The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-31
BLUE AND GRAY TOGETHER
LISTENED TO WORDS THAT TOLD OF
A REUNITED COUNTRY.
Brief Address by Mr.. McKin1ey-Sec-
rotary of War Roots Accept
ance of the Memorial.

South was forged to-day by the dedlca-
ton of a monument erected TO the memory
of men who wore the gray as well as those
who wore the blue, and who died in mortal
combat Oh the field of Antietam. The
event. which is probably without a par
allel in the history of the world, was
graced by the presence of the President of
the United States, accompanied by many
members Of the Cabinet, a score or more
of United States senators, thrice as many
members of Congress-, the Governor of
Maryland and prominent men from all
parts of the country. There also were
present hundreds of veterans who fought
for the Lost cause and thousands who
fought for the side that proved victorious.
stood with uncovered heads throughout the
ceremony which marked the conveyance
of the monument from the State of Mary
land to the national government. All ami
mosities forgotten, they listened to the
simple stories of those who told of the
heroism of the dead and of the desperate
struggles of those who survived the battle
and still live to tell the many incidents
of the day of carnage and strife.
The train which brought the President,
the members of his Cabinet and the con-
gressional party from Washington reached
the battlefield at noon, where the party was
welcomed by Governor John Walter Smith
of Maryland, and staff, Adjutant General
Saunders, a delegation of the officers of the
Maryland National Guard and several posts
of the Grand Army of the Republic OF the
division of Maryland, together with men,
bers of the Herbert Camp of Confederate
Veterans, several camps OF Sons OF Neter-
ans of both armies and survivors OF Brock
enbrough's Maryland Artillery, which
fought with the Confederate troops and
distinguished itself at Antietam. Besides
these organized bodies there were scores
Of Confederate veterans who took part in
the various battles OF the civil war. THESE
were drawn up in line to greet the Presi-
dent, whom, together with Governor
Smith, watched them as they passed in re-
view.
MR.. ROOTS ADDRESS.
The dedicatory ceremonies were opened
by Colonel Benjamin z. Taylor. who intro
duced General Henry Kyd Douglass, df-
rector of ceremonies. Prayer was offered
by the Rev. b. F. Clarkson, who was fol-
lowed by Governor John Walter Smith in
an address of welcome. Colonel Taylor, as
president of the Antietam battlefield COM
mission of Maryland, then presented the
monument to the national government, and
the Hon. Elihu Root. secretary of war, in a
brief address accepted 1t on behalf of the
United States. He said:
Mr.. Chairman, My Fellow-citizens-It is
a grateful duty which l now perform, TO
accept, on behalf of the government OF the
United States, this beautiful memorial OF
the men of Maryland, who fell upon this
historic field. 1t commentaries the daunt-
less valor of the men upon both sides OF
the great conflict, which shook to its foun-
d0finnC tho QnVQrnmpnf of the G0llnfrV and
brought into high relief the noble qualities
of a race, peaceful in its purposes, slow TO
anger, long suffering, but of warlike fiber
and terrible in its capacity for strife and
for victory. IApplause.1
This monument commentaries not
merely the valor and sacrifice of the men
who fell at Antietam, but 1T commence
Republic. Not only the men who fell at
Antietam, but the men who survived, are
to be commemorate by this structure, for
they have waged that greater pattle or
civilization and OF patriotism. We are not
without a conspicuous illustration here to-
day. On the second day of Antietam, when
the Federal line was hurled against Lees
right an Ohio regiment was stationed by
the banks of the creek, not far to the left
of the bridge, upon which was centered
Lees terrible fire of shot and shell, and
away 10 the rear, with the supply wagon,
was a cOmmiSsary sergeant, a boy OF
eighteen, who, as the days and the hours
wore away, emembered that the men of
his regiment would be fainting and weary
for the food left in his charge chino And
then the boy, without orders, compelled by
no soldiers duty, loaded his wagons, called
for volunteer drivers, and on from the rear
to the front. through the shower of shot
and shell, Drawing death every instant,
brought to the front and to the fainting
soldiers of his regiment the reinforcements
of food and strength that enabled them TO
go on with the conflict until the end lap
plause.l The regiment was the Twenty
third Ohio, its colonel was Rutherford b.
Hayes, afterward the nineteenth President
of the United States ~[applausel, and upon
President recommended for a commission
that boy of eighteen for gallantry In action
and the commission came. The commissary
sergeant is William Mckinley, the twenty
fourth President of the United States. I'm
thusiastic applauSe.l
My fellow-citizens, he stands not alone;
that great-hearted kindness for all Amer
leans which makes him not only a Presi-
dent but a father to us all [applausel is not
alone. The impetus given by loyal sacri-
flee and noble deeds upon this battlefield
has continued to this hour in American
breasts and has helped largely to make
America 1t is. And so your monu-
ment commentaries not merely the fallen.
but ii the service of the liv-
Ing, and IL shall stand for ages to come to
mark the loyalty and devotion of all the
men who fell and all the men who sur
vfved that all of us who come after them
may justify their sacrifice for the country
reunited. for promotion of law and liberty,
under this flag ever adding fresh honor 10
the men who died that we might live and
ever spreading through the world the
blessings that. We enjoy" lLong continued
a~pplause.l
Following Mr.. Root there were short ad-
dresses, mainly of a reminiscent character
by Generals John b. Brooke, James Long
street. Orlando b. Wilcox, j. L. Guryee,
Senators Foraker, Burrows. Daniel and
others who were prominent on the opposing
sides i'm the great struggle. These were
followed in turn by the Hon. George Il.
Mcclellan, of New York. and other mem
bers of the United States Senate and House
of Representatives. This concluded. the
band pla yed Hail TO the Chief and Gen.
Douglass introduced President Mckinley.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
The President said that he was not aware
that he was expected TO make a speech on
the occasion. and therefore had prepared
no set grafton. as he would otherwise have
done. Continuing he said:
MIR. Chairman and My Feliow-citizens-
I appear only for a moment that i may
make acknowledgment for your courteous
greeting and express in a single word my
sympathy and approval of the patriotic
occasion for which We have assembled to-
day.
I'm this presence and on this memorable
and Jackson and Longstreet and Johnston
with the followers of Grant and Mcclellan
and Sherman and Sheridan, greeting each
other not with arms In their hands or mall
ice in their souls, but with affection and
respect for each other In their hearts.
[Applause.J Standing here to-day, one re-
Election only has crowded my mind-the