The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-20
PRESENTATIONS.
COMMANDMENTS. Chief Rea, AdIutant.GcncraI Fish
and Quartermaster-GeneraI Taylor Suitably Re.
membered.

Commandor.in.C Chief Rea, Acknowledgement Fish
and Quartermaster-General Taylor Suitably Re
membered.
On Tuesday evening Sept. II, there was a
meeting of the staff and personal friends of
COmmander-in Chief Rea in the State Library
room in the State Capitol thither Commander
in Chief Rea, Adi't-Gen. Fish and Quartermas-
ter-Geu Taylor we're conducted. Col. John II.
Cook, of the staff, approaching the Commander
in Chief, said:
COMMANDER IN CHIEF: Representing your staff
it is my pleasant duty tonight to present you in
their behalf this little token of their esteem 1t is
a proper time now, when you are retiring from
our command, for us 10 make some expression
OF our feelings toward you. Your history in the
service OF your country and your work in the
Grand Army of the Republic is well known TO your
comrades everywhere. You will go down in his
tory as the COMMANDMENTS Of the greatest ex
military organization the world has ever seen
the Grand Army OF the Republic when in its zenith
of glory, and such your record will stand as long
as our race shall love liberty and Union. For our
history will be perpetuated not for our glorifica-
ton, but because of the principles for which we
fought that they may live aud benefit the coming
generations of our country and the world IN
looking back over the history of our organization
for more than 20 years, you have been most zeal
Gus and faithful member.
Time gdes on fortune is inconstant; tempers
are soured; bonds that seemed dssoluble
dered 10y interest by emulation or by caprice; but
no such cause has affected you nor many others of
the faithful old friends and comrades, heroes of
Shiloh, Of Vicksburg. Mission Ridge Gettysburg
the Wilderness, and every other battlefield from
Sumter to Fort Blalely, who Mt our National
gatherings are never seen with new faces; who to
each other are the same in wealth and in poverty,
IN glory and in obscurity loyal to the country,
faithful in fraternal comradeship. To them and to
you, now their Chief the debt we owe Is incaicua-
ble and 80 our little gift marks but inadequately
orr esteem for you.
But this symbolic emblem viii be treasured not
for its intrinsic value but for the memories it will
awaken aud bring to you IN the years to come. Let
Us say that, in a small degree, it represents our
for fnfaf
which is the noblest the best and most unselfish
feeling of all that fills the human breast.
The badge is very much like the one given
to Gen. FarChild last year. It contains 1872
diamonds aud is beautiful piece of workman
ship
Thesilver tea-set presented to AdTt-Gen. Fish
was very handsome, the tray of which in its
center is decorated with the Grand Army badge,
with the inscription:
From the comrades of the GAR. National
Staff to Daniel Fish, Adiutant General, GAR,
1885"
In presenting it Comrade Cook said:
Your comrades of The staff arc not all fully nc
quainted with what your ways were in war time,
except that you was a gentleman, scholar and
soldier. But some Of us happen to know that i'm
peace you love your home and freside and be-
lieve your faYOrite beverages are tea and coffee.
To make us happy, won't you drink from these
little pieces occasionally reunem beriug hat we gave
them to you for your faithful service to Order2
Army of the Republic is written in imperishabic
glory, and Adjutant- General at a time when It
IS at the hight OF It's strength you iii your markcd
ability have helped to perpetuate that history.
May peace and happiness around your tiresde be
yours for many years.
Of all Strand Army presents ever made the
third present, which was given to John Taylor,
Quartermaster General, takes the cake 1t is
a solid, sterling silver, fuli-size canteen which
cost $l20. The workmanship on it is most ex-
quisite. On one side is engraved a wreath
representing peace, in the center of which is
the Grand Army badge, with the Quartermas-
tcr-GencraIs rank-strap On the reverse side
IS a scene of battle in which one Of the partiei-
pants Is in the act of handing his canteen to a
fallen comradc. Below this sketch is engraved
4" We drank frOm,the same canteen."
Comrade Cook, in presenting it, said;
CoMRADE TAYLOR: There is no comrade in the
Grand Army who is in any respect n better one
than you are. Your comrades desire to give you a
little mark OF their esteem.
! think 1t was out here somewhere in Ohio that
the CatgWba Indians invented grapes later on
we got grape aud canister. But finally the boys
struck bug. and uoW That bug turns out
great many millions of gallons Of good old Juice
every year. john here is some OF IL.
When Old Abe made the call Of " Johnny get
your gun, gum you responded. You had to carry
your drink IN a tin canlceu. Oft-times on the hot
and weary march your drink was warm but it was
comrGde ever asked you for "A drink from your
canteen who did not get IT,
some OF US may be around your way some day,
John, and we Will " drink with you from this same
cantecu.n
The inscription is as follows:
From comrades of the National Staff to John
Taylor, Quarternaster-G General, GAR, 1855, for
faithful services to the Order