The Irish standard., 1911-07-08
MAJOR McGINNIs
Delivered Excellent Address Meet
ina Of Old Comrades.

ina OF OId COnVaQeS.
Major Martin McGinnis, who was
one of the two men to represent the
State of Montana in the United States
Senate on it's admission to the Union
in 1889, was present at the celebra-
ton in ST. Paul in honor OF the First
Minnesota Regiment in June 80
Though the trials of the years
are gradually getting the better of
those who survived the trials of the
ranks, Major McGinnis saw grouped
before him many of the comrades OF
days full Of memories that the vet
Grams shall never forget. In recall
ing the trying years from '63 to '65,
Major McGinnis said:
1--WE carried your flag into the first
battle of the war and successfully
planted it on the farthest point OF
that disastrous field, only to bring it
back from conquered batteries and po-
sitons on the collapse of the general
battle bookkeeping our ranks and
tives taken off that field. 1 often
think that this was one of the great
est, and surely the most unique, of all
it's achievements, the one satisfaction
amid all the humiliation and disaster
Of the day. The whole country at
home and all our disgruntled friends
across the seas. found one ray of sum
shine amid the clouds of gloom. These
world cannon that guard the capt.
toll grounds were one of the rewards,
and the regiment has always kept the
ownership of these guns, though it
has kindly loaned them to the state
to defend its homes.
1.-The renown accruing from this
feat of arms was due largely to the
early training. discipline and drill,
and half the killed and wounded on our
side In that battle were from men
who had learned their lessons so
we'll.
der Sedgwick and Sumner and Han
cock and always kept the place Of
the state in the greatest corps Of the
Grand Army. Up through the muddy
roads and pne-clad barrens of the
peninsula of Yorktown, Fair Oaks,
Savage Station, Glendale and NAL
vern Hill. Back to the old fields of
MISUNDERSTANDING Schenll's blund-
err at Vienna in a most deadly rear
guard action that ended all pursuit OF
the army In the fading dusk of the
mountain pass we relieved the out
worn Iron brigade and routed the en-
envy from the road to Antietam, and
but few days after left a quarter
of our command on that bloody field.
Fit for all Work.
''In the costly blunders of Freder-
icksburg and charlottesville we
plucled new fagots Of fame and re-
nown from the ashes of despair; and
in the great decisive battle of the
war, at the psychological crisis of the
day, the flag of Minnesota. shot down
five times, still rose again and pressed
until the lines were established.
The regiment was shattered, but the
day was won, and the glory Of Min
nesota will ever shine on that green
slope which they crimsoned with their
blood and consecrated by their sac
riflce.
ITO others we leave the details Of
our history We made 1t, and it will
not be forgotten so long as the ma
ton lives and the state endures. To
the highest discipline it added the
great initiative, the quick intelligence,
and the indomnitable steadfastness Of
frontier regiment. These border
men were fit for all uses, equal to all
OCCASIONS; whether called on to build
the grapevine bridge which saved
the battle of Fair Oaks. or to sup
press the riots in the city of New
York, they We're always efficient.
They always did their whole duty, and
they did it with chivalry that Won
the good will of their opponents and
with a heroism that won the admiration
Of the world. They brought home your
flags, ragged and shot-torn, but UNI
sullied and unstained, and crowned
who came back have geen good citi-
zens of the state, and those who
were left beneath the ground on
which they fought so valiantly and
died so we'll have added to it's imper-
ishable renown."