USA > Iowa > Delaware County > Manchester > Reunion of the 12th Iowa V.[eteran] V.[olunteer] infantry 1st-8th, 1880-1903 > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
"They sat on the stone by the farm yard gate And talked for an hour or more,
Till their eyes grew bright, and their hearts seemed warm, With fighting their battles o'er. And, parting at last, with a friendly grasp, In a kindly brotherly way, Each called on God to speed the time Uniting the blue and gray."
Then the mother thought of other days. - Two stalwart boys from her riven; llow they knelt at her side and lisping, prayed, "Our father, which art in heaven." How one wore the gray, and the other the blue, How they passed away from sight;
And had gone to the land where gray and blue Are merged in colors of light.
And she answered her darling with golden hair, While her heart was sadly wrung With the thoughts awakened in that sad hour By her innocent, prattling tongue; "The blue and the gray are the colors of God; They are seen in the sky at even, And, many a noble, gallant soul Has found them passports to heaven."
ANON.
33
TWELFTH IOWA
Saturday Morning.
Sunrise salute, with booming of cammon. At eight o'clock we assemble at pavilion. After music by our drum corps and band, meeting is called to order, Col. Stibbs in the chair. Our president, Lieutenant Abner Dunham, proceeded to deliver his address, as follows:
President Dunham.
Comrades: Once more we meet in reunion, this time at the instance of our esteemed fellow citizen, Gov. Larrabee, who invited us to assist in the dedicatory exercises of a most beautiful statue erected by him to our beloved comrade, Col. D. B. Henderson.
The occasion is an inspiring one, it will be the bright spot in the lives of all present. Those of our comrades unable to be with us, send good cheer and join in paying tribute to the comrade whose life has made it possible for this reunion, while the spirits of the departed ones hover over, cheering on the good work and inviting us to that beautiful realm where war is unknown and sickness and death does not enter.
Siy comrades, the occasion is one of more than usual interest, we not only live over again the more than four years of solder's life and renew the associations formed during the most trying and thrilling events in ,the history of our country, but this statue leads us to new thoughts. We nuurally look over our past life and ask what have been the lives of each other, a searching investigation reveals the fact that all have been good citizens. a very large majority have been reasonably successful in their chosen vocations, some have accumulated their full share of this work's goods; while one whom this occasion is to honor, has through his great ability, kindness of heart and true courage attained a position second only in importance to that of the President of the United States, and birth alone prevents his aspiring to that exalted position, bis career as a statestien has been eminently successful and to him many an old sol- dier is indebted for the adjustment of claims long deferred, to him many if not all of us are under obligations for courtesies and favors shown. The day is far distant when the oldi soldier will have the true friend and indefatigable worker for his rights that he has had in the person of Col. Henderson, The old, the crippled, the rich, the poor receive the same cor- dial greeting, the same careful attention. Ilis voluntary retirement from public life is our loss, we hope his gain and we bespeak for him the same success in his new undertaking whatever it may be, as has attended him during his public career.
My comrades it is a grand mis" -. That we have been permitted to exist di- - -- greater part of the 19th century. We have seen our country advance from a fourth and third rate power to that of the first nation on the face of the globe and it is a satisfaction to feel that each has in a greater or less degree contributed to that end. As I look over this assemblage of veterans and see the halting step, the wrinkled brow, the silvered locks, I realize that our race is nearly run, and that to our children must be left the work so well begin and it is a great satisfaction that already we have evidences that the charge is to be left in good hands.
Our early boyhood days were passed during a terribly exciting period in the political history of our country, questionsagitated the public mind
34
EIGHTH REUNION
which divided the sections, the balls of congress had for years been a seething cauldron of impassionate utterances. The newspapers contribut - ed to excite the public mind, the officers of government then in power were crippling its resources preparatory to the grand struggle, and not until the flag was assaulted at Sumpter did the north awake from the sleep of security and peace to find our country engulfed in the throes of terrible war. Awoke to find our navy scattered to all parts of the earth, our forts and munitions of war in the hands of the conspirators, a bank- rupt treasury, a very large proportion of those trained to the art of war by the government arrayed against it, in fact the administration of Lin- coln found the government practically with bare hands to begin the sub- jugation of that traitorous band who bad for years been preparing for this very move. The voice of Lincoln called for the first 75,000 men, after- wards for hundreds of thousands, and hundreds of thousands, until our ranks numbered into the millions who, under the guiding hand of Grant, retook the forts, retook the arsenals, retook the arms, retook the muni- tions of war, reset in the azure folds the stars stolen from our thay. Where, never again shall an enemy's hand dare pluck them out.
My comrades, you were a part of that immense host, for four long years your rallying point was that flag, borne by that grand soldier, HIenry Grannis, who seemingly impervious to shot and shell, planted it. on the front line, and upon it your alignments were promptly made.
You saw suffering, too awful to describe, in the camp, on the march, on the battlefield. Yon saw death in its most awful forios, you saw stary- ation in the prison hells of the south, you saw war in all its terrible de- tails, yet this did not deter you when after three years service, and the loss of over one half your number, you re-enlisted, determined to see it through. Why follow your footsteps for those long dreary years? His- tory is being corrected, and time will yet give to each his true measure. Suffice to say that soon rays of light began to appear, followed soon after by the unfurling of the flag of surrender, then we knew our country was saved.
Comrades, it was an awful experience, but it was worth all it cost. For years the result trembled on a balance, but right prevailed and God has seen lit to preserve us to see the fruits of victory.
To my young friends who are visiting with us, let me say that upon you will soon rest the fate of our country, the preservation of that-flag; upon you the fate of future generations, largely depend. You may not be called upon to engage in the conflict of arms as your fathers have been, but you will have battles to fight no less serious. Every generation must fight its own battles. It is still true as ever it was that.
"We are living, we are dwelling In a grand and awful time -- In an age on ages telling To be living is sublime."
This, my young friends, is our country. That flag is on flag. Think what it has cost to defend it. That flag has been bathed in the blood of heroes. It is the emblem of our liberty, the symbol of national unity and power. It represents home and friends, freedom and country. Many of us have seen it floating above The smoke of battle.
35
TWELFTH IOWA
"Many an eye hath glanced to see That banner in the sky."
Stand by the old fiag, boys, stand by the old dag, girls. It is our flag handed down to us unimpaired by our ancestors. Let it be transmitted to posterity in the same unimpaired condition.
Flag of Co. "K."
Resolved, That the Twelfth Iowa association accept with gratitude the dear old flag of Co. K, that was carried by the Twelfth lowa Infantry at the battle of Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3 and 4, 1862, and presented to the association by the widow of a dear comrade, Charles E. Merriam, and the sympathy of the association is unanimously tendered to Mrs. Merriam on account of the great loss she sustained in the death of a noble husband.
Resolved, That the president and secretary of the association cause to be prepared a careful and authentic history of the flag of Co. K, carried by the regiment at Corinth and certify the same and transmit the same with the flag to the governor of the state of lowa with the request that both be deposited with other battle flags of the Twelfth lowa Infantry in the archives of the state.
This flag was presented to Company "K", 12th lowa by the ladies of Hopkinton, Delaware, Co., lowa, in November 1861. Upon the organiza- tion of the Union Brigade after the battle of Shiloh, it became the regi- mental flag of that organization and was used as such during the siege of Corinth, at the battle of Corinth and until December 1862 when the Union Brigade was disolved.
At the battle of Corinth the Union Brigade was attached to Hackte- man's brigade of Davies' division, and on October 4th occupied a position on the Pardy road between the railroad depot and battery Powell. It was fiercely attacked by the confederates and in a band to hand conflict lost, in a few minutes, one third of the men engaged. Every officer but three of the Union Brigade was killed or wounded. Among the wounded were Lt. Col. Coulter and Lt. D. B. Henderson. Three color bearers in succession went down and the flag was for a moment in the hands of the enemy, but its defenders rallied and drove the assailants back and Act. Berg's. Maj. J. D. Cole recovered the flag and raised it to its place but was almost immediately shot through the breast and crawled to the rear carrying the flag with him. The stains on the flag were made by the blood of Serg't Cole, and perhaps others of its gallant defenders.
Gen. Davies in his official report commends the Union Brigade for its gallant resene of its flag and for its assistance in recovering battery Powell.
Surgeon Finley, of the 12th lowa, says he saw the tag go down three times in that "Pot-Metal Hell" and as often come up again; that the staff was shot away and replaced, in the midst of the battle, by a stall captured from the enemy; that nearly half of the Union Brigade was piled up, dead or wounded, around the flag when Serg't. Major. J. D. Cole received what was supposed to be his death wound, and carried the day to the
36
EIGHTH REUNION
rear. Serg't. J. D. Cole, in a privater letter in answer to a question recht- ly asked of him, tells in his mo lest way the part he took in the action is follows:
"I can remember but little of the fight until I saw the colors fall. One of the 14th lowa, I think, carried the colors when the battle com- menced. I took the colors and advanced to the front and alligned myself with the colors to the right and the General and his Aib rallied the men to the colors, they fell back again and left me between the two fires. The General then waved his sword for me to fall back and the men were again formed on the colors. As I stood there I was wounded and when I saw the blood pouring from my breast I carrie I the colors back and when I was looking for water, an ambulance man of the Str lowa told me that he would get me water if I would lie down. I placed the tag on the porch of a house and laid down on the floor. When The water came I gave the man my watch and chain and told him to save himself as the bullets were coming through the house. He told me afterwards that the General sent to know my name but he could not tell him. Col. Coulter and Lt. Men- derson were wounded about the same time. I have little remembrance of what occurred after that time."
ABNER DUNHAM, Pres.
G. E. COMSTOCK, Soc.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Sept. 23, 1903.
ABNER DUNHAM, President 12th Iowa Vet. Vol.
Infantry Reunion Ass'n. Manchester, lowa:
MY DEAR SIR :- I beg to acknowledge the receipt, at the hands of Richard P. Clarkson, Esq., of the Bag of Company K, 12th lowa Infantry, and the resolutions reciting its history and directing that the dag be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Iowa, and that both flag and resolutions be deposited with other battle flags of the 12th lewa Infantry in the archives of the State.
I cannot permit this formal acknowledgment to leave me without adding a word that seems appropriate to the occasion. This flag, although faded and torn, is rich with the most sacred memories of Ameri- can courage and patriotism. So long as it shall endure it will teach to this and coming generations the noblest lesson of citizenship, and I pro- foundly hope that those who look upon it in future years may be worthy of the men of 1861. It shall be placed with its fellow flags, and shall be given all the care and honor the State can bestow upon it.
With high regard, I am
Yours very truly,
-. CUMMINS.
37
TWELFTH IOWA
The Stars on the Flag.
Count the stars on the flag as it passes by, And then number the stars in yon distant sky-
The number would be the brave hearts that would die For the stars on the fiag.
Count the stripes on the day-we weave into one, The tears and the sighs for the lives that are done,
But out of the shadows of each setting sun
Shine the stars on the flag.
Count the tears for the flag! Were they shed in vain? What now seemeth loss even yet will seem gain,
for the nation's great heart will suffer no strain On the stars of the flag.
Hats off to the flag! For its life breathe a prayer 'That brave hearts and brave hands its love folds may bear, 'Till the stars in their courses, their glory shall share
With the stars on the flag.
Business Meeting.
In the election of officers Col. Henderson moved and put the question, calling for rising vote, that the present officers be re-elected by acclama- tion. The vate was unanimous.
ten. Stibbs discussed the question of completing a regimental history. fle said the matter had been under consideration for nearly 20 wears, and that, Maj. D. W. Reed had finally compiled a very ereditable work, but that it would cost about $1000 to issue an edition of 500 copies, und he appealed to the comrades to advance the sum required, to insure the publication of the work. As a result, Col. D. B. Henderson agreed to advance $200 of the amount required, H. C. Curtis agreed to advance $200, E. B. Soper stoo and J. W. Gift $100. With these pledges covering over one-half the sum required, J. 11. Stibbs and D. W. Reed agreed that they would, if necessary, advance the remaining slow, and that the book would be published as soon as practicable.
This history will contain about 350 pages, showing fully what was done and accomplished by the regiment, from date of original muster in, until final discharge. In addition to this, it will contain a complete roster of all the companies, together with two official colored maps of the battlefield of Shiloh. The book will be a valuable one, worthy a place in any library, and every survivor of the regiment and the families of the deceased should have a copy.
It will be sent post paid on receipt of price, two dollars, and we would suggest that any who are not already subscribers, write at once to Maj. D. W. Reed No. 2058 Sherman Ave., Evanston. Ill.
'The book will not be stereotyped, only five hundred copies are to be printed.
38
EIGHTH REUNION
A committee on resolutions was appointed: Capt. Soper, chairman; John Steen, Wahoo, Neb .; Maj. G. II. Morrisey, Washington, D. C. The resolutions presented and adopted were as follows:
First. We tender to Ex-Governor Larrabee, the Clermont Soldiers' Monument Association and the citizens of Clermont our heartfelt thanks for this most happy reunion, and for the occasion that made it possible and for the honor conferred upon the most conspicuous and best known - member of our organization. We appreciate the labor that was necessary to prepare for, and the trouble and inconvenience occassioned by, our presence in the homes, and city, and beg leave to assure them that this occasion in many ways so notable, will remain with us to our latest day, one of the happiest and most delightful experiences of our lives.
Second. The Twelfth lowa Regimental Association hereby unani- mously tenders its grateful thanks to Mrs. Gov. Larrabee for her affec- tionate and untiring efforts to make this meeting a success in every way and to provide for the comfort and pleasure of our members and the members of our families.
We also tender our loving thanks to Mrs. Loomis for her untiring efforts to add to our comfort. She is the sister of Capt. W. W Warner, and has ever been a sister to all the membersof the Twelfth lowa Infantry.
Third. That the Twelfth Jowa Veteran Volumnicer Infantry Asso- ciation take great pleasure in unanimously tendering our hearty thanks to Senator J. P. Dolliver for his very able and scholarly address, that by it our hearts have been made to rejoice and further that we are happy in the fact that we made no mistake in extending to him the invitation to be with us on this happy occasion.
Fourth. That we tender to Miss Benlah Wright of the Department of Oratorical Expression, U. 1. U., a tribute of praise for the assistance she has contributed to help make this occasion so pleasant. For her read- ing at our dedicatory services of the D. B. Henderson statue. Her soul stirring eloquence filled our hearts with admiration and for the time it seemed we were young again.
Resolved: That a message be sent to Miss E. A. Sorin of Pasadena, Cal., "In token of her undying love and devotion to the members of Co. C and the Twelfth Regi.
Resolved: That it is the sense of this association that the bill pend- ing in congress pensioning all soldiers and sailors who served for ninety days of more in the civil war at the rate of $12 per month and all widows of such soldiers and sailors who were married prior to June 30, 1890, should become a law and that our Senators and Representatives in Con- gress be requested to support the same and use their influence to secure its enactment.
Resolved :- That the Twelfth Iowa Association accept with gratitude the dear old flag of Co. K, that was carried by the Twelfth Iowa Infantry at the battle of Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3 and 4, 1862, and presented to the association by the widow of a dear comrade, Charles E. Merriam, and the sympathy of the association is unanimously tendered to Mrs. Merriam on account of the great loss she sustained in the death of a noble husband.
Resolved: That the President and Secretary of the Association cause to be prepared a careful and authentic history of the flag of Co. K, carried by the regiment at Corinth and certify the same and transmit the same with the flag to the Governor of the State of lowa with the request that
REUNION GROUP AT "MONTAUK." HOME OF GOV. LARRABEE
1
39
TWELFTH IOWA
both be deposited with other battle flags of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry in the archives of the state.
Resolved: That the proceedings of this reunion, with the names of all members of the Twelfth Towa and also an account of dedicatory exer- cises of the Lincoln and Henderson statues be printed in pamplet form and distributed to all survivors and the President, Secretary and Major D. W. Reed be made a committee to prepare and publish the same.
ABNER DUNHAM, President.
G. E. Comstock, Secretary.
A telegram from Senator Allison, expressing his regrets at not being able to be with us, congratulating and wishing us a happy time on this occasion, received and read before the association.
"Montauk Home."
A special invitation extended to all the 12th lowa and their families, by Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee, to Luncheon on the lawn, at their "Montauk" home.
This capped the climax, and another such a time as we did have on that hill will never be repeated by this generation ( nor forgotten by those present ). The day was perfect, the lawn was perfect, the company perfect, and from the way the luncheon disappeared, that must have been perfect too. Everybody was as happy as they ever will be in this world, singing songs, telling stories. The Fayette band was with us, and it was in a perfect mood, rendering most beautiful music, until finally the lunch- eon struck them, and they surrendered. "We'll all feel gay when Johnnie comes marching home".
If any organization on earth was ever tendered an ovation, it was the Twelfth and their friends at that beautiful home on the hill, where Gov. Larrabee and his wife dwell. "May they never grow old and their shadows never grow less." When we add to this the personal presence of that Colonel, after his voluntary retirement from the second post of influence in the nation, the services of an orator like Senator Dolliver, the princely hospitality of the best Governor Iowa ever had, whose well directed muni- licence alone, has made this great occasion possible, we, the boys of the Twelfth, doff our hats, make our best salute, extend our hands, and with the hand the heart, and surrender unconditionally, and quietly say, we never thought it would be so. Goodbye.
1
10
EIGHTH REUNION
Historical Vicksburg.
TO THE SURVIVORS OF THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN AND SURGE:
It was none other than General Ulysses S. Grant who, soon after the surrender at Appomalox, gave expression to the following sentiment: "If there is one event connected with the civil war that, more than another, is worthy of commemoration because of the importance of the event, and the valor and courage displayed by both armies, it is the campaign and siege of Vicksburg."
That this event is to be commemorated by the emstruction of a Nat- ional Military Park at Vicksburg, in which the oldl forts and fortifications and the trenches and earth-works are to be restored, is not only gratify- ing to the family of General Grant, but to thousands of surviving veler- ans who followed the great General on that memorable campaign, and were participants with him in that awful siege.
'To the lowa soldier there clusters about historie Vicksburg au inter- est not applicable, perhaps, to any other point of the civil war. This will be ciearly understood when we recall th . faet thit the great struggle of the Vicksburg campaign was participated in by no less than thirty-two organizations from the Hawkeye state, viz: The 3. 8h. 5th, 6th, Sth, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th; 17th, 19th, 20. h. 214, 224, 231, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, 30th, 31st, 31th, 35th, 38th and tata reziments of Infan- try; the 3d and 4th Cavalry, and the Ist and 24 batteries of Artillery.
The surviving members of the above regiments, and their children and children's children, will be intensely interested in the information contained in this article; for it is not extravagant to say that every sol- dier in the Vicksburg campaign, and every member of his family, has a burning desire to visit those historie battle grounds and the beautiful National Cemetery, containing the remains of nearly 12,000 of our heroic dead; and witness what the Government is doing for those who died, and to establish, at Vicksburg, a National Military Park that sha'l fittingly commemorate, for all time to come, the bravery of every man who partici- pated in that greatest military achievement of the civil war.
Four grand National Military Parks, cach located upon the scene of one of the desperate conflicts of the Civil War, have been authorized by the Congress of the United States -not in honor of victory or of detex, but to commemorate a crucial poch in the history of the Republic and the foritude and heroism of her soldiers on both sides. The last bill to this end was approved by President M . Kinley, February 21, 1599, and is entitled " An Act to establish a National Military Park to eo amemorate the campaign, Siege, and defense of Vicksburg." Following the entering clause the act says: "That, in order to commemorate the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg, and to preserve the history of the baitl; and operations of The siege and defense on the ground where they were fought and were carried on, the battlefield of Vicksburg, in the State of Mississippi, is declared to be a National Military Park whenever tho thle to the same shall have been acquired by the United States," etc. Then follows a proximate description of the area to be acquired, provision for the appointment of Three commissioners to establish the Park under the direction of the Secretary of War, and some general directions for the work.
--
IOWA MEMORIAL To her Soldiers who served in the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg. March 29-July 4. 1863. Henry H. Kitson, Sculptor.
TWELFTH IOWA
The campaign that was signalized by the establishment of this Park was one of the most notable during the entire war, both as to details and results. Military critics unite in declaring it the most brilliant operation initiated an I contacted by General Grant. As for General Pemberton, while he was clearly out-generaled in strategy. his army made a magniti- cent light,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.