The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-22
HOLMAN'S ADDRESS
TO THE COMRADES
Well Known Grand Army Man of Rut-
ledge, Mo-, Talks to the
Shiloh Survivors.

T. w Holman, of Rutledge, Mo,
who once each year takes an eXcur-
sion to the Shiloh battlefield, being
president of the Shiloh survivors, at
the last reunion held on the sixth Of
April, 1910, delivered the following
address to the comrades and ladies
and gentlemen present:
1t is the grandest pleasure Of my
life to address this assembly of Shilon
veterans and their friends. 1t Is an
hour that appreciate more than
can tell you.s Forty-eight years ago
we were on our way to Shiloh, many
of us up this beautiful river of the
Tennessee, we did not know then
what was before us. We We're young
er in years then than we are today but
patriotism filled our hearts, we felt
that we had duty to perform; that
duty was the maintenance of this
government. We knew not the details
or the plans of the generals, we cared
not for that but we were ready and
willing to do our whole duty to our
country
Tonight we are here to hold only q
short camp fire as an Introductory to
the grand feast that is to follow. l
simply wish to announce that we have
some very distinguished speakers who
will address you before our return to
St Louis. / want you to feel COM
rades. that this is your meeting.
want YOU to feel that it Is your duty
to make it just as pleasant as pos
sible and with that end in view | as.
sure you that we are going to have a
grand reunion at Shiloh.
We are growing old; the boys that
were fifteen and sixteen years of age
in '62 are gray-haired men tonight. |
| do not wish to remind you of this fact
you all know it as well as do, but
want to say to you, never grow any
older never have any more birthdays.
don't believe in keeping birthdays,
! we are going to live just as long as We
can; we are going to attend every re
union that we can because we believe
in it, not that it is necessary to pro-
tect this government but to keep
memories of 81 to '65 green, that is
the object of these meetings.
l want to thank the people, and
especially the young people who are
here tonight. 1t is one Of the grand
est pleasures of my life to see the
young people taking an interest with
those who followed Old Glory through
the shot and shell of the days of 81
and '65. | am glad to note as many
of you here tonight as l have.
think, so far as we have gone, this is
going to be one of the most pleasant
reunions I have ever attended on the
way to Shiloh while l thank the
young people for their presence ant
attendance. the old people know that
they have my thanks, they know that
| appreciate their attendance; they
know that I appreciate the honor they
have conferred upon me. | stood on
the battle field of Shiloh as one of the
very youngest. I lett school, left
my aged parents and went to the front
and stayed for four long years
! have never regretted the sacrifice that
| made although it put me on crutches
for years.
Now, Comrades, don't want TIC
tire you with any extended remarks
You all know what camp fire is for
and | want you all to feel that this
is your reunion-it is not Commander
Holman's reunion at all and | want
you to feel right at home. W..h these
few disconnected remarks l will turr
the camp fire over to you.
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