The Indianapolis journal., 1893-09-07

IS k>6s1 l,f f0{iJk bled probably
kHIll EEW WxfHlAPyfN the largest gath
n Ex. Grams ever held
sincs the war. The large auditor
inn was crowded to the doors be-
fore the close of the session. The aisles
were full. and many were turned
away. Led by Rev. ID. r. Lucas. the gath
ering audience joined in singing "March-
ing through Georgia." with that vim
which characterzes the rendition OF that
war song when We eterans of the late war
are about. The Pickering Brothers. OF
Howard county, members of Company ii.
Fourth Indiana Cavalry. rendered their
regimentai song in an enthusiastic way
that called forth rounds of cheers. In
response to an encore they sang negro
melody. DR., Sawyer. of Indianapolis. was
called out of his regular order to the plats
form on account of the delay occasioned by
the nonarrival of the president Of the asso-
citation. The speaker launched immedl-
ately into the question of the Mexican
dates on the monument. He was rather Sc
we're In his denunciations of Commissioners
Langsdale. whom he referred to as
OuudS lSCbIlOt, u Lu6n w uO :" oc ACoVy w
sell us out" He said that it would be
agreeable to the Indiana veterans if Com
missioner LanGsdale would step down and
out. and the hearty applause which
greeted this zen ntiment seemed To indicate
that other soldiers held the same opinion.
In referring TO the great parade OF
Tuesday he SAID: Il heard q voice
clear, ringing and strong leading out in
this sentiment: Well hang Hoke Smith
on That aentlmanE
suited great N any of u.s." Great cheer
iug.l DIR. Sawyer said, In closing. that the
American people would not suffer the
brave soldiers of the late war to be accused
of un worthy purposes, or convicted. with
out q trial. of fraudulently obtaining pen
sions.
letter from Gen. Z. A. Carr. of the
Thirteenth Army Corps. was by Chair
man ri. T.. Allen, regretting his inability to
DO present. A similar communication from
Gideon b. Thompson. of Indianapolis. was
presented. Colonel Black introduced to the
audience Sergt. A. b. Story. of Company r.
Twenty-iirst lows. who fired the hrst gun
at FOrtGibson. Sergeant Story arose to
acknowledge q round OF applause which
folio wed the announcement. Mr.. II. Ia
Allen in charge of the association meet
ing, now called to the chair Colonel Black.
who accepted the honor In speech which
reviewed the history OF the five great bat
ties at Nicksburg. lie was frequently in
terrupted with cheers by the veterans
whose recollection of those fierce tights
was renewed. and their enthusiasm excited
by the narrative A juvenile drum corps
from Ohio was called TO the stage, and the
enthusiasm of the old soldiers was renewed
by some stirring martial music.
DIR. Lucas TELLS STORIES.
Rev. ID. II. Lucas of Central-avenue
Christian Church, was next introduced,
and delivered an address of hearty well
come to the Vicksburg survivors. He re-
ferred to the fact that the organization
was brought about by a mutual desire to
settle the differences as to matters of fact
relating to the Yicksburg campaign. which
for q long time had stirred mp dispute be-
tween the Eighteenth and the Eleventh
Indiana regiments. Doubtless the true
history of those battles" said he. which
resulted IN the capture of this citadel of
the Confedsracy. had never been
completely written, but this assOcia-
tion should not rest until honor
il accorde ed TO those TO w hom honor is due"
Chaplain Lucas related several of the
amusing stories for which he is famous
among Grand Army men,. After the sur
render at Vicksburg." he said. Il was
the boys. probably as large as this. My
fayorite text IN those days was. If God be
with US. who can be against u.s. and upon
this su biect was preaching that day. In
TIE Illusb VI In1 6VSiilOu CIlcu Oub III u
loud voice: If God be with US. who can be
against usg A tell freshman of Company
ID shouted in reply: If yen ralely want TO
know. it's the divil and Jiff Davis i said:
That's all right. boys. We'll fight jeff
DAVIS while the war lasts. till We
hang hlm on a sour apple tree, and then
we'll go home and fight the devil ell the
rest OF our lives"
Another story related by the Chaplain re-
ferred to d spirit of rivalry which existed
dnrInu tNe a tlA NlnetV.ulnfh
Indiana. of which he was chaplain, and q
neigk & boring regiment, the SEVENTEEN Ohio.
The Buckeyes and the Hoosiers lost no op-
portunity of attempting to surpass each
other. Just after the capture of Vicks-
burg" said the Chaplain, 81 was preaching
to my regiment on Black river. After the
capture of jackson We had quite
time. and good many of those
army of the Lord Jesus Christ. The cns-
tom of our church IL such that when q man
wants to join the church We take him down
anu put him under the water. L had been
baptizing u good many members of my
regiment. One day word was brought 10
the colonel OF the Seyentieth Ohio that the
chaplain of the Ninety-ninth Indiana had
baptized forty soldiers. The colonel went
Immediately to the adjutanr aud said:
Detail fifty men of the Seventeen Ohio
ana have them baptized tonight, for no
Indiana regiment shall get ahead of Ohio
President Lincoln 10 said to have derived
great amusement from tDls incident chap
lain Lucas closed by renewing his hearty
welcome to the veterans of Nicksburg.
Col. James keglin was next, and re-.
sponded III a speech full of earnestness and
tlnge of wit whiob kept the audience in
q delighted state of mind until its close
He told IN brief his experience in the
Nicksburg campaign. and pronounced il
the most important battle fought during
the rebellion. The Colonel assured the
veterans that he could talk week on this
question, and said that on one occasion,
while IN attendance at soldiers reunion
where the speakers failed to appear
be had done duty through the
whole session. One old country
woman, sun bonneted. and with Q clay
pipe in her mouth, remarked TO Q compan-