The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-20
Major General Wadsworth's Portrait
Presented to the Post Bear
ing His Name.
Speeches Made by Hon. Martin
Maginnis and Ex-Mayor
r. p. Fuller.
The Services Of tho 1llustrlOus Soldier
Recalled in n Graphic
A Large Gathering. .

the Republic had a gala time at their CAM
here last night. The occasion was the pre-
sentation of a portrait of Maj. Genl. James
T., Wadsworth, to The post that bears his
his name. The portrait was a gift from
Hon. j. W. Wadsworth, member of con-
gress, and the only surviving son of the
general. The presentation was made, Oh
his behalf, by Major Martin Maginnis, and
and the picture was received, on the part OF
the rost, by ex-Mayor I. p. Fuller. who Or
canized the post and the Department of
Montana. Major Maginnis in his presen-
tation speech said:
Commander. Ladies' and Comrades. l
Wadsworth, member of congress from New
York state:
Estate of j. S. Wadsworth,
Genesee. N. Y. June 4. 1891.
Ny Dear Major: I send you to-day by
express a picture of nv father, which kindly
present to the j.. S. Wadsworth g. A. Il.
post with my best wishes for their happl-
ness and prosperity. Say to the membe' s,
that / heartily appreciate the honor they
them and to shake each and every one Of
them by the hand. l am. Fr%ateFnally
Yours. j. w.
In honoring the name of Gen. Wads-
worth, this post did itself the greatest
honor. He was indeed a representative
citizen, soldier and hero Of the republic.
He came of patriotic and heroic blood. His
grandfather was a soldier Of the revolution,
colonel and hrigadier Of militia, and major
general of the continental army. His uncle
served all through the war of 1872, and
commanded in the fatal assault of the
-,-tk LA - ypS,Gn N
type of the early leaders and soldiers of the
nation. Like Washington and Jefferson
and most of the great men of the revolu-
ton, he was q farmer, statesman and SOL
disr. Like the men of that class he was
literally educated, a master of the profes-
sion of law, but he lived on and cultivated
the acres on which he was born, and was
proud to be considered one of the greatest
farmers in what was then the Farmers re-
public. This was the type of our rich men
during the simpler days of the COM
monwealth, before modern inven-
tions had spawned forth the
brood of great corporations and
war and speculation had ushered in the
era of recent plutocracy. With half a doZen
exceptions they were farmers or planters,
connected with the soil and allied to the
producers. They had their faults. but out
of their ranks came many noble men. They
were at least patriots by interest as we'll as
instinct and inheritance. What their gold
en- SUCCESSORS would do in cases OF natlona
need has yet to be told. 1t would be diff
cult to conceive of their emulating the pa.
triotism and devotion. or of their exceeding
the wisdom or heroism of these representa-
tives of more primitive times.
At the breaking out of the war James S
Wadsworth was cultivating his patrimony
IF TX 0n0 ncrea in the Ganaaaa va1lev tb.
garden of the Empire state. He was presi.
dent of the state agricultural society, thu
founder of libraries and colleges and dis
triot school library systems, an active phil
anthropist and promoter of the i'll
terests of the community in which
and was one of the delegates to the PEACE
convention in Washington which f~utilely
endeavored to stay the incoming tide O.
civil war. When war broke out and Wash
ington was cut off, he chartered two ships
himself, loaded them with supplies. tool
them round to Annapolis and delivered
them in person to the union troops. FL
volunteered as an aide to General Mcdowell
and was conspicuous for his bravery in thu
first disastrous battles. He Was then made
brigadier general, and General Mcclellan
assigned him to one of the advanced com.
mnnds in front of Washington, and he was
governor of the District of Columbia. He
was nominated for governor of New York
but he was not one of the men to resign his
commission in the front of the enemy, tc
advance his political fortunes. At Fred
ericksburg he established not only his
bravery but his military skill; and after
that Wadswolth's division was commended
in every report of the battles of the army
of the Potomac. That division left a trail
of blood and glory wherever the army
marched. 1t is mentioned in every page OF
history. and represented in every list OF
casualties. it was the first infantry diyis-
ion to come to Buford's support at Gettys-
burg. Out of 4 900 men it left 2,4OO on the
field that day; but those who were left
fought out. the next two days on the righl
of the line under their indomitable com.
mander. In the counci of war after the
victory, he was one of the three generals
who counseled immediate pursuit and at
tack. On the reorganization of the army
under Grant three corps commanders paic
him the compliment of asking that b,
would be assigned to divisions under them
He chose to remain with most of his ok
command, who were put in the fourth di
vision of the fifth corps. On these fell tn
brunt on the sixth of May in the wilderness
campaign. Inspired by his heroic bearlni
aud example they renewed the desperat
contest again and again, until a bulle
struck their chief and leader in the hea'
and they temporarily lost the ground o.
which he fell.
w AC uAoA, thi0 representative va
patriot and soldier, leaving his sons t.
follow in his footsteps as he in those of hi
patriotic ~progenitors. His gallant son
Craig Wadsworth, was the beau ideal o
the younger soldiers of the army. Man
of us remember him we'll. not only as
daring soldier but rs a generous and JOY
Gus companion. The oungest son of al
james. the donor of this picture, was ais
sent out by his pstrlotic mother; Il mer
boy then, he survived to honor himself an
family, in the councils of his state, in on
of it's highest offices and in congress, wher
it was my pleasure to know him we'll. II
is the most likely candidate of his party fc
the office of governor of New York. He
a worthy son of his great and good fathe
and should he come among us would re
ceivs a cordial welcome from Wadswort
post. Horace Greeley says in the Hlstor
of the American Conflict: "The country
salvation claimed no nobler sacrifice tina
that of James $. Wadsworth, of New Yor.
No one surrendered more for his country
sake or gave his life more j~oyfully for i
deliverance." Surely we all say amen
that; and we will keep and cherish til
picture of the iilustrious dead, SO long
one comrade lives to keep this post Whit
bears his honored name.
Captain Fuller's reply was rs follow
Commander, Ladies and Comrades-On b
half of Wadsworth post of the Grand Arm
of the Republic it is my privilege to acce
gratefully the portrait of Gen. James
Wadsworth, which has been presented to
by his son. Hon. James w. Wadsworth,
New York, by the willing and and throu
the eloquent voice of CoMrade Mapinn
In the year 1884 the soldiers of the uni
resident at Helena organized here one