The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-25
General Sheridan in the Chair, Surrounded
by Scores of Men Who Won Fame on
Many Bloody Fields.
Hospitable Cincinnati Extends Nu-
merous Courtesies to the Veterans.
the Army of the Cumberland Eloquently
Stated by General Atkins.

CINCINNATI, oct, M-Ihe society or the
Army OF the Cumberland formed this morn
ing at the Burnet House and marched, with
a band, to the Grand Opera-house to hold
business session. The society was led by its
president General Sheridan, who had Cen
eral Rosecrans on his right. Following came
General Wood, with General John A.
Logan. After these were Generals Newton
Carlin. Morgan, Kimball, Parkhurst and
about one hundred and fifty others.
General Sheridan called the society to
order. Prayer was offered by Chap
lain Earnshaw Reports of commit
tees were heard. 1t was stated in
explanation of the absence of mention
of the death of Gen. Steedman, that he had
never become a member of the society.
General R. D. Mussey offered resolution,
which was adopted, that the committee on
memoirs take the necessary steps TO have
sketch of General Steedmans military
career published in the annual record. Gen.
j. S. Fullerton, treasurer, reported balance
at the beginning of the year of 1886, and
balance now in the treasury of $197. He
stated that large number of mem bers were
delinquent, many of whom cannot be found
by letters. After the appointment of COM
mittees and acceptance OF invitations from
the Chamber of Commerce, Cuvier Club, the
Duckworth Club and the Lincoln Club the
society adjourned.
Promptly at 7:45 the society moved from
the Burnet House, with bands and ban ers,
to Music Hall. The local military organza-
tions were to have escorted the society, but
were not on hand promptly. Music Hall
was beautiful with flags stacks of arms tents
and cannon on the stage. An audience of
nearly 1900 was already seated when the So
cety marched in and took seats near the
stage. General H. M. Cist called the meet
ing to order and introduced Governor Charles
Foster, who delivered an address OF welcome.
His mention of Rosecrans, Sheridan, Logan,
Pope, Hazen, Wood, and others on the stage
brought rounds of applause, which only
ceased as the generals named bowed their ac-
acknowledgements, and General Sheridan good
naturedly called for order.
General Sheridan made a brief response of
thanks to Governor Fosters speech and in-
troduced the orator of the society, Ge neral
Smith D. Atkins, of Freeport, Ill.
THE GRAFTON OF THE DAY.
General Atkins began by recalling the or
ganization of the Society of the Cincinnati.
He then related the history of the govern
ment at considerable length, giving his ideas
of the causes leading to the rebellion. The
close of this portion of the grafton brought
the speaker to the date of the first call for
troops, and he continued:
'"Hhe war was on. This is how it happened
that there was an Army of the Cumberland. In
my poor way, briefly indeed, 1 have def allied
some of the salient points in the chain of his
tOrlcal events preceding the great war between
the civilization of jamestown and the civiliza-
ton OF Plymouth Rock. History is inexOrable.
1t was war for the mastery of this continent
between freedom and slavery. 1t cannot be
blOtted out. No one now desires to blot il out.
Freedom was victor, and slavery is dead for
ever 1t a contest of giants. Here and
now, on occasions like this, questions as TO who
was the most to blame, are ruled TO be out of
order: The -, soldiers OF the North
the South. The Southern soldiers were no
towards. The Old Guard of Napoleon contained
no braver men than were found in the cOnfeder-
ate regiments. They were defendng-itIs is mex
oraole hstory-a false and narrow civilization,
and they ought to have been whipped and they
were, aud II is fortunate thing for them, a nd
for the civilization of the world. that they were
whipped mot so very easily, as we well know,
delightfully."- and completely 'whaled upon
battlefield after battlefield, until by sheer ex-
hauston they were compelled to quit and to
give up as eternallg lost by the wager of battle
their peculiar civilization and adopt the
broader, and better and truer civilization OF the
good old North-anG Aud we didn't hang jeff
Davis on a sour apple tree eilher-we didn't
hang anybody, or shoot anybody, after the war
ended; just said to tine Southern soldiers,
Now, You go home and behave yourselves'-and
Immediately we all came home very happy that
the war was over, and we went to work again on
our farms, and in our stores, and offices and
SHOPS, building new railroads and towns. The
Sout hern soldiers didn't behave themselves at
all times as they ought TO have doDe-they
didn't do 1t when 'our Little Phil went
down to New Orleans to Investigate the
'bandlttp of L0uisiana-they didn't do it in
the ku-klux days-bur, considering all things,
they have behaved themselves pretty tOeraby
sort of reasonably well most of the time; and
many of them are beginninSnow to see that it
was mighty good thing for them, as well as for
the civilization of all tie ages, that they got the
terrible whipping that we gave them. All of
them-who are honorable men will never for one
moment think of disputing the result.
"Are We going to forget III No 'We couldn't do
it If we would, and we wouldn't do it if we could
Are we going to brag about it2 On, mol! His
tory VIII forever guard safely all the glory that
is Ours. We give the Southern people. in the
general aggregate, credit for honest motives in
Il mistaken cause-we give the Southern soldiers
credit for being the bravesJ that we ever had a
chance TO whip! We say to the ex-soldiers of the
South, and to the Southern people, in actions, if
not in words, enjoy the magnificent heritage of
American liberty, in every respect equally with
us, and don't you forget it, behave yourselves,
whip you again We hone that there viii never
be any occasion to do that. We believe that
there never viii be. But, hy jngo, if there is
we have got tue men, and we have got the
money, too'"
The speaker here recited the history of the
organization of the Army of the Cumber-
land, and in turn eulogized lis command
ers, beginning with Buell.. OF the battle of
Shiloh, General Atkins said:
"As the Upion lines were pushed back towards
the river alF day long with fearful slaughter,
how tnose who there fought, and fell back, ana
fought again, longed for the coming of the aid
that was 50 sOrely needed. When uurlburts