The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-09-17
FIGHTING THEIR BATTLES OVER.
Veterans of the Army of the Tennessee
Hold Their Eighteenth Annual
REUNION.

NhlcdBo Oh the Jtu hnu iVsh u ocptoho0i'
Gen. Sherman presiding. There was
large attendance. including Gen. Logan,
Cows. Alger of Michigan, Sherman of Iowa,
Oglesby of Illinois. ex-Gov. Fletcher Of
Missouri. Gen. j. b. Sanborn of Mime
sofa, Gen. G.. M. Dodge of Iowa. Gems.
Hickenlooper and Force of Ohio. and
Bishop Fallows of Chicago. The Treas
urers report showed $40, 900 cash on hand.
Gems. Sherman, Logan, Oglesby, and
Raum, and Bishop Fallows were selected
to prepare resolutions on the death
of General Grant. Governor Oglesby
delivered the address of welcome. He Of
fered them in behalf OF the soldiers of
| Illinois their platter canteen, and cup. He
had heard something of their deeds, knew
something of their fame. and had strong
sentiment of gratitude for the glorious work
they had accomplished in the days gone by.
AS the guardians of nations life, and the
representatives Of one of the great armies
of the country he bade them welcome 10
the hospitable soil of Illinois. Gen.
| Sherman delivered an address eulo-
CYSTIC of the late Gen. Grant
The speaker accepted all the hospitalies
extended, and then said he would devote
his attention to "the old and first COM
mander." II was Gen. u. s. Grant who
had, during the cold winter of 1S61-'G2.
raised company at Cairo ILL.,, and it was
he who took his final leave OF his family
and friends on earth on July %, 1885, Gli
were willing to admit that mankind had lost
a kindred spirit. His comrades. who had
shared with him the trials of the campaigns
from Henry to Vicksburg, knew better than
any other that great soldier, a loving man,
and wise statesman had been taken of.
Hundreds, aye, thousands of pens were en-
gagged in an effort to describe the man who
did SO much in so short a time. These
looked to the comrades of the Army of the
Tennessee for information which ought 10
be forthcoming, and which he would try to
give. He met Grant at West Point in 1889.
The speaker was then a classman. a more
exalted position, he asserted, than he had
ever reached since, although he had been
reasonably successful in life. One day
number of the classmen were perusing q
list of names of cadets, and among them
! appeared that of Il. 5. Grant" This was
regarded as a somewhat singular name and
the boys began to cogitate as to what the
initials u. S. meant Some thought they
meant United States, others that the IS.
meant SAM, and still others Uncle
Sam" However, Grant served under the
name of Sam in the Mexican war in the
Fourth Infantry. The speaker knew very
because one was classman and
the other was plebe, and classmen would
hardly deign to notice plebes. Grants rep
utation while serving in the Fourth In
| fantry in the Mexican war was that of
willing officer, ever ready to do the fighting,
extremely social and friendly with his fell
lows; but in no sense did he display those
qualities that were developed during the
civil war. II was the old commander who
had restored order when chaos had been
let loose and the gates of hell were wide
open all around. He raised the dark cur
tain that enshrouded the Federal command
ers when lie won the victory at Belmont so
that it was only necessary to follow the
course mapped out. He did not care how
battle was fought so long as it was won.
| In closing, Gen. Sherman said it was
| fit ting that the dead hero should find his
last resting place in New York. and hoped
that any monument to be erected would,
like himself, be strong and simple. He
then introduced Gen. Sanborn.
Gen. j. b. Sanborn also paid an elo-
quent and graceful tribute to Gen. Grant
Gen. William +. Villas was then demand
ed by the audience. and gracefully came
forward, when he was received with enthu-
siastic applause.
He said it had been understood that his
1
silence. He felt that he would lie daring
man indeed who would attempt extern
poraneously TO add to the burning words
| of the soldier President and chosen orator
upon that grand theme of Grant.
He would, however, touch upon one
feature which added greatly to the fame he
had so Justly earned. He alluded to the
love he had won from the enemies he had
| fought, and pictured the grieving ex-Con-
federate officers standing by the death-bed
of the man who had struck such deadly
blows against them. with tears of honest,
manly sympathy glistening in their eyes.
Grant had not fought for selfish ambition,
nor waged war through vindictiveness.
! His love of country was too great for this,
and that very love endeared him to his enc
ME s. 1t was Grants quiet, earnest labor
| in behalf of returning harmony among
the sections that had materially led
to the grateful reuniting. now hap
| PLY accomplished, OF the once divided and
fiercely fighting sections of the country,
and when he died who were found follow
ing his body to its last rest but the leading
generals now surviving of the enemies
with whom he combated. He referred to
the two communications which passed be-
tween Grant and Buckner, and pictured
| Grants joyful reception of the approach
ing unity and peace, and in most eloquent
| and feeling terms referred to the fact that
the sunshine of sweet and enduring
peace was the glorious fruition of the years
| of war.
Resolutions of respect to the memory Of
the old commander were adopted.
The committee to name officers pre-
scented the following names in their re-
port. which was adopted unanimously:
President-General w. T. Sherman.
Vice observation-disclosures George w. Colby. OF
| Alabama Colonel w. S. Oliver, of Arkansas;
| Captain Richard S. Tutsll, of illinois,; Lieu
tenant Colonel J. NJ Dresser, of Indiana;
Major Charles T.. Putnam. OF Iowa; Colonel A.
| J. Leay, of Missouri; Captain w. McCrory, of
Minnesota: Captain w. 5. Burns, OF New York;
| General T.. III. Murray, of Kentucky: General
| Geo ge f. Wells, of Ohio; General J. M. Rusk,
| Of Wisconsin; Major w. M. Dunn. of the United
| States army.
Corresponding secretary-General A. Hick-
enlooper.
| Recording Secretary Colonel l.. M. Dayton.
Tressurer-General M. II. Force.
1t was determined to hold the next meet
ing at Rock Island, ILL.,, Sept. Is and 16,
1886. The reunion concluded with ban
quet Mt the Grand Pacific Hotel. at which
numerous speeches we're made in response
to toasts. the festivities lasting until nearly
3 o o'clock a. m.