USA > Iowa > Delaware County > Manchester > Reunion of the 12th Iowa V.[eteran] V.[olunteer] infantry 1st-8th, 1880-1903 > Part 8
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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
VII.
The officers of the Society elected at the reunion of said regiment in 18S; shall hold their offices until their successors shall have been elected and enter upon the discharge of their duties. An election of officers shall be held at every reunion of the Society, and vacancies occurring by death or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
VIII.
At the reunion in 1884 the members of each company shall organize by electing a president, a secretary and a committee of three members who shall as far practicable procure and transnuit to the secretary of the Society the necessary facts and dates to enable him to make up the record of the company as required by the By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation of the Society.
W. A. Hamlin, company C .I. C. Kubus, 11 J. W. Gift,
Joseph Soper, company
W. A. Nelson, company G. W. Kirkland, ..
u
F. W. Moine, ..
C
S. Kemp. company Geo. Teskey, company
D. W. R .ed.
Chas. 1. Martin, 66
U
P. R. Ketchum,
A. E West. A A. T. Garner,
F G 11. Latimer, .. T. McGowan, 66 W. N. Mann, .6
F. Humphrey, chaplain.
Mrs F. Lankins, com'ny J. W. Rich. company
H. C. Merriam. ..
K
W. Il Trowbridge, comp'y D
E. O. Kelsey, company
J A. Van Anda. comp y 11
B E. Eberhart, ..
John S. Ray,
1 1
1. B. S. Isted, ..
R. P. Clarkson.
C. V. Surfus, company D. Conley, B. P. Zuver, ..
2
Joseph Franks,
==
John E. K.nt. Compmy
S. G. Knee. Lient, Colone'.
F. M. Hamblin, 11 11 =
J. A. Light, company J. Shorter.
11. S. Briggs, =
G. A. Hauge,
Mrs. W. \ Morse, comp'y '' 1. M. Ayers. company
John J. Eaton, company I L. Jordan,
Anthony J. Biller, comp'y E .
W. L. Henderson,
D. W. Moreinud,
11
A E. Anderson.
Hart Spears, company
C A. B. Perry, E Abner Dunham, comp'y 11. M. Preston, James Barr. assistant surgeon S. M. French, C. F. Merriam, A. J. Millett, D .. T. C. Nelson. company Joseph S. Girton, II. J. Grannis. 1) R. 1. We den, .. .. Jas. Evans, HI Geo. L. Durno, C Eli King. company
Sum J. Lewis,
Allen M. Blanchard, Co. [) =
U. R. Andrews,
I. F Zediker, ..
J. W. Ballinger.
George IL. Coab, A Henry M Bailey, comp'y J. H Stibbs,
G E. Comstock,
-
James F. Lee, company R. Z. Larimer,
Hiram Kuster, John Steen,
Joht. Elwell, company
John B. Thompson, com'y G
11. J. F. Small, comp'y
W. W. Whitenack. comp'y | fico. W. Wooldridge.
O P Rockswold, " R W Tirrill. Edwin A Buttolph, Co. John F Lee, company S. Gifford,
.
The Secretary then read the following letter from Col. J. J. Woods:
MONTANA, SOLIETTE CO., KANSAS, MAY 16, 1884.
Dear Dunham: - Amid the hurried duties of an active life, (for one of my age, (61) the thought just occurred to me that if I kept my promise, to wit: that if I did not attend the reunion of our old beloved 12th, you should re- ceive a letter from me before that event, I must write before mail time. Hence without taking time to give elegance of form to my sentences, 1 hasten to say that I exceedingly regret that private business at home, the distance to Manchester and the expense of the trip, combine to prevent my attendance at
James Stewart, company M. E Mader,
J. E. Simpson,
A. J. Rodgers.
J. W. Ward,
D. E. MeCall. company S Kaltenbach, F M. B. Goodenow, comp y J. S. Margretz,
S. R. Burch, adjutant. Henry Steen, company F. Dubois, G Geo. Kint, (ivo Il Morisey, " =
J. C. Jones, company D. Craighton,
Mrs. R. P Clarkson. Co. A 0 P. R. Woods, ..
1)
J. B. Morgan, N. J. Davis,
K S. R. Edgington, Lient. Col.
Edwin Carel, company D. O. Aaker, =
0
P. d. Morehouse, ..
11
II
TWELFTH IOWA V. V. INFANTRY.
the reunion. Say to my comrades (and the people of Manchester) that I re- member, with gratitude the kindness I received from them at our last reunion, that I would be glad to meet them again face to face, press their friendly hands and look into their loving eyes, recount with them the scenes and incidents when our hearts were cemented together in the camp, the march and the fiery ordeal of battle, and with devotion to the great principles of liberty drop a silent tear together in remembrance of those of our brave comrades, who laid down their precious lives a holy sacrifice upon the altar of their country. And then probably many who were not at the last reunion will be at this.one. O how I would like to greet them. By why attempt to express my feeling in words. "The heart feels most when the lips move not."
I will hurridly close by saying, it life, health and strength permit, I will make strenuous efforts to be with you at your next reunion.
Yours Fraternally, J. J. WOODS.
P. S .- I want to tell you that I had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Pren- tiss recently and hearing him deliver his fine address on the battle of Shiloh.
Major D). W. Reed being called for, made some remarks concern- ing the proposed history of the 12th Regiment. He said what was greatly to be desired was a complete list of all the men whose names had ever appeared on the muster roll of the regiment. He said such a list was in the office of the Adjutant General at Wash- ington, and that it was possible to obtain a copy of it, as he had been informed. He had in his possession much material for that history, but, though he had addressed letters to every commission- ed officer of the regiment, requesting-some account of his personal service, he had been unable to get a response from a single one of them. Ile hoped some member of each company would prepare an account of the service of the company, and send it to the com- mittee on the regimental history. This was the only way in which anything like a trustworthy history of the regiment could be written. He briefly reviewed the history of the regiment at Shi- loh, and successfully defended it from the charge, so often made, of having been captured early in the day on that memorable 6th of April, 1862.
After which a very interesting letter from Capt. T. B. Edging. ton of Memphis, Tenn., was read, followed by letters from Capt. Robt. Williams of Co. E., in which he gave a graphic account of the part taken by the 12th lowa at Shiloh and Topelo.
Then followed letters from a large number of the absent com- rades in which they expressed their sorrow at their inability to at-
12
SECOND REUNION OF THE
tend, and sent love and kind remembrance to all who were present. Amongst these letters we note that of Capt. II. J. Playter, Adj't. Duncan, J. V. G. Price, Isaac Watkins, W. B. Kieth, J. V. Crane, Geo. Nauman, C. M. Runkle, H. W. Ross, R. E. Hamlin, R. L. Johnson, E. King, A. A. Stewart, R. C. Cowell, W. L. Winsor, J. M. Tarpening, Isaac Woodmansia, Frank Renchin, Sam'l West, Asst. Surg. Underwood, Lt. J. D. Cole, Thos. Barr, Harman Grass, H. W. Bailey, I. G. Clark, A. J. Millett, Surg. Finley, Capt. Hunter, Capt. Switzer, Maj. Vanduzee, C. A. Coon, Van R. Dum, A. H. Graves, G. A. Houge, Lawrence Lott, Cruay Clark, J. L. Mattocks, 11. F. Coon, J. P. Strong, F. J. Crowhurst, II. C. Winterstine, Oliver Sharp, W. P. Haywood, A. M. Blanchard, W. B. Bort, A. L. Palmer, C. C. Stribling.
A letter from Gen'l. John A. McArthur, who commanded our division in 1864 and 65, was read, in which he expressed his re- gard for the boys and wished them a glorious good time. Gen- eral J. M. Tuttle, who commanded our division in 1863, sent us the following :
DES MOINES, May 26, 1884. G. E. Comstock, Esq., Manchester, lowa.
DEAR SIR :-- I returned home from the east, last Saturday, to find your in- vitation and other correspondence about your 12th lowa reunion. I would have surely been there, had I known just when it was to have come off, and regret exceedingly that I was not there; for I hear that you had an excellent time of it. Yours Truly,
J. M. TUTTLE.
Here is another letter, written to E. J. Congar, Esq., by one who was there, Capt. J. E. Simpson of Dubuque, which will show how the reunion is regarded by those who were present:
DUBUQUE, May 24, ISS1.
What a good time we had at Manchester. How kind everyone was to us. God bless them all. To the 12th lowa, the 6th and 7th of April, 18So, and the 21st and 22nd of May, 1881, are bright, green spots, ever to be kept in memory, until the last survivor is under the sod. "Three cheers for the good, kind people of Manchester." Very Truly Yours,
J. E. SIMPSON.
Many other letters were read, that were retained by the comrades, who presented them; hence the names of the writers cannot be given. The committee on publication regret that a lack of space prevents the publication in full of all letters that were received as the reading of them proved one of the most interesting and enjoyable features of the occasion.
13
TWELFTH IOWA V. V. INFANTRY.
Col. Stibbs said it was unusual to read letters from persons who were here, but he wanted to read a few hines from a letter he re- ceived from comrade S. M. French, who came 130 miles on foot through the mountains of Colorado, 65 of them on snow shoes, to be here at this reunion. The audience insisted on bringing Mr. French to the front, when they gave him three cheers that threat- ened to raise the roof off the building.
Everybody then joined in singing "John Brown," and everybody did it with a will.
The following committees were then appointed:
Finance .- J. W. Gift, Thos. J. Lewis, Lt. H. J. Small, Dr. Jas. Barr. Resolutions .- Harvey Smith, R. P Clarkson, D. B. Henderson.
John Steen, Wahoo, Nebraska, was elected Treasurer, pro tem., and after singing, and the announcement that there would be a dress parade at five o'clock, the session was closed.
DRESS PARADE.
This was a pleasing feature of the program. Col. Jack Stibbs was attired in the regimentals he wore when he was mustered out of the army. Since which time he had grown corpulent and the coat had grown too small, but he obviated the difficulty by the aid of strings attached to the buttons. The pants, too, fit closely; in fact the tout ensemble of his attire was somewhat ludicrous, but amusing to all. After the manœuvres had been gone through with in a very creditable manner, Adjutant Burch read the following;
ORDERS:
Headquarters 12th Iowa Infantry, Manchester, lowa, May 21. General order 76. To the surviving members of the 12th lowa: - This being the first dress parade held by our regiment for nearly twenty years, I take pleasure in congratulating you on the soldierly appearance presented by you on this occasion. When our last dress parade was held we had just finished a series of campaigns, extending over a period of more than four years, during which time we took an active part in suppressing the most formidable rebellion known in the history of the world. On returning to our homes at the close of the war we were gratified to find that our friends were satisfied with our achievements, and that all considered we had done our duty well, and to-day we are happy in knowing that the people of the great State of lowa point with pride to the record of the Twelfth lowa Infantry, as being second to that of no regiment ever sent from the State. For nearly two decades peace has reigned within our borders, and they who were our enemies in war are now our friends, acknowledging to the world that the cause for which we fought was just and right, and that we tairly gained the right to be styled their conquerors.
1.4
SECOND REUNION OF THE
Since the war closed the surviving members of our organization, have as a whole, acquitted themselves creditably in the great battle of life, and we have here to-day a body of citizens of whom any community might well be proud. Time, with his ruthless hand, has made sad inroads in our ranks, and many an anxious inquirer after some old friend is met to-day with the crush- ing reply, dead. We hope that there are many parades in store for our asso- ciation, but our own good sense tells us that the time is not far distant when the last remaining member of our regiment must answer to the call of "lights ont." Then let us hope that when our reveille is beaten in the camp of the great Hereafter, that we may meet with hearts true and loyal, as they were when we went forth to fight our country's battles. By order of
J. 11. STIRBS.
Colonel Twelfth lowa Infantry and Brevet Brigadier General. S. R. Boken, Adjutant.
,
Special order. Headquarters 12th Iowa Infantry, No. 91, Manchester lowa, May 21, 1884, Comrades: Nearly twenty years have elapsed since we were in active servive The statute of limitation serves as a bar to punishment for minor offenses committed during the war and our friends have generously offered us a free pardon for our youthful indiscretions, therefore I wish to ad- monish you that it is no longer necessary for the survivors of the regiment to deny any acts committed by them in service.
Sergeant R. P. Clarkson of Company A should no longer deny that he is the identical person who commanded the regiment's foragers, and that he did more stealing of something to cat than any man in the army.
Private Dennis Conley of Company D, should no longer' hesitate to tell from whom it was he took the sow belly with which to cook his veal on the occasion when he and three others ate a whole call in a single night.
Private Tom McGowan of Company F, should frankly admit that it was he who gathered in Mrs. Malchevey's yellow-legged chickens on the night of our arrival at Cape Girardeau in the fall of 1864.
Private Geo. Annis, of Company F, should cease to denounce as false the story that after he lost his voice in the service, he on one occasion actually took a mule by the ear and whispered profane words into it, hoping thereby to make it go faster.
Major John W. Rowan, of Company D, and Private Hart Speers, of Com - pany C, are admonished to let np on their stories about big mules in the South, as our people are too well educated to be longer gulled with their stories about having driven mules in the army that were twelve feet high and weighed over 3,000 pounds.
Chaplain Humphrey is reminded of the fact that we can if necessary pro- duce fifty witnesses who will swear that his horse did jump eighteen feet high and kick himself on the belly with all four feet at the same time, on the occa- sion of his being beset with yellow jackets in the Arkansaw Swamp, and it is folly to attempt to conceal the fact longer.
Or. Master Morisey is hereby publicly warned that unless he ceases to deny having been present at the Major's quarters on a certain occasion when seven kegs of beer were ordered for the use of eleven persons, that the full particulars of that remarkable meeting will be published.
Other admonitions of a character similar to the foregoing, will be officially promulgated unless there is a more general disposition manifested by the sur- vivors to state correctly their experiences in service.
We earnestly trust that this order may have a salutary effect, and even hope that it may be the means of wringing a confession from the unregener-
15
TWELFTH IOWA V. V. INFANTRY.
ate wretch who stole the Colonel's blankets in the evening of December 25th, 1864, thereby compelling him to sleep with the cook, whose name was Nicho- las Johnson. We have taken pains to give the cook's name in full, in order that no false impressions may be created in the minds of those not fully con- versant with the facts. By order of J. H. STimus,
Colonel 12th lowa Infantry, Brevet Brigadier General.
S. R. BuRen, Adjutant.
The reading of the orders created considerable merriment. The veterans then broke ranks and were dismissed until even.
EVENING SESSION.
The evening session opened with a tableau, representing the "Goddess of Liberty," Mrs. W. 11. Goodell making an imposing goddess. Between the three scenes of the tableau Mrs. W. C. Wilson sang, "The Star Spangled Banner" in her usual admirable and finished style. The effect of the whole was very pleasing and effective.
Pres. Knee then introduced Dr. J. T. Abbott, Mayor of Man- chester, who said:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It strikes me that this matter is somewhat mixed up, that I should be asked to welcome to our town the 12th lowa after they have been here in full possession of our town and hearts twenty-four hours. But, to carry out the program. It gives me pleasure to welcome the 12th lowa to Manchester. Those who arrived yesterday, this morning and this noon saw the signs of that welcome on almost every post and hanging from every window, and beaming from the face of every individual, Welcome! It was a pleasme to See comrades clasp each other by the hand, see the silent tear trickle down the cheek, hear the hearty greeting. There is a fraternal feeling amongst com- rades, and it is no wonder after the associations of the past.
"A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind."
There are, it seems to me, feelings among individuals as they come togeth- er at this hour such as they would experience under no other circumstances.
I noticed at the train this morning, a soldier, who, as he stepped on the platform said, "Where is our old major; I want to see our old major," and as he discovered him, be said, "By - there he is." His language perhaps was more expressive than elegant. Tears trickled down his cheek as he met his old comrade, and clasped bim by the band.
In behalf of the citizens of Manchester, I welcome you to our hospitality. Some of you were here four years ago, and today. There are many more to - gether now. They p opose, or at least I propose, you shall be so well enter- tained upon the present occasion, you will want to come again. Again, we welcome you, 12th lowa, to the hospitalities of Manchester.
This was greeted with the heartiest applause, which upon Col. Henderson rising to respond, was renewed and when permitted to speak, he said:
:
16
SECOND REUNION OF THE
COL. HENDERSON'S ADDRESS.
Are you responding to this toast or am I? ( Applause.)
The first thing that strikes my mind, Mr. Mayor, is that Manchester has chosen an excellent executive head, and that he has the good sense to see the apparent absurdity of welcoming the 12th lowa to Manchester at this late hour. ( Applause) Why the old 12th has been in the possession of the hearts and homes of Manchester during the entire day. (Applause.) But you were appointed to welcome us, and you had to do it even after we had the town captured, and right royally have you extended your generous welcome. Now they ask me to act as respondent. Dunham and Comstock got you and me into this difficulty. Dunham is such a worker himself that he makes every- body else work, and Comstock is so full of music that he didn't know any better.
Welcome to us! Yes, we have had a true, genuine, hearty, ringing wel- come! Welcome was on the faces that greeted us, in the voices that shouted to us, in the hands that grasped ours. The floating flags, the generous ban- ners, the open doors and open hearts all bade us a joyous welcome.
Beautiful girls have been hanging upon our breasts, fastening the true blue with words of welcome. (The only trouble is they ought to have taken more time for that pleasant work. (Applause.)
Yes Mr. Mayor, we have been made welcome before you or I could say anything. Welcome! Is it not a sacred word? Don't it warm the heart of the okl soklier when welcome means welcome as it has this day?
Welcome! Four years ago, comrades, we knew that. Their hearts and their doors were thrown open. Their tables were here, yea, more than that, their tears were the only jewels we wore. Manchester-Welcome! Always sweet, tender, --- and why? Because the citizens of Manchester are backed by our comrades, who know how to give and take a welcome. Keep on! Keep right on! Take and pile it up! Welcome! With all our hearts. I apoligize for the remarks Mr. Mayor; but you gave me the text, and as I said, I cannot help preaching. I will retire now for some one else to follow.
Col. Jack Stibbs introduced Col. W. R. Marshall of the 7th Minnesota Infantry by saying:
I have been accorded the privilege of introducing tonight, Gen'l Wm. R. Marshall of Minnesota, who after Col. Hill was killed in 1864, commanded our brigade. Those of you who were present at Nashville, will never forget Gen- eral Marshall, as he appeared while leading our brigade in the charge of the second day, and how as he dashed to the front through our ranks, he called to our regiment to follow him. He is to tell us something of what he saw at Tupelo, and I am sure that no one, not a member of our regiment, could do it better.
You remember that on the morning of the 14th of July, ;S64, our regiment, together with three companies of the 7th Minnesota, were assigned a position, which proved to be the most exposed of any along the line. The remaining Seven companies of the 7th Minnesota, under General Marshall, were placed in our rear to act as a support in case the rebel charge proved to be too heavy for us to withstand, but when the fight opened, I found on looking round, that General Marshall had come to the front to see for himself the effect of the charge. When our muskets had become foul from much thing, he and his men took our places for a time in front and throughout the fight he was in a position to see our every movement, therefore he is well fitted to tell of the part we took in that battle. In writing to the General, asking him to meet with us on this occasion I said to him, that I knew of no one outside our regi . ment whom the boys would be more pleased to see than himself, and I am sure you will all endorse this statement. I now propose three cheers for our old Brigade Commander, General Marshall.
17
TWELFTH IOWA V. V. INFANTRY.
Three cheers were given with a will after which General Mar- shall said:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Veterans of the Twelfth:
I feel very grateful to Colonel Stibbs for the very flattering words with which he bas introduced me. To many of you I do not feel a stranger. Of the Veterans of the 12th I can say upon many a weary march and hard fought battle field I have been with them, and they with me. L'esteem it one of the honors that I have been favored with the command of men as brave, gallant, and truly soldierly. It would have been no common occasion that would call me from my home to leave cares that every man has. Nothing short of this, to meet old comrades whom I met amid the dire trials of war. I feel it an honor to have the opportunity of speaking to the veterans of the 12th and the patriotic citizens who have given them so royal a welcome. It reminds me of the uprising of the people at the first call of patriotism when the old and young, women and all, with one grand patriotic impulse prepared these now grown grey veterans for that service in which they did such distinguished work for the cause of liberty.
I feel as though this were no occasion for an elaborate and extended his- torical sketch. I hardly feel as though I ought to detain you with a narrative of that battle. It was not so important, but it was one of the hardest fought battles of the war. I have met many who testify that in all the battles of the war they had not seen a worse.
Forrest and Chalmers and other confederate commanders, who had com- mand of their forces in Tennessee, had been remarkably successful in their inroads over that union state. General Sturgis in the month of June, had been repulsed disastrously at Gontown. Gen. Forrest had defeated Gen. Sturgis with 4,000 men. Sturgis superior forces did not avail hom his lack of knowl- edge on that occasion. The Red River expedition forces were on their way up the Tennessee. Gen. Sherman was camping at Chattanooga. After the disaster to Sturgis, the army having been to some extent reorganized, the 12th being in the 16th corps, reinforcements were added to retrieve the disaster to the main army under Sturgis. We marched by way of Ripley and Pontotoc. Our march would have lead us southeast to Okolona. Halting one day at Pontotoc and finding the rebels strongly intrenched our march was changed in the direction of Tupelo. On the 13th we took up our march toward the railroad at Tupelo. During the day we were attacked on the flank; the 12th were there and repulsed the rebels, inflicting a severe punishment. When some two or three miles from Tupelo we were attacked very heavily, and re- pulsed the enemy after a short fight. Gen. Lee had at band a very formidable army. They thought they had before them an easy victory. They were well informed on every movement of the union army. Our command was about equal-had some 12,000 men.
They assaulted us on the morning of the math. The 12th under command of Colonel Stibbs, held the key to our position upon that field. It was as- saulted most terribly and charge after charge made by the rebel army. It was most gallantly and bravely repulsed. The 12th bore the most deadly assault unflinchingly. I need not detain you to tell you much. Gen. Smith came to Col. Stibbs and said, he supposed he knew they were going to have heavy work, and he added "Don't you let them break that part of the line." He saw it was coming -that it would be disastrous to have the line broken. That was now the center of a horseshoe. Forrest and other confederate leaders were in this battle and they meant to accept no such result as failure. Men never fought with more determination than they did there. I talked with soldiers who had been in seventeen battles, and never saw harder fighting than there. I afterwards met one of Forrest's corps who was wounded and lost a leg, and he told me that in all Forrest's experience (he was wounded the only time during the war) he never was so severely repulsed as there. The
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