The National tribune., 1904-05-05
MAJ.-GEN. OSTERHAUS

The National Capital Signally Hon.
ors the Aged Veteran-Great
Reception by the Whip.poor-
Wills of the District of Columbia.
To few men come honors such as have
been lavshed upon Maj.-Gcn. Peter Jo-
| seph Osterhaus since he landed in New
York City Wednesday. April 20. From
New York to Washington he was feted.
wined and dined. but it remained for
| Washington veterans to do him the highest
honor, to greet him with the most enthusi-
| astic welcome of all. Gen OSterhaus was
dined by the President. and ut Il splendid
banquet rendered him by the Whippoor-
wills-veterans of the war Of the rebellion.
| the President. members of the Cabinet,
members of the House and Senate. the SUI
preme Court and other high officials were
invited to welcome him and make him feel
at home in the land which he helped in so
large a measure to save for the Union.
| Il thought | was forgotten! can scarce
ly understand this warmth of greeting, this
hospitable reception. l did not know that
my coming to the United States had been
heraded, and did not know that my COM
rades remembered me as l did them. l
| thought | was forgotten" said the hale
and hearty old General-S2 years young
April %. as he stood with uncovered head
under the flaming lights in the Baltimore
& Ohio station to receive the greetings of
his comrades, Hon. Richard Bartholdt. OF
Missouri, whose guest he was to be- Col
Abram Hart. Commander of Department
of Potomac Grand Army of the Republic
Gen. S. $. Burdett, Past COMMANDMENTS
Chief; Col. Thomas Hopkins, Past Com
| II N,I ,1,
White, Col. S. X. Burch, II. l.. .Iol"~on
4. Won IIaake, Gen. Cyrus Bussey. r}2t
II. G. Tyler. Maj. w. L. Huxford and Oh
John McElroy, Past Senior Vice Com
mander-in Chief. who We're there to meet
and bid him welcome to Washington.
well, General remarked one of the
veterans. you've got two thinks coming
| now. You see, you are warmly remem
bered. You put yourself out of our reach
so how could you know the high esteem i'll
which you are held by your comrades Of
the old war. Come back to Gods country
oftener. Come back and stay with us
Come back here, and when taps sounds
let your body rest in the land you did SC
much to save"
1T is great country, noble country
the General responded, with comprehen
sve wave of his hands, but | have inter
ests everywhere, children in the United
States, children in Germany, grandchil-
dren great grandchildren, they are al
around. | must see them all, but l will
| come again, soOn."
But it was on Friday evening" April %
that Gen. Osterhaus got his real baptism Of
welcome. GAS was Lafayette to the Ameri
can Colonies so was Osterhaus to the
American Union" was the proposition
which was worked out by the Whippoor-
wills and the distinguished company gath
cred at the Maison Rauscher.
L ne<o, 49,
shortly after 8 o'clock, and his entrance
into the reception room was the signal for
an outburst of applause such as has sell
dom been heard. For full FIVE minutes the
walls reverberated with cheers and hur-
rahs as the hOary-headed veteran was once
again with those with whom he had been
associated for four long years during that
struggle from 1861 to 1865. That he was
deeply touched at his reception was ap-
parent. His eyes filled with tears and in
words broken by his evident feeling he
| thanked those assembled for the warmth
of the greeting.
| Il was soldier" said Gen. Osterhaus
I'VE were all soldiers. We tried with the
best of our ability to execute the task that
had been assigned to us. In the days of
danger we tried to preserve the Union and
the country. 1t was the duty of each and
every one of us. And | believe we sue
ceeded in the fulfllment of that duty. l
know one thing that was particularly sat
isfactory to me. 1t was the surrender of
the last army of the South after Appomat.
| tOx.
NOW. gentlemen as we look back on
our military careers we can feel only pa
| triotism. That was our excuse and our
| reason for desiring to protect the Union
and the Flag. Now l want to see patriot
ism sink deep into the heart of every child
and grandchild of every man that walks
| the American continent.
| "Patriotism cannot be bought by money
1t must come from the love of country,
from love of the Starry Banner that floats
OH high as the insignia of the greatest
country on earth. Right and justice, truti,
and liberty. must and will always prevail
/ am most happy to again be with my old
comrades. Press onward and forward until
the star of civilization shall be placed by
| the loyal sons of the United States where
its effect can be felt by every nation. every
country in the world. l thank you"
At the conclusion of Gen. Osterhaus..s
| remarks there was continued cheering
while he received, in turn. those who had
| fought with him in the struggle to save
| the Union.
of the distinguished guest of the evening,
Col. A. Hart, Department Commander G.
A. r., who was the master of ceremonies
| for the occasion. escorted Gen. Osterhaus
to the banquet hall. where he was given
the seat of honor They were followed by
the entire assemblage and the less formal
ceremonies were opened with the Star
Spangled Banner" more than 200 partici-
pating. Some Of the voices were cracked
and worn with age, but those voices added
pathos and beauty to that song beloved by
all loyal sons and daughters of America.
George G. Ross sang an original song
entitled 1.-The Whippoorwill," of which the
first verse and chorus follow:
Il am thinking of the army
! The army-the army
Of days that used to jar me-
And the ancient tales that never, never
/ die;
i We gathered round the fires
i The fires-the fires
i We bland and cheerful liars,
While the whipporwill would challenge
i every lie.
Chorus:
i Listen to the whippOrwill-
i Listen to the whipporwill-
The whipporwill, in volube SURPRISE;
Listen to the whipporwll-
Listen to the whipporwill-
L ,s,~