The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-19

who would not announce their Willingness TO Die
for their country. 1t appeared that the meet
ing had an object deeper than that Of q
mere reunion and recalling Of old times,
and one which pertsined not to themselves.
The object was TO nbue the rising generation
with the same spirit OF patriotism that tho
veterans themselves manifested. Colonel Mckee,
OF Virginia, presided, and besides making an
eloquent speech, in calling the campfire to
order. introduced the speakers in a most
pleasing style. The addresses were also
orchestra, and an Iowa elee club.
In his opening remarks Colonel Mckee said he
did not doubt that many people would be in
credulous concerning the things they were about
things ever could have happened in a ~citilized
country. He called attention to the fact that OF
the soldiers who died In rebel prisons $1,000 lay
buried Ia unmarked graves, while of the rebels
Who died In Northern prisons only the 600 at
Elmira had remained unsupplied with such
tokens OF humanity.
The frat speaker introduced was Major W.
II. Calkios, who outlined the battle of Shiloh
and the manner In which he was taken prisoner.
he had seen soldiers dig gopher holes, as they
called them, into which they had crawled and
remained for a whole day without daring to
raise an arm lest il be shot of and they be
given a .'furloueh,' as the rebels expressed 1t.
While the train-load of prisoners was passing
through Memphis they had met q benefaetress.
None Of the prisoners had eaten anything for
two days. and 10 that city they tried TO get food
from those who stood about the depot. A little
black-eyed woman brought them q skirt full of
pies and other eatables, but was refused en-
trance to the cars by the guard. 81 viii go in,'
she said. you can shoot q woman If you want
to- and she went in, and the soldiers OF
that car bless her memory to this Gay.
In conclusion Major Calkins expressed the
opinion that TO man ever suffered in q rebel
prison whom the government should not now
take care of. The sentiment was cheered.
Chaplain McCsbe was then introduced as the
80 - a. e. - a.Ak A-1 a~&
fsrine prisoner by his words as we'll as his song,
while ne, too, was q prisoner at Libby. The
Chaplain was loudly cheered a. ne stepped for
war, and the fret thing he did was TO call atten-
the ex- prisoners ''It Is important SAID he,
Ito observe how many of the boys enlisted be-
fore they were OF age. Now. l want all
of You who enlisted before you
were twenty-oue, 70 hold up your hands,
Nearly one-third the audience did so. "a won
derful sight," exclaimed the speaker. 81 hope
you boys of to-day will be IS patriotic as your
fathers were. Jefferson Davis, who is still
alive lderisive laughter, has q favorite SEN
tence; 1t 10 that there is not a reconstructed
woman in the whole South. He means by that
the Southern boys ofto-day are as rebellious as
they ever were. Well. let rs hope that in the
North the young men are coming on who are as
full Of love or country as were their fathers
Loud applause
The Chaplain. in g most Numerous way, re-
lated some of the humorous incidents which had
come under his observation amidst the miseries
of Libby Prison life. When he and his com
panions were first taken there everything Of
any value was taken from them. 81 had $50 in
greenbacks," said be. land they took that. That
Is a vast sum for a preacher to have at any
tirne, and / must explain that 1t didn't belong to
me. Laughter Next to me was q colonel
who had $500 on his person. They asked him IL
he had any money. Look and see,' ne replied.
They looked and found none, and the colonel
carried the money to prison with him.
nh - hAaa hfn THE Ana
for / borrowed some Of it afterward-" Great
laughter.l The speaker referred TO tho stand
ing order Of the rebel authorities to blow Libby
prison aud its inmates into the air il the Union
"We all knew" said he, ''thst there was q mine
under the place. The Chaplain related many
humorous incidents which crestsd great laugh
ter, and concluded with an eloquent appeal to
the young to love and cherish the Republic which
these men had suffered and died to save.
A mighty cheer arose from the audience
when the next speaker stepped for
ward. Flags were waved, and the
Tanner, who bad lost both feet In fighting for
the Union, and has since made a national repu-
taton by his wonderful eloquence. His grace
fui opening remark was characteristic Of the
man. II would be greatly en- barrasssd.7 said
he, 'at my position in having TO follow so slo-
quent q speaker as Chaplain McCabe, were 1t
not for the consolation which | believe all OF you
share with me-, that IL we only keep on follow
Ing MIN We VIII lana III rlGlt. lApplduse
The Corporal spoke rapidly and with bis
usual magnetic effect, moving the audience
alternately to tears and cheers. He referred TO
his own service in the army OF the East, and Ia
connection Herewith took occasion to vindicate
the action of Fitz John Porter. who did, as re
believed. what any man would have done under
the circumstances. From that he referred TO
rebel prison life, whose awful reality he de-
picted In such a manner as to move the audience
to tears. II advocate said he, putting upon
the pension roll every man whom God in
His providence permitted to lie In q rebel prison
| lgreat applausel and to my last breath / will
oppose the election to Office OF any man whose
voice has been raised against it, This plain
thrust at candidate Matson was understood by
all. and vas wildly cheered. While he was per-
fectfy willing to clasp hands with any ex-confed-
to the Union flag. be would always entertain the
most supreme contempt for the men in the
North who. "not brave enough to put on a rebel
uniform and make an open fight against as.
occupied themselves in moving silently against
US and snappipR at our heels" Abiding again
to the wretched scenes in Southern prisons, he
said there was no doubt that the condition OF af-
fairs was not approved by many Of the better
Soutnerners, and was a touchy point with them
to-day. Nevertheless the horrors were true. The
closing portion OF his address was a most caustic
denunciation of the system OF national affairs
which failed TO pay these men pensions after such
q service. lyon now try to compute in cold dollars
the amount OF service that was rendered the
VIZ -
worth of riches now TO be found in this country
is the legacy of these men. How cheap would
your lands aud stocks be today but for them.
Ten thousand honorably-d discharged old soldiers
IN our poor houses to-day, and q surplus that Is
bursting the walls Of the treasury"
The next speaker was General Powell, OF Vir-
gipla- He was the frst TO mention Harrison's
name. and the result was ~applaus.
which lasted for a couple Of minutes,
accompanied by waving Of flags and banners.
The first portion OF his address related to his
terrible ordeal as a prisoner az Libby, where he
nursed Chaplain McCsbe during bis sickness.
The description he gave of the condition Of the
latter was almost incredible. He was so wasted
that the brones protruded from his body. This
and other scenes had evidently made the General
an everlasting enemy TO tho Democratic party,
which he did not hesitate to excoritate. sIts
not politics I am talking" said he, ''its re-
ligion." He said patriotism this year appealed
for the election of General Harrison.
Other speakers were Mai. M. T. Anderson, of
Indiana; the venerable General Kelly. of Vir-
GINA, and j. A. January. of Illinois. the soldier
who had am putated both his own feet, while in
Libby prison, TO preventing bis body from rot
ting from ganprene. He told the story of the
event, showed the knife with which it had been
done. and said the ordeal reduced his weight
| from 100 to As pounds. "Now." said he, IF
they could come that near using me- up in ten
months, what would they do with this govern
ment in eight yearsa" [Great applause.l The
large audience then adjourned.
A Few "Reminiscences.
Among the experiences Of prisoners none was