November 22, 1906
_____
10:00 A. M.
Music: Fifty-fifth
Iowa Regimental Band
“The Vacant Chair”
Address:
Captain G. O.
Morgridge, Eleventh Iowa Regiment
Comrades, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Today we stand in the presence of the dead. It is a day full
of solemn memories to those who participated in the events that transpired here
in 1862. It was at this place that the regiment which this monument
commemorates gave up many lives and endured much suffering in its country's
service. After Iowa resolved to commemorate her heroes by rearing monuments to
mark the places where they fought, I was appointed by Governor Shaw
commissioner for the Eleventh regiment. His action was recommended by Colonel
A. M. Hare, Colonel Ben Beach, and many officers and men of the regiment. Today
it is my pleasure to present to you a mass of granite located where the
regiment fought and many fell. It will say to the world after we who remain
have joined our comrades, and until this stone shall crumble in the dust, “These
stood for Liberty.”
*The inscription on the front of this monument gives in
brief the regiment's place on this field. The rear inscription I did not
prepare and have never approved, nor has it ever been approved by the Iowa
commission. It is not in accord with our Colonel William Hall’s official report
of the part taken by our regiment in the engagement.
Colonel Cornelius Cadle, chairman of the Shiloh national
military park commission, said:
“Mr. Chairman:
“The regiment whose monument has just been dedicated was
commanded by Colonel A. M. Hare. In this battle he commanded the First brigade
of McClernand's division, was severely wounded and carried from the field. His
daughter has just placed upon the monument a wreath of immortelles, in memory
of her father and his comrades. I present to you Mrs. Ida Hare Warfield.”
Mrs. Warfield expressed her appreciation of being present on
the ground where her father fought.
Benediction:
Rev. Dr. A. L. Frisbie
of Des Moines, Iowa
“Accept, O God, this stone, before our people and before
thee — lest we forget. We would cherish in our hearts thoughts for those who
gave themselves for us, for our common country — who contributed all that they
were that government by the people might stand perpetually. We thank thee for
the sacrifices made here, and we pray thee that from them we may learn the
lesson of true devotion; that so we may become a people that shall stand among
the people of the earth able to govern ourselves.
“And may the peace that passeth understanding, the peace
that rests upon the dead, the Divine peace of truth and right, be upon all the
people, in the Redeemer’s name. Amen."
*NOTE — In order to avoid anything which might mar the
spirit of the occasion, this paragraph was omitted in reading.
SOURCE: Alonzo Abernathy, Editor, Dedication
of Monuments Erected By The State Of Iowa, 215-6
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