Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-04-07
NORTH AND SOUTH
MEET AT SHILOH
Senator Be veridge Make
Principal Address.
BLUE AND GRAY IN HARMONY.

NortneFn FORCES Witness the Cere-
mones on the Historic Battlefield.
Best of Good Feeling Exists.
Shiloh, Tenn, April 6.-The Indiana
monuments on Shiloh battlefield were
dedicated today with interesting cere-
monies. Several hundred Indianians,
including Governor Durbin and. his
stan, General Lew Wallace and many
other prominent citizens of the state
were present. Addresses were made
by United States Senator Beveridge
Assistant Secretary of War Sanger
Governor Durbin and others.
Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, the
principal speaker, said:
In the absence of the secretary OF
war, it is my privilege to receive on be
half of the United States these monu-
ments which have been erected to per
petrate the heroism of the soldiers of
Indiana. 1t is fitting that the state
should make enduring records of the
part which her sons took in the battle,
and of the courage and devotion with
which they poured out their Iife's
blood. The older men here will re
member the enthusiasm with which
Indiana responded to the call of Pres
1dent Lincoln for volunteers and the
student knows the history of it's sol
diers in the armies of Grant and Bu-
ell; and with the fighting forces at
Bowling Green, at Mill Springs and all
through this region in the operations
leading up to the occupation of Cor
inth. We cannot think of the state
and the soldiers without remembering
the splendid work of Governor oliver
P. Morton, whose patriotic and effec-
tive labor has left legacy on the bat.
tleheIds and think of the suffering of
the wounded who can forget that he
started on its mission of mercy the
first steamboat to arrive here 40 years
ago with surgeons and medical sup
plies. Shiloh was not only the first
great battle of the war, but it was the
first battle which gave to the country
a realizing sense of the magnitude of
the struggle. General Grant said
that up to the battle of shiloh, he,
with thousands of other citizens, be-
heved that the war might end sud
denly if a decisive victory could be
gained, but after the fight he "gave up
all idea of saving the union except by
complete conquest"
The confederate assault, which was
made largely by unframed soldiers,
has been properly called a military
masterpiece. The heavy loss on both
sides was conclusive evidence of the
courage with which the battle was
fought. The union losses were 20
per cent and the confederate losses
26 per cent. These figures speak vol
umes for the character of the men on
both sides of the great battle, which
was fought here, and assures us OF
what We all realize-the the American
soldier never knows when he is beaten
and makes us confident that, in any
emergency, the will bear themselves
as soldiers should. Thine does not
permit me to refer to the names OF
Indiana's heroes who died here, or oil
those who livd to bear with modesty
through later years laurels which they
won on this battlefield.
The federal government, in accept
ing these monuments, becomes charg
ed with the duty of guarding them, and
keeping fresh in the memory Of the
people record of the deeds which
they commemorate. In creating and
keeping these national parks, the coun
try is not merely perpetuating the
fame of brave men, it is not merely re
cording with land marks of granite
and bronze the part which the fal
liant soldiers on both sides took in the
awful contests of the civil war, 1t is
not only emphasizing the fact that &
united country thinks with pride o.
the valor of all the horses who foughr
in that great struggle, but 1t is putting
into his invisible form the conviction
of the people that examples of brave
and faithful performance of duty
should be ever honored built upon oul
land. We should never forget tha
the lessons of war are but imperfect
ly learned if we think of them as only
helping us to bear ourselves bravely il
the face of an armed enemy. In time:
of peace there are battles to bt
fought and victories to be won, the eff
feet of which upon the destines of man
kind are as far reaching as the re
suits of an armed conflict Honor
courage integrity, devotion to princi
pie and the faithful performance o
duty are just as essential to the great
ness of a free people as courage ant
self-sacrifice are to the success of
fighting army.
The principles upon which our gov
ernment rests do not Of themselves in
sure good government; they werel.
give to the people the power to hav
that kind of government which tn
people desire, and they can make
as good or bad as they wish. AS pa
triotic Americans we should not be dis
| couraged because there is need in S.
many directions for faithful and et
| fective work in improving existing cor
! ditions. From the impressive scene
we can draw inspiration and help 70
| the better performance of the dutie
which crowd us as American citizens
The memory of these soldiers Wi
never die, and the men and women 1
years to come will strive courageous
ly toward that high ideal which wa
set by these men.