Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-11
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.

august L.. 1uey came from CleVelauu
principally, hut many of them from dis
tant points. They were survivors of the
Twcnty-third Ohio Volunteer infantry.
The regiment was famed for its war
record. the, number of it's hard-fought
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,
war. and civil life.
OF Tie field officers only two survive
Gen. William s. Rosccrans of San Fran
cisco and Gen. Russell Hastings of the
Bermuda islands.
The scene today was a touching one.
the porch. from which the major re-
sponded to the eloquent greeting given
him by Capt. John s. Ellen, mayor of
Willopghby. The old soldiers cheeretl
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 vocations i'll life to congratu-
late you. our comrade in arms. on your
nomination as candidate for the Presi-
dent of the United States. / remember
that Co. u had one member. very youth
full in appearance. so much so that Capt.
Robinson of the Fifth infantry made
| SOiuC inquiry us u uSG uuu COuSGuI Va
| parents.
| Eager for tho Fray.
| The answers of the recruit were so
prompt and SO decisive and his desire
so very modest, and asking to be ell
rolled as private. that the officer with
| out further hesitation administered the
oath and William Mckinley, Jr. at the
| vate soldier i'll the Union army. (Great
| applause and three cheers for IcIxip-
ley.l
Then away to the hills and mountains
of West Virginia. where we fought and
skirmishcd the summer away. meeting
and defeating Confederate Gen. Floyd
at CarnfaX Ferry. September 10, 1861.
In recognition of your bravery, eff
ficiency. and fidelity to duty, you We're,
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
life. If from any cause the coming of
the supply trains were delayed and ra-
hest thing and made requisition on the
country round about. At 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
II
were your first associates in army life.
In conclusion let me say that the spirit
of 1861 is not dormant: that, as we went
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 country's flag.
Thirty-fve 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
II At,0 1Io vnn.l .l,y,v MT oF
but of the people, contending for law
and order, national honor and the ir-
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 old
love and loyalty, and declare with you
as sound as the Union and as untar-
nished as its flag" With an abiding
faith in the virtue, int,elligencc, honor
American. people, we again congratulate
you and bid you Godspeed. Great APP
plause and cheering.)
Happy Reply of Mr.. Mckinley.
When storm of applause had SUBJ
sided Maj. Mckinley responded:
Capt. Ellen and My Comrades If the
Twenty third Ohio: This call of the sur
viving members of the old regiment With
WQlcu SeESeu lOF LuUre ludL lOuF years
at my home is most gracious act ON
their part, and brings to me peculiar and
special qualification. AS l look upon
this little body of men assembled about
me, and remember that this is but the
remnant of the old Twenty-third that,
young men on its roll ready for duty,
and that it was twice recruited to the
total number of nearly 22O0, that here
is gathered possibly less than 100. and
bers of our glorious old regiment, am
wildly reminded how rapidly the Years
are passing, and with them are passing
our old associates of the war. The sur
vivors are scattered through twenty
them resides on the other side If the
water. But wherever they are, and in
whatever vocation they may be engaged,
they all love the old regimental organiza-
tion which is the proudest thing to them
on earth. lApplause.
We had great regiment; great in its
field officers; great in the character of
the rank and file that constituted it.
Our hearts so out with tenderness and
love, am sure, to the first colonel of our
to his distant home in California. fGreat
We ali remember his splendid tlisci.
pline and gentle Qualities, and we remam.
/ DeE Will Will yTlue we ulUrCueU uEucI
his command in West Virginia in 1851.
Tribute to scammon.
And we remember, too, that cthe,
regular army. officer. that splendid sol.
dier, Gen. e. P. Scammon-[cheersl-
not the most popular man in tho 1eei.
ment in its earlier days, for we thought
his discipline very severe and his drill
very hard, but after the battle of South
Mountain, Gen. Scammon was the most
1oH mn N in tho
plause.] We knew then for the first
time what his discipline meant and what
,, strength it gave to US on the battlefield
Nor can we assemble here as we have
today without recalling the third colonel
/ of the Twenty-third Ohio, who was long
est with US. Rutherford B. Hayes. [Grea,
cheering.] He was beloved by every man
! of the regiment, and no braver colonel
ever led his soldiers to battle. Nor Stan
ley Matthews, the first lieutenant-colone
of the regiment-the great soldier and
, lawyer. [Applause.l Nor can we forgel
J Comley, glorious old Comley. [Cheert