Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-11-26
dwelling tho Thomas Statue.
THE DEAD HERO EULOGIZED.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The Soci-
ETY. of the Army of the Cumberland
had business meeting this forenoon.
Upon the platform were Gov Matthews
and Gems. Hartranft, Butterlield and
Kimball The meeting was called to
order by Gen. James A. Garfield, who
stated that owing to the illness of the
President of the Society, Gen. p. IL.
Sheridan, he was unable to be present
Gen. JEFF c. Davis, senior Vice Presi-
dent, was unanimously elected pre-
siding officer, and made brief address.
District Commissioner Phelps bid the
Society. welcome to the city. Gen.
Slocum followed with short eulogy
upon Gen. George II. Thomas, whose
name would go down to posterity sec
ond to that of no man who ever trod
the earth. A communication was read
from Gen. Sheridan, expressing his
deep regret at his absence. Commit
tees were appointed to nominate Off
GERS of the Society for the coming
year, to decide upon the time and
place for the next annual meeting, and
to select the orator for that occasion.
The procession was composed of FIVE
divisions, and was one hour in passing
a given point. Gen T. T. Crittenden
was Chief Marshal, assisted by the
following Marshals of Divisions, each
of whom was attended by brilliant
staff: Generals r. d. Mussey, IL. V.
Boynton, z. A Carman, b. f. Graf
ton and Col S. r. Hamill. Upon ar
irving at the Circle where the statue
is placed the ceremonies of unveiling
were begun by prayer. Hail to the
Chief" and Star Spangled Banner"
were sung by grand chorus with
band, drum corps and artillery accom-
panimcnt The statue was then un-
veilcd, people at a distance being in
| formed of the fact by salute of thir-
teen guns from Fort Whipple. The
Grand Army Hymn was then given
by q chorus of 100 male voices, sup
ported by military bands, drum corps
and artillery. At the conclusion of
the hymn, Stanley Matthews delivered
an oration. The presentation of the
statue was made as an Offering from
the Army of the Cumberland to the
Nation, and President Hayes accepted
it on behalf of the people of the Uni
ted States. The President said:
SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE.
ain the name of the people of the
United States / accept this noble
statue, SO worthy of its subject, erected
in honor Of Gen. George Ii. Thomas by
his comrades of the illustrious Army
of the Cumberland.
The exercises at the Circle occupied
two hours. 1t was estimated that
$4,000 people were in the throng that
surrounded the enclosure. A general
holiday was observed throughout the
city, and the entire populace appeared
to be in the streets. The military
features of the procession surpassed
anything that has been seen in the city
since the grand review at the close of
the war. The procession on the way
to the Circle passed the White House,
where the President, Secretary Sher-
man, Secretary Evarts, Secretary Nc
Crary, Secretary Thompson, Secretary
Schurz and Postmaster General Key
occupied seats upon platform erected
for the occasion. The band at the head
of the procession played "Hail to the
Chief" The Capitol, Treasury De-
partment and several other buildings
were Illuminated with electric lights
this evening, while Pennsylvania av-
enuc was ablaze with gas and densely
crowded with people. Rockets and