The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-27
GEN. VIM. S. HARVEY, U. s. A.
The Famous Indian Warriors Mem
DRY HOnOred at Fort Mellon.

The Famous Indian warriors Mem
DRY HOnOred at Fort Mellon.
q Sanford, Fla, Sept. 25.-The spacious
parlors of the Sanford house were filled
to overlooking last night by one of our
city's most intelligent and patriotic au
diences, on invitation of Gen. Harvey
Post, G. A. r.. who held public meeting
for the reception of a portrait of the ia
nous old soldier for whom the organiza-
ton was named, it having been consti-
tuted the day on which he died at Or
lando, several years ago.
The venerable widow of Gen. Harvey
still resides at Orlando, but is in quite
feeble health, being nearly blind. Some
two weeks ago she rendered a portrait
of her distinguished husband to the Post,
and designated an old friend of his John
C. Jones, Esq, talented and eloquent
young lawyer of that city, but formerly
of the Macon, Ca, Telegraph, to make
the presentation, which was the occasion
of the entertainment last night.
The parlors were deliberately decorated
with bunting, flags and flowers and pre-
scented brilliant scene by gas light when
SANFORD 5 beauty ana cnlValfy ndu assem-
bled therein. Commander Homer Mont
gomery presided, Rev. DR.. d. A. Dodge,
of Kissimmee, offered a most fervent
prayer, after which Mr.. J. NJ. Osborn of
Eustis, rendered fine solo on the violin,
accompanied by Miss Grace Way On
the piano. Then came sketch of the
Post by Adjutant D. l.. Way, late de,
partment commander, followed by the
presentation address of Mr.. Jones,
who captivated the entire audience py
his eloquent portrayal of a knightly SOL
der such as Gen. Harvey was shown to
have been. His address was interspersed
with appropriate gems of poetry and lofty
sentiment of patriotism, which were heart
lily applauded. The reception address was
made by Surgeon S. Herbert Lancey of
the post, also medical director of the de-
partment who dwelt mostly upon Gen.
Harney's answering loyalty to the "Old
Flag" he had served from 1918 to 1861 on
many bloody fields of strife. He had serv-
ed with Capt Abraham Lincoln of the
Volunteers, and Lieut.. Jefferson Davis of
the United States army. in the Black
Hawk war, and was, therefore, bound to
each by the strong ties of comradeship.
Turn either way in 1861, to Present Lin
coin or to President Davis he was sure
of deserved preferment and promotion.
Although a Tennesseean by birth, his
long service as a trusted soldier led him
to remain loyal to the stars and stripes.
He had served in the old army with
Jackson, Harrison, Pierce. Taylor, Lin
coin and Grant all of whom succeeded
to the presidency of the United States,
and with Davis, the only president of
the Confederate States-a record most re-
markable in all its aspects.
After the rendering of solo, THE
Nameless Graves Where Our Comrades
Lie" by Mrs. E. M. Winchester most
charming vocalist from Jacksonville, a
sketch of the battle of Fort Mellon was
given by Mai. Sidney Herbert the we'll
known military writer, from records of
1887, now in hts possession, bearing up
ON the Seminole campaigns in Florida Ac-
cording to these, Gen, Harvey was made
lieutenant colonel of the Second
Dragons on Aug Is, 1886, and as soon
after as possible he Joined Gen. Jesup in
Florida, arriving at Camp Monroe, near
what is now Sanford (afterward called
Fort Mellon, on Feb. 6 following. AL
though the ranking officer he
did not assume command of
the camp, but took immedi-
ate steps to fortify the place against an
unexpected attack from the Indians, then
in the vicinity. He was none too soon
in his preparations, as the attack came
early on the morning of the second day
after his arrival 1t was a desperate as
sault led by brave Indian chiefs, whose
forces far outnumbered the garrison and
yet Lieut.. Col. Harvey SO conducted the
defense that the enemy was repulsed and
fed in dismay. But early in the fight
Capt. Charles Mellon of the Second
United States Artillery fell, pierced by
a bullet from an Indians rife. He was
a gallant soldier, of ripe experience in
war and his comrades buried him near
the camp and thereafter the post was
known as Fort Mellon, on the shore of
Lake Monroe, near Sanford. 1t became
he ha, aY,a i
garrison in the state, and Maj. Herbert's
appeal to the people of Sanford to restore
the old fort and it's stockade as a tribute
to Melons heroic conduct, and to mark
the spot where one of the most success
full battles of the war was fought was
so eloquent and forcible that it was
heartily applauded, and will no doubt be
acted upon by the citizens and Gen.
Harvey Post.
The speaker gave brief sketch of Lieut.
George w. Patten, U. s. A., the disting-
uished poet-soldier who was a class
mate of the heroic Lieut.. w. f. Basinger,
u. S. A., of Georgia, the last of the gallant
officers to perish in the Dade massacre.
Old citizens of Savannah not only remem-
Der Lieut.. Patten as a quiet frail gentle
man of a litereray turn, but will recall
that thrilling poem, THE Seminole's Re
ply" a popular defamation forty years
ago, written by him in connection with
the battle of Fort Mellon. At the close
of Maj Herbert's address this poem was
recited with much spirit by Manius E.
Morey, a young lawyer of Sanford.
The exercises closed with the singing of
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground" by
Mr.. H. C. Whiteman and chorus, and the
benedction by Rev. DIR. Dodge.
1t will interest many of your readers to
know that Gen. Harvey was the youngest
Of six sons, several of whom became prom
inent in their chosen professions. DR.. John
NJ. Harvey. some of the older citizens of
Savannah may remember, was at one
time resident of your city. He was gifted
with poetic temperament and was some
what eccentric in his manners, and the
death of his accomplished wife was a
blow from which he never recovered He
left Kentucky and went TO New York
city, where for a time he was on the ed
itorial stan Of the New York Inquirer.
But his sore bereavement led him to join
prlvateer going to South America, and
off the Georgia coast, the crew mutined,
which caused his landing at Savannah
where he started the Savannah Georgian,
and published 1t several years. Failing