tinguished guests, and the officers of the day, reviewed the procession as it passed. Arriving at the grove, the organizations formed in open order, and the veterans and invited guests passed to the grand stand with appropriate military honors. The grand stand was erected with the timbers, planks and boards from the recent residence of Dr. A. I. Sawyer, which was the building in which General Winchester had his headquarters at the time of the celebrated battle and massacre of the Raisin, January, 1813. After the veterans and guests had been seated and the assemblage was called to order, the Hon. Warner Wing, president of the day, delivered the following opening address: "FELLOW CITIZENS: It has been customary with all nations to perpetuate the memory of great events, either by the erection of temples, monuments, triumphal arches, statues, or the gathering of the people together on stated days. Such events are not unfrequently the glorious achievements of armies, the death of great men who have been public benefactors, the destruction of cities or of nations. "Should a stranger from foreign lands come among us this day and inquire what means this great gathering of the people from every part of our land, and why this great excitement, let him know that ninety-six years ago this day our forefathers, who were colonists from England, after struggling long with the injustice of the home government, and finding their burdens greater than they could bear, threw off their colonial dependence, renounced all allegiance to the parent government, and made and published to the world a declaration of their independence; to the support of which they pledged their fortunes, their lives and their sacred honor, by which the connection of the colonies with the parent government was forever severed and they were left free to govern themselves, and free to worship God as they pleased; and this freedom is the common heritage of every citizen of these United States. "We have met together on this 4th day of July, the anniversary of our Nation's independence, to exchange friendly greetings with each other; to receive and take by the hand, and render thanksgiving and homage to our soldiers of many wars, who have so gloriously fought the battles of our common country, and signally aided in redeeming the solemn pledge which our fathers gave; and, above all, to render thanks to God that notwithstanding all the sore trials through which our Nation has passed, our liberties have been preserved to us — that this land is a sure refuge to the oppressed and down-trodden of all nations, and is in very deed the land of the free and the home of the brave.' "I will not enlarge on any of these topics. To the orator of the day is assigned the duty and the honor of rehearsing to you the story of our revolutionary struggles, and of sketching the history of our National and State Governments, and of the legislation by which our civil rights are defended and protected, having their foundations deep in the hearts of the people. "To another is assigned the pleasing duty of addressing (for us) the war-worn veterans who have gathered with us from many a distant State of this Republic, and who at the call of our rulers in the hour of adversity and peril -actuated by feelings of patriotism - rushed to the front and bore back the invading enemy of our country, and finally triumphed gloriously, in which triumph and glory we claim an honorable part. He will greet them in our behalf with a cordial welcome. He will express to them our joy at being able to meet them here on the ground where they fought, and some of them shed their blood, and where their comrades and some of their brothers laid down their lives in defense of this (then) frontier. It is the ground where other soldiers, now present, at a later period, at the call of our late President, first enlisted under our National banner, and joined that great army- 600,000 strongand marched to many a field of battle. They fought to repel a great wrong and to establish and perpetuate a great good, and by their courage and the blessing of God they achieved victory, and saved our country from anarchy, and aided to place on a more firm foundation our liberties and our institutions, under which every living being is now free. Our orator will welcome them to our festive board, to the hospitalities of our houses, and to our hearts and may we learn from the absence of many a loved one who laid down his life for us, and from the scars and wounds of those present, what is the price of liberty. "There is also committed to another the reading of the Declaration of Independencethe palladium of our liberties. And as we listen to its masterly statements, embodying the principles of civil liberty, and especially to the closing personal pledge of those who signed it, may we all realize that not alone upon those honored delegates was the pledge bindingby their act and deed we are also bound to maintain and perpetuate what they pledged themselves and their constituents to observe and maintain. "We have recently passed through a desolating civil war. Peace now reigns in all our borders. The Ship of State seems to be put on its true course under full and flowing sails. We are greatly increased in wealth, and with it we may expect its usual concomitants rupt counsels and a low state of morals —— requiring of every lover of his country and its institutions, increased watchfulness, knowing that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. cor "We have met under the sound of our cannon and with many imposing ceremonies, to be accompanied with the singing of anthems and our merry song of Yankee Doodle, which to those who are not well acquainted with American character, may savor of frivolity and thoughtlessness. Well, suppose it does--we are free, and we have the right to do as we please on this, our Fourth of July, our Independence Day. We choose to be merry now and wise afterwards -- therefore we are not afraid to sing this song as expressive of our happy light-heartedness; but let cavilers and our enemies beware when they hear their own national music on the decks of our war ships, or at the head of our armies, as they move to battle--it will then have a different meaning and will then be a warning to all, and especially to our enemies, that our soldiers and sailors are terribly in earnest. It will then mean fight, not fun. "When we shall have concluded our ceremonies, may no one of us fail of being impressed with the solemn conviction that as we enjoy so many blessings we are under renewed obligation to guard with scrupulous vigilance, institutions which have secured and will secure the continuance of them to us and to our posterity. Let us resolve, in the words of the old song, that "We freemen will live, we freemen will die, This oath we'll renew on each Fourth of July." The President's address was followed by the singing of the "Red, White and Blue," by a chorus of 150 voices, young men and young ladies of the city, led by Professor C. C. Zeus, and accompanied by the orchestra. This feature was a great success, and reflected credit upon those who conceived it and carried it out. Prayer was then offered by the Rev. C. W. Fitch, U. S. A., Chaplain of Fort Wayne. After the prayer the choir sang "America," and Mayor Redfield being introduced, delivered the following address of welcome: " VETERAN VOLUNTEERS, PIONEERS AND GUESTS: It is appointed to me as the executive officer of this ancient and honorable town in the name of the Floral City and all its people — to thank you for the honor of your presence and in their name to bid you a hearty welcome and a most earnest and joyous greeting come. acter "Above all words of mine this great concourse of the people of the State —its high officials, its eminent jurists, its pioneers and yeomanry, its honored mothers and young men and maidens speaks a welcome, based upon gratitude and affection, spontaneous, deep and genuine, and warrants me in embracing the name of the State of Michigan in our welThe day itself in all its pleasant charevery branch and leaf above dip and whisper their gladness at your coming. The united melody of our historic lake and river greets you. Every plank and timber in this platform, which in that cold dismal winter of 1813 formed the walls within which Winchester surrendered, seem to vibrate with the story of that terrible tragedy, when Proctor fled, leaving your companions to be massacred with pitiless ferocity. [Cheers.] "The uncompleted history of that scene and of those days welcomes you to this place and demands its vindication through you to-day in this, that the war was carried on and the Federal Government supported by volunteers alone, from June, 1812, to October, 1814; and that in all that time the only assistance we had upon this frontier was from Ohio, Kentucky and other Southern States, while Northern and Eastern States held back from the contest, even until after this and the New York frontier had been desolated and laid waste, and the capital of the Nation was sacked and burned. [Cheers.] "And this celebration and this welcome and these facts are dues to the memory of those brave men who fought, and to the memory of their brave comrades who left their bones on the Miami, the Raisin and the Thames. From these groves and fields and from the graves of those 300 victims of the slaughter come a sad and solemn welcome to these old companions and comrades. "Welcome to you of Kentucky, who in our day and youth, baptized as the dark and bloody ground,'-from savage cruelty; in your old age again denoted the dark and bloody ground' in a contest for the Nation's life. Welcome, and thank God that you are permitted to pass over the river of the Ohio no longer a vexed and fettered boundary of institutions social, domestic, or municipal, antagonistic to Christianity, and that where you encountered in your early march the wild forest and still wilder savage, flourishing towns and cities and fruitful fields delight to meet and welcome you. The lonely line of the Hull Road is to-day a great highway of travel and one succession of fertile farms. The seat of Winchester's camp is there before you; behold its spires, its towers, its broad fields and busy life. All around you in earnest devotion behold its generous people. [Cheers.] Beside you are the noble band of pioneers whose strong will and sturdy arms have caused this their wilderness to blossom into such rich profusion, and they from their hearts do welcome you. And so as they and all of us in our daily round of life-cares, duties and memories, think of the past and of you, we remember, that the battle cry of Kentucky and Ohio, under Green Clay at Fort Meigs, the gallant Croghan at Sandusky, Harrison at the Thames, Jackson at New Orleans and in every field was, Remember the River Raisin. We, of Monroe, all honor to him whose patriotic heart and liberal hand gave impulse, have caught up the slogan of your youth and day; we will remember the River Raisin and have resolved in your presence, over the graves of fallen braves, to pledge that veneration for your toils and sacrifices still lives with us, that gratitude to you and all the fathers of the Republic is as strong, quick and deep a sentiment with us as with our fathers. And so remembering the River Raisin, and you and your dead in our care and keeping, we will build a monument. [Cheers.] “We know that in the larger sense we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men who died, and you patriots who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little heed nor remember what we say here, but it will never forget what they did here. It is therefore for us to be dedicated to the task before us; and four years from this day, with the blessing of God, upon the one-hundredth anniversary of American independence, we will complete our welcome and perpetuate our gratitude in an enduring monument, and once more gather you in who are left, and bid you to behold our finished work. In memory of the River Raisin upon its northern face in letters large and deep and lasting so we may read: "This is for the blood that was shed for us by Southern heroes in defense of a common country against a foreign foe and savage allies. "And upon its other face, looking out over all the sunny South: This in remembrance of blood that was shed for all that which was saved from the condition of dependent colonies in the first war-and preserved for us by you in 1812, was not lost through sedition, privy conspiracy and rebellion." [Cheers.] General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky, was then introduced, who replied on behalf of the visitors, and made a very happy and telling speech. He narrated many incidents of the War of 1812 connected with the campaign of General Harrison and the movements of General Winchester, in many of which he took a personal and active part, and some of which have never been placed on historic record. In all of these movements the brave sons of Kentucky bore conspicuous and honorable part. General Combs was frequently interrupted by vociferous cheers, and his remarks were listened to with close attention. During General Combs' remarks he made some pleasant allusions to General S. L. Williams, and to the prominent part he took in the campaign under General Harrison; when General Williams was called for by the audience, and as the veteran arose from his seat on the speaker's platform, he was greeted with prolonged and furious applause and cheers. The roll of veterans was then called by General Custer, each one rising in his seat and answering to his name. The following is the list, with their ages: Carrick, Robert, 77. Foulke, Joseph, 83. McNain, Chas., 85. McNeil, Robert, 77. McVay, Solomon, 76. Martin, John, 75. Mason, Henry, 80. Mount, Thos., 78. Moyer, N., 77. Mulhollen, John, 75. Nadeau, J. B., 77. Navarre, Alex., 82. Navarre, Nap., 81. Navarre, Peter, 86. Nedmore, Perry, 82. Parker, J. C., 77. Pasko, A. A., 78. Pendleton, Edward, 84. Penwick, James, 78. Postwood, John, 84. Puller, B. J., 81. Quinsberry, Roger, 79. Reid, J. C., 75. Ressenet, Isaac C., 79. Rogers, J. R., 80. Root, John, 78. Rowell, F., 77. Santour, Francis, 76. Shafer, William, 89. Shapine, George, 84. Shearer, Jona., 76. Suane, Louis, 89. Talbot, Oliver, 79. Thomasson, J. P., 74. Van Aiken, Simon, 82. Vance, Joseph, 84. Vanderwalker, Jas., 82. Van Pelt, David, 91. Verkies, Joseph, 82. Walters, W., 78. When the name of Frederick Boroff, who resides in Bedford, Monroe county, was called, and his age announced (101 years and 6 months), calls were made from all parts of the crowd that he should show himself; and as the old veteran, comparatively smart, climbed upon his seat, three hearty cheers were given him, and a shower of bouquets began to fall around and among the veterans, and on the speaker's platform, from the ladies of the orchestra, until it seemed that the veteran soldiers were fairly covered with flowers. After more music by the orchestra, Hon. Edwin Willits announced that owing to the lateness of the hour, and the proceedings yet. to follow, he would read only a portion of the Declaration of Independence. He then read in a clear and distinct voice, a portion of this time-honored instrument, and after more music, the Hon. James V. Campbell was introduced, who delivered the oration. Judge Campbell recounted in a very happy and felicitous manner many of the events preceding the War of 1812, with facts and incidents concerning the war, as relating especially to the operations in Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Canada. The oration was listened to with marked attention and eagerness by the gray-haired veterans who clustered around the speaker, and who seemed to drink in every word with great satisfaction. As the oration was quite lengthy we omit the major part of it, giving the closing portion, merely, as follows: Now, after more than half a century, we meet here beside the Raisin and in sight of the scene of Perry's victory, to recall those eventful times, and to honor those who fought there. "On the lake that was then almost solitary, the waves that roll over the place of the battle are disturbed by the keels of laden vessels, bearing heavy and costly freights of timber, and grain, and merchandise. The lonely bay that sheltered Perry's fleet is girt about with fair houses and green vineyards, and thronged by thousands in search of health and rest. This field of blood, that was then too far off for succor, is passed by heavy trains that reach the sea in one circuit of the sun. The great Northwest had then less people than any one out of scores of its pleasant cities has now. This State of Michigan, that owed its deliverance to a few thousand volunteers from Ohio and Kentucky, has sent out more than ninety thousand of its citizen soldiers, to defend the Union which those generous helpers then maintained. "It is with great pride, and with thankful remembrance, that we find represented in our gathering here the powerful States of that ancient Territory, meeting in this corner of the old homestead, and joining us in commemorating the perils and triumphs of the past. They had their share in the charges, and they have inherited a full share of the glory. "The pious care of Kentucky has reclaimed the precious remains of her children that hallowed our soil, but the land they died for can never forget them. And the heroes of those days have not all departed. The soldiers of this generation, assembled here in force, give homage to-day to the veterans who taught them how to fight, and made this land worth fighting for. They have seen their country tried by worse trials than foreign wars, and have seen the contending hosts fall back as they did into the ranks of citizens, and restored to the industries of Peace. They see yet a land of freedom under law, and a people able, when they choose, to enforce their will. The people of Michigan rejoice to honor all those whose valor and sacrifices secured this pleasant land under the protecting care of the Union. "Soldiers of the War of 1812, worthy followers of the men of 1776, accept our homage! May you live many long years to remind our children how freedom is gained, and how she is guarded. "To you, our welcome guests, whose courtesy has again brought Kentucky to Michigan, we offer our warmest greetings on this spot, which will ever be as sacred to you as to us. Its memories recall to you friends and kinsmen, whose loss made sorrow through all your households. To us they are the glorified memories of martyrs, who died in our behalf, and not for themselves. May their spirit still live where their bodies perished! And may the gracious Power that maketh men to be of one mind in an house, bind the elder and the younger sister in unbroken union, till those dark days are lost in hoary antiquity, and those heroes shine out of the far-off past like stars in the firmament. "Time may destroy the gathered wealth, the great works of commerce and enterprise. But the chronicles of freedom are written in characters of light that will last undimmed through all ages. After the oration, and singing of the “Star Spangled Banner," the veterans and the guests. were escorted to the tables, which were bountifully loaded with all the substantials and delicacies which heart could wish, provided by the ladies of this city, and guests were waited upon with every attention by the young ladies, until the wants of the inner man were fully supplied. After the substantials of the feast had been partaken of by about 1,500 people, the tables were liberally supplied with pure native wines of Monroe manufacture, supplied by the Point de Pean Wine Co., and the regular toasts were offered and responded to as follows: 1. "The Day We Celebrate "-Response by J. J. Adams, of Lenawee. 2. "Washington "-The world honors the man who conquered his own ambition to give freedom to the continent. Response by Judge Patchin, of Detroit. 3. "The Statesmen and Heroes of 1776 " The founders of a system of government that makes ours a powerful continental Republic for the good of the world, if in our political advice we imitate their integrity. Response by Hon. E. G. Morton, of Monroe. 4. "The Veterans of 1812"- Their march to victory was not by Pullman palace cars, but through dense forests, dragging their cannon with weary marches; yet they conquered at Tippecanoe, Fort Meigs and the Thames, and said to the world on Lake Erie, " We have met the enemy and they are ours." Response by General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky. 5. The Brave Men Who Perished in the Massacre at the River Raisin in 1813"-They still live in our hearts. Let us erect a monument to their memory, that they may live in the hearts of our children's children. They made the city of Monroe memorable in history by their devotion to their country. Response by Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, of Detroit. * |