Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-01-29


and every man owns in fee his land, and where
the old world distinction between officers and sol
diers is seen in the faintest shadow only that such
things can be.
Gentlemen, you are welcome
The next sentiment "Tho State OF
Wisconsin and her Soldiers, was re.
sponded to by Governor RuslS. He
gave brief but historic account Of
Wisconsin's part in the war, The
numbers enlisted, the numbers killed,
wounded and died Of disease, and
paid a high tribute TO % 600 Of Wis
consin sons who contributed 10 the
grand result Of restoring the Union.
He spoke of the 600 who we're pris-
oners and suffered next to death in
the prison pens OF the south, The
governor was loudly cheered. He
said the soldiers of Wisconsin would
ever be houored, not by what we said
about them. but by what they had
done. The privates were entitled to-
equal credit with the officers and now
all stood on common ground We
should teach our children to honor the
flag and hand it down to their children
as unstined as it had been in our
hands
KEENANs RIDE.
This poem was admirably recited by
Maj Chas. g. Mayors 1t tells Of
the death Of Mai Keenan, Of the sth
Pennsylvania cavalry When at the
battle of Chapcell orville on the % OF
May, 1868, Stonewall jackson had
burst out Of the woods upon the
Eleventh corps andorushed it, in the
confusion and panic, Gen Pleasauton
endoavored TO stay the tide of retreat
ere it gave up the only road by which
the Union army could retreat out Of
the iungles Of the Wilderness, and 10
do SO tried to plant battery ris ht in
the face of the advancing columns Of
the victorious foo II was necessary
TO check this host, and Maj Keenan,,
commanding squadron Of 300 cav
airy, was commanded TO charge the
ssrried ranks of infantry, to hold
them in check for a moment He
smiled aud said II WILL knowing,
as did his men, that the order was his
death warrant His gallapt squadron
charged and held The foe in check but
q brief moment, but the brave squad
ron melted away under the cencen
trated halt OF thousands OF rifles, and
Keenan, with nearly an his men per
ished But the skilliul Pleasanion
soon had his batteries pouring grape
and canister into the columns Of
Jacks On and compelled them TO falter
in their advance until Berry's diyis
ion and Slocum's division i'm which
| the writer 81 this sketch was theA and
there ia service could be thrust into
the face OF Jackson's front The
charge of Major Keeuens 500 troop
ers is the counterpart in our war to
the Charge Of the Light Brigade at
Balakleva.
Tho next toast "The Grand Army
Of the Republic" was responded to in
eloquent and feeling words by Gen,
George @ Ginty, thus
Mn IHEaorsr-pily 'tls that more eloquent
tongue had not be6n selected 70 respond 70 this
I-toast The grandat society ON earth deserves a
better Response Than ] can make although more
heartfelt one they could not have
within IFS post halls tho man who gave the
order o. command the battle and the skirpiisher
Oh The front line sic side by side, bound together
by The magic title 'comrade title Of affection
title OF respects title eminently proper for
those who were part OF the grand army that
stood between chaos and constitutional spyern.
mcul
Alas that the pages Of history are 30 cIrcum.
scribed and narrow that only those who wore the
star, the saPle tic leaf or the bar are specially
mentioned There is handy Post which does
not contain men whose namos in the
books whould have been as fasiliar as household
words, had they commanded instead Of being
commanded on leRons Of sun burned faces
with boards Ike ftieze, gallantry and daring has
left It's indeible stamp
The Grand Army of the Republic forms a line
whose makers and gidons are Fraternity, Chari-
ty and Loyalty. IT'S objects Is noble one. 10
bind the wounds OF disabled comrades TO steady
the step that has grown weary by the long
marches, or the form that has has become en-
feebed ln'the burning sun Of the south, or by the
malaria That lurked ia the air al night to meet
two or three times month and chat over old
days, while memory brings up recollections Of
camping hours, and once familiar scenes; and 10
assemble each year and scatter flowers over the
graves Of those who nave passed TO the other
shore -conpaniors who fed of 70 that land
where peane reigns eternal, and where the as
senblage" IS beat by fairy hands, ON soundiess
drum.
The roll Of the grand army memberships filled
by them a majority Of whom have passed the
half century reckoning The voice Of youth has
no echoes there, for only those who participated
10 the war that began twenty four years eligi
Bile But while that voice IL never heard, youth
fui hearth are plentiful Years aud exposure