Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-10-05
NUMBER II.

NUMBER LIZ.
forces was characterized by bravery un-
paralleled. Up to within forty feet Of the
moat, which you see there surrounding the
fort, they came with daring so grand that
| ! felt that they were too brave to be shot
by by our forces.
"The history of the battle has been writ
ten, but the whole story has never been Civ
en-. 1t will be the duty of the survivors of
that battle to prepare and give to history this
whole story. We have been lrlnching to-
gether and talking over the scenes and incl
dents of that day. The battle was fought
| against the orders of Gen. Rosecrans. we
were ordered to evacuate the fort and fall
back on A. j. Smiths command at Mineral
Point and DeSoto, but decided to fight lit
tie before we left. Before we had gotten
| orally felt, though not expressed, that we had
better obeyed orders. Gen. Tom Ewing was
| ranking officer; was next in rank"
Here the speaker referred in high terms of
praise to Col. Murphy, then Adjutant, who
took charge ofiItheiartillery, and to Lieut.
Col. Maupin, Mat. Emerson, Quartermaster
j. w. Fletcher, Capt. Lonergan, Mai. Wilson,
Capts. McMurtry, Powers, Montgomery, Lu-
cas-, Foster and others, constantly referring
to incidents of the battle. He had the rapt
attention of the audience for some time.
Then turning to the surrounding mountains
and pointing to Pilot Knob as the largest de-
posit OF solid iron in the world, drew an in
spring picture of the view from its topmost
peak, and IN strain of lofty eloquence made
beautiful picture Of the coming time when
the industrial resources Of that region should
be utilized, and hoped that annually the men
who had fought there and their descendants
after them might meet and tell the story of
the fight, and then and there form new hopes
OF the victories OF peace. They would thus
| annually together re-enlist in the service of
God, of humanity and OF our common coun-
try, rejoicing together in the fact that we
were made nation, and were marching on
together to win the victories Of peace, rapid
ly fastening on to be one Of the great ma
tons Of the earth.
Tremendous applause rewarded the speak
er at the, conclusion of his remarks.
COL. DAVID MURPHY
was then called for and in response said:
COMRADES, LADIES AND FRIENDs-We
have met here in the time of peace and pros
perity, not for the purpose OF casting dark
shadow over the beautiful picture Of to-day,
or to rekindle the passions and enmities of
eighteen years ago. II there Is any purpose
| in this commemoration it is to renew and
foster the associations begun and maintained
| in an era Of war and danger and from the
experience had in those days be prepared to
so conduct our deliberations and actions as
| to avoid every necessity for repetition OF
| the trying scenes and hardships SO insepara-
BILE from disturbed condition Of society.
Surrounded, as we are now, by your wives
and children there Is every incentive offered
and presented to impress these lessons upon
you. But these days of peace may not last
forever. Every nation and land Is in con-
| stant dread Of assault from other inimical
| nations and powers, and we must not feel
| too secure in our strength and powers of re-
| sistance. Our large cities have been made the
theatre OF strife and blo0dshed, caused by
disregard of the lessons, one of which was
taught on this very spot, and It deyOlves up
| on every citizen to keep his armor bright.
We are here with our hearts filled with pa
triotism and love for the dear old flag that has
so long withstood the battle and the storm,
| and which the good people of Pilot Knob and
| Ironton have once more, after eighteen years,
thrown to the breeze. My friends, the office
Of citizenship has its responsibilities as we'll
as its privileges, and II the Office is to be pre-
served and handed down to gosterity. It must
be guarded with great jealousy and care.
Let us not by any neglect or Indifference to
| the responsibilities Of this life become an
other Egypt, to become the
! PREY OF ANY GRAsPING POWER
desirous Of extending its territory and abb
sorbing the wealth of the world. There is
every difference between this grand nation
and the insignificant principally Just men
toned, not on account OF numbers, because
the battle is not always to the strong, but to
Pilot Knob teaches that a few in numerical
strength may hrayely defend themselves
against invasion and assault. The strength
of the nation is in the love and affection of
the people not only for the country and the
flag but for one another, as fervently and as
well. Patriotism is the strongest arm Of the
nation, therefore can realize why it is that
under the call of patriotism you, my dear
friends, have abandoned your fields, your
workshops and other places Of business and
Sfy1Hv tn fhis
where the people of this State assembled un-
der the call OF duty and patriotism and sue
cessfully defended this fort for two whole days
against force equal in numbers to the army
which England has just utilized and modified
for the conquest Of Egypt. May we not then
compare the events of to- day with the records
of the past, and retire to our homes with full
confidence in the ability Of our people to pro-
tect our country, our State and people from
all assaults, come from where they may7
CAPT. WILLIAM T. LEEPER,
Of Wayne county. was the next speaker, and
was followed by Capt. Mills and Gen. John
Mcneil, who were all favorably received.
A letter from Gen. Thos. Ewing was read
by the Chairman:
NEW YORK, Sept. 81, 1882.
DEAR COLONEL-I have delayed answering
your letter OF 3Oth ult. in the hope that might
see my way clear to say that would attend a
celebration at Pilot Knob, should one come off
on the 9th inst. / find now that could not
go under any demand, however imperative,
and hasten to advise you of the fact. / have no
papers here from which could rewrite the
story of the campaign. My official report
gives it somewhat in detail, but omits much
that would be interesting to hear at such a
celebration as that proposed. II the sug-
gestion should be carried out this year please
explain my absence and silence and promise
for me that on some like occasion hereafter I
will make it a point to be present and saw
what may think worth saying, face to face
with my comrades in that memorable fight.
Sincerely yours, THOMAS EWING.
The meeting then adjourned, but many
fingered on the place renewing old acquaint-
ances. The excursion was in every sense a
most successful and satisfactory one to all
concerned, and was marked from beginning
to end by the utmost harmony and good feel
Ing. Although there were over two thousand
persons, many of whom were women and
children, within the fort, OF different political
sentiments, yet the blue and gray affiliated
in the most cordial manner
The excursionists then dispersed; many Of
them climbed Pilot Knob and in the evening