The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-03

OF the well-merited tribute by hearty applause
Hardly had the echo of this demonstration
ceased before rousing outburst of enthusiasm
arose from the audience as greeting to General
Sherman, who, without waiting for an introduce
ton, stepped upon the stand of the musical
director, and, when the applause had
sufficiently subsidized, began his speech
remarking, Permit me, before reaching
the paper. which may not interest you much,
but which contains few thoughts that wish
to read to you tonight. Let me congratulate
you in the possession of this beautiful hall. wor
thy of any city and for this intelligent audience
which responds to every patriotic sentiment and
echoes every manly thought. | would infinitely
prefer to speak to you fresh from my heart, but
am so apt to repeat the same old story, as [ am
called upon so often, that In my Office sit down
and write that which seems to me apprc-
pirate. l did not see such an audience as
this or such occasion. I feel disposed
to tear up the paper and pitch right in. Laugh
ter and cheers l am sure heard, both in mu
sic and in words, sentiments of love of country
and unity that will remain with you everywhere
and in all times to come. address, IN this pa
per. my comrades of the Grand Army of the Re-
public-the men who understand me much bet
ter than l understand myself. / hope the ladies',
and young people who have grown up since the
war. will heed the lessons given by the old sol
diers, to whom will soon be given the final taps
and tattoo" He then proceeded to read his
written speech, which was as follows:
GENERAL sHERMAN's ADDRESS.
Comrades and Friends Four days ago was
in Chicago TO assist in decorating with flowers
the grave Of the youthful and most gallant
soldier, General Ransom, whose name we have
appropriated for our post of the Grand Army of
the Republic in st. Louis and know that your
committee on arrangements especially Gen.
John Coburn, will bear testimony that l am
chiefly attracted hither by that noble purpose
you have in view, to erect in. the capital of your
State monument to perpetuate the memory
of the gallant youth who went forth to
battle for the Union of States, of which
Indiana forms 30 essential a part with a
distinct promise that should not be taxed with
a speech, or anything which could be construed
as SUCH
By Providence, whose WAYS are mysterious
and past comprehension. find myself one of the
few surviving generals of the great civil war,
which involved consequences of the most mo-
mentous kind to the whole civilized world.
While life and health permit, must bear tes-
timony to all things which passed under my per-
sonal observation, and aid in all undertakings
which approve themselves to my judgment It
is emnentlv proper thas the people of Indiana
should erect durable monument to the patriotic
youth who gave their lives that their kindred
and successors might thereafter live at peace
and in the enjoyment of government founded
by their fathers on principles of equity, justice
and liberty. 1t is in this interest that | am
with you tonight, and il can add one stone to
that monument will be fully repaid
Your State of Indiana occupies peculiar geo
graphical position midway between the Allie
ehenies and Mississippi river, with the Ohio on
the south. Had the Southern politicians in 1861
succeeded, as they believed they could, In con-
vincing the people Of Indiana that slavery was
the true and normal condition of America, and
that Indiana held the balance of power, it would
have been physical mpossiblity to have held
the border States of Kentucky and Missouri to
their true allegiance to the Union. and this day
we might be foundering in the Quagmire of
ofn al Of Exy;pr ,,1, L., &c
peace-the model republic Of the world. This
glorious result is due to many causes-one of
them the gallant conduct of your POS. 367 volun-
teers. in whose honor we are assembled tonight
have failed had it not been for the personal
character of the great statesmen of that day.
prominent among them Oliver P. Morton,
who, providentially, was the Governor
of you State when thes actual conflict
began. He was then comparativsly Young and
unknown. and as it was my good fortune to be
brought in contact with him often during the
war, and after its close up to the time of his
DEATH in 1877, am sure you will be willing that
should undertake to give some of the impress
siOns be made on me during that eventful period.
In August. 1861, President Lincoln was deeply
concerned as to the share the border States
would take In the coming conflict, the magnitude
of which he fully comprehended and ordered
Brigadier- general Robert Anderson, a native of
Kentucky, to proceed to Louisville to organize
the Department of the Cum berland, and to hold
Kentucky by military force to her true place in
the Union, with authority to call on the neigh
boring States for assistance if needed General
Anderson was man of singular purity of char
acter Gentle and affectiOnate as woman in
private life, he was as brave as lion In danger.
He had demonstrated his high qualities
in the Mexican War, and in his
then recent defence of Fort Sumter
in Charleston harbor. When the political storm
which preceded our civil war was at its height,
he was q major commanding two small compa-
MES Of artillery, which occupied Fort Moultrie,
an untenable fort On Sullivans island, on the
north shore of Charleston harbor In anticipa-
ton of an attack by the tempestuous people of
that bellgereut city, he quietly and skllfuly,
during the night of December 26. 1860, trans
ferred his little garrison to Fort Sumter, built
on an artificial island ont in the middle of the
harbor, which could only be assaulted by heavy
bombardment OF April II aud 13. 1861, compel
ling the confederates to strike the first blow,
clearly placing them in the wrong, and thereby
arousing the patriotism of the great North who
could not believe that any Americans would
dare to fire on the honored flag of our country.
So that when General Anderson was sent to
Kentucky he was the hero Of the hour, was uni
versally beloved and respected, and possessed in
an eminent degree the confidence Of the whole
country.
Brigadier generals George H. Thomas aud W.
T. Sherman were ordered to report to him for
duty. We all met at Cincinnati, in the house of
Larz Anderson, brother to the General, on
the 1st Of September, whence ! was sent to con-
fer with the Governors of Indiana, illinois, and
General Fremont at st. Louis. / must have been
at Indianapolis about Sept 3, 1861, where, for
the first time met Governor Morton We were
perfect strangers to each other, the older man
by three years, and We had been brought up in
opposite schools. He looked upon an army Off
Ger as one who could drill company. or may be
a battalion, but could not comprehend the
mighty issues then at stake. and l confess to
have had a poor opinion of politicians generally,
and of Governors Of States especially. At that
time Morton was a very handsome man, only
thirtyseyen years old, of great energy, and as en-
thusiastic as boy. He impressed me very
strongly as an intense, earnest man who would
do all and more than the War De-
partment at Washington would call for
but he explained that the volunteers, as fast as
they could be enlisted. clothed and equipped
were ordered to Mcclellan at Washington, or
Fremont at st. Louis. Nobody, not even me-
seemed to think much of Kentucky exnIained