The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-14

IL was thel, In that hour OF stress, that you
pledged your hearts and lives to the country
was desperate one, In which thousands were
10 die. We are glad that God has spared
us TO see the magnificent Developments
and increase IN strength and honor which
has come 10 US az a nation, and in the glory
that has been woven into the flag we love.
[Great applause. We are glad that with most
of rs the struggle In life has not left US defeat.
IL it has not crowned with the highest success
es. We are veterans and yet citizens, pledged,
each according to his own conscience and
thought, TO do that which will best promote the
glory Of our country and best conserve and set
in our public measures those patriotic THOUGHTS
and purposes that took rs into the war; lap
plause
IL is my wish to-day that every relation I oc-
eupy to the public or to political party might
be absolutely forgotten ICries OF Good, good II
and that might for this day, among these
comrades, be thought of only as comrade
your old Colonel. tGreat applause.l Nothing
has given me more pleasure on this occasion
than TO notice, as passed through your streets,
SO beautifully and tastefully decorated, that the
poles that have been reared by the great parties
were entertwined. fApplause
And now / remind myself that am not the
orator OF this occasion lCries of $50 on"l, but
its presiding officer The sight DISCHARGE OF that
duty forbids much talking. Comrades of the
SEVENTEEN Indiana, comrades of all these as
eocisted regiments. i glad to meet you.
Nothing shall sever that bond, hope. Nothing
that shall ever say, nothing that shall ever
do will weaken il. Now, If you will permit me
again to acknowledge the generous hospitality
OF this community, and, in your behalf to return
them our most sincere thanks, will close these
remarks and proceed with the programme which
has been provided.
The speech had a magical effect. and to its
eioquencs many comrade of the General re-
sponded by wipine the tears from his eyes, No
ma has abo al - h,aa
. time that one rarely experiences. and when he
once does il will never be forgotten. After the
speech came a little more business, in the ap-
pointment Of committees, and following that,
.omrade j. NJ. Brown delivered an interesting
Pketch of the regimental history. It took his
hearers fr ON the time the regiment left Indian
spolls down through all the long
marches and seven battles. the re-
larion being made crispy in reference
30 numerous incidents Of soldiers life and sad
10 passing upon the deaths of comrades. until it
was mustered out He closed with this refer
ence to General Harrison: 1--WE feel especially
honored this year because one OF our number
has been selected IS the standard bearer OF on
OF the great political parties of the Nation; and
think ! speak the sentiments Of every member
of the Seventeen regiment. without regard TO
party affiliations, when l say that / believe the
recipient is worthy of the honor thus bestow ed
[Applause. We rejoice Furthermore because,
having seen him tried in the camp, on the
march and in the FIRE that tried mems souls, We
can confidently say that we believe that if he
shall be elected TO the responsible position OF
President of the United States he will give to
this government an administration just. so
clean and 80 pure that even his opponents will
be compelled to say Of it. as they nave already
said OF his private character, Not q word can be
said against it,"
At the close Of his address the General an
pouneed that q recess would be had for dinner.
Many enjoyed their hour under trees, feasting
on the dainties and Injuries Of the larder. Ev-
erywhere in the village could be seen family
groups about a cloth laid under the shade, but
aside from this the eating houses did thriving
business on to the west OF the grounds long
tables had been spread where thousands were
fed by the generous ladies OF Clayton. and a
great feast of good things they set before the
hungry. Before the proceedings begun in the
afternoon General Harrison stood at the plat
form and shook hands necessarily. To this side
and that he would turn TO grasp some outstretched
hand. For nearly an hour this was kept up and
still they came from all sides, the old and the
young, men, women and children, until time for
the afternoon business rolled around. Every
body knew the General and he entered into the
spirit OF the time with genuine sympathy and
enjoyment
When the association was ready to resume it's
business. General Harrison again became the
presiding officer, ard in the first order were the
reports OF the committees that had been in con-
sultation during the recess. The first TO be pre-
eented was that OF the committee officers,
who reported the following.
President-Gen. Benz. Harrison.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Merrill.
Secretary-Moses G. McLain.
Treasurer-James L.. Mitchell.
The report was received with cheers and
adopted unanimously, and then the General
said: Whatever honors i may have in life
fee myself crowned to-day by this evidence of
the eomradeship of the IN bers of the Seventh
eth Regiment" The General then said he
would like to know If Major james
that Major Mitchell replied that as be first took
the Office Of treasurer with only $I20 TO take
care OF. and as ne now had 81 belonging to tho
association he thought he would accept Every
body laughed and came nearer to thu good fel-
Secretary McClain then read the following
telegram:
KSoxvILLE H., Sept. Is.
Gen. Benz. Harrison. Clayton, Ind:
The One-hundredth-and second Illinois voluntee,
Infantry in reunion at Knoxville greet you one ana
VI in fraternity, charity and LOYALTY.
ORANGE DANIELS,
j. G. MERRITT.
Committee.
response was then sent as follows:
CLAYTON, Ind. Sept. Is.
TO Orange Daniels and Others Knoxville. ILL.,:
Your cordial greetings were received with thres
ringing cheers for the loyal veterans of the One
dred d-second Illinois. The society of the Sew
sntieh Indiana directs to return fraternal greeting
and love TO old comrades Of the First Brigade.
BENZ. HARRISON, President.
NJ G. dcLAIN. Secretary.
telegram was also read from Charles Fl.
Cox. who is at Chattanooga sending his re
erets at not being able 10 be present. The com
mittee shen reported that the next meeting Of
the association would be held at Southport on
the second Tuesday Of nexSSeptember, wher
ColS Samuel Merrill and q. w. Bartholomew
are to deliver the addresses. Severn
speeches were then made. Comrade Wills
and Major James l.. Mitchell leading the way
Comrade Butterfeld. of Minnesota, came next
when he said he had Travelled 900 miles to b,
with his comrades. Col. James Burgess, Of To
peka. Kan, was called for but be did not re
epond, being. as the General termed him, a mod
est man. But one of the most interesting littl,
speeches of the reunion was made by Privat,
Snow. of Kansas. who. among other things re-
lated IN graphic manner how General Harri
son, on one occasion, came to carry
his knapsack- TIE private said: '1t wal
10 June. on the Atlanta campaign. hat
not been well II is said we marched FIVE mile
that day in line of battle. In going through
plowed field got very tired / will state here