The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-11

PenrOSe-WOrds of Praise for the
las Happenings.
General W. H. Penrose said goodbye
to the Fort Douglas troops yesterday
at noon, he having reached the age of
retirement, sixty-four years. Pursu-
ant to post circular of Monday the
officers and non-commissioner officers
of the Sixteenth infantry, together with
a large number of the ladies of the
garrison, assembled in the post hall
at 11:45 a. M, to hear the generals
farewell address. Some time before
the hour appointed the hall was filled
to its utmost capacity and as usual on
other occasions of ceremonies held in
the hall, standing room was in demand
The general arrived promptly on time
and going forward stood in front of a
chair that had been placed there for
him, and behind which the national col
ors hung in graceful folds.
When everything had quieted down
and the Sixteenth band had played
Star SDangled Banner" the audience
standing. General Penrose stepped for
ward a pace and feelingly read from a
printed slip the following farewell adj
dress:
Headquarters Sixteenth U. S.
Infantry, Fort Douglass, Utah.
March 10, 1896
officers and Soldiers, Comrades, Six
teenth U. S. Infantry;
After thirty-f1ve years of almost con-
ha
come when by operation of law 1 must
surrender my command, and bid fare
we'll to my COMPANIONS in arms. The
time and occasion calls to mind many
incidents, both of war and peace, of
many dear friends, of many gallant
souls who laid down their lives that
their beloved country might live, that
our glorious flag might proudly float
over a free and united people. 1t is
impossible for me to contemplate these
things and to know that all these ties
are to be severed, without feelings of
deepest regret, and especially is this
so in regard to you, my comrades, with
whom L have been so intimately asso-
ciated for several years past, first as
your Northumberland and since as
your colonel.
For your loyalty to me 1 most sin
cerely thank you. Your discipline is
worthy of all commentator, and honor
to your government and yourselves [
have endeavored to perform my duty
to my government and to those under
me, with absolute justice, and the
kindest feelings to all. If I have sue
ceeded, l can but be satisfied. And,
now, comrades, the last word must be
spoken. If you will bear me in as kind
remembrance as 1 always shall you
there will ever be bond of union be-
tween US. Farewell.
TURNED OVER THE COMMAND.
AT the conclusion of the address
General Penrose called for Lieutenant
Colonel Coates, who was standing in
a group of officers on his left and when
that officer stepped forward said:
Colonel Coates, it now becomes my
duty to turn over the command of the
Sixteenth U. S. infantry to you, and [
will say in doing so that l could not
turn IL over to a more competent Off
Ger, or one more worthy to assume the
responsible duties of the Office
Colonel Coates grasped General Pen
rose by the hand at the conclusion of
the speech and replied as follows:
COLONEL COATES SPEECH.
General Penrose, at this your part
ing from us, 1 desire to say a good
word in farewell. I have never made
speech, and for the comfort of the
audience will state that [ do not intend
to attempt one at this period of my life.
would further state that [ do not
speak for the officers and men of the
regiment, as l have no authority to
do SO, but [ am sure that the large
majority will bear me out in what 1
am about to say.
L speak for myself alone, as an old
comrade in arms, as one who, like
yourself, in the dark days of 81 ten
dered his services to the land of his
birth in her death struggle for ex-
istence, and also as the next in rank
to yourself and on whom devolves the
command of the regiment until the
arrival of your successor. Many years
have passed since the days referred to,
and the boys who then bore arms in
defense of their country for four long
years in campaign and battle have be-
come, most of them, old men. Day
by day these ranks are thinning, day
by day their names are being erased
from the rolls of the army, and in a
few short years the last one will have
That the young men, those that are
taking their places, may render as
good and loyal service in the camp and
on the battlefield, is all that can be
asked.
You have this day reached She age
Of Cd, the date fixed by law for the
transfer of officers from the active to
the retired list
The youngsters claim it is a good
law, and I think that on the whole we
oldsters agree with them Still I
must say that l for one am pleased
that those same youngsters are not
in command, for fear if they were in
these piping times of peace" and slow
the figures would be
changed from Ga to SO, or even less.
I do not wonder at your regret at
parting with this regiment.
A finer body of men, morally, mental
Iy and physically, 1 never saw gath
cred together under a regimental |
standard.
1 claim further, and without fear of
contradiction, that the Sixteenth Uni
ted States infantry stands today the
peer of any regiment Of our own or
any other army.
That such is the fact is in a great
measure due to yourself. You came
TO the regiment as it's colonel not quite
two years ago, and 1 can bear testi-
mony to your earnest and faithful
work in all that time for its improve
ment, and that it has improved is
patent to all, and now claim that for
your coming to it. it is today fully 100
per cent better than it was two years
ago. And now in conclusion l will
state that you are the third colonel
who has within the past few years
turned over his command TO me on
being transferred to the retired list
AS we entered the service about the