into the midst
OF the hostile host, like mighty glad
iator surrounded by his foes, choosing
no escape but in victory. There, with
fiery zest, ii fierce rapi iity he smote
the foe the crushing strokes of Port
Gibson, RAYMOND. Jackson, Champion
Hills and Black River. and seized the
doomed city with the unrelenting grasp
of his Army of the Tennessee. And
when, on the new birthday of the re-
public, her flag shook out its beautiful
folds above the ramparts OF that boast
ed citadel, the territory of revolt was
finally split in twain, the backbone OF
rebellion was broken.
Such, in glance, your splendid story,
companions, under our first COM
manderl
He and his Army Of the Tennessee
entered on the page of history together.
Together they achieved the first great
prophetic triumphs for the Union; to-
gether they followed and fought her en-
emies from field to Geld, pushing our
advancing arms in steady career toward
the Gulf. Nor were their efforts for
our country disunited, until, having dis
membered the vast rebellion, the begin
ming of its utter downfall had been seen.
GUIDED BY HIS GENIUS
your army had learned to fight only to
conquer. Parted from him, it forgot
not the teaching. Its march and war
struck every revolted state save two, but
never general anywhere lamented
over its retreat from the field of arms.
Joyfully may we point to that exalted
fame, which, rising ike pinnacle OF the
Alps, breaks through the armament
above to carry up the name OF the