The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-13

After the muster-in of the company the
Guards and their guests repaired to the old
aldermanic chamber, where q lunch was
spread. The room was draped with Amer
lean flags, while upon the walls were pict-
ures of number of Presidents of the
ernOr Foraker, of Ohio, while Governor
HOvey, of Indiana, in propria persona, was
given a place at the head of the table, with
the invited guests, ladies and gentlemen on
either hand. Mr.. Roberts, president of the
company, was master of ceremonies, and
filled that position in a mastery man
ner. Mayor Denny, on being called upon,
made brief speech with felicitOus ref
erence to the value of young men as soldiers
and citizens. Hon. John w. Linck, of Mad
isOn, was called out by the president. As
he rose to his feet the boys recognized the
representative from Jefferson county as q
manly man., and gave him a laundering
round of applause. --.-q .
Captain Linck, who was gallant soldier
in the war for the Union, looked upon the
handsome, intelligent young men about
him with undisguised admiration. "YOu
young gentlemen,p said he, remind
out early in the sixties to light
for flag and country. The great army
that saved the Nation averaged scarcely
more than nineteen years old There is
little cloud threatening this country now;
it may pass away, and it may be that some
y
fend our banner, the most beautiful that
floats in any sky. 1t is necessary for every
nation in time OF peace to prepare for war,
and this preparation is good"
Governor HOvey had not intended to
speak, but the enthusiasm of the occasion
brought him to his feet, and as he stood up
the boys gave him rOusing welcome. Il
have been on the skirmish line the last
sixty-One days." the Governor began, but
of the laughter and applause, "and feel
somewhat fatigued, but think the pros
poets fair for d victory at no distant day.
l see before me the same kind of material
that l saw in 1864, when / was given al
thOrity to come here in Indiana and raise
ten thousand troops. / came and adver-
tised for young men. Men with wives were
not wanted in these regiments and / got
men OF your ages, young fellows; and, boys,
they looked very much like you. l could
almost take you to be the same boys. We
marched to the front, and as the boys
passed the veterans they were smiled at
not q little. i saw those boys on
the plains of Resaca make q
most gallant charge = six thousand
You bring back those days to me, and with
it comes the hope that you will be as gal
liant and brave as those boys. now old. who
were then known as "Hoveys Babies"
After the applause following the Gov
ernOr's speech had subsidized Col. Sam Merrill,
who commanded the SEVENTEEN Indiana
after General Harrison, was called on. The
Colonel said that as he had heard the roll
call of this company and seen the young
men in line he had remarked to Governor
Hovey that it caused him to remember
away back before the sixties, when not
much older than they now are, how he and
other young men had followed the Governor
in the political movement growing out
of the Kansas discussion, and had
afterwards followed him to victory in the
field. 1T may be-" said the Colonel, that
you on fields even beyond the ocean will
carry our flag to victory. l do not believe
there will be any emergency to which you
will not be equal, and that as in the past,
when there were only thirteen stars, in the
future, when the whole heaven will be filled
with them. you will if necessary carry
that flag around the globe, and that all
mankind will be united under it to love one
another, and to love liberty"
After a short speech by Lieutenant
colonel Wright, full of soldierly advice the
evenings enjoyment closed