Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-09-05
TALKED TO VETERANS.
Survivors of the Twenty-third
Ohio Regiment Journey in a
Body to Canton.
M'KINLEY AND HIS COMRADES.
The Major Makes a Speech Which
Rouses the Old Soldiers to
Enthusiasm.

Two hundred of Maj. McKinley's old
comrades in war called at his home on
August II. They came from Cleveland
principally, but many of them from dis
tant points. They were survivors of the
Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer infantry.
The regiment was famed for its war
battles, including South Mountain, An
tietam and Gen. Sheridan's many bat
ties in the Shenandoah valley in "a; for
the number of its killed and wounded,
and also for. its great men noted in
war and civil life.
OF the field officers only two survive
cisco and Gen. Russell Hastings of the
Bermuda islands.
The scene today was touching one.
Mrs. Mckinley sat in the hallway near
the porch, from which the major. re-
| sponded to the eloquent greeting given
him by Capt John s; Ellen. mayor of
| and the old flag waved with every burst
of applause. Capt. Ellen told of Will
liam Mckinley as private soldier, say
Comrade: We have assembled here
| today from all parts of the union and
| from many vacations in life to congratu-
late you, our comrade in arms, on your
nomination as candidate for the Presl-
dent of the United States. l remember
| full in appearance, so much so that Capt.
| Robinson of the Fifth infantry made
| some inquiry as to age and consent of
parents.
Eager for the Fray.
| The answers of the recruit were so
prompt and decisive and bis desire
| SO very modest, and asking to be en-
| rolled as a private, that the officer with
| out further hesitation administered the
oath and William Mckinley, Jr., at the
age of II, was made a full-fedged pri-
vate soldier in the Union army. Great
| applause and three cheers for Mckin-
ley9
| of West Virginia, where we fought and
skirmished the summer away. meeting
and defeating Confsderate Cen M Fl 10y,
fciency and fidelity to duty, you were
in April, 1862, appointed to the commits
stoned staff commissary sergeant Those
of us present whom you then served are
| ready TO bear testimony to the very
marked improvement and regularity of
service in this one branch of military
the supply trains were delayed and ra-
lions were short. ''Mack'' did the next
best thing and made requisition on the
country round about. At a later day
your gallantry and fidelity secured your
| promotion and assignment to duty on
the general staff. But whatever the dis
| tinction or disparity in rank you always
| retained close touch with the boys who
were your first associates in army life.
In &c. conclusion let me say that the spirit spirit
shoulder to shoulder in the defense of
| our country, so now with willing hands
and united voices we stand for our coun-
| try's honor and for our countrys flag.
| Thirty-five years ago you stood with your
comrades as private soldier in the great
army which was contending for national
life and national union. Today you are
the chosen leader, not of mere party,
but of the people, contending- for law
and order, national honor and the in
volatility of the public faith. Your
old comrades are with you now as then
We stand shoulder to shoulder now as
then. We rally about you and the glori
Gus banner you now carry with our ole
love and loyalty, and declare with yor
that ''the money of our country must be
she sound its the lag n0 With ahd an as aSdn
and and discriminating judgment of The
Pd people aga5 reaf
| plause and cheering.)
Happy Reply of Mr.. Mckinley.
When a storm of applause had sub
sided Maj aim Mckinley Kin ~ If III,
Twenty-third Ohio: This call of the sur
viving members of the old regiment Will
which I served for more than four years
at nv home is most gracious act OF
special qualification. AS Il look mpoI
me, and remember that this is but thu
remnant of the old Twenty-third that
/ thirty-fve years ago, had 1910 sturd!
young men on its roll ready for duty
, and that it was twice recruited to thu
!. total number of nearly 22OO, that her
. is gathered possibly less than 100. ant
. that is one-fOurth of the surviving mem
! bers of our glorious old regiment, L an
! wildly reminded how rapidly the year
are passing, and with them are passIn:
, our old associates of the war. The sur
vivors are scattered through twenty
: four states of the union Some CT GU
members are in the territories; one Q
, water. But wherever they are, and il
! whatever vocation they may be engaged
: they all love the old regimental organiza
ton which is the proudest thing to then
on earth. Applause! :.
We had a great regiment; great 1T 1T
| field officers; great in the character o
:, | the rank and file that constituted il
I Our hearts go out with tenderness an
| love, 1 am sure, to the first colonel of on
d | regiment Gen William S. Rosecrans
| to his distant home in California [Grea
we ali remember his splendid disc
:, pline and gentle qualities, and we remain
his command in West Virginia in 1861.
n Tribute to Scammon.
; And we remember, too, that cthe
b | regular army officer, that splendid so
d der, Gen. E. P Scammon|cheers]-
s NOT the most popular man in the leg
e his discipline very severe and his dri
e very hard, but after the battle of Scut
d Mountain Gen. Scammon was the laos
It DoDuIar man in the regiment lGreat al
l. time what his discipline meant and wins
u strength it gave to US on the bat1fefef
V Nor can we assemble here as we hay
e TODAY without recalling the third colon
v | of the Twenty-third Ohio, whe was lon;
d est with u.s. Rutherford B. Hayes fGre:
d . cheeringl He was beloved by every ma
IS | of the regiment, and no Drawer colon
~ over led his soldiers to battle. Nor Sta