The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01

buried here and at home She stands to-day at the
forefront of progress education civilization and 10y
atty to the Union, and this expression OF her graft
tude to her Potomac boys of 1868 will be emulated
and hope her example followed by other States who
f II BE- agd ta this e and
historic mound and position on it occupied by the
soldiers of the Union during that memorable struggle,
may be covered with fitting tablets and monumentsi
until it shall become city of commemoration, the
very apotheosis of the Union Gettysburg was
the high water mark of treason its bloody food surged
welnigh to the crest of these hills. But there the
volunteer soldiers of the North planted themselves
and said in their might ''rhus far shalt thou come,
yonder graves shall be traced the receding tide of
bellion until it vanished at Appomattox. With all
our hearts forgive those misguided yet brave men
of the South who offered their lives FOR their cause
but we may not, and God forbid should, for
get the sacred cause for which our silent comrades
yonder died. cease to glory in its vindicaton and
| triumph, here and at the end.
From far distant homes we have assembled here
to-day to witness commemoration only second In
Importance to to that great event, participa
tonin which has called forth this mark of honor
from our people. Henceforth will this place, like
Thermopyla to the Spartans, and Marathon to the
Greeks of DID, be the Mecca of nation 1t Is no dis
paragement to comrades of the Western armies
to that of all the troops furnished by Indiana to
the cause of the Union none responded earlier
endured more hardships, and none suffered so heavily
| as these regiments which we represent-lndlanas
con tingent IN the Army of the Potomac. All the Po-
tGmac regiments from Indiana We're mustered into
! United States service PRIOR to Oct o. 1861 and
found their way to this department owing to the ext
gencies of the times But arriving upon the ground
at various points and at different times not
brought together, should have been and formed
| into one Indiana brigade, but were brigaded with
other troops and thus, to extent lost our dis
| tlnctive Identity.
This unfortunate, of course, but when the test
OF action came and the value of all soldiers tried
and ascertaned it is proud privilege to claim that
every battlefield of that grand old army these reg
| iments secured the wellmerited praise Of all COM
manders for signal gallantry and reliable steadness
and everywhere made for themselves and their State
| proud name and record.
There were borne upon the rolls of the six Potomac
regiments from our State, from muster-n to muster
out aggregate of ,4O4 names. The losses during
| service by death, from wounds and disease were
1245, while as now be learned there
over 1000 discharged for wounds and over 900 for
other disabilities. Can anything attest the faithful
ness OF their services in startling manner than
| these figuresl
| When in our northward march after Lee, in 1863,
we reached this field aggregate effective strength
was about 1000, while losses in the battle
amounted, as l can ascertain, to about 200
killed and 500 wounded and disabled. Is not this a
record which fully justes the distinctive honor paid
us by the voting of these commemorative tabletss
But at is not alone to us that State by this act
pays tribute of honor. In this does she
| press her gratitude to the whole Union army that
fought here and uniting with other States thus seeks
to make historic for all time to come this great repre-
sentative battle where victory complete and de-
| cisive.
This is perhaps the only battlefield where de-
clsve victory won by the Union armies where it
is recognized by al fitting thing that it should be
fully set aside for historic purposes and it's every
feature marked and remembered because it was the
eliminating point of the great rebellion. was fought
upon the soil of Northern State, State where the
foul stain of slavery had rested; at
point where had our enemy triumphed the great North
lay at his mercy. His army believed with their
commander that they were almost invincible, and
only the most intrepid courage and devoted patriotism
could have successfully withstood them and crowned
our cause with the victory so much prayed for and
needed by cur long suffering people; and when In
dependence Day. 1868 the glad that Lee was in
full retreat from Gettysburg flashed over the North
vie fOra mon ant
forgotten in the joy that felt by all and lasting
gratitude toward those who had it took posses
sion of every loyal heart
By these tokensI we made to understand that
the lapse of twenty years and more has not oblit
Grated that feeling, but that our people properly APP
preciae our services and sacrifices and their results
Not alone this geneia alton, but those to viii
gratefully recognized he transcendent Importance of
this victory and Gettysburg will ever be regarded as
the critical epoch in the history of the war for the
Union; for it broke forever the idea of fancied in
vincibity, which had previously sustained and an
mated Lee and his army.
My comrades how few there remaining Of those
who should share with the proud satisfaction of this
day. Yonder sleep many comrades who in life we
cherished with feelings closer than those of friend
ship, who unto death discharged their duty to
their country more zealously than those of who
survive Their names in every mind to-day, and
as we drop tear their graves and remember
that those lying there the flower of battal
ions and dear to every of let to it that
the cause they died for shall not suffer at hands
and that their memory shall be kept green.
Let us say to those who would honor living.
AnStucH DIS you 10 10 ullGo tne leaSJ OF UneSe our
comrades, ye do it unto us" and let us honor them
first Many there are who noby earned the right to
be here, who have passed away and are
buried at home among their own. Let us
not forget them. Many more are there who are
prevented by circumstances beyond control from be-
ing with o-day. Let speak for these as we'll
ourselves when say you, who represent great
State, that we appreciate and cherish this remen,-
brance of our services; and thank you, and
through you the good citizens of Indiana, that you
have thus honored yourselves, and u.s. your fellow
citizens by joining with the Gettysburg Battlefield
the distinctive features of this the greatest bat
tlefed of the war. And especially do we thank you
for doing graciously and promptly. When, there
fore citizens of other States and foreign lands shall
they will for ages, to view this historic field
the proud record made by Indiana soldiers, and
marked on every portion of the line will be read and
praised of all men.