Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-09-20

VI Inc ofu"Splcuaiu ioki q Ia
Ablv Carried Out Good Music and
Lively Speeches and Grand Time
All Around.
The veterans Of the Eighth fourth
Indiana regiment had grand time
at their campfire last night and the
occasion was one long to be remem-
bered, not only By the old soldiers
themselves, but by all who were IN
attendance The campfire was held
in the spacious Main street rink and
that large building was well filled,
the members OF the Eighty fourth
occupying reserved seats directly IN
| front OF the SPEAKERS platform. The
beautiful decorations o. the large
room were admirably adapted for
such meeting and a more suitable
| hall could not have been secured.
The program was commenced
promptly at the appointed hour and
| for almost three hours the large audi
ence was entertained with good mu-
sic, stirring addresses and well Sc
| lected stories and anecdotes.
The presiding officer of the even
| ing was Charles L. Unthank OF this
city, who is the president of the as
sociation.
The first number on the program
was patriotic selection by Robbins
orchestra. which was enthusiastically
received The audience was then
asked to rise while the Rev. j. p.
Watt of Winchester invoked divine
blessing on the exercises of the even
ing.
The address OF welcome was given
by Judge D. W. Comstock Of this
city, who spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Comrades of the
8ith:
I esteem it high honor to be iden-
titled with the annual reunion of the
survivors of the S4th Indiana regi-
ment. Your lives have not been
common place. The sphere of your
labors has not been confined to a
struggle for the bare necessarleS of
life. YOU have sacrificed for others,
and made to your country the offer
ing of your lives. | confess to spe-
cial interest in the S4th, for | had
some personal knowledge of its con
duct, and friends and kindred of mine
is refreshing in this political storm
and stress period to meet with you
upon an occasion entirely free from
party strife; an occasion having its
origin in war and therefore full of
its brave and tender memories. yet
wholly devoted to the offices of gentle
peace. There are many present, and
there are hundreds in this intelligent
city who know nothing of the military
record of our honored guests. This
is MT surprising, for generation
has come and gone since the S4th be
came part of the great army des
tined to subdue the rebellion. 1t was
organized in this city and left the
state to do what it could to maintain
the integrity of the union thirty
eight years ago this month Then in
truth many of you were boys boys
fresh from pure homes and simple
lives, for whom the school room and
the fireside were filter places than
the camp and field; boys in the ar
rangement of whose dress was yet
visible the light touch of loving
hands-hands that have been dust
for many year. The regiment mus
tered in officers and men 944. 1t was
mustered out and came home in June,
1868, numbering 327 men and %
commissioned officers. In the mean
time it had seen active service in the
states of Kentucky, West Virginia,
Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. In
each of them its blood was freely shed
in defense of the union. | am not
here to recount in detail its splendid
history That is found. without col
oring to be sure, in the records of the
war, but still sufficiently vivid to fill
your countrymen with pride. 1t
must suffice to say that il was con
spicuous for its courage and obedi-
ence to discipline in all the yicissi-
tudes, and there were many, in which
its metal was tried In the bloody
Sep ember days at Chickamauga it
formed a part of the command of the
brave Stedman-a command which
on tie 10th held the extreme right
OF the union lines and the key to
Rosecrans retreat against repeated
assaults of the enemy, and on the
Goth greatly aided in saving the
union army. 1t was its privilege to
fight under the watchful eyes of Geo
II. Thomas, the hero of that bloody
field. Were ! looking for points of
rest II blance between the father
OF his country and the chieftains
who became conspicuous in the great
struggle between 1861 and 1868, |
should select George II. Thomas, the |
even balance of whose mind, and /
merits of whose charac- /
ter fitted him, in many respects, to /
have been second Washington The /
long list Of brave and worthy soldiers |
brought to the knowledge of their /
during those eventful /
years boasts none greater than the /
hero Of Chickamauga and Nashville. /
[ may be permitted to pay this pnss- |
ing tribute as an humble subaitern
Who observed from afar, the knight t
" qualities of this patient and neg
which never loses though il doth
defer will ultimately tell the belated
story OF his worth and do justice,
however tardy, TO this modest and
soldier. Chickanauga
the regiment lost rs men killed.
wounded and missing. In the IA
nous Atlanta campaign 1t fought in
'front.' OF Atlanta, at Tunnel Hill.
Rocky Face, Dalton. Rescaca, Jones
ooro and upon a score Of other hotlv
contested fields It was in the cam
oaign against Hood as he advanced
Upon end was driven from Nashville.
& participated in the bloody battle
II Franklin, and in the signal victory
It Nashville now numbered among
he decisive battles OF the world. I |.
lave thus given only the briefest
outline OF its career as regiment.
nd can make no reference to the
thousand heroic acts OF its individual
members. which fame will never
Know. In all its hard service II
.ddal lustra To the name nE The |