"In conclusion, sir, permit me to express the wish that your future may be as serene and happy as your past has been eventful and glorious; and as you pass into the 'sere and yellow leaf' of life's autumn, may all that which should accompany old age, as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends be yours." In response to this cordial greeting, General Grant spoke as follows: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND CITIZENS OF GALENA: It is with some embarrassment that I reply. Your welcome is exceedingly gratifying to me, but it is difficult for me to reply to what I have just heard, and to what I have seen. Since I first left here, eighteen years ago, it has always been the greatest pleasure for me to return to Galena, and now, after an absence of two and a half years from your city, during which time I have visited almost every country in the world, it is a pleasure to be greeted in this manner by you. During my travels I received princely honors, but they were all due to this country, and to you as citizens and as sovereigns of so great a country. When I saw during my absence, especially in the far East, how hard the inhabitants had to toil even for a maintenance, I realized more than ever the greatness of our country, where want is scarcely ever known, and where the question of sustenance is not daily considered. I will only add, that I thank you again for your reception." Brief but feeling remarks were made by Gov. Cullom, of Illinois; Gov. Gear, of Iowa; Gov. Smith, of Wisconsin; General Logan, Senator Allison, of Iowa; Hon. E. B. Washburne and Major Hawkes. The open air ceremonies concluded with the presentation of Mrs. Grant to the people. Then three times three cheers were given to General Grant, and the out-door welcome home terminated. General Grant repaired to the DeSoto House, where he received his friends. The parlors of the hotel were overflowing for fully an hour, and the hand-shaking was almost endless. The General submitted with good grace to it all, and occasionally, when he met an old acquaintance, the greeting was very cordial. Behind him stood the color bearers of the Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, with their battered ensigns. In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated, and there was a fine display of fire-works. During this display the triumphal arch, which was well stored with rockets, Roman candles, etc., became ignited, and an explosion followed that shook the windows of the buildings in the vicinity. Postmaster Huntington was injured in the fire. General and Mrs. Grant entertained a few friends at their residence; there were none but guests present from abroad, as the General will entertain his Galena friends later. And so ended the great reception, which was so general and generous on the part of Galena. After a few days rest, General Grant left Galena at 5 o'clock Wednesday morning, November 12th, for Chicago. At nearly all of the stations on the route large and enthusiastic crowds collected, the train generally stopping a few moments to allow the General to satisfy their curiosity, and the General was often compelled to go through the ordeal of the pump, shaking hands with all who requested it. At one o'clock the train reached Park Row, and was received by General B. R. Raum, General Theodore Jones, Major A. Fitch, Colonel W. S. Oliver, General E. H. Murray, and Major H. C. McArthur, who escorted the distinguished guest to a carriage drawn by six horses. Then followed Mayor Harrison and Governor Cullom, who took a seat in the ex-President's carriage, and the cavalcade started. A body guard, consisting of officers Schu macher, Fife, Lueders, Soergel, Rierdon and Bruton, surrounded the carriage. At this moment a drenching rain set in, and the multitude that but a minute before was a packed, solid mass, began to move, at first slowly, and then quicker and quicker, until it almost reached a trot. Park Row and the lake front were transformed into a surging, seething mass of human beings and umbrellas, moving northward on Michigan avenue. It was a strange sight. In spite of the rain, patriotic throats would cheer, and resounding artillery would roar; in spite of the mud the crowd dashed on, cheering lustily, and in spite of all the elements combined, General Grant's advent into Chicago was signalized by a display of the most unbounded enthusiasm. The procession having formed, the command to march was given about 1.30 o'clock, by Lieutenant General Phil. Sheridan, Grand Marshal, and the coluinn moved in the following order: FIRST DIVISION, Detachment of mounted police, under command of Major George Heinzman, Jefferson Barracks Band. General Sheridan and staff. General J. T. Torrence and staff. Battalion of miscellaneous companies, Major De Young. First Regiment Cadet Corps. Lackey Zouaves. SECOND DIVISION. Loesch's Military Band. Captain Neely and Staff of aids. accompanied by Mayor Harrison and the Hon. Thomas Hoyne, in a carriage drawn by six caparisoned horses and escorted by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Platoon of police, commanded by Acting Chief O'Donnell and associates. Carriages containing Governor Shelby M. Cullom and General W, T. Sherman, Carriages containing the Citizens' Reception Committee of 500. Carriages containing distinguished maimed and crippled soldiers. Society of the Army of the Cumberland, General Whipple. Society of the Army of the Potomac, General White. Union War Veterans. Union Democratic War Veterans. Veteran organizations in general, Colonel Scribner. Mexican War Veterans. Fort Wayne Band. Grand Army of the Republic, Colonel Swain. THIRD DIVISION. Columbus Barracks Band. General Wallace and Staff. Old Settlers, as invited participants, in carriages. Division composed of the County Clerk's and Sheriff's Deputies. Detachment of 14 engines and 4 trucks of the Chicago Fire Department. Jackson, Mich, Band. Division of 350 decorated wagons, escorted by the West, South, and North Park Police, mounted. The commanders of the various divisions, who were seen after the march was over, stated that there were at the smallest estimate 10,000 or 12,000 participants in the procession. There were over 3,000, perhaps 3,500, in the First Division, over 2,500 in the Second, about the same in the Third, and nearly 1,500 in the Fourth. The route of march was about 4 miles long, and the rear of the column had not yet formed on Michigan avenue when the head had arrived at the Palmer House. The procession occupied about three hours in passing a given point. From a balcony erected at the N. E. end of Palmer House General Grant reviewed the first and second Divisions, when the General descended and proceeded to the platform erected in the rotunda of the hotel, and on behalf of the citizens of Chicago was formally welcomed to the city by Mayor Harrison (a Democrat), who spoke as follows: "GENERAL GRANT: The people of Chicago recognize in you the most renowned of America's citizens. They have watched you for several months journeying around the world. They have seen you the recipient of honors heretofore conferred only upon those of exalted rank; and yet, sir, you had no other passport than that you were an American citizen. "Princes, rulers, and their people delighted to honor you, and in honoring you they lavished honor upon your country. This people, sir, now that you are returning home, are desirous of tendering you a befitting reception. With this end they have appointed a committee of five hundred gentlemen to receive you here in the heart of the city and to welcome you to the homes of our people and to the hearts of the people. "Upon me as chairman of that committee, devolves the pleasing duty of clothing in words what their hearts would warmly express. Sir, for many long years you have been constantly before the eyes of this people." |