The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-10-03
HON. JOHN DONIPHAN's SPEECH.
Made at the Annual Reunion of the
Mexican Veterans.

| mas oeeH HOIe TelenIleSS lnan lne roe
mans steel. We can only think, how
would the brave who have fallen ex-
ulted were they with us today.
All the general officers are gone, and
none but one of the captains and one
of the staff are left. General Kear-
ney, Doniphan, Gilpin, Ruff, Jackson,
Waldo, Walton, Reid, Moss, Parsons,
Rodgers-and Stevenson alone is left
All repose in soldiers graves, having,
after doiiing the habiliments of war,
assumed and worthily worn the vest
ments of civil life, and died honored
and revered by grateful countrymen.
General Kearney died few years
after the Mexican war, with his rank
still worthily held in the United States
army. Col. Doniphan returned to the
pursuits of peace, and won additional
honors by his eloquence at the bar and
in the halls of legislation, and died
lamented by state and nation in 1887.
General Price served his state as
governor and major general in the
confederate army, and added laurels
TO those won in Mexico; and thirty
five years since, on the site on which
we now stand, he forced the surrender
of large army of federal soldiers and
the gallant Mulligan, whose brilliant
defense of this beleagued camp attract
ed the admirition of the nation.
Col. Jackson died soon after the
return of the regiment 10 Missouri.
Lieutenant Col. Ruff was advanced to
the position of major general in the
civil war, and died few years since.
Col. Gilpin served as first governor
of Colorado, in portion of the Mis-
souri, regiments conquest. and died in
Denver four years since. The gallant
John T. Hughes was killed in Inde-
pendence in 1862. Captain Parsons,
fields in the civil war under the con-
federate flag, fell victim to Mexican
guerillas. Col. d. d. Mitchell, after
serving as commissioner of Indian
affairs for the west, died in St. Louis
some fifteen years after the Mexican
war.
Weightman, of battery fame, fell al
Wilson's creek, facing the Impetuous
Lyon, in a death struggle for vantage
on that fatcd day at Bloody Hill.
But why prolong the sad recital Il
Many names might be added of COM
missioned officers and privates, who
were part of that grand army, and
whose after lives proved that they were
worthy members of the immortal band
Among others present are Col. Bled-
soc, Major Williams, McClintock,
Major Jackson, Col. T. p. Hoy, and
several others who are with Us after
perils on other fields, who we are proud
to honor as remnants of those heroes
who made our state and nation glorious
1916 and '47.
! In 1876, besides the first and second
regiments of Missouri troups, third
was raised and mustered into service al
Fort Leavenworth, of which Major
John Dougherty was elected colonel.
Without any service it was mustered
foat and returned home.
In August, 1847, a battalion of in
fantry, under Lieutenant Col. Easton,
of St. Louis, left Fort Leavenworth h
and reached New Mexico and did good
service. This was composed of Mis-
sourians; and in the same month a
full regiment under Col. Rails, Lieu
tenant Col. Jones and Major Reynolds,
was raised in Missouri, and dispatched
from Fort Leavenworth, and called the
Fourth Missouri regiment.
Two additional battalions of Missouri
volunteers were raised and started for
duty on the plains against the Indians,
under Lieutenant Colonels Powell and
Gilpin, and known as the Fifth and
Sixth separate battalions, who did duty
until the fall of 1913, when they were
dis charged at Fort Leavenworth.
so we find that Missouri raised four
separate regiments and six separate
battalions, or about seven thousand
volunteers for the Mexican war; all of
whom except the Third regiment, dis
charged without service) did their duty
nobly and well-all the privations of
dreary marches, short rations, onerous
service in fort and field, as we'll as
effective and gallant work in battle.
The Second regiment, under Col.
Price, suffered more than any other,
as they lost nearly four hundred men
in battle and by disease during their
enlistment. The later enlistments were
better provided for in the matter of pay
and provisions furnished, bnt suffered
from the exposure and climate their
full share.
A few of the subordinates still linger
on the shore, awaiting the final sum-
mons, trusting the All Wise One will
be lenient to the soldiers weakness,
feeling that they must soon close up the
ranks in the Unknown. No voice comes
back to you from that traceless shore
to tell of the rank taken there by the
loved heroes who have gone before.
After the cloud and the chariot comes |
the far-off chambers of the golden hued
sky.
You went clothed with youth and |
hope, ennobled by patriotic duty to the
country, which has treated you so
badly, to seek an enemy, as Paladius,
so many, many miles away. You
launched upon the unknown to achieve
an undying fame-nearly thousand
miles to the first objective point.
From the Goth of June to the 18th of
August, 1876, the laborious march was
over the great American
Desert. Its trials you vIvidly recall,
but you were upheld by discipline,
nervcd by honors, Ieh ,sts and true love