The National tribune., 1885-09-10
WISCONSIN,
THE SHERMAN BRIGADE.
Gen. Sherman Talks TO the Boys at 0dell's Lake
Ohio.

Ohio.
What was known in Ohio as the Sherman
Brigade consisted of the Gath and Goth Ohio
regiments of infantry, the 9th Ohio battery
and McLaughln's squadron of cavalry. These
were fully organized and equipped at Camp
Buckingham Mansfield, under the auspices of
Hon. John Sherman in the Fall of 1851, and
left for the front in December of that year. The
two regiments and the battery served from first
to last in the Army of the Cumberland, par
ticipatng in all of its campaigns and battles.
They were the nucleus of the famous brigade
commanded nearly the whole time by Col.
Harker of the 65th Ohio,-afterwards Briga-
dier- General, until he was killed at Kenesaw,
June q, 1864. Gen. l.. Z. Bradley, of the 5lst
H., was then in command until wounded at
Spring HILL when he was succeeded by Col.
Joseph Conrad, of the 18th No. The brigade
contained at various times, the Gath, Goth and
125th Ohio. 18th Mich, Sd KY, 18th Mo-, 5lst
and I'D Ind, 22d, 9th, 42d, 5lst and 18th Ill.
The annual Reunion of the organizations
comprising the original Sherman Brigade was
held Sept. IA at Odell's Lake Holmes Co., o.
1t was the largest and most successful ever
held. The leading attraction was the visit of
Gen. w. II. Sherman and Senator John Sher-
man on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The beautiful
camp, of more than a hundred tents, was liter
ally overrun on that day by an enormous
crowd, numbering fully 5000. Long trains
from East and West on the Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne & Chicago Railroad came in filled to
Overflowing, and thousands came in wagons
from the surrounding country. The distin-
guished party reached camp about noon and
were greeted with a salvo of artillery and great
cheering by the crowd. The guests, including
their ladies, were entertained at dinner by
Capt. A. p. Baldwin, 9th Ohio battery, Presi-
dent of the brigade organization, at the large
Headquarters tent, assisted by Mrs. Baldwin,
Mrs. Long, of Akron; Mrs Capt. c. o. Tame
hill, of Perrysville, and Mrs. Capt. E. Moores,
of McZena The General and the Senator were
then conducted to the stand, which was sur
rounded by a multitude of eager veterans and
their friends. Senator Sherman was first in
troduced, and delivered stirring address.
Then Uncle Billy" was presented and re-
ceived with tremendous cheering loud and
long continued. He said:
SPEECH OF GEN. SHERMAN.
COMRADES AND FRIENDS: few days ago was up
on the banks of Lake Minnetonka., and was sum
moned here to Northern Ohio to participate in a
family reunion. | knew my brothers house in
Mansfield was large and commodious sufficient to
receive the survivors of the first generation of the
family, but also knew that If he brought in the
second and third generation he would have to
pitch a camp somewhere, and find he has chosen
this at Odells Lake. So for the time being my
friends, you must pas as part of the Sherman
family not as the Sherman Brigade and you must
represent the second and third generation of very
numerous family.
OF course, it is not my trade vocation to make
that look to me as though they were once soldiers,
and to them i feel competent 10 speak; to the
others may not be so fortunate.
But. comrades of Shcrman's Brigade any other
brigade who took part in the glorious war the
fruits of which enjoying, / hail and
thank you for the privilege of being with you this
beautiful day in this lovely forest and by the banks
of yonder lake. Not that can say anything that
will please profit you, but there is great pleas
i'll breathing the same air, in thinking the
thoughts, in feeling the inspirations for the
future which every member of the Sherman Br-
gade and the children who have succeeded them
must, IN contemplating the condition OF our coun-
try at this very moment of time. Peace universal
not only at home but abroad, and America standing
high up in the niche of nations, envied of all man
kind, and envied because possess all the powers
of great Nation vindicated by a of your own
making and your own termination Yes, my fell
low soldiers, you have q right to sit beneath your
own vine and fig tree and be glad, for you can be
afraid of no man. You have overcome all enemies,
death. which we must ali meet COM
rides who have gone before us have DONE and sub
init. But rs long AS we live let us come together
whenever we can, and If we can bring back the
memories of those glorious days it will do good,
and, still more good to the children who will look
up TO us as examples.
8Now. my friends, you of the Sherman Brigade,
soldiers once, citizens now, % years ago you
living in this beautiful land of Northern Ohio not
dreaming that danger was near. The waters which
flow from this little lake, on whose border we stand
to-day, flowed down, as I'm told into the Mus
kingum, the Ohio and Mississippi, into the Gulf of
Mexico. If any man trod upon the banks of that
stream he trod upon your toes because you had a
right, apart from the political right which our Cons
tuition gave to these waters-you had perfect right
to follow them to the wide ocean. and these men in
their youth whether iBstgatcd by slavery makes
difference endeavored TO interfere with the great
river which was much part of your own property
as the land which borders these groves Therefore,
you boys some of you very small boys, as am told,
rallied to the call of my brother, the Senator and
formed two regiments and, like all the people of
Ohio of that day, you thought your little army was
not complete unless you had ~ battery of artillery
and two companies of cavalry along. So am told
by book that was given me this morning that l
,,,tfr .fatth hNy hia INV laaSn Vous
Now. my soldier friends and the others who
listening, am certain the moment you got down
to old Pap Thomas in Kentucky he knocked that
organization into u cooked hat. suppose the bat