The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-18
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.
Large Attendance of Veterans at the
Annual Reunion at Rochester, NY.
Brief Speeches by General Sheridan Cap
tain Lambert's Tribute to the Loyalty
and Generalship Of George H. Thomas.

swarming with noted veterans OF the late war,
who have come to attend the annual reunion Of
the Society Of the Army Of the Cumberland.
General r. 81 Sheridan arrived last night, and
General Logan to-day. The society was called
to order in the City Hall by General Sheridan,
the president, who said:
"Comrades, it is now sixteen years since the
Army of the Cumberland Association was
formed. It has met every year since that
time, and have had the privilege Of attend
ing nearly every meeting. I wish to con
graduate my comrades on the good will and
harmony that has always prevailed at our
meetings, and I hope the same good will and
harmony may prevail now
General Henry M Cist secretary, read his
report. The report of General J. S. Fuller, the
treasurer shows balance in the treasury Of
$1,02S. 06
Mr.. FL. A. Barnum stated that he had drafted
resolutions concerning cutting inscriptions on
the monuments of Generals Thomas and Gar
field, which were in accordance with a letter
written by Colonel Rockwells suggestion that
the inscriptions upon the monuments be SINH
lar to those recently placed on the Mcpherson
monument.
The afternoon was occupied by the society in
viewing points Of interest about the city.
In TIE evening a reception was held by Gen
erals Sheridan and Logan, in the mayors Office.
Literary exercises followed, and consisted Of an
address of welcome, by Mayor D. D. s. Brown,
to which Gen. Sheridan responded, as follows
Ladies and Gentlemen of the City of Roches
ter--The members of the Society Of the Army
of the Cumberland highly appreciate the warm
welcome and kindly feeling they have received
ryrYTo 81 ftssis
highly appreciate the kind words of welcome,
and they feel that to the gentleman who spoke
those words of welcome, and to the people of
this city are due their hearty thanks. There
were a great many soldiers from here in the
Army of the Cumberland IN the West. have
often heard them speak of you and your beauti-
full city saying that, they. wished
us to hold our annual reunion here
meeting one year ago and it certainly has been
seldom, if ever, that men received more cor
dial and hearty greeting. Mr.. Mayor and ladies
of Rochester, in behalf of the Army of the Cum
berland, to you extend my sincere thanks.
We may meet you elsewhere but we shall never
have happier time than here in this city Of
Rochester
Benjamin f. Taylor read a poem entitled
"Chickamauga1 The grafton was delivered by
VIM. III. Lambert on General George II.
Thomas After briefly recounting the history
of Thomas's promotion to the majority of the
Second regular cavalry Captain Lambert said:
twenty years of service since he attained his
first commission fifteen had been passed in the
Southern States, or on their border His army
association was principally with Southern men.
His immediate superiors, during large part of
his military life, were men of great influence
and ability, who were destined to hold high rank
In the armies of the rebellion A junior captain
of artillery, with forty numbers between him
and the next grade, he had been appointed
major of cavalry at the suggestion of Braxton
Bragg. with the approval Of Samuel Cooper,
and the Recommendation Of Jefferson Davis,
Doubtless, high command would be given an of
ticer Of his rank and proven ability if he gave
his sword to his State. Already he had been
spoken of by several of the secession members
of the convention as the fit man to be general
of the forces of Virginia should she secede.
"A Virginian by birth, he was justly proud
of his native State, and was bound to it by
strong and influential ties. Sharing the opinion
prevalent in the army, and in the South, and
largely entertained in the North that the diff
culties which threatened the national existence,
resulted from Northern fanataeism and unwar-
rantable interference with the domestic insti-
buttons Of the slave-holding States he believed
that these States had just cause Of complaint,
and his sympathy was with the people of the
South.
ITO refuse the cali Of his State, to remain in
the national service, was to antagonize his
friends, to be alienated from his kindred, to be
banished fromshis boyhood's home.
THE North had never been friendly to the
army; he could hope for no preferment beyond
that which came in the proverbially slow course
Of promotion; the national government was
waiting the development OF events, and had not
yet manifested determined plan Of action;
Northern papers were advising peaceable disco
luton, Northern politicians and Northern bust
ness men were protesting against armed enforce
Ment OF the laws; the impending rebellion seemed
destined to become triumphant revolution
"On the one hand were ambition sym pathy,
friends. family, home, State on the other his
obligation as soldier, What anguish he en-
George II. Thomas the conflict between feeling
and duty could have but one ISSUE he could not
break his plighted faith he must be true to his
flag
firm IN the service Of the government
His decision was made never to be recalled,
and as heretofore he had been faithful,
So hencefofth was his allegiance to the Nation.
He stipulated no price, he sought no reward he
prescribed no conditions, he asked no conees-
sions. His loyalty was genuine and whole
hearted, and throughout the war, whether on
the Potomac or the Tennessee or the Curnber-
land, the country had no servant more devoted,
no soldier more patriotic than this VirgnianD
In speaking Of the services Of General Thomas
at the battle Of Chickamauga. the orator said
Commanding the Fourteenth corps he con
tributed much to the success of the brilliant
campaign of Rosecrans that carried army
from Murfreesbero' TO Chattanooga. And when
Bragg, obedient to the commands of the alarmed
authorities at Richmond, with ranks strength
ened by aecessions from Virginia and Mississippi
turned upon the adversary who had forced him
from the banks Of the Cumberland to beyond
the Tennessee, it WAS Thomas who saved the
Army of the Cumberland and frustrated the
rebel attempt to recover Chattanooga. Disap-
pointed through the failure of subordinatss in
the purpose to strike Rosecrans corps in the
isolation that had followed their passage of the
mountain barrier, Bragg was nevertheless conf
dent that he could crush his adversary's left aud
gain the road in rear to Chattanooga. But he
was fated to be again disappointed In expecta-
tion that the enemyis attack would DO made on
the left Thomas had been transferred from
that flank from his usual position in the center;
accommodating his front in force, he opened the