The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1901-09-27
His Soldier Life.

His Soldier Life.
The first speaker On the program wae
Geo. A. Silsby who was assigned the
topic of CHS Soldier Life" AS q pre-.
face to his speech Mr.. Silsby referred
to the time he met the President in his
| welcoming home the South Dakota
| regiment on it's return from the
Philippines at Aberdeen. It was under
those circumstances that he came to
know the President better. Following
is the address of Mr.. Silsby:
The tragedy that plunged nation
| into the depth of profoGndest grief was
caused by a single bullet, hurled to its
cruel destination by creature CARRIED as
man. Its direction was unerring, and
after heroic struggle with the grim
destroyer, our beloved president and
comrade, William Mckinley, with q
prayer on his lips, passed on to his
great reward.
1t was only little leaden pellet but
it did its deadly work; and yet William
Mckinley had often-jn the years that
have fown-been where the leaden hail
fell thickest; where the whistle of the
hurting bullet sang adiapason that ran
the entire gamut; where the screech OF
the SHE'LL and the exploding bomb scat
tered death broadcast, and yet he
passed through it all unscathed; but
finally yielded up his life amidst the
| reign OF universal peace that seem to
brood over this nation and only one
harmful bullet in the air..
Al the age of eiphteen MnKinlev an.
listed as private in the twenty-third
Ohio Infantry, and was soon appointed
| a sergeant, and in Septem Der, 1862, was
| commissioned second lieutenant. In
February 1868, promoted to be first
lieutenant. In July of that year he dis.
| tinguished himself in leading charge
on a confederate battery, and was made
captain of his company as his reward
AT the close of the war the presi.
dent brevetted him q Major for gallant
and meriterious servlce at the battles Of
Opequan. Fishers Hill and Cedar
Creek. During his term OF service he
served on the staff OF general-after-
wards president-Hayes and also on the
staff of General Crook: after that gen
erals capture he served with Hancock
and Major General Carroll. He partici
patsd in all the battles fought by the
famous 23rd, and in every instance
proved himself brave, fearless and in.
telligent soldier. He was mustered out
with the regiment July 26, 1865, after
the close of the war.
His record was q brilliant one for q
boy OF Is to 2l, and although his acheiv.
ments would not rank with that OF the
commanding generals, it evidenced the
noble qualities of the youth, and especi,
ally did his exemplary conduct merit and
roaaiua tho cd no Nf r. Sc
comrades in arms.
AS soldier he was always gentle
man, and even then it was predicted
that a glorious future was before him
AS Grand Army man we knew him
best. He was devoutly loved by his
old comrades, and his presence at all
our gatherings was th5 signal for out
bursts of loyal sentiments and love. He
WAS to have spent three days at the
National Encampment held last week
at Cleveland, and his coming was
looked forward to with great enthusi
| asm; for our old comrade had beer
greatly honored by the citizens of this
Republic, and for second time he had
the old boys gloried in the thought O.
again hailing our noble chief Bu1
grim death hushed into sadness theil
| brigh ht anticipations, and with pallor or
the cheek. With eyes bedewed with
tears,. and hearts of lead, the festivities
of the camp wese turned into funera
dirge, while with wall of grief they
cried out against the bloody hand tha
had done the borrid deed.
Our comrade sleeps. In the bivouae
OF the dead his mortal parts are at rest
but in the larger sense he lives, an6
lives forever. His glorious deeds tha
won for him deathless fame, anc
caused US all to love him will live for
ever. The emblazoned pages of history
| viii perpeturate his memory, and hil
exalted character will be the inspira
for millions yet unborn.
lllustrious comrade, Hail and fare
we'll