The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-11

dedicated TO the "rather OF His Coun.
try" whom Byron styled
Tne first, the last, the best
The Cincinnatbs of the West"
How we'll the One Hundred and Forty.
third regiment demeaned itself, and oi
It's account OF stewardship, ] need only
point to the war records that tell the
story of Lees invasion into Pennsylvania
his first meeting with our troops at Get
tysburg. The First army corps, under
General Reynolds. while 1t was only one
corps against an army, vet 1t was large
enough In courage, determination ant
soldierly discipline to be first upon the
| field. Ohs was accomplished by forced
marches and sleepless TOLD, and being
first. did not hesitate. Leonidas like, tc
throw itself across the enemys path. ant
check his advance until such time as
General Meade should arrive with his
main army
In the Second brigade, Third division
OF this First army corps, under Colonel
Dana. fought the One Hundred and
FCrty-third whose serried columns now
| advanced like the Iron Sides" of Crom-
well, and then. anon surged back, as
overwhelming. forces were thrown upor
them. though not until this brigade mad
repulsed three separate brigades of the
enemy. Such was your courage and for
titude In that day, men, that you did
hcnor TO your home. your family and to
your state, frOEl which you drove the
cruel invader. and forced him to re.
treat from which he never returned
Then, too, on the second day, occurred
an Incident of such indomitable and de.
liant courage as to challenge pen, pen
Gil and chisel, to immortalize the hero.
KISSING DEFIANCE.
When Ben Crippen. having advanced
his colors beyond his company's line, re.
fused to retreat. and went down. with
upraised fist, Kissing defiance in the teeth
Of Lees army, in death SO magnh.
Gently fearless and undaunted as to COM
pei our admiration. and at the same time
draw our tears; you were heard from
again at the Wilderness. North Anna,
Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Chicka-
hominy. before Petersburg, at Hatchin's
Run, and the Weldon Railroad; you were
In many of the most bloody engagements
of the Rebellion. In all you bore your
selves as became American soldiers, { and
that, you will observe, has come to be a
no mean standard; you were mustered
out with honor, such Of you as survived,
and returned to home and longing friends
In these Pennsylvania valleys. where
honors and homage have never ceased to
be paid YOU, and, as you took up civic
life, you proved that a good soldier could
be good citizen also.
So for thirty-seven years you have
been devoting your energies to civil at
fairs, with occasionally these red letter
days, and other anniversaries. recalling
you for the time being to the soldier
memories which you still treasure with
a fondness that ever grows in strength.
pride and glory. You have, meanwhile,
seen great political problems arise they
have been grappled with and settled. You
have seen your sons and grandsons
march off under the same old flag which
you followed, to fight a foreign foe. And
in the short space of ninety days, they
returned singing the paens of victory;
yet you thought, "War isn't now just
what Is was. when our men fought the
'Johnnies'
Somehow, things have been made easier
since slavery days. The mighty war en-
gines of the sea- creatures of American
genius and skill. with unerrlng American
gunners. left little for the army to do.
They not only won for us victory, but
they published to the world our great
ness. sagacity and power as a nation,
which, thanks to the "Boys in Blue"
was secured and has remained to us,
co-extensve with our Liberty and
union, one and inseparable." Standing
then, upon this hallowed spot. by the
ancient graves of fallen heroes, let us
take measure of the past for estimates
of yet greater future glory. still hoping
to catch glimpse of the Dawn of that
golden age, when nations shall learn war
no more"