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| Elm Street Trolley Bridge over Tioughnioga River (facing Cortland) |
THE REUNION OVER.
EXERCISES AT THE PARK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
Stirring Speeches by
R. T. Wright of Cortland and W. D. Bingham of Watertown. Mr. Israel Rlckard
Present.
After
the business session of the Nineteenth New York Infantry Volunteers and the
Third New York Light Artillery the members of the association took the electric
cars for Cortland park, where a large crowd was in waiting. The exercises took
place from the bandstand in the north grove. President George E. Ashby
introduced B. T. Wright of Cortland who delivered the address of welcome. He
said:
Mr.
President and Comrades of the Nineteenth New York Infantry and Third New York
Light Artillery: By request of the citizens of this beautiful village whose hearts
are filled with patriotism, it is a great pleasure to me to welcome the brave
men who offered their lives in defense of their country in its time of great
peril and danger. You can look back and recall the days when you rendered
heroic service in behalf of the Union and for the preservation of the flag we
love so well. When we think of those days it makes the cold chills run down our
backs to recall the great sacrifice made by so many brave men.
But we
in Cortland know you to-day as we have never known you before. We want to make
your welcome just as hearty and just as full as we possibly can. Only four members
of your organization reside with us. They are George E. Ashby, William S. Barker,
William H. Martin and Henry R. Greenman. We love those men, we respect them, we
honor them. Then all hail, comrades. I am here in the name of the citizens and
am authorized to give the town over to you. We have not a golden box in which
to give it, but we give it just the same. We surrender to you, as many another
has done, but in a far different way and under far different circumstances. We
welcome you with gratitude, with a sense of honor and with cheerfulness [text highlighted by CC editor]. I say
welcome, thrice welcome, the town is yours.
Comrade
W. D. Bingham of Watertown was then introduced and he spoke for a few minutes
as follows:
Mr. President
and Citizens of Cortland: When the soldier laid down his arms after the war, returned
to his Northern home and resumed his occupation, no such spectacle had ever
before been witnessed. There was some apprehension expressed lest so many
thousands of men fresh from the scene of battle and from camp life might work
disaster, but no such crisis ever came. A man is a better citizen for having
been a soldier. The soldier has learned to obey; having fought for the
maintenance of the constitution and the laws he has as abiding a respect for
them as the man who made them. in 1860 the population of the Union was 31,500,000,
now it is 70,000,000, then there were thirty-four states; now there are forty-five.
The American soldier has much cause for self congratulation for his
achievements having made such progress possible. But we soldiers must not get
egotistical. However, the most valued treasure in my possession is the thought
and the realization that I too am a soldier.
Immediately
after the war we soldiers met infrequently, but later and now we meet more
often and have formed permanent organizations. In imagination we live over again
those stirring events of years ago. But our enjoyment is mingled with sorrow
for we with each recurring year miss some faces and our ranks are gradually
growing thinner. Comrade Wright, in behalf of the Nineteenth New York
Volunteers and Third New York Light Artillery, I beg to return to you and to
the citizens of Cortland our hearty thanks. I hope that we may leave with you as
pleasant recollections as we shall certainly carry away with us of our reunion
in your beautiful city.
Comrade
Martin Edgcomb then took the platform and briefly outlined the life of Comrade
Israel Rickard of Cortland, who occupied a chair on the platform. Mr. Rickard
enlisted in September, 1861, at the age of 61, as a wagon master in the
Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers. Later he served as a private in Co. G. of the
same regiment.
Mr.
Rickard was asked to say a few words and he arose amid loud applause. He said:
Comrades, ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you to-day as a monument
of God's mercy; my age has been lengthened, but I am on my feet well aware of
my inability to say anything. I am no orator, gentlemen, but my heart is as
warm as it was in ‘61. My comrades
if it was as necessary to-day as it was in '61, I don't know but I should have
the vivacity to go again. I feel very grateful that I am permitted to see this
glorious banner waving here; it Is known throughout the world; all nations know
it and revere it and we all feel, that it is a safeguard to us. Gentlemen, I
thank you, but there is no use in my trying to say more, I am not an orator.
When
Mr. Rickard had closed three loud and hearty cheers were given for him.
Secretary Greenman then gave a short history of the regiment, or rather
of the two for they were consolidated in 1862. A selection by the Cortland City
band closed the exercises of the day and all took the cars for the village, the
excursionists returning to Auburn by special train over the L. V. R. R. at 7
o'clock.
NOTES.
Comrade
Judson Sennet came from San Diego, Cal., to attend the reunion.
Mrs.
Stewart, the widow of Lieutenant Stewart was in attendance. The scene at the
park when she pinned the association badge upon the breast of Comrade Rickard
was a pretty one.
Many
were the happy chats the old soldiers had with one another. One veteran as he
alighted from the Lehigh Valley train yesterday morning grasped Captain George
E. Ashby by the hand and said, "Why, George, how glad I am to see you, I
have not seen you since '72.”
For
the success of the reunion great credit is due to the four resident members of
the association: George E. Ashby, W. S. Barker, William H. Martin and H. B. Greenman.
The
Auburn band accompanied the excursionists and played several very fine selections
both before going to and at the park.
The
playing of the Cortland City band was of course excellent.
Comrade
Rickard refused an offer to ride over on a car saying he had not much to do and
was in a hurry to get there and so would walk over. He walked the whole
distance and on the way crossed the electric car bridge.
The reunion
next year will be held at Auburn.
With
few exceptions the excursionists were entire strangers to Cortland, but were
very favorably impressed with the town
and with the park which all agreed was a beautiful place.
Mr.
G. F. Beaudry who has the refreshment privilege at the park was liberally patronized
yesterday. He is the right man in the right place.
Mr.
D. M. Totman, one of the superintendents at the park, was very courteous in looking
after the convenience of the guests.
Several
Cortland families took luncheon at the park yesterday.
Recommended:
Private Israel Rickard, 76th NYSV: http://www.bpmlegal.com/76NY/76rickardi.html
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