Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-06-06
OHIO'S TRIBUTE
TO THE
ANDREWS RAIDERS,
1862.
ERECTED 1890.
ERECTED 1890.

;. .......
On tho rear OF the die are the words;
ExECuTED.
james. ]. Andrews, Femngsburg, Ky.
Marion A. Ross, Company A, cd o. V. I.
George d. Wilson, Company B. I'd o VI.
Perry G. Shadrack, Company X, ID o. V. l.
John NJ. Scott. Company +, 21st o. V. !.
Samuel Slavens Company e SD o V. L
Samuel Robertson, Company G, 33d o. V. I.
William H. Campbell, Saineville, o.
On the right OF the die are the words:
ESCAPED.
John b Porter, Company c, 2lst o. ". I.
]. Alfred Wilson, Company c. 2lst o. V. I.
Mark Wood, Company C, 2lst o. V. 1. ..,
William ]. Knight, Company E. 2lst o. v. I.
Wilson w, Brown, Company F, 2lst o. " 1.
William Plttenger, Company G, Cd o. v. l.
William Bonsinger, Company G, 2lst o. v. L
Robert Burtum, Company H, 21st o, VI
Elihu H. Mason. Company K, 91st o. VI
William H Reddiclk Company B. 39d O. v. I.
Jacob Parrot, Company X. 33d o. V. l.
John NJ Scott.
Regular memorial services were conducted at
the rostrum by the local G. A. r. At $3.50 p. m.
the exercises OF dedicating the monument be.
gan. Past Department Commander Muller
called the assemblage to order. Rev. II. c.
Warner, past chaplain-in-chief. offered the
prayer. Judge Thaddeus A. Minshall, president
of the Ohio Andrews Raiders Monument Com
mission, was presented by Department Com
mander A. ]. Gahagan, chairman OF the local
Andrews monument committee. Judge Min
shall spoke briefly, after which eX-Gov. Foraker
wss presented by Halbert B. Case, department
assistant acknowledgement OF the G. A. r.
GOV. FoRAKERs ADDRESS.
r After giving detailed account OF the raid,
the capture of the raiders and the execution of
the eight who were hanged at Atlanta, ne next
told of the removal OF their bodies and the re-
burial in the National cemetery at Chattanooga,
and then proceeded us follows:
Under all the circumstances that act might
well have been the last tribute. But now, after
the lapse of twenty yenrs, comes this day s
work. And what years they have been! Since
these men died the greatest part OF that which
Is best most brilliant and most glorious in our
history has been written.
At that time Lincoln had not yet issued his
emancipation proclamation. Vicksburg, Get
tysburg, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain,
Mission Ridge Atlanta, the march to the sea,
the Wilderness, Appomattox, reconstruction,
universal liberty and political equality for all
men were yet to come. 1t would not have been
strange II these great deeds had forever divert
ed attention from the event under considera-
ton, or had destroyed appreciation for 1t by
contrast and comparison.
If these men had been great commanders,
great scholars. great statesmen, or graat citi-
gems in any ordinary sense OF the term, our
presence mere WOulu neeu no eSplnnatlOn. but
thoy were the very opposite. They were sim
ply typical volunteer Ohio boys. hardly out OF
their teens, without name, family, influence or
station, to cause them to be remembered and
hoaored, as they are remembered and honored
to-day.
Why is It, then, that we arc here. What
purposes are we seeking to promote! Why
should the general assembly OF great state
turn aside from its ordinary cares and duties to
take such action as has been mentonedf Why
should justice OF the supreme court and two
distinguished and honored citizens who are his
associates on the commission labor, as they
have, with Jealous pride to discharge the duties
that have bcsn ntrusted to them!
The ans wer is plain and simple.
In the first place there is no bitterness, vain.
glory or UNIV orthy spirit OF any kind involved
It's but stating the exact truth TO repeat as
fairly applicable TO the whole OF that great
army who wore the blue, the dying words Of
Wilson, that he had no hard feelings toward
the south or her people" That he "loved the
union and the flag, and WAS fighting TO uphold
them and not to do unnecessary injury TO amy
ene."
Even in the midst OF that great struggle they
did not want to kill any body, except only as IL
became necessary to kill somebody TO kill Sc
cession They believed in the union OF thesI
states. They believed the highest interest o
the south as well as the north. required IT.
preservation and believing slavery TO bo tn,
disturbing cause OF all our differences, they
gladly struck it down. But with II all there
was no malice.
And as it WAS then, so 1t is now,
The one great thought that lies at the bottom
OF every such demonstration as this, is that o
profound gratitude to the man who saved us
and supreme thankfulness to Almighty God 70
the great blessings that have come TO our who'll
country through the victory OF th6 union armies
This sentiment grows with the years and will
our increasing prosperity as a people, Time
therefore, but makes more manifest our duty 4
oil who psriled and saorihced their lives 70
these pricelesss results. But upon these par
ticular mon fell common misfortune. The.
not only lost their lives, but they lost them II
such way as TO place stigma upon thei
memory,
Ohio is here to-day to remove that stigma
BY this action she reclalms them from all i'm
putation nj crime, and efraces forever tho ignc
miny OF . ielons death. She Proclaims to III