Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-09-08
Survivors Of the Twenty-third
Ohio Regiment Journey in a
Body to Canton.
M'KlNLEY AND HIS COMRADES.
The Major Makes Speech Which
Rouses the Old Soldiers to
Enthusiasm.


August -. 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
record, the, number Of its hard-fought
battles, including South Mountain, An
tietam and Gen. Sheridan's many bat
ties in the Shenandoah valley in '64; for
the number of its killed and wounded,
and also for its great men noted III
war and civil life.
OF the field officers only two survive
Gen. William s. Rosecrans of San Fran
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 $. Ellen, mayor of
Wilioushby. The old soldiers cheered
and the old flag waved with every burst
of applause. Capt. Ellen told of Will
liam Mckinley as private soldier, say
ing in part:
Comrade: We have assembled here
today from all parts of the union and
from many vocations in life to congratu-
late you, our cOmrade in arms. on your
nomination as candidate for the Presi-
dent of the United States. l remember
that Co. Il had one member, very youth
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 so decisive and his desire
so very modest and asking to be en-
rolled as private, that the officer with
out further hesitation administered the
oath ana William Mckinley, Jr., ut the
age of II, was made a full-fedged pri-
vate soldier in the Union army. Great
applause and three cheers for Mckin-
ley.l
Then away to the hills and mountains
of West Virginia, where we fought and
skirmished the summer away, meeting
and defeating Confederate Gen. Floyd
Mt Carinfax Ferry. September 10, 1861.
In recognition of your bravery, eff
ficiency 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
life. If from any cause the coming of
the supply trains were delayed and ra-
tons We're short, "Maek" did the next
best thing and made requisition on the
country round about. At later day
y
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 conclusion let me say that the spirit
of 1861 is not dormant: that, as we went
shoulder to shoulder in the defease 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 old
love and loyalty, and declare with you
that "the money of our country must be
as sound as the Union and as unfair
nished as its flag" With an abiding
faith in the virtue, intelligence, honor
and discriminating Judgment of the
American people, we again congratulate
you and bid you Godspeed. Great ap-
plause and cheering)
Happy Reply of Mr.. Mckinley.
When a storm of applause had sub
sided Maj. Mckinley Responded:
Capt. Ellen and My Comrades If the
Twenty-third Ohio: This call of the sur
viving members of the OH regiment with
which served for more than four years
ut my home is a most gracious act on
their part, and brings to me peculiar and
special qualification. AS | look upon
this little body of men assembled about
me, and remember that this is but the
remnant of the old Twentythird that,
thirty-hve years ago, had 1910 sturdy
young men on its roll ready for duty,
and that it was twice recruited to the
total number of nearly 200, that here
is gathered possibly less than 100, and
that is one-fOurth of the surviving MEM
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
vvors are scattered through twenty
four states of the union. Some IF our
members are in the territories. One of
them resides on the other side of the
water. But wherever they are, and in
whatever vocation they may be engaged,
they all love the old regimental organiza-
ton which is the proudest thing to them
on earth. Applause.
We had great regiment; great in its
field officers; great in the character of
the rank and file that constituted it..
Our hearts go out with tenderness and
love, am sure, to the first colonel of our
regiment, Gen. William s. Rosecrans,
to his distant home in California. IGreat
applause.l
We all remember his splendid disci-
pline and gentle qualities, and we remam-
Der with what pride we marched under
his command in West Virginia in 1861.
Tribute to Scammon.
Aud we remember, too. that ether
regular army officer, that splendid SOL
der, Gen. Il. Il. Scammon-Icheersl-
not the most popular man in the iegi-
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
popular man in the regiment. lGreat an
plause.l 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
est with us, Rutherford Il. Hayes. [Great
eheering.l He was beloved by every man
of the regiment, and no drawer colonel
ever led his soldiers to battle. Nor Stan
ley Matthews, the first Northumberland
of the regiment-the great soldier and
lawyer. lApplause.l Nor can we forget
Comley, glorious old Comley ICheers
and cries of "Nor Mrs. Hayes."l Nor
Mrs. Hayes, the faithful friend of the
regiment; and we have with us today,
and we are all glad to see him, for I