The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-10-03
Highest of all in Leavenng Govt Report
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ABSOLUTELY PURE

tions of half of the nation, and an
enormous public debt, that still hangs
as cloud of doom over the land. But
history will record with pride aud
recall to future generations that the
Mexican war regenerated a nation and
gave to the United States niche in
the arch of national greatness; arecord
OF prowess gained in the forum of arms
as high and enduring as ever was made
by ancient or modern heroes. No
where in the recorded pages of history
is found parallel to the achievements
OF the First Missouri regiment of vol
unteers. Hastily drawn from the
plough, shop and counter, you doffed
the costumes and habilaments of peace,
and donning the iron arms of war, you
were marched $500 miles over barren
plains, sterile deserts and rocky noun
talns-scaling them over fathoms of
snow, amid relentless war of the
elements, without pay, scanty clothing
and inadequate food, pinched by hun
ger, faint with THIRST, and chilled by
wintry blasts. You met and stormtd
fortified positions occupied by four
times your number of trained soldiers,
and carried the stars and stripes tri-
umphantly through the roar and smoke
of battle over their entertainments,
only stayed by the flight and surrender
of your foes. Well have your achieve
ments been compared to those of
Xenophon, III command of the retreat
Of the immortal ten thousand Greeks.
Col. Alexander w. Doniphan, with
his native generosity and warm love for
his soldiers, rendered all the honor to
them, and said they were trough, rag
ged and ready, half ralions, hard
marches, no clothes, but still game 10
the last, and curse and praise their
country by turns, but fight for her all
the time.''
The Second regiment of Missouri
volunteers, commanded by the chival-
rous and heroic General Sterling Price,
has n record dear to the heart of every
Missourian. Starting from Fort Leav-
enwOrth in August, 1876. travelling
along the same route, suffering the
same privations and fighting many
battles, they proved themselves worthy
compeers and brothers of the first regi-
ment. And had fortune offered the
same opportunities their record would
doubtless have been as brilliant and
enduring as the other.
The achievements of Taylor and
Scott will always swell the volume Of
| future history with truthful stories of
gigantic battles, wonderful victories,
heroic triumphs and devoted patriot
ism.
Time forbids details; but Buena
Vista, Cerro Gordo and Chaultepelpec
must always be remembered as equal
ing the marvellous miracles of the
Napoleon dynasty.
But let us return to shed farewell
tear over the graves of those dear COM
patriots who have but gone before, and
stand beckoning from the further
| shore. Doniphan, Price, Gilpin, Jack
son, Reid, Parsons, Moss, Walton,
Hughes and hundreds of others of The
grand galaxy-we would throw in
cense over your resting places, and
there tune the triumph of fame TO echo
your noble deeds; but your laurels will
ever remain green and your grateful
countrymen guard your memories with
more than vestal fidelity.
"How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest.
When spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mold,
She there shall dress q sweeter sod
Than fancy's feet have ever trod"