Salt Lake Tribune | 1914-03-06 | Page 6 | General Meagher

GENERAL MEAGHER. The sword of General Thomas Francis Fran-cis Meagher, who commanded the famous fa-mous Irish brigade during the Civil war, has been presouted to the University Uni-versity of Notre Dame, Indiana, the presentation being made by United States Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana. Former Congressman W. Bourke Cockran of New York wa3 the orator of the occasion and eloquently portrayed tho significance that attaches at-taches to the sword of tho noted Irish commander. Tho presentation recalls tho Gettysburg Gettys-burg battlefield, with all its glories and j horrors. Ouly last year tho fiftieth! aunivcrsary of the great battle was celebrated on the. identical spot where, in July, lSb';5, the invading roljel armjy under the idul of the South, Robort K Lee, was hurled back by the Union forces- commanded by General Meade. History docs not record a more magnificent magnifi-cent spectacle on tho field of battle than the chargo of Pickett ami tho countercharge of the boys in bluo, when thousauds of the bravest of the bravo wcut down to riso no more. 'Ono of the sights approaching the sublime during the awful carnage was when Father Corby, who is buried at Notre Dame, with hands uplifted gave final absolution to tho soldiers of the brigade. It is well that tho 6word of .Meagher should rest busidc the body of the fearless priest who performed tho duties of his holy calling in tho storm of shot and shell. There was another chaplain at 'Jctly.sburg whose, heroic conduct has caused his name to bo ourolled among Ui050 whom thuir countrymen delight to honor. John Irclaud, now archbishop of St. Paul, chaplain of tho First Minnesota, Min-nesota, also gao absolution to his fellow fel-low solduu-s on that awful field and participated in tho chargo that decimated deci-mated tho regiment. It would bo impossible im-possible to recount tho deeds of all tho Gettysburg chaplains in this short tribute. Suffice it to say that not one of thorn was ever accused of (showing tho white feather during the three day3 that tried men's souls. Thomas Francis Meagher was only a brigade commander, but ho won undying undy-ing fames as a soldier along with Mcadc, Reynolds, Hancock, Howard and the host of other officers who shed thoir blood that tho nation might livo. His untimely fate prevented him from rounding out his career in civil life, and tho mystery of his death has novor been explained. General Meagher was governor of tho territory of Montana. Ho disappeared during tho night from a steamboat on the upper MiESonri rivor not. long after his appointment. "Whether ho.aroso for tho purpose of gotliue a littlo fresh air and foil overboard, over-board, or whether ho was trcachcrounly murdered, is not kmown. Hin disappcarnncu shocked the whole country, and ho was sincerely mourned when hopo that he would bo found alive was abandoned. Tho frontiersmen and miners of Montana, rough in cjcterior but warm in heart, admired him as a, soldior and a man, and allowed every pigii of grief when 'ho wa Mruek doviu in the prime of life. A count ha- been named for him iji the Treasure State, niul it was entirely fitting that. Senator Walsh should have made tho presentation of tho warrior's sword to the Univeriuly of Notre Damo, for he was tho lirst citizen of Montana when lAito decreed that ho chould perish.