Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09

are heartily welcomed. OF course. you an
know that We have come together at this
moment merely to exchange greetings ana
experiences
Continuing. the speaker called attention
to the fact that there are many of the conn
rades who were not in attendance at the
encampment, having passed to the great be-
yond, and said those who were present
ought to be thankful for having been
spared to attend one more reunion.
After the address of welcome ex-Chaplain
Bradford Of the Department of the Potomac
led in prayer. Gen. K. A. Carr. United
States army, was unanimously elected
chairman of the meeting and called on
Capt Frank Swygert OF the 10th Indiana.
to make an address.
Capt. Swygert's Address.
Capt. Swygert. In the course of his re-
marks, said: when we come to talk about
heroes, and when we attempt to accept this
one and that one as hero, We are likely to
do an injustice to others. The American
citizens make the best soldiers on the earth,
because they represent the best government
and they are better clothed, fed and better
cared for than any soldier on earth. No
man has a right to rule over them and that
is the reason they make the best soldiers In
the world.
"Our corps has the honor Of having been
commanded in person by the great silent
general, General L. s. Grant"
During the address Captain Swygert
called the attention of his listeners to the
fact that the United States has the finest
as well the best governed city IN the
world as its capital The speaker admon-
ished the comrades not to find fault with
the pension office or the pension commits
Sioner because of delay In getting their
claims through
cit is not the fault Of the commits sioner
or the bureau, but of the agents who are
selected to present your claim, as they do
not give the government the facts in each
particular case.
II visited the cemetery at Vlcksburg
about year ago." he said. land l would
advise all those who are here today that II,
they have any friends or relatives resting
there to let them remain, because l think
1t Is the finest OF all our cemeteries. One
sad thing about the cemetery Is that out of
1890 graves. there are only loo marked
with the names Of those who are inferred
there, the rest being numbered and re-
corded IN the Office as unknown.
The Inevitable Army Mule.
Capt. Swygert related an incident which
came under his observation during the war
which caused quite laugh. He said:
"A young officer who was attached to an
infantry regiment was detailed as picket
officer while our troops were massed in the
vicinity Of Vicksburg. The young chap de-
cided that he ought to have a mount to
cover his post, as the line was six miles
long. An army mule was the only thing
buttons he mounted the mule and rode of.
During his trip he came across Connecti-
cut regiment on parade, and the colonel In
command Of the regiment, on seeing the
officer approaching, arrived at the concur
sion that he was some important parsonage
and ordered his men to present arms when
the mounted officer came abreast of them.
The troops did as ordered. and the mule
became frightened and ran away. causing
the young dandy to lose his dignity in his
attempts to remain on his mount. running
nearly mile before it stopped"
Ex-Governor Fifer Heard.
Ex-Gov. Fifer Of Illinois. who first served
with a regiment Of school teachers organ
lied in his home state, was introduced by
Gen. Carr. He called the attention Of those
in attendance the reunion to the fact
that the ranks of the Grand Army are
growing thinner and thinner each year.
II noticed that the strides Of those who
marched in the parade yesterday were
halty and not elastic they were when
they left the service at the close of 1855,
and you must recognize the fact that the
youngest Of us are growing old. The blue
and gray met in more than 1900 battles
and skirmishes."
Gov. Fifer said that in that great strug
gle between the north and the south the
American soldier had proved that he was
the best the world produced.
I'm Europe the men are soldiers by COM
pulsion and fight for others; the soldiers
Of Napoleon fought for the glory or one
man, and when they died they were put in
bitches like dogs. 1t is different In Amer
ica because our soldier has an equal voice
in the government with the highest. They
fight for the people, and that is why he
makes the best soldier the world has yet
produced.
Most Of the wars which have stained the
pages of history" Governor Fifer declared,
were unjustifiable, but the war waged by
YOU was not such one, and thankful am
that America never engaged in such a war.
from the revolution down to the war with
Spain.
At the conclusion of his remarks three
cheers and tiger were given for Governor
Fifer.
Chairman Cars Remarks.
General Carr, chairman Of the meeting.
was introduced by Col. White, and he said:
IT don't like the idea of people talking
about us getting old, because l expect to
live a good many years yet, and hope the
ma jority of our comrades will do the same"
General Carr recounted a number of differ
ent commands which he had and related a
little experience he had while he was with
them
MY first assignment with the Army Of
Tennessee was in 1863, when l took COM
mand of a division at Vicksburg. We wero
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