The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-11
GEN. H. BAKER COMMANDER
LOYAL LEGION HoNoRs THE
GARDEN CITY MAN

Annual Meeting and Election of
Officers Held Mt the Ryan--Paper
on the First Army Corps on the
First Day of the Battle of Gettys-
burg--nIayor-EIec Kiefe. Make.
a Speech.
The Minnesota Commandery, Loyal
Legion, met at Hotel Ryan last night,
when the following officers were elect
ed for the ensuing year:
Commander-Gen. James H. Baker, Man
kato.
Senior Vice Commander-Capt. William B.
Leach. Minneapolis.
Junior Vice Commander-Capt Timothy
Doherty, St. Paul.
Recorder-Lieut. David L. Kingsbury, St.
Paul.
Registrar-capt. c. G. Higbee st. Paul.
Chancellor-Gen. ]. w. Bishop, st. Paul. :
Chaplain-Gen. Robt. N. Adams. Minne-
apolts.
CounciiLDavid F. Vail. st. Paul; Lieut..
James M. Tucker, Hastings; Henry Nor
ton. Minneapolis; Capt. A. r. Kiefer, st.
Paul. George H. Daggett. Minneapolis.
The following new companions were
elected to membership in the comman-
derry:
For the First Class (By Inheritance)-
Franklin Rudolph Wright, eldest son Of
George w. Wright, lieutenant colonel 10Sd
Illinois infantry.
Hiram Clark Smith, eldest son Of Abner
B. Smith, deceased, captain Twenty-frst
Wisconsin infantry.
A banquet followed the election, and
when cigars were lighted, Commander
Robert N. Adams, Of Minneapolis, in
troduced orce-Mayor Babb, of Mime
apolis, who read a memorial paper on
the late Frederick j. Burnham, Of
Moorhead That paper was followed by
one on the late Gen. E. c. Mason, of
this city, which was read by Ell Tor
rance.
The New Commander.
Commander Adams then introduced
Gen. James H. Baker. the new comm n
der:
II bespeak for him." said the retir-
ing commander, "a peaceful year. The
commandery blew itself up and it will
take year to ascertain whether it
was due to internal or external cause.
1t only remains for me to place in his
hands the symbol of authority"
Gen. Baker was welcomed with ap-
plause, i'm response to which he express
ed his thanks for the honor conferred
upon him by the commandery
"This body" he said, ''has no parallel
except the Christian church. 1t has
companion in the Grand Army Of the
Republic. but they are roses with the
same parent stem. There Is only one
society that may be compared to this
the Society of the Cincinnati. Who Is
there who would have expunged from
his memory the delightful nights we
have had together since our organiza-
ton, thirteen years ago? Think Of the
royal nights we have had! Who does
not recall the splendid songs we have
sung, the stories we have heard! 1
feel it will be a joyful occasion when
we reconvene in October and I trust
we shall come together then as sound
in health and exuberant in patriotism
as we are tonight.
IT am reminded that there is a man
in the far off Orient"
Cheers for Dewey.
Gen. Baker was instantly interrupt
ed with cheers and cries of Dewey!
Dewey" and the company waived
handkerchiefs and applauded.
''Who has borne our flag" Gen.
! Baker continued, sin a splendid battle
to victory, and he wore in the lapel
| of his coat the rosette you wear to-
| night. And, as he stood on the bridge
of the Olympia, he did not say to his
| men Go ahead but Follow me and the
button of the Legion of Honor and
he baptized the button in battle, and
gave it the fragrance Of an immortal
| victoryr'
| There was more applause and cheers
| for Admiral Dewey, and then Com
mander Baker introduced Maj. w. D.
Hale, of Minneapolis, who read paper
| on 1.-THE First Army Corps on the First
| Day Of the Battle Of Gettysburg"
which was written by Capt. George
! w. Grant, who was lieutenant in the
Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers,
and was captured during that battle
| by the rebels. The paper closed as fol-
| lows
The battle OF Gettysburg has served more,
perhaps, than any other engagement to mag
Nifty the glory of the rebels at the expense
of the Union troops. l would not detract
! from the magnificent charge Of Pckett's men.
this or any other field, yet in giving credit
to the rebel troops for courage, let us not
forget that the Union troops showed cour-
age equal to theirs and more enduring, and,
moreover, that they showed devoted loyal
| ty which sanctified their valor and made it
sublime.
| Gettysburg! the Mecca of America! is rich
! in store of patriotism and the realization of
heroism. The very air is impregnated wi h
heroic deeds and glorious examples. One IN
hales with every breath 1.-The old soldier S
extraordinarily to God and the old fig.
The better part Of man is awakened his
heed the injunction, "Put off thy shoes from
off thy feet, for the place wherein thou
I standest Is holy ground" My sixth visit to
| this shrine was in September, 1894. and a
deep and lasting impression was made upon
me, whilst resting upon the granite tablet,
| marking the point to which our regiment
| and brigade charged and broke the rebel
| line The soft breezes sang a gently tuned
requiem; everything around about was still,
and a quiet soothing peace had settled on all
! nature, broken only by the singing of birds
nd distant The field
was being narrowed for the sowing of wheat,
and even the tiller OF the soil had stopped
in his rounds of the breaking Of the clods
to rest his weary team. The quiet scene
favored retrospection. The field was pic
tured to me anew 1t was on that eventful
July day thirty-one years before. Again ]
saw the mighty armed hosts, the blue and
the gray, clashing in battle, dealing pain
and death and scattering sorrow; the forms
in blue were again behind the stone wall, and
l noted familiar faces; and yonder the
blue line springing forward. and the gathering
in of the gray fragments and the captured
banners. and heard again the glad shots Of
victory! Yes, then, too was this field strewn
with clods, yet of different mould. they were
human clods; in the image Of God. Again, I
saw my comrades who here answered the call
of TAPS" present as they were then. But
those who survived that day, where are they?
Many fell on other fields, and their small
green tents are pitched in the meads and on
the hillsides Of the fair Southland, from the
| in Salisbury and Andersonville; while others
were called from the peaceful pursuits of life,
to the silent bivouac beyond the mystic river.
"a chosen corps they are marching on.
In wider field than ours;
Those bright battalions still obey,
The chief of the heavenly powers.
And high brave thoughts float down to us,
The echoes of that far-off fight
Like the fash Of the distant picket gun,
Through the shades of lowering night;
We shall meet and greet in closing ranks,