The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31

grand than that of General Thomas and
his command hurhng back in crimson spray
the terrific surges OF the enemy's mighty
forces Well may Thomas be called THE Rock
OF Chickamauga"
AT night he retired his command in good
oruer 10 Chattanooga, the prize fought for,
capturing on his way 500 of the enemy.
General Grant taking command of the Grand
army, Al Seneral THOMAS was appointed August
~, 1868, to the command OF the Army OF the
cumberland, as center division OF Shields
army. This position was held by his command
az the storming OF Missionary Ridge and
throughout the Atlanta campaign OF 1868 dur
ing Almost DAILY engagements from May 10
SSeptemper, resulting In the capture of Atlanta
september l, 1864.
september Y Thomas was placed in chief
command In Tennessee with large discretion
airy powers. General Sherman, at the begin
lng OF MS famous march from Atlanta to the
Sa Ssa Grew heavily from the forces of General
Ihomas: Indeed, his army thus reduced did
not at first exceed % 900 effective men, while
the army under General Hood was not less
than 900 The Union army however was
from time to time increased so that Thomas in
ms march to Nashville by skillful generalship,
Mas enabled to resist successfully Hood at
DUCK River and Spring Hill, and to inhict
battle of Franklin
1864, December 1916, General Thomas de-
teateu doou In great battle at Nashville,
utterly destroyed Hoods army as army and
P pursued Its struggling remnants beyond the
This victory was the death blow of the Con-
lederacy at the West. The rank OF major-gen-
Th gIAl In the regular army was now bestowed on
oered him a. vote of thanks. Time forbids
lurr ner enumeration of bis highly important
sSSrVlees S to his country. Suffice 1t TO say that
ne dle6 at his post doing duty in San Fran
cisco, March %, 1870. Wen may it be as ked,
Mhen shall we see his like again? General w.
1. sherman says of him: ''Never wavered in
Dattle; who was firm and full of faith in his
cause; who never sought advancement of rank
or honor at the expense OF any one; who was
the very 1mpersonation OF honesty, integrity
ana honor, and who stands as the beau ideal
OF the soldier and gentleman"
LET 1t be added" said Henry Coppee, his
biogr6pher, "that he was modest and retiring;
that ne sought nothing for himself by polite
and pedantic means; that he never lost a
battle, but won several splendid victories; that
he did not receive the full merit of advance
ment and praise dae TO his merits during his
life, and that, feeling this, he declared that
time and history would do him justice"
General James A. Garfield says: "On the
whole, cannot doubt that the most fitting
parallel TO General Thomas is found In our
greatest American [WashingtonI He re-
semoled washington in the gravity and dig
judgment; In the careful accuracy Of all his
transactions; in his iAcorruptible integrity
and IN his extreme but unaffected modesty."
All things fairly investigated and weighed
IN the scales OF justice, the result clearly
shows that no one did more than General
Thomas TO preserve the life of the Nation
Decorations annually reared mountains high
upon his tomb would be none too much. Yet
methinks those lips that bade victory ever
standard wherever 1t was borne would forbid
single flower more to be placed on his grave
IMAM on Inat OF the loyal private.
His soul was too grand, too noble too pure
to just too permit the least partiality Let us
bow in Difference TO that sentiment, and deter
mine SO far possible that for which we
ought to be grateful not only 10 him but 10 all
who participated in winning the great victory
OF freedom. That victory enfranchised millions
OF bondsmen, making good the Declaration of
independence, that "an men created
equal'; it set at rest forever the unconstitu-
tlonal doctrine of States rights; it made u S
one people-established the integrity of the
Union on the North and South from British
America TO Mexico and the Gulf, and on the
East and West from ocean TO ocean; it demon
strated to mankind that "the government of
the people by the people and for the people,
is the most wholesome and stable form OF
government; it demonstrated 10 the South the
great value OF the manufacturing industry; il
showed to the world our strength, re-
sources ana our capabilities; it eliminated
JealousieS from the minds OF the people in diff
ferent portions OF the country; it stimulated
and showed them that, to a large extent, they
themselves are the arbiters of destiny; and
placed the United States foremost in the rank
of nations.
The strength and power, the. extent and
volume, the truth and sincerity OF that great
verdict is beginning 10 be understood, but the
full scope ana sweep OF its effects have not yet
been determined. The recognition of nations
is family outlined in the prevailing sentiment
advancing steadily and firmly toward the gov
ernment OF man by men, ana with mat poley
called peace, best maintain through the
power of national strength.
The evoIutonn which transformed the origi-
nal confedeTacy and the union OF States in to
q great National government, with power to
maintain itself from every assault within and
without was the greatest result OF the War OF
the Rebellion.
You determined more fully than the world
had ever seen that all governments of the peo-
pie rest upon an organized disciplined foree.
Form may change, but force continues con-
slant. Your labors made il possible, through
your organization, TO add this principle to ex-
listing law You were the advance guard whic h
cleared up dangers and led the Nation up to
the bright clear light of day.
The ''Norse saga" has q myth that those who
die in battle fight on, fight ever in the realms
OF the upper sky. This Nation holds as a truth
that those who died in battle that the Repub-
lie might live live on, live ever, in the hearts
and memories OF their fellow-countrymen.
After Mr.. Scotts address the Knicker-
booker Quartet gained new laurels by
singing SOLDIERS Farewell"
The announcement was made to mem
bers of Thomas Post that exercises would
take place at the Emporium at o'clock In
the evening, and that General w. H. l..
Barnes, the grand old comrade, would
attend.
The audience was asked to join in sing
ing America, " which request received a
hearty response, and then the people pres
ent were dismissed with a blessing in
voked by Chaplain Cruzan.
The monument in the National Gene
terry to the memory of the Fifth Artillery
soldiers who perished near Sacramento in
the strike cam paign, was profusely deco
rated by flowers in wreaths and bouquets.
Not grave in the cemetery was neglected.
Captain John A. Miller's Company + of
the First Infantry Regiment. n. G. c.,
pitched tents on the Presidio, near the
eastern boundary of the reservation, Just
north of the car track, and will remain in
camp until 4 o'clock this afternoon. Cap
tain Miller spoke highly of General Gra-
hams kindness in extending permission
to use the reservation.
A large number of veterans belonging to
Lincoln Post No. l, 6. A. R., were gem
erouslv entertained yesterday afternoon
by their comrade, Colonel Schlaudecker, at
his place OF business, corner Clay and
interesting and the refreshments ample.
Quite number of comrades from the
various Grand Army posts assembled at
the Emporium last evening" but General
Barnes did not speak.
aHFaAnngAI navF n.Rsae