The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-09-17
BEHAN AT BOSTON.
Patriotic Speeches by Louisiana Ex-Con-
federates at Grand Army Reunion.
The soath's Treatment of
Prisoners indicated.

federates at a Grand Army Reunion.
The South's Treatment of
Prisoners Vindicatei.
Among the many noted and pleas
ant incidents of the annual reunion
OF the Grand Army Of the Republic at
Boston last month was banquet in
the big dining room of the Revere
House, the night of August II, under
the auspices OF Edward Kinsley Post
No. 113, composed mostly Of surviving
veterans of the thirty eighth Massa-
chusetts regiment, at which function a
deleg alton of ex-confederates from
Louisiana, headed by Gen. W. J..
Behan, were honored guests. Gen.
Chas. H. Taylor, president Of the
post and editor Of the Boston Globe,
was master Of ceremonies, and nearly
250 members of the old thirty-eighth
regiment gathered around the festive
board.
"A number Of eloquent and patriotic
speeches marked the occasion, and
The Globe Of the next morning printed
in conspicuous type on its first page
two of the most memorable express
sions of sentiment uttered in these ad-
dresses. They were given under the
caption, "One Country, One Flag, y
with the sub-heads, stNoFth to South, -
and "South to North. RI The first ex-
tract was from the speech of Corporal
james Tanner. of the union army,
who said: "Oug Grand Army comrades
are glad to lay flowers on the orthern
graves of confederate soldiers, be-
cause we know that better men and
Drawer soldiers never marched since
battles were first fought than those
who fought against US. " The mess age OF
south to north was taken from the ad-
dress of Gen. Behan. as follows: 'To-
day we all agree as to those principles,
and ali unite in she one opinion that
this is the greatest nation on earth,
and we intend to m maintain its suprem-
acy on sea and land against any and
all forces that may question our in
tegrity or our interests"
From The Globes columns we re-
produce the subioined synopsis of the
speech of Gen. Behan, supplemented
by a verbatim report Of what he said
on the subject of treatment of prisoners
of war, which we consider the most in
teresting and historically valuable
portion Of the generals timely and
admirable talk:
Gen. W. J. Behan, of New Orleans,
was next introduced as the man who
came near firing the last shot at APP
pomattox. He received a rousing
welcome from the s'boys" Of the
thirty -eighth, and said in part:
Comrades OF Massachusetts: l
have been ordered by Gen. Taylor to
say word to you. 1t is a rather diff
fcult matter for me to speak in public,
but under such orders, and with the
influence of that grand parade Of
yesterday upon me, | cannot do any
thing but obey.
"Some years ago there was quite a
difference between us. Both sides
fought for the principles that BIRTH
right, education and environments
brought to them, and for the right as
it was given to them to understand it..
To-day we all agree as to those
principles, and all unite in the one
opinion that this is the greatest ma
ton on earth, and we intend to main
tain its supremacy on sea ard land
against any and all forces that may
question our integrity or our interests.
Applause.
1.-The civil war showed to the world
our valor AND our resources, and we
OF the south and the north had our
lesson. We soon learned that all the
courage and patriotism were not con-
fined to anyone part of our country.
"Each side has its victories and
g1ories Of war. The men who wore
the blue and those who wore the gray
fought with q courage unparalleled
in the annals of war.
1.-TWO notable incidents now come to
my mind, one illustrating the endur-
ance and bravery of the union soldier.
and the other the dash and courage OF
the confederate soldier. Puritan and
cavalier, northern and southern, but
all American" Applause.
The speaker than gave an interest
ING account Of the victory Of the con-
federate forces in the army of Virginia
over Burnside's troops before Fred
ericksburg in the winter of 1868, and
of the engagement at Cemetery Heights,
Gettysburg, the former demonstrating
the valor Of the union men, and the
latter the uniinching courage of the
confederates.
ut was my privilege" said Gen.
Behan, s'to belong to the army of
northern Virginia from the firing of
the first gun at Manassas to the sur
render at Appomattox. To-day I
stand ready to defend the old stars
and stripes to the last drop of my
blood, and with all the loyalty Of any
man who wore the blue" Applause. J
Gen. Behan then went on to tell how
it came to pass that he almost had the