St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-21
FIGHTING BATTLES OVER.
The Second Minnesota Volunteer Reg.
iment Holds Its Annual
Reunion.
Speeches Made by Governors Hubbard, RAM
sey and Marshall, Gen. johnson
and Others.
A Minneapolis BABY Christened Mil
Spring Victory Last Night
Routine Business.

At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon larg,
number of the survivors Of the Second Min
nesota regiment, together with old soldier
OF other regiments and distinguished citizen
of Minnesota, gathered at the Union block
st. Paul, to celebrate the victory of tn
Union forces at Mill Spring, Jan. 10, 1865
twenty-three years ago. The number of mel
engaged on both sides at this battle wa
small, and, isolated from other events Of th,
period, it was Insignificant; but the studen
of history will not fail TO discover that th,
triumph of the Federal troops at Mill Sprin!
was one Of the most i'm portant of the war, il
reality the turning point in one of the mos
gigantic struggles Of the world. Nothing bu
disaster had resulted to the Union in the fielC
during the year 1861, and the victory of thost
five Union regiments over Zolicoffer's veter
ans gave hope to the nations defenders ant
inaugurated the series of successes which
made the country one again. And in thi:
signal triumph of the Union the Second Min
nesota volunteers we're prominent factor
The Tenth Indiana, the Fourth Kentucky
and the First Kentucky regiments were there
but 1t was the flank movement OF the Ninth
Ohio and the CALLING fire in front of the Sec
Ond Min nesota that sent the rebel troop:
flying, leaving their beloved Zollico1fer dead
upon the field.
Gen. Bishop called the meeting to order,
congratulating those present upon their great
number and expressing surprise that they
should be such prosperous, healthy, hand
some boys after twenty years. He said there
was nothing quite so dear to him as the Sec
ond Minnesota regiment. During his four
Years. experience at the front he had spent
his whole time with the regiment. He hoped
there would be as little Formally as possible
in the meeting. The local committees had
arranged for the comfort of those coming
here from distance, aud be hoped that all
would think well enough OF their treatment
TO come again another year. He then intro
duced Gov. Hubbard, who, he said, although
governor OF the state, was doubtless proudcr
of the fact that be fought I'm der the colors of
the Union than Of his position as governor
of great state.
Gov. Hubbard-Your president is quite
right in his reference to me at the conclusion
of his brief address to you, and will say
think you ought to regard me as one Of your
number, in.smuch as l am a constant at
tendant at your meetings, rather than as an
invited guest. / feel as much at home
among the survivors Of the Second regiment
as among those OF my own regiment, the
Fifth. | know you do not care for any for
NAL remarks. O.d soldiers should dispense
with formal matters as much as possible on
occasions OF this character. / presume that
any Of you would prefer to listen to some
camp Renaissance rather than set speech
that anyone might make. The chief attrac-
ton Of these gatherings Is the free inter
change OF the views of those who
fought and foraged laughter
together. We can hardly realize
that 1t is now almost full twenty years since
we were mustered out as soldiers, that It Is
twenty-three years since the battle Of Min
Spring, In which the Second Minnesota took
so distinguished part, and which you meet
here 10 commemorate. II almost makes one
realize that he is growing old TO contemplate
such lapse of time in his own experience,
but when l meet you feel decidedly re-
iuyenatiug influence, as though In the midst
Of youth again. There Is something In this
contact Of an exhilarating character, and
trust you will always invite me 10 your re-
unions. With but q small population. Min
nesota could send but a few regiments ~ the
war. and many Of them were in the same
campaigns and battles. There was and is
the same feeling Of comradeship as among
members of the same regiment. feel as II
associating with my own boys when meet
any Of them. Personally and as a citizen Of
Minnesota feel great pride in the highly
honorable position which the Second Mime
sofa regiment attained during the war, and
can assure you that am delighted TO meet
you on occasions like this.
Gen. Bishop then introduced Gen. r. W.
johnson, who spoke as follows:
Mr. President-It Is with sentiments OF
deep emotion that stand here to-day to
say few words TO the survivors Of that grand
known In the terrible annals Of
the ''Grat Rebellion" as the Second Regi-
ment OF Minnesota Volunteers
Ny thoughts are divided between the
bloody past and this buoyaut present--di-
vided between the tender aud sacred memo
rice OF the dead comrades whose graves bill
low every battlefield from the Ohio TO the
ocean, and the bright, vital, genuine happi-
ness which fills and thrills me at the signt Of
these living comrades who cluster around
me to-day.
Back our thoughts must turn to-day to
those knightly gentlemen and soldiers who
died in defense of the flag, and whose brav,
hearts were the precious holocausts so freely
and zealousy offered on the bloody affairs of
war, for the protection aud preservation of
the Republic.
Whilst we grasp the warm hands Of the
living we can but remember the cold hands
Of the dead. Whilst We gaze upon the rS-
diant array Of the living we can but think Of
the dead who are holding their long last SOL
emu bivouac with the silent southern stars
for their only sentinels. Their places are va
cant here. Let rs make for them places in
our heart OF hearts. Their lips arc mute,
and no voice Of theirs lifts itself in our
midst to-day. Let our memories, then, speak
for them, aud our lips syllable for them the
lofty utirrances they were won't 10 use. Let
our actions here to-day and In every period and
crisis OF the future, BE- but the Outspoken ex-
preston Of the high purpose and mistaken
devotion that slgnalized their lives, so shall
their dead lips speak and their graves become
the hlllOwed shriues OF the nation. We are
here to-day, my fIieuds. 10 reunite once
more the bonds Of eompanionshi and good
formed during many campsigDs
and cemeuted In the endurance OF common
privaiions and common dangers. We are
here 10 revive those feelings Of pure patriot
ism and soldiership which the great trial
years Of the rebellion developed aud geuer-
ated 50 broadly and 50 sturdIly among the
American people.
We are here as the representatives OF The
glorious Second which rushed into the breach
when the very life Of the government was
Tor the purpose u pledging anew
orr feslty and allegiance to the geat princi-
-,i,.s for which sc hsffiri