30 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
not to enslave men but to make men free,
to enlarge in a vast degree
the zone of Republican government.
All honor to George Croghan and his
heroic band. All honor
to the soldiers of the revolution. All
honor to the soldiers of the
Mexican war. All honor to the soldiers
of the Union. All honor to
the soldiers of the Spanish-American
war. The American people honor
them. They honor them each and all. They
hold them forever within
the embrace of their fondest memory.
Fellow citizens, it would be impossible
for me to close these few
words without expressing that
appreciation to Col. Webb C. Hayes
which is in the hearts of all of us here
to-day. It is a happy circum-
stance that he, a soldier himself, and a
son of one of the brave defenders
of the Union in the Civil War, should
thoughtfully and generously bring
back from the soil of Kentucky where he
was sleeping his everlasting
sleep the remains of this brave,
fearless leader, in order that they might
rest here amid the theater of his
immortal achievements.
All honor to Colonel Hayes for what he
has so splendidly done,
and all honor to the community which
respects and preserves the memory
of those who have served so well in the
cause of their country.
I will leave you, my friends, and I
leave you with regret. I leave
you, however, with the confident hope
that you will go forward in the
enjoyment of peace and happiness which
are the legitimate fruits of
those who fought here and elsewhere for
Republican government.
ADDRESS OF GENERAL ANDREW L. HARRIS.
GOVERNOR OF OHIO.
The chairman has stated that I will make
a few remarks, and this
is truly said. When your committee came
to Columbus to invite me to
participate on this occasion I frankly
told them that it would be im-
possible for me to make any preparation,
but that I could come provid-
ing no speech was expected of me, and,
fellow citizens, Col. Hayes
gladly accepted the promise, and it was
with that understanding that I
am here to-day, for the purpose of
participating with you in my pres-
ence more than by words or speech on
this memorable occasion.
I sometimes think that we have never
given sufficient importance
in history to the gallant deeds that
were performed here in 1813. You
remember that up to that time the
results of the war seemed against us.
We had met many reverses, but it was
Col. Croghan and his 160 men
who won one of the most important
victories, according to the numbers
engaged on our side and the numbers of
the enemy, that is recorded
in American history. It was from this
moment that the tide of the
battle turned in our favor. From that
time victory after victory followed
until in a few months' time the war was
ended, and victory seemed
vouchsafed to us so far as the mother
country was concerned, the
The Croghan Celebration. 31
liberty that we are enjoying to-day, and I wish to say that upon this spot, this historic spot that the tide turned in favor of the American nation, in the war of 1812-13. How unfortunate you are to have within your corporate limits the most historic spot in the United States of America. I never stood upon this ground, upon this battlefield until to- day. My mind turns back to my youthful days, when I read of the |
|
|
ory of the American people, in the person of Col. Webb C. Hayes. I thank you for your attention for you must be getting tired and I will leave you, saying that I am glad it was my privilege to be with you to-day, and I will ever remember this meeting as long as I live. This day will be deep in my memory.
ADDRESS OF E. O. RANDALL.
SECRETARY OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The only apology I have for the honor of appearing before you on this interesting occasion is that my college friend of years ago, your splendid, patriotic and enterprising fellow-citizen, Colonel Webb. C. Hayes, invited me to come; his apology being that I am an official of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, whose business it is to gather, preserve and disseminate the lore, historic and prehistoric of our great state. The orator of the day, the Hon. Samuel D. Dodge, has recited to you in graphic terms the history that led up to the siege of Fort Stephenson and the incomparable bravery and patriotism with which the youth George Croghan and his gallant little band defended the crude stockade fort and stemmed the tide that to that moment seemed against the Americans. The successful repulse of Proctor and the British |