CHAPTER XXIV. OUR LAST MARCH. K NAPSACK we shoulder now for a tramp to our last campground. Many months the author has devoted to this compilation. The time has arrived when the result of all this labor must go to the type-room. From the first axestroke against the mighty forest oak to the launch of the ship, much good material accumulates which must be left behind. And so with this work. Narratives of each member of the regiment would be interesting, but they would require many volumes. And a full history of all the regiments of the Iron Brigade would also require a volume for each. Such task must be deferred to others. There has been a determination to exclude, as far as the truth of history would allow, all reflexive matter, as well as everything that could not strictly stand the test of good authority and sincere account. The foregoing recital should accord to every regiment of the Iron Brigade that full measure of praise which each has won for itself. While members of the Twenty-fourth Michigan pride themselves upon its glorious record, written in blood-its wealth of sacrifice which has contributed to the enrichment of Michigan history, they ever accord a full meed of praise to all other Michigan troops, mindful that every soldier, with pardonable pride, loves his own regiment the best. And so, while it is our special delight that we belonged to the "Twenty-fourth" and to the IRON BRIGADE, we are also proud that we belonged to a Michigan regiment. For, were not Michigan's troops the honor of every branch of the service where they served? Did not their blood moisten over 800 battle-fields of the war? Did not their praises fall from the lips of generals? Did not the command of General Phil Kearney-"Put a Michigan Regiment on guard to-night and then I can sleep," express the confidence of commanders in Michigan's soldiery? Were they not selected to lead "forlorn hopes" and perform most dangerous and difficult tasks? Thirty years have intervened since began the great struggle for national life. Since then a new generation has been born-a generation has passed away, while the magnitude of the struggle and the momentous questions at issue-those lost and those preservedare fast passing beyond comprehension. The war cost the North alone 360,000 lives, 300,000 wounded, and over one million widows and orphans. No less could have been the casualties of the south. The North alone, and the South alone, lost each, more men in four years, than England lost in all her wars from its Invasion by William the Conqueror to Queen Victoria, a period of 800 years! The sword settled that the United States are indivisible. State rights remain, but not State sovereignty. Sovereignty belongs exclusively to the Nation. The war taught the nations of earth and traitors at home that this nation cannot be destroyed without costly and bloody protest. It taught that majorities must govern, and so govern as to preserve inviolate the equal rights of all; that a lawfully elected President shall serve his constitutional term; that a minority oligarchy cannot permanently control this Republic. May the sacrifices of this war never be forgotten. May future generations note its awful scope and keep clear of the rocks on which it so nearly stranded. May the treasonable sophistries of Calhounism be extirpated from the text books and literature of the South, whose rising generation is being taught its deadly heresy, else other occasions may be sought to revive the "Lost Cause." Let a caution prevail in the discussion of internal questions of polity, nor admit too freely within our gates the objectionable and ignorant stranger; and when enlarging our domain, that we annex not enemies of our institutions, customs and form of government. May the bloodbought experience of this generation preserve for all time this noblest of human organizations, "of the people, by the people and for the people." IN MEMORIAM. The following comrades of the Twenty-fourth Michigan are known to have passed over to the silent majority since their resignation or discharge: Lieutenant-Colonel MARK FLANIGAN, at Detroit, Oct. 4, 1886. Major HENRY W. NALL, at Long Branch, N. J., July 10, 1863. Major WILLIAM HUTCHINSON, drowned on Stm. Morning Star, sunk on Lake Erie, June 19, 1868. 4, 1887. Lieutenant and Quartermaster DIGBY V. BELL, at Detroit, Feb. 8, 1890. Surgeon JOHN H. BEECH, åt Coldwater, Oct. 17, 1878. Assistant Surgeon CHARLES C. SMITH, in Redford, April 18, 1890. Assistant Surgeon ALEXANDER COLLAR, at Wayne, Sept 4, 1883. Assistant Surgeon EDWARD LAUDERDALE, at Detroit, April 16, 1883. Captain RICHARD S. DILLON, at Detroit, March 3, 1886. Captain JOHN WITHERSPOON, killed in cyclone at St. Edwards, Nebraska, Aug. Captain EDWARD B. WILKIE, Nov. 8, 1875. Captain ANDREW J. CONNOR, at Dayton Home, in 1890. Lieutenant FREDERICK AUGUSTUS BUHL, at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 15, 1864, of wounds received in cavalry fight. Lieutenant AUGUSTUS F. ZIEGLER, at Detroit, Jan. 2, 1870. Lieutenant CHARLES A KING, in Missouri, soon after the war. Lieutenant JOHN J. LENNON, of consumption, in March, 1865. Lieutenant GEORGE W. CHILSON, at Las Vegas, New Mex., Jan. 18, 1881. Lieutenant IRA W. FLETCHER, at Wayne, May 9, 1883. Lieutenant MICHAEL DEMPSEY, at Detroit, in March, 1890. SULLIVAN D. GREEN (N. C. S.), at Berlin Falls, N. H., Dec. 29, 1889. DANIEL B. NICHOLS (N. C. S.), soon after the war. Company A-Peter N. Girardin, John Happe, James Murphy, Nelson Oakland; John Schubert, 1890; Francis Wright, 1889; and John S. Coy, 1891. Company B- Andrew J. Arnold, 1891; James S. Booth, Willett Brown; George F. Higbee, 1878; Richard Maloney, 1869; Joseph E. McConnell, 1886; Patrick Shannon, 1872; Lafayette Veo, 1890; James Grills (Recruit). Company C-James M. Loud, Daniel McPherson, James S. Seeley. Company D-John D. Cameron (R.); Henry D. Chilson, of wounds received in another regiment, 1865; Clark Chase, Oliver Herrick, Frank Heig, killed on railroad; Conrad Kocher, James Lindsay; Robert Polk, 1890; William M. Ray, 1879; Melvin H. Storms, Wm. Walter Sands; George P. Roth, 1880; John B. Turney; Allen Brown (R.), 1889; George Dolan (R.), 1890. Company E-John Frank; Thomas Gibbons, 1890; John Hogan, James D. Jackson, Frank Kendrick, Patrick W. Nolan, William Powers, Frank Schneider, Thomas Stackpole. Company F-Abraham Akey; August F. Albrecht, 1890; Edward Burkham; William Bullock, 1875; William W. Graves, William H. Ingersoll, Charles E. Jenner, George Krumback, William Kalsow; John G. Klinck, 1886; Frank H. Pixley, Eugene Sims by gunshot accident soon after the war; Albert L.. Schmidt, John J. Sullivan; Andrew Wagner, 1867; Myron Murdock, 1879; Herman Krumback. Company G-William A. Armstrong, John Broombar; John Butler, 1872; Peter Euler; William R. Graves, 1888; Garrett Garrison; George Hinmonger, 1889; Peter T. Lezotte, Jeremiah Sullivan, Charles Martin; Charles Stoflet, 1890; Joseph J. Watts, 1886; William G. Weiner, 1870; Douglas M. Page, Benjamin W. Pierson. Company H-Barney J. Campbell, 1881; Michael Cunningham, 1864; Michael Donavan; August Gilsbach, 1889; Theodore Grover, 1890; Van Renselaer W. Lemm, A. Wilder Robinson, killed by falling out of a high story window while asleep; Andrew J. Stevens, 1872; Jacob Whyse; Abram Hoffman. Company I-Peter Brink, Richard M. Fish, Francis Hynds, Alpheus Johnson, Cornelius Veley, Roswell Van Kuren, Levi McDaniels (R.); William H. Morton. Company K-Robert A. Bain, Andrew Bruthaumpt, George W. Fox, Abner A. Galpin, Artemas Hosmer, 1872; Frank Kellogg, David J. Kellar, James Leslie; Elijah Little, 1889; Barney J. Litogot, Jerome B. Stockham, Frederick Smoots, Enoch A. Whipple. DEATH OF GENERAL HENRY A. MORROW. It is with deep sorrow that we must record the death of our beloved Colonel which occured at Hot Springs, Arkansas, January 31, 1891. We had hoped he would survive to read this volume in which he had a great interest. Upon learning of his death the Survivors of the Twenty-fourth Michigan in Detroit, the Bar Association of this City and his regiment, the Twenty-first U. S. Infantry, passed suitable resolutions of respect. Of his war services this volume makes record, and it is one of the most brilliant. After the war, he was appointed Collector for the Port of Detroit, which he resigned to become Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty-sixth Regiment, U. S. Infantry, February, 1867. After entering the Regular Army he was assigned to important positions which he filled most satisfactorily. President Grant ordered him to Louisana where he assisted in the process of re-construction acceptably to the people. Later, he was sent to Utah to quell the Mormon disturbances in 1872-3, where his conciliatory methods were successful. In 1877, during the railroad riots at Scranton, Pennsylvania, his discreet conduct won the special commendation of General Hancock. He subsequently became Colonel of the Twenty-first U. S. Infantry. He was a soldier, orator and jurist of the highest excellence in each. His address was affable and courteous. Meanness and injustice he despised. His own Twenty-fourth loved him, believed in him and would always follow where he led. No braver man ever drew a sword and he was ever regardful of the welfare of his command, every soldier in which could lay before him any grievance. His name in history is secure and deserves to be preserved in the choicest amber. He ever had a warm remembrance for the old Twenty-fourth and among his last letters was the following to Captain Geo. W. Burchell written at Fort Sidney, Nebraska, July 30, 1890: "What I desire above all things in this world is to hear of the health and prosperity of the remnant of the dear old comrades who stood with me, elbow to elbow, in the battle's storm of those horrible but splendid years when the Nation's life was saved by the Nation's valor. Your letter recalls many a scene. How quick come back the camp-fires, the weary marches, the dreadful preparation for battle, the long lines, the glittering bayonets, the inspiring cheers, the awful roar of musketry, the deep thunder of the cannon, the sickening carnage, the cries of the wounded, the ambulances, the mounds of fresh earth! Alas! Alas! God has been good to spare us so long to witness the glorious fruits of the sacrifices of the patriots of 1861-5. Perhaps we are not happier in our lots than the gallant men who fell fighting in the cause of freedom and humanity. May God be kind to those who are still spared, strengthen their failing limbs, and temper the winds to their declining vigor." On September 8, 1890, Colonel Morrow wrote as follows to Colonel A. M. Edwards: "I have just returned from the G. A. R. encampment, where I had a pleasant time, but you know I am all shattered in health. At present I cannot speak above a whisper. I do not pretend to give commands on the field. But I did not intend to tell you that your Colonel has been for a year and more, stricken by a fatal disease and will, in all human probability, be on the side of the majority to welcome you when your form shall appear on the opposite shore." His remains were conveyed to Niles, Michigan, the girlhood home of Mrs. Morrow, where they laid in state in charge of "Frank Graves Post," G. A. R. until the funeral. The services were held in the Episcopal Church and the burial was under the auspices of said Post. As soon as the time of the funeral was learned in Detroit, several members of the old Twenty-fourth hurriedly arranged to attend and were present as mourners. The remains of our dear Colonel were laid away beneath the oaks of Silver Brook Cemetery with the honors of war. He has reached his last camp ground. |
