We have undertaken to erect monuments to some of our dead heroes, the most conspicuous of whom are McPherson, Ransom, Fairchild and Rawlins. Moneys have been collected and committees named, who have reported to us, and we realize how difficult it is for us to accomplish our beneficent purpose. But it must be manifest to you all that as our numbers grow less and less each year, it will be simply impracticable to attempt the simplest form of decorative monument for each of our honored dead; and I would suggest that on the shaft or pedestal of some monument— say that of McPherson-a series of tablets be arranged, so that the names of members may be inscribed thereon as they pass from earth's muster-roll. And we have further undertaken, as a “sacred trust, to cause proper memorials of the services of our dead comrades to be collected and preserved, and thus to transmit their names with honor to posterity." To print, publish and circulate such memorials will also involve a cost beyond the private resources of our members, and I suggest that we, as a Society and as citizens enjoying a constitutional right, humbly petition the Congress of the United States to cause to be printed, published and circulated, so as to be within reach of all, the official reports of the battles, skirmishes and marches of the several army corps, divisions, brigades and detachments during the war. Tons and tons of manuscript matter are now stowed in the War Department in Washington, which contains the best possible memorials of all the armies who fought during that eventful period; and it has been estimated that twenty folio volumes of 1,000 pages each will embrace all that is essential; and allowing $10 per volume, $200,000 would supply 1,000 complete sets, which could be distributed to the State and public libraries so as to be within reach of every family in the country. The annual appropriations for printing by Congress amount to about $2,000,000, and from the report of the Public Printer for 1872 I see that for that year there were printed 224,675 volumes of the Agricultural Report, at a cost of $154,920 These reports are certainly very interesting to our people, but tell me the name of a farmer who had a boy fall at Kenesaw, or saw him come home hardy, brawny and brown from his four years' exposure to the sun and weather of the South, who would not prefer to see in print the report of his brigade and division than an equal amount of the best possible information about farming and horticulture. Wilkes' Exploring Expedition was published at the expense of the United States, in five large octavo volumes. The Pacific Railroad Surveys are in thirteen quarto volumes, and the Survey of the Fortieth Parallel alone has its fifth volume quarto, with costly maps and engravings. Now I am sure that these books, however valuable, fall far short of such as I indicate in interest or in popular estimation, and I have not the least doubt that a respectful petition, coming from the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, would be received by the Congress of the United States with respect, and receive prompt consideration, both by reason of the merits of the appeal itself, and the source from which it would come. Twenty such volumes, deposited in every State library, and in the library of each university and college throughout the country, accessible to all, would rescue these valuable archives from all chances of destruction by fire or earthquake; would constitute the best possible fund of knowledge for the future historian, and fulfill completely the laudable purpose of those who founded this Society, and who make it a chief object to collect and preserve proper memorials; and to keep bright and pure the fame and glory of our living and dead comrades of the war. MUSIC: "All Honor to the Soldier give”—Chorus. Which was most admirably sung by the Glee Club. As each prism of memory's glass Recalls for us some recollection, Old comrades' hands we used to press, We'll many a camp-fire joke repeat, 66 As link by link we pass the chain; " We'll talk of victory or retreat, And fight our battles o'er again. We'll speak of many an honored name, With Country's love and faith imbued; Who, fighting for the Nation's fame, Won that Nation's gratitude. And, first of victorious host, Of whom we ever loved to boast, He whose genius in the field -War's old rules at will defyingTaught him how his power to wield, Sure on what he was relying. His veteran soldiers, often tried In lessons of the deadly breach, He led them with a soldier's pride, To achievements the age might teach. Grant! we greet thee, Conqueror, Needing no eulogy to make thee great, General Commanding through the war, Twice chosen our Chief Magistrate! In that bright galaxy of stars That clustered round, vieing with Grant, Who bore War's brunt, and bear it scars, Heroic names were nothing scant. Their fame has spread from zone to zone, Sherman is with us once more; Greet him with so loud a cheer That the Atlantic's farther shore Shall our shout of welcome hear. Welcome back, brave General, Master spirit of that march, Which, for ages, men will call The Key-stone of the Campaign's arch. Fire-eyed Logan! hail to thee; Gallant Howard, Hurlbut, Hazen, With all the rest of fighting “Smiths.” Of those who, on their Country's altar, Laid life; who, foremost fighting, fell; Whose steps were never known to falter. McPherson! Can we e'er forget How we draped Victory's laurel wreath; How the soldier's cheek was wet, To find it purchased by thy death? Ransom! We shall full oft repeat How quickly the triumphant shout Was hushed, and ours seemed the defeat, When we heard thou wert "mustered out." Victory seemed too dearly bought When such men as Harker fell; Or when the bivouac we sought, Only of Kearney's death could tell. But 'twere vain a few to mention Of that noble host, who sealed With life their life's sublime intention, When they sought the battle-field. We the marble can but rear, How deeds, that challenge peer, In the boasts of any age, Even of those who came with life Through the conflict, saw its endingSaw the close of the fierce strife; Statesmen true, or homeward wending. Ladies of triumphant legion, Yielding rifle, sheathing saber, From battle-devastated regions To the scenes of peaceful labor. Many now attend the roll-call, At the bourne whence none return, Bequeathing to us, in their fall, Deathless name and funeral urn. Lincoln lives but in undying Fame! Wherever human life Aloud for Liberty is crying. The name of Lincoln prompts to strife. Stanton, in the protocol, We give to Time; what thee we owe We'll write, for thou our Capitol Saved from the grasp of stealthy foe. Meade, of Gettysburg, is gone- Day by day we lose some one Who immortalized the "blue." Who but shuddered with the spell That paralyzed the wondering nation, When we learned that Canby's knell That noble family, the McCooks. One heart, but eight good swords they gave, Their fate almost our joy rebukes; We've closed the fifth untimely grave. Many greet us here to-night, Who remember some sad day, While the war flame raged with might, Give to them the honored seat- However small the share we claim In that world-witnessed tournament. |