Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-11
BADE FAREWELL To BROOKE
Brilliant Reception rendered Him and His
Wife at the Omaha Club.
PRESENTED A BEAUTIFUL PUNCH BOWL
Ex-senator Henderson, In the Namo of the
People of Omaha, Expressed Their
Sorrow at the Parting to which
the General Replied.

One Of those rare occasions which blend the
regrets of separation with grateful realiza-
ton of friendships which still endure was the
farewell reception which was tenederd to
General and Mrs. John II. Brooke by their
Omaha friends at the Omaha club last even-
ing. The news Of General Brooke's removal
to ST. Paul had come too suddenly to permit
of the usual formalites in the way Of in-
vitations, and the company that gathered in
the spacious quarters of the club was a spon-
taneous testimonial to the esteem in which
the guests of the evening were held by those
with whom they had been associated during
their seven years sojourn in the city.
But the informality of the occasion proved
one Of the chief factors in its success. More
than 200 Of the leading people of Omaha
came to join in wishes for future happiness
for the departing and their tribute was tho
more to be esteemed in that it came unso-
licited. The simple announcement that the
reception would be rendered was sufficient to
fill the parlors, and as General and Mrs.
Brooke bade farewell to the friends that
crowded around them, the affair swelled into
an ovation that commensurately indicated the
place which they had won in the hearts Of
those who came to say goodbye.
With the exception of the huge mound of
roses which banked the punch bowl, there
waJ no attempt at studied decoration. 1t
was thought that simplicity should character
ize such eavetaking. and the club rooms
had only such adornments as borrowed
from fair faces and dainty evening toilets.
The Second Infantry band occupied corner
in the hall, and its strains mingled pleasantly
with the subdued murmur of the groups who
chatted in the parlors.
During the earlier part Of the evening Gem
era and Mrs Brooke were occupied in lsten-
ing to the regrets of the guests for the unex-
peCted parting, and the mutual good wishes
which were exchanged reflected a sincerity
that will linger as pleasant recollection for
many years to come. This was but the pre-
lude to a more substantial token of esteem
which may serve as Il happy reminder OF
Omaha and Omaha friendships.
MANDERSON SPOKE FOR OMAHA.
Soon after o'clock the guests gathered in
the reception room, where General and Mrs.
Brooke were summoned by group of friends.
The hum of voices subsidized as Senator Man
derson ascended to the first landing of the
stairway and the guests parted so a. to leave
General Brooke directly facing the speaker.
The senator then formally gave notice to the
sentiment of the evening in the following
words
"Ladles and Gentlemen: Thlrty-four years
ago there began series Of events that, con-
tinuing for nearly five years, were of the
greatest Importance and the most nom entous
that ever occurred in human history. We
are too near that time, although q generation
mas passed, TO appreciate lully NOW lUlpOTtdup
were those events. Looking back, those OF US
who lived during those days can hardly ap-
preciate all that they meant, and certainly
those who did not then live cannot possibly
have an understanding Of what they meant.
We have, some of us, appreciation Of what
was meant to this country OF ours, but how
little do we realize what was Treant to the
world at large. The greatest product OF
those days, Abraham Lincoln, has said that
during the war Of the rebellion there came
new birth CT freedom. If this nation Of
ours, this government of the people and BY
the people and for the people had persisted,
If this experiment of men for li-govern-
ment had failsd, the dial Of the hand Of
time would have been turned back CEN
tury, and no man can predict the dreadful
evil to the human race that would have fol-
| lowed in tho train Of that disaster.
ut was a great time in which TO live; IL
| afforded individual opportunity such as events
| seldom afford; 1t brought forth the men al
ways coming to the frcnt to 1T the oppor-
| tunity-Lincon and Grant, Sheridan and
| Sherman Thomas and Meade-and Of ths
| 2 800 900 men who at the call Of the country
| flew to arms to defend the flag, the humblest
| soldier of them all had his great individual
opportunity.
| "In April 1861, in civil pursuit there was
young man CT vigor and force who sezd
! this opportunity, prompted by patriotic zeal,
when the news came Of the attack upon
Sumter, and he quickly volunteered as
private soldier to be made shortly captain
| Of an infantry company and to reach In
| a bri;f period the position Of colonel Of one
| of Pennsylvania great battalions He went
| to the field, and, If | were to repeat his his
| tory | would give the roll Of the battles
| fought by that great Army Of the Potomac
| under Mcclellan and Burnside and
Meade and Grant, from Bull Run to the sur-
/ render at AppomattoX. | look with admira-
| tion today over the military record Of the
|
whom we are to say good bye, General John
r. Brooke. (Applause)
HIS PART IN GREAT BATTLES.
81 found that under Mcclellan he fought
at Fair Oaks, and was In the disastrous
and dreadful Seven Days Battle before
Richmond. He was at the second
| Bull Run and he participated in that most
sanguinary conflict, one of the greatest
battles that the world has known, the battle
of Antietam, under Burnside. He fought at
! Fredericksburg, and he was under Hooker at
Charlottesville, and under Meade he was
one Of the gallant host in blue that repelled
the brave assault of Picketts division. At
Gettysburg he won new honors and added
to his fame. Following along in the line OF
his duty he was with Grant, the great
captain, at the Wilderness; was in the as
sauIt at Spottsylvania Court House. His
brigade made the great charge at Cold
| Harbor and penetrated the enemy's lines and
| occupied his works. There, severely wounded,
ana receiving thlru Wounu curing the war
for wounds came to him at Fair Oaks and at
Gettysburg well as at Cold Harbor-he
for time was compelled by reason OF
wounds to go upon duty to the rear of the
| army. He commanded brigades; he COM
manded at times divisions, and was at one
time in command of the Army OF the shenan-
| doah.
"a grateful country, recognizing his serv-
ices, on the 18th Of May, 1864, made him
brigadier general OF volunteers for distin-
guShed services during recent battles in the
Old Wilderness and at Spottsylvania Court
House On August l, 1864, he was breveted
major general of volunteers for gallant and
merltorious service at Polotomy and Cold
Harbor, Va. He rose from captain to be
commander Of an army.
ENTERED THE STANDING ARMY.
1.-THE war over, he resigned his commission
in the volunteer service, but in 1866 he was
one Of those officers who had gathered that
richest of experience that soldier can reap
upon the fields Of battle, and the govern
ment, quick to zee that he would be OF value
in the military service commissioned him as
lieutenant colonel in the regular army. In
the regular service there was recognition
Of his gallantry, for, on May 2, 1867. he was
| t,A 81, % ha NON