The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
SHILOH VETERANS MEET
ASSOCIATION ENTERTAINED AT DIN
NER BY GEN. M'GINNIS.
Indiana Men Who Attended Dedfca-
tory Exercises Guests at Columbia
CIub-POem to the Host.

The members of the Shiloh Veterans AS
sociation were entertained at the Columbia
Club last night by General George F. Nc
Ginnis, an honorary member of the organi-
zation. The association is composed of a
number of Indiana men who attended the
dedicatory exercises at Shiloh last spring.
The association numbers Samuel b. Sweet,
L. s. Gordon, william L. Taylor. DIR. w.
E. Anderson, A. A. Young. John S. Lazarus,
Jesse Overstreet, r. o. Hawkins, Horace
Smith and r. A. Brown. all OF Indianapolis,
and David Strause, of Rockville.
General McGinnis became an honorary
member OF the association by virtue of
service seen on the battlefield as colonel
of the Eleventh Indiana. Last night the
flag of the Forty-fourth Regiment, which
took part in the battle, was draped in the
banquet room. Mr. Strause brought over
from Rockville the bugle which called into
action the Ninth Battery on the second day
of the battle at Shiloh. On that morning
the bugle was sounded by Isaac Mccoy, of
Rockville. An interesting feature of the
festivities was the reading of an original
poem written by Mr.. Strause. The verses
were prepared as tribute to General Nc
Ginns and his regiment, and are as follows:
"oh. Comrade of the brave old days that will
The days that saw in army blue million loyal
Who formed a battle line across a startled con-
tinent
To rescue sumter's flag. that traitors hands had
rent
We pay our homage to you with open heart and
hand,
Who helped in fire and blood to save our dear old
Fatherland
Tonight wars cyclorama moves around these
silent walls;
Harkl Don't you hear the music of the far-or
Can't you hear the distant thunder Of the bat
terry the hill.
woods dense and still?
Can't You see again the old flags tattered
Flash victorious Ger the southron's fallen stars
and broken bars?
Can't you see the face of comrades you brush
That you lost among the shadows of those far
Can't you see the columns forming to the music
AS you shout above the battles din with SOL
derly commands:
Comrades dress upon your colors and touch ell
And rush into helrs portals you charge I'D
Shoh's height?
II look far the years. and as they come
and go
your compfres glimmer through the wintry
Like the watch fires of Nation built on Free
doms beacon hill
ages still. '0'
yield S'--0
To the vanguard of the Union on another stub
born field:
And see your eager face. your prouder bosom
still -
AS along the weary highway you march TO
Champion HILL ~
Oh, the shot and shell and swordthrust in that
tangled thicket shade;
Oh. the wounds and death and glory in that wild
charge that you made; ~
All the years shall ring forever at your wondrous
march and fight
From the shores OF the Tennessee to vicksburg' $
glory height.
"Oh, hero Of the Union. what greetings can We
give ~ w
To you who slipped Deaths chalice thar The
FatheTland might live? ~
Halt! Form once more beneath the flag and
stand at dress parade ~
while Nation bows and bares her head and
draws her battle blade: ~
We honor and salute and crown With garlands
bright
The commander OF the old Eleventh whose
guests we are tonight"