Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-01-19
THE GRAND ARMY,

The Randall Post of the Grand Army
OF the Republic met at Freeport at an oys-
ter supper with invited guests. Speeches
in behalf of the ladies were made by Mrs.
l.. NJ. Fay on presentation of flag and by
Mrs. ]. Carter. who presented six dollar
reference Bible. After the election OF Off
GERS, addresses were made by Esq. Bierly,
of Pemberville, Stahl, Fay of Montgomery
Schipy and Thompson Of West Mill Grove.
BY the way, Mr.. Editor, is the govern
ment of the United States doing what ought
10 be done for the boys who fought victor
iously for the preservation of the Union :?
Some who tiled to get pensions were sub
Jeced to hotter fire than at Shlleh or
Gettysburg. To he put on trial for months
and yearS--some for four years-getting up
papers, opening their mouths 10 show their
who can not tell, however Rkillful, show
many aches, leaving out of count heart
aches and rheumatic pains tliev feel from
forced marches, sleeping out doors in rain
and snow, the wear and tear of battles in
leaden rain of iron hail liable 10 lie riddled
every moment, feeding on army ralions,
hardlack and saw.belly, poorly cooked
and some times glad to get mule meat, or
slarve. These citizen soldiers leaving their
wives and little ones with all the comforts
of home, right in the face and eyes oil
prisons and death, could not he hired to "a
a
again, resolved on liberty or death for thIr
teen dollars month ingrecnbacks at IL 81
and 40 per cent. discount shaved by sut.
lers in camp aud by robbers on the battl,
, field, aud these cilizen soldiers, these vet
r erans, these brave men who have giver
their bodies and solls TO save our believe,
cuuntry-tlese men when they ask for
pension, treated ms il they hnd been tramp
\ and bnmmers who were trying to cheat tn
government. Such treatment wounds
soldiers honor. "Cheat the government. .
ell !-asi If were possible for these mel
TO cheat the governmeni--a government
{ which their own blood and sacrifices ha
3 redeemed and saved? II the country ha
a been poor these men might bear sucl
a treatment without murmer. But o,i
r country is not poor. We are rich. Ric
III food aud raiment rich in silver nm
( gold--above all rich In brave men. Tive u
!, ty years since The last shot was fired b
4 Sherman on l,is march to the sea. Twen
= years since. Grant met that great genera
Q of the rebellion, Robert E. Lee. But thos
e boys are not all dead. They meet ann,
4 ally around the graves Of those whom the
Il often had met on many well fought ba.
Il tie field. II affords them no small pleasur
d to decorate with flowers the final reslin
c place of departed comrades, but il afford
# the more pleasure TO keep alive the spir
ls Of these fallen heroes. TO day we have
!. better army than that which conquere,
Napoleon's troops under Wellington. I
z day we have better standing army TIM
Il that which fought under Moltke an
3, Bismark. To day wo have the best stan,
4 ing army in the world. They are n,
:. hirelings. They are citizen soldiers, irr,
e specuve of party. They pay their ow
n way and are ready to meet our country
y foes any day. Need we name this army
!. Il is the Grand Army of the Republi
a Ought not each member to receive bac
l. pay or a fair pension and ought it not
n be sufficient Recommendation for esc
!. soldier to give a certificate OF nn homo
n able discharge from the Union Army
FIT. N.