Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1882 — AND OTHER NOTABLES AT CAMP MILROY. [ARTICLE]

AND OTHER NOTABLES AT CAMP MILROY.

NOTES FROM CAMP MILROY. “We arc coming father Abraham 300,000 more”— Ami they came, and they came, and brought “their sisters, and their cousins, and their aunts,” — And what did they come for? To have a good time, and they had it Tho war was not fought over again; but in renewing the associations of former years, many scenes of camp life were re enacted—in story.and in song—The once familiar “Hard tack” was greeted as an old friend; and as in days of yore “the boys” sit their seal of condemnation on some of the. sutlers pedlers, gamblers and other camp followers, who by any device they undertook to get something for so, now they ar* still wideawake to their own interests.

On Wednesday very little was done be? yond perfecting arrangements and organizations Yesterday quite a large number of people from the surrounding country and from abroad were in attendance. Excursion trains came in well filled. In the afternoon Gen. Sheridan arrived and was immediately escorted to Camp Milroy. After a general hand-shaking with the “boys” and the people, Ghaplain Smith openod the exercises with prayer Charles H. Price was then introduced and delivered the following address of Welcome:” Mr, Prbtident. Soldiers and Fellow citizens: Through the partiality of the geutkir.en con. etitnting the committee on programme, has been conferred upon me the distinguished honor of delivering the address of welcome ttpci. this occasion. It would perhaps have been more fitting, had a comrade, who, in the days that “tried men’s souls,” stood with you in the line of battle and encountered the privations and harctsifps ofthe camp, march and field, been assigned to so patriotic a duty. But, Sir, Ido not shrink from performing it, so: if there is a class of men beneath the stars, for whom 1 entertain unbounded respect and supreme admiration, it is the her es—both living and dead—who, when tlie country •■trembled in the balance,” uumurmuringly left the sacred endearments of home, family arid friends, and unreservedly gave themselves and their entire devo tion to the service of this great Republic. The loyal, liberty loving people of this country recognize,and will be slow to forget that, Ihrougk the unswerving fidelity to princijfiv. the unexampled valor anil matchless patriotism ofthe union soldier. The mad waves-of secession >.nd r< bellion, which threatened to engulf this cnniln in the vortex of ruin, were stayed: ihe u.iiou of the states was preserved;ithe‘trampled right- of humanity were raised from th., dust, and • he glit tering crown ol freedom placed upon he brows of a race of serfs. And, sir, in behalf of all the' itizens ol Rensselaer and Jasper county, without regard to race, sex,, or party, wc greet the veterans here assembled, as brave men, and in the name of liberty, loyalty, and fraternity, we welcome them with open hearts an'd outstretched arms, as the preservers of our dear old Hag, the defenders of this nation’s honor, and the saviours ofthe American Union. Veterans, inspired with a lofty patriotism, and impelled by an imperishable love for the memory ofyour gallant comiades, who, in response to the roll call of the great commander, are now at “tho front” ence each year, the patriotic men and women of thia country, march with solemn tread to the last resting place ol the heroic dead and besprinkle, with the tears 01 love ami alf.-c----tion, and strew with nature’s garlands the sacred tombs of which they are the silent leaauis. In observing the day thus c“u«ecrated to the patriotic men who gloriously perished upon the battle-fields of the Republic, met death with an unfaltering front in horrid, prison pens, and were swept away by dread disease, we not only pay a deserved and grateful tribute ol respect to ifieir memory, but we publicly attest our devotion to the sacred.principles for which they fougnt and iell, and we also nourish and cutlivate the beautiful plant of patriotism, which, to-dav, let us hope, buds and blooms iu the hearts ol American citizens everywhere. Soldiers of the war for the Union 1 You who are waiting “iu reserve,” will not forget vour dead comrades, as you gather round the campfires at this reunion, and renew in sweet converse, the associations of the march, bivouac, and fields; but on .he Other hand, you will cherish their memory, and recount with pride and satisfaction, their valorous conduct, their deeds of heroism, and countless sacrifices for country’s sake. Though not permitted to live to’see the glorious andbeneficen results ol' the battles which they so grandly fought and the victories they so fairly won, and though no proud monument marks the hallowed grave in which they sleep, they live In the hearts of their countrymen, while that old star-spangled banner which they snatched from the “perilous ridges of .battle and planted upon the eternal rock of ages,” the union which their transcendent valor saved,and the race which they delivered from the chain of bondage and crowned with the full rights of American citizenship, speak more eloquently of their love and devotion for union, libertyiaud country, than towering marble can. Their’s is a fame which will always live and history will weave their names in chaplets of everlasting verdure, bespangled with diadems of everlasting glory. Twenty-two years have passed a.v iv since Sumpters canuon shook the eartu from sea to sea, proclaiming to the world iu thundering tones, that our flag had been assailed and the life of the nation was in peril! But we have not forgotten, Veterans, the alacrity with which you responded: when the sainted'Lincoln called for men to avenge the iusult cast upon our banner i and to preserve the integrity of the union. The fires of patriotic indignation were enkindled within your hearts, and without stopping to count ■the sacrifices you would be required to make, or .the privations and hardships incident to a soldier’s life, y«u bid farewell to home, family and friends and enrolled yourselves in the ranks of the grand army of the uniou to battle/or theipublic weai. The conflict was a protracted and bloody one* and the enemy with which you measured your strength on every crimsoned battlefield, from ; Bull Run to Appomattox, where Lee yielded up the sword ofthe rebellion, was a determined foe and fought with a devotion and gallantry worthy of a better cause. For a time victory seemed to perch upon the standard of the enemy but finally the issues which were submitted to the trial of battle were decided ip favor ofthe union arms, the white robed messenger of peace spread its wings across the continent, and our victorious soldiery, after I planting the glorious and stripes on the prostrate form of secession and rebellion, re- i

t imed to their homes, laid aside the trapping* of war. and resumed the duties of qniet peacefulcit'i lie pen of no historian can properly describe, •he brush of no artist delineate, nor the tongue of no orator soften the sufferings you so nobly '■ndured. and the hardships you »o bravelv withstood during the four long years of blood ana toll from 18*1 to 1865. Your sufiering were great, and your sacrifices almost countless as is shown by the empty * -le ves which patriots carry: the crutches upon which heroes lean, and the four hundred thousand graves which are tenanted by the bravest and hear men of the Republic. And what did you accomplish? I believe I urn pot stating it too broadly, when I declare that vour grand niareh witn the intrepid. Sherman to the sea, your famous ride with the dtyhing Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, your splendid victories at Shiloh and Stone liiver, your magnificent triumphs at Nashville mid Gettysburg!:, the contests which you waged asove the clouds at Lookout, and on the embattled crest of Mission Ritli . and a tl.ousand other fields which have been made historic by your matchless valor, did . | more lor humanity anil good government than : I had been achieved in a century before. That coute l forever settled the question of the ; i iib'-l.tictabi'il.t of the states, and irrevocably ! . “talili'died th- fact that man is capable of self ; . gov.rnnn-nt. It did another thing, my country- , men. 11.o:■:b:i-hed the military prowess of the . .atioK. ami dimonslrated Hie superior excellence j of the Americ.in as a soldier,’ and to dav. united ; as • :.ix ••<»::».r . is in heart and purpose, we can I ■,• lip the combined powers of the world and flog I ail hell besides. I’ mm! •';.ninny ns iiisecuie as snow upon vidcnnoe- iij‘ ; . " and liberty in this land, as freo - t--,. th. t sweep from the Atlantic to the , !'u ::ii and as pine ;.s the streams that gush :re?i ihe mo'.tntnin side. Seventeen years have come and gone, since the I glorious .■ ituiight ol peace pierced the dark clouds I ol war.tinll di'-riny thnt. ime, through tho efforts ! o, t ie. viclot uno the t miqiiished alike,this conn 1 • has nmrcheu orwurd with giant strides, until ■•'.e stands to dry lit st and foremost in the cataI luteol nations. And it is eminently right, j p:. per ami pal. mi ie that the survivors of the im- ; im>.tat coutiici. which contributed so largely to : oi. present . . a r ess and glory, should meet in ! miiinal reunion, live uwr the thrilling and inter- | < - i ig see- e;- ot army life and strengthen tho so ■ :i ami frii'ernai lies formed in the most trying i pc: :oi! of this roimtiy’s history. I Lhe eoiiilm ;of this nation in victory was the I gr im.le-: the worin has ever seen. And as brave | men. wbc;, rebellion had been suppressed, eecesI r-iou iiad been throttled, and the flag restored to its riahtltil pl e e in power and in pride, you reci ojnizedtbai ihe war was over, and you de not I h.. ; i our annual eunions out of tiny spirit of ; ire I toward the foe over which you triumphed. ; Yon do not seek to intensifv the wounds and pings and pii-sions of the war. but you revive I iin i n ■ iiu k-s i 1 tiie mighty struggle, only to I s : a tliui alter all its disasters, and ail its auffih; cutir try i.-purer stronger and greater, I ihe ..mo.- i,-. lem'ired indissoluble, and the hi co. i i.rottgii the iigony ami blood of one genera- • o . made .ettvr am! brighter for all. i ■- idi-rs' \eienins: .Myriads of your comrades i I.a.e dmmcil the white uniform of death, and I ioo-' . nuts .ipon the eternal camping I • oiuid. and as ; i.<- years roll by the grim tyrant i will continue to dec’mateyour ranks; your step, | not as elastic now as it was, when you inarched I' iimier Ihe proud banner of the union, will grow I -r firm and your vision less keen, but “the wren lies which bind your victorious brows, will 'o ‘come laern r. ami more glorious as you pass ii ■ \ a thepieclivity of time, through paths strewn v> on ilow.-rs by your grateful countrymen tosiuk gently into honorable graves.” Li. conclusion, permit me to t'uauk you most he.a t iiy !«>.• the i.omir you have done us in holdi . yolir iiiinii:.! reiini >ti at this place. V» e extend to you n cordial welcome to camp Uilrov. named as it is in honor of Jasper county's I’.tvi-rite son and one ofthe bravest and most dis- ; inguished soldiers of this great commonwealth. Am! we bid von welcome, thrice welcome to onr keiiri s and homes i

Col. Billy Wilson, of Lafayette, re rpomleil iii an eloquent manner,after whieli, Col. Dick Dehart recited Bher»idan’s Ride. The proceedings then closed for Thursday. Gen. Sheridan is accompanied by his wife and one member of his staff. The crowd in attendance yesterday was variously estimated at from 6,000 to 10,000 people. The Monticello and Rcnsselae r Concert Bands and numerous striag bands furnished the music. Col N, C. Warren is in attendance he is one of the brigade command. Capt. Btiskert, who measures 7 fee* in his stockings «nd weighs : pounds, is here. Adjutant General James A. Carnahan. accamnanied by Col, Ed. Wolf? Auditor of state, came iu last night’ The Newton county company of veteran s “charged” upon tho gam biers last nig.it and put them all to flight. On the special train which brought G ii. Sheridan and wife were Col. Billy Wilson, Col. R. P. Dehart, Hon W. S. Lingle, Col. Jno, A. Stein, bes sides a large delegation of our own citizens. Sheriff Powell arrested two fellows yesterday for picking the pockets of a young map from White county. They had a preliminary examination before Squire Wood and were bound over to await the action of the grandjury.

On Wednesday night some of the boys went through an institution that was placarded “Hieronymus.” Whatever that may mean, it was a kind Of “chueh-a-luck or some gaming device, which, if no t run by, was infest ed by pickpockets. Some bad probably tried their luck and failed to reap a good harvest from their invest - meat. One veteran actually had bis pocket? picked at this chebang, and a squad was soon organized and marched to the spGt, where a demand was made upon “Hieronymus” to refund the money to the loser, and upon his refusal, the leader of tb e squad says to his comrades, “Boys you know y*ur duty!” and they did! In less time than it takes to chronicle the scene, “Hieronymus” v»as among the things that were but are not—The sacking of a city was as but child’s play compared to this. One negro started south at double quick, aud if he is still running, has undoubtedly reached the gulf. At the business meeting of the so* ciety, a resolution instructing the Executive committee to grant no- permits that would authorize gaming within one mile of the next Reunion camp, was adopted by a unanimous vote and deafening cheers— Bully for the boys.

W, E. Brown, Auditor of Porter County is attending the {Re-union. He was a member of the old 20th and was but 15 years old when he enlisted. The Makeever House dung out a beautiful motto on the entrance of Sheridan. O. S. Dale, Jas. S. Wigmore, and a large number of old Wbito county friends, too numerous to mention in our haste to get to press, made us a friendly call this morning. Speeches were made lust night at the camp ground by Gen. Carnahan, Col- Wolf, Col. Hammond, Col. Daw» son Smith, Col. M. L. DeMotte, and others The speakers were all lustily cheered. USE SMITH’S SEED PRESERVER / And save your seed corn from rats and mice, a nd avoid the necessity of replanting. For sale by N. WARNER & SONS, Rensselaer, Ind. When not found in your stores, ads dress Mahlon F. Smith, Monticello. Ind> ” Sept. 22 ’B2—lm.

The largest assoitment of Gun* ever brought to Rensselaer, muzzle and breech loading, single and double barrel. Powder, shot, cartridges aud general equipments for hnnting and ftshiag, at Wm. A. Lamson’g. The finest wood Pump in the market, rubber bucket, fine finish, E. W Walker’*. Sold by W- A. Lamson Nowels Block.