The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-05

Again q Speech by G-ncTal Harrison Is the
Event of the Meetng.
While the crowds were thronGing the
streets of the city yesterday evening. 1900
veterans were enjoying the reunion Of the
ARMY Of the Cumberland at the Meridian
street Methodist Church. After the
opening prayer, Gen. John Coburn arrived
to take charge of the meeting. He gave en-
eloquent account OF the war record OF the
Army of the Cumberland. He told of Its
growth from what he first knew 1t In the
fall of 1861. When il was unable to do any,
thing. to it's DEVELOPMENT into that grand
army OF almost ninety thousand
men who won the victory at
Nashville. He spoke of the generals this
army had. with praise for Buell.. Thomas
and Sherman. At the namo OF Thomas
the audience broke into applause.
He was the model soldier of the
war;" said the General. Il remem.
ber at Snake Greek Gap that my brigade
was ordered TO cut road for tho army.
and when the work was done we lay by till
the whole army passed. / will never for.
get that sight. They were as ective and
vigorous and as martial as any army that
dent of victory and perfectly satls-
fed in their commanders. the line of war
rIors kept passing me for twelve hours. 1t
was no mere holiday parade as we now see.
1t meant business; business for mon and
all humanity. Soon after that they met
the emmy and won the complete victory"
After this address programme was car:
ried out by the young friends of the Grand
Army. Miss Berthe Weddeil sang beloved
COlumbis, end the hctchum quartette gave
Way Down Upon the Swanee River"
These. we'll as the recitation by Mics
Sidelia starr, of Greencastle, were loudly
applsuded and cncoIed. However. all OF
this first part oil he programme was per-
vaded with that hero O pathos that
sometimes steals lmpercepublY among
an gatherings. 1t remained for
Miss Pearl Bean TO rally the jolly side by
an inimitable recitation on the boys that
went from the Ho0sier State. 1t soon had
the house laughing and applaudlng their
loudest. On an encore she gave The Army
Mule"
Major Ostrander then spoke of the pride
of the Cumberland army. Pap Thomas
You" he said. turning TO tho veterans,
''remember him. He VAS the Philip Sidney
of our war. You remember how no held
his army in the battle of Nashville. What
Wellington was In tenacity. what Fred
erick was In bravery and what Washing.
ton was in purity of purpose all this was
called upon. He said he had looked around
for q comrade of the Army of the Potomac.
but as he had been able TO lind
none there. he wonid bo glad to surren-
der himself to their army. and to honor the
name of Pap" Thomas He then went on
TO reete the poem entitled The Veteran
and His Grandson. or Why We Wear the
Badge" 1t was composed by himself
one evening after hearing a friend of his
answering the queries OF his grandchild
in regard to the Grand Army. Mr. Beecber
said OF this poem that IL Was the best short
story of the war he had ever heard. The
caotain had composed il. aud delivered it
In way that told of bis deep sympathy
with the inner spirit of earnestness aud
heroism in the great national struggle.
Fx-Presicsnt Harrison then entered and
was received with loud and prolonge ged
cheers. Hats and handkerchisfs were
waved IN way seldom seen IN church. In
the interval OF few minutes were musical
numbers by Miss Helen Walker. Messrs.
Race and Millison. and a rendering of the
"Star-spnngled banner on the pipe organ
by the oraanist. SIR. Henson. and
q recitation by Aiss Dsisie c.
TuttIe. AS General Harrison rose to