The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-05
Written for the Sunday Sentinel.
THE LEADERS OF THE UNION ARMY.

During recent visit to Washing ton l was
permitted to inspect in the Office of the AID.
jutant General of the United States msg-
ni6oent collection of photographs OF the
general officers commissioned by the Presi-
dent eff the United Statss-including Brigade
Commanders not actually commissioned
during the eventful period which beginning
early in 1861 terminated in April 1865 by the
Surrender of the armies OF the so called Con-
federate States of America.
This collection has been arranged for pre-
sentation in the archives of the War Depart
ment in such a manner as to exhibit
the leaders of the severs brigades,
divisions, Army Corps and armies OF tie
United States in the great con test Cor the su-
premacy of the Union.
The thought occurred 10 me. that while il
is proper that such q collection should as
great original or combination OF originals
remain in the War Department, yet the peo-
pie OF the country (those who do not live at
Washington or can not go there) are eniitlsd
to q chance to view these heroes. Congress
csn afford to authcrizs the reproduction of
the pictures by the heliotype or other sim-
lar process. 10 each picture short state
could be prefxed, thus forming valuable
illustrated appendix to the official
publication OF the war. To say nothing OF
tie pleasure afforded to.the people, it would
Iroye a most valuble publication from
purely historical point OF view. Mr. Ralph
III. TEsir the chief clerk in the Adiuntant
Generals Department ban devoted much
time and attention to the procurement OF
theee valuble pictures. And indeed they
are very valuble even now. The visit or
locke at Grant and Sherman
srd sheridan, Is they were twenty years ago,
end he exclaims Alas how changed now
from the freshness and vigor of mauhoodW
There hoTsemen and their compatriots
were not injured by the shot and she'll of
the hostile batteries nor by the insidious dis
eases which bait upon the warrior; they es-
capped al these. Bat tire. slowly, surely
creeping along, has left his mark upon them.
As write these lines one OF them. the great
est and stubbornest OF sll, is suffering de-
feat at the hands OF that unconquereble enc
my, death. And soon they will all bs gone,
to live only in the remembrance of posterity
and on the pages of history.
hundi ed years hence, and the co lsction
will be hundred times more valuable than
it is now. / turned over the pages
and there I found our gallant Indiana
warriors. There was Craft, with whom /
spent delightful Gay at the Terre Haute en-
campment when the regiment was being Or
ganized. And here are Barrison. Gresham,
Wallace. Scribner, Hovey, Meredith Sander
son, Anthony, and other gallant leaders,
some living and some low dead, but all OF
whom deserve well OF their country.
Here on this page is the face and form OF
one who was the soldiers friend, cut off in
his prime. He had nevertheless done
enough to earn the gratitude Of q sorrowing
nation. When James B. Mcpherson fell
great soldier died. 1t was my good fortune
TO know him intimately. / never shall for
get that bright day in June. 1856. when st
mis- invitation. went with q gay party to
penis with him at Fort Delaware. He was
then Lieutenant in the regular
army stationed at the Fort which was built
on an Island in the middle OF the Deiawore
nearly opposite Delaware City. As we re-
clned on the grass late In the afternoon,
tired and waiting for the boats to come and
take N across the river, looked up ct the
huge gun which had Just been mounted on
the southern side Of the Fort. and which
Was then pointed southwark threateningly
oyer our heads and aid TO him jocuiarly: