The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-15
FIRST MINuESOIA'S
GLORY RECALLED
Loving Tribute Paid Heroes Liv.
ing and Dead at Last Nights
Meeting.

Tribute upon tribute was paid to the
famous First Minnesota at an enter
tainment given at the Printers Ex-
change on Fourth street n last evening.
The hall was crowded with veterans
of the famous regiment, their wives,
children and friends, who listened to
an exceptionally interesting program
of PATRIOTIC music. saw rare stereop-
ticon views, illustrating the early his.
tory of the regiment, and heard
speeches that lauded the glory of the
battle-scarred regiment.
The evening was one of pleasure,
and yet there was present an indie
finable air of sadness, for it was felt
that it was probably one of the last
times that so many members of the
First Minnesota would meet. George
a. Brackett who, from the time the
First met at Fort Smelling, has ever
been an ardent supporter and liberal
entertainer of the reg iment, showed
his continued interest in the orSani-
cation by planning the affair and car
rying it to a successful conclusion.
Maginnis' Tribute to colville.
The meeting was presided over by
Major Martin Maginnis, who with
deep emotion paid tribute to Colonel
William Colville as "that old lion of
often that death was afraid of him,
and not daring to make an open at
tack. took him away by stealth at
night. -
Senator w. D. Washburn spoke of
the regiment as having the strongest
hold Of all on the hearts of the people
OF the state. not because the men OF
the other regiments were not as brave
or as true, but because it was the first
e IL n
dearest Then in a reminiscent mood
he spoke of the scenes at the depart
urc from Fort Smelling in '6l; of the
cheers and tears that followed them.
"But how glad, how glad [ am to
look in the faces, the same old faces
that marched away that day. And 1
know that we are moving on--on to
the great encampment of eternity
what there is in store is unknown. L
rest assured, however, that when the
great and good God makes His &C.
counting the heroes and patriots will
occupy front seats.'
Pivotal Charge at Gettysburg.
John B. Gillfllan described graph,
cally scenes at the opening of the war;
how at moments notice two eordons
of citizen soldiery, one clad in blue the
other in gray were stretched from the
Atlantic to the Missouri. linen turning
to the regiment of all regiments-the
dearest in Minnesota, he said that as
tn stand of the Spartan band at
Thormopolae glorifed the history OF
Greece, SO the charge of the First Min
nesota at Gettysburg glorifed the name
of Minnesota.
That charge was the pivot of the
battle of Gettysburg upon which the
issue of success turned. And Gettys
burg determined, the result of the war.
Cadet Band Warmly Greeted
Patriotic music, which was greeted
with. sparkling eye and quickened pulse
by the veterans was interspersed thru
out the program. Mrs. Maud Ulmer
Jones sang ''The Star-Spangled Ban
ner' in an impressive manner. Gusta,
Holmgren of Chicago gave Schubert =
Grenadier.' "The G. A. RI wa
rendered by Miss Alice Getchell. 4
pretty incident of the meeting was whe1
the boys of the Journal Cadet band en-
tered the hall playing a patriotic all
They were given an enthusiastic ova
tion by the veterans.
Another interesting feature Of the oc
casion was a collection of stereoptico
views, compiled from rare old photo
graphs collected by Mr.. Bracket, show
ing early scenes about Minneapolis
pictures of the First Minnesota i
camp and portraits of many of it's Of
ficers.
One of the photographs taken in $
showed Minneapolis as an Indian vi
lage at the foot Of Nicollet avenue.
portrait Of Old Bess, an Indian squa,
known to early settlers, was recognize
by many of the veterans.