Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-13
THE SHILOH BATTLEFIELn.
Veterans of the North Visiting the Scene
of the Memorable Struggle.

veterans of the North Visiting the Scene
of the Memorable Struggle.
The day broke bright, mild and beauti-
full over Shiloh yesterday morning, says
Shiloh special Of the 7th inst. to the
Nashville american, as the steamers John
Gilbert and W. f. Nisbet, dashed together,
steamed up to Pittsburg Landing with
about four hundred excursionists on
board, mostly members of the q. A. r.
from illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Flags
were flying from the mast-heads and rig
glng, and two brass bands were PLAYING
Home, Sweet Home" and "Auld Lang
Syne." A number of citizens on shore
cheered the eXcursionists as they landed.
The column was formed. and, led by the
bands, marched to the flag-pOle in the
centre of the National Cemetery. the
bands beating a dead march with muffied
drums. Here they played Webster's fu-
neral march, the men standing with I'M
covered heads, and tears running down
the cheeks Of many as they looked around
and recognized the names Of many old
comrades, while the marble slabs at the
mead OF the graves rose like the undula-
ting waves as far as the eye could see.
The column formed again and marched
to the platform erected for the speakers
and the band, at the west end of the ceme-
terry.
The ceremonies opened with an appro-
pirate prayer by Capt. T. j. Bryant, Rev.
Ihomas Cotton, the local preacher, ex-
planned that the small fissembIage was
due to the fact that many people had been
scared away In consequence of the small
pOX scare.
Capt; H. R. Hinkle, of Savannah, Tenn,
a member of the G. A. r., said that Gov,
Bate had promised to be present and make
a speech, and Capt. Payne, State Superin-
tendent of Education, had promised him
that If Gov. Bate did not come, he surely
would, and deliver an address of welcome
to the visitors. Mr.. Hinkle heartily de-
plored that there were no representative
Iennesseans from the Confederate army
to welcome the visitors.
Hon. ID. +. Smith, of Illinois, was the
orator of the day, and delivered a stirring
speech eulogistic of both the Federal and
confederate dead. He concluded with the
following: "As the quiet, steadily flowing
current OF the beautiful Tennessee. which
perpetually battles the feet of the hill IN
winch rest our beloved dead, coming down
from the uplands of the South to Join its
waters with that of the great rivers of the
NorIh' SO may current Of patriotic love
OF country come from the Southland and
JON others from all parts of the country
until they are all embraced in one senti-
menJ OF love and respect for an insepara-
bic union of States"
Gen. 7. Lyle Dickey, Judge of the Su-
preme Court of Illinois, spoke of the mo.
yves that animated the parties to the con-
test, and the substantial benefits that re-
suited to the South, even from the fire
through which it had passed and the ter
rlOle experiences always realized by the
people of the soil where armed hosts come
together to prove the earnestness of their
convictions by appealing to arms. He
sald that from the terrible civil war that
mad become a political necessity, the
south had suffered greatly, it was true,
but was recuperatIng so fast that within
the next decade it would be far more
prosperous than before the war; He then
related some personal experiences of the
Dattle and interesting particulars regard
ing Gen. Lew Wallace and his command.
he spoke of the great self-sacrifice of the
soldiers of the North, and the Union had
been cemented together by their blood.
The entire audience, which by this time
had been largely augmented by people
from across the river and neighbOrhood,
then sang Nearer My God to Thee,' the
band leading with comets. The children
OF the neighboring Sunday-schoOl sang a
hymn founded on StOneWall Jackson's
last words, "Let us pass over the river"
Ihls affected many of the audience to
tears, and was well received. This was
all that was SAID or done in memory of the
Confederate dead who lay buried in the
surrounding fields without a stone to
mark the spot.
The audience sang, 81 love to tell the
story" led by cornet.
The veterans then dispersed over the
country as far as the old Shiloh church.
looking for the places where their COM
rades fell, and they fought, and many
were wounded beside them. Great inter-
est was manifested in searching for old
bullets, buttons and the like, and a large
number were found on the field near by,
every member of the party carrying away
some relic of ShilOh's dreadful day.
There was an Old-time campfire last
night on the battlefield by the spring,
hard tack, bacon and beans being cooked
aud eaten from tin plates.