USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > Reunion of the Second Iowa Cavalry Veteran Association, 1882 > Part 3
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These reunions are bright spots-oases-in the life of the veteran soldier, and even when composed of soldiers of different commands, strangers save in the bond of comradeship, are occasions of rare pleas- ure and enjoyment. But beyond all such is the reunion of the regiment, when, as to-day, the boys have come from far and near to meet comrades who stood shoulder to shoulder and shared with them the trials and dangers of that long and bloody struggle for the preservation of the Uuion. They are bound together by no common tie, and enjoy a confi- dence in each other surpassed by none; a confidence and friendship born and founded upon acquaintances formed under such trying circumstan- ces that all that was noble, and brave, and true in man stood out in bold relief, and that which was mean and cowardly appeared in all its native deformity. There was no sailing under false colors there. The boys around the camp fires took exact measurement of soldier and officer alike, and to-day, as comrades strike hands with comrades, for the first time perhaps in twenty years, the voice trembles and the eye is moist. as each perchance recognizes one to whose heroism and valor he owes his life.
Comrades your thoughts have to-day been busy with the past, and you have doubtless lived over again many of those stirring scenes and trying hours of camp and field. You have recalled your night vigils on the lonely picket line in the face of a brave and aggressive enemy, how you watched and listened, peering through the darkness, eager to catch the first indications of an advancing foe; how the breaking of a twig by the startled hare, put you upon your mettle, aroused your every sense and strained every nerve to its utmost tension, as you stood at a ready eagerly watching while your comrades slept in peace, knowing full well that the boys on that line were true as steel and that no foe could dis- turb their slumbers without a timely warning.
You have ridded again with that grand soldier, Elliot, (Old Business, as we used to call him) on that daring raid, the first cavalry raid of the war, when you captured and destroyed the railroad and rebel stores at Boone- ville. And to General Elliott, whom we had hoped to meet here, let me say that it was your drill, discipline and stern lessons in obedience to orders that fitted the regiment so grandly for the work before it and which made it possible for the command to earn for itself so proud a name. Again will you draw saber, flash it over your head, drive spurs to your maddened steed and urge him to through that terrible storm of shot and shell, as you follow the gallant Hatch, in your charge upon the bat- teries at Farmington.
Or it may be that you will recall that dark day of disaster and dis- grace, when the gallant old Second Brigade composed of the Sixth, Sev- enth and Ninth Illinois and Second Iowa Cavalry. commanded by Colo- nel Hepburn, stood as a wall of fire between the dashing, reckless rebel, Forest, and a demoralized retreating army.
Then will arise the memory of one, who fighting manfully at your side, went down wounded unto death. Tenderly, hastily will you bear him to the shelter of yon friendly bank, wrap him in his blanket, moisten
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his parched lips from your canteen, press for the last time that true right hand and leave him-some woman's husband. son, brother, lover-to die alone.
With the retrospect of Nashville comes the thought of your gallant assault and capture of the first works taken in that battle, and how viv- idly do we recall the brave and gallant Hartman, our Color Sergeant! How well do we remember his grand sensitiveness as to his rights and duty as the guardian of the colors. How during the momentary confu- sion ineident to the capture of the guns and prisoners, and while exposed to a galling fire from a second redout on the hill to our right, the order rang out from General Coon: "Forward Second Brigade," as he and Hatch led toward the works on the right. Bugler Anderson. Lilly. Cadle. : Prim and the other orderlies had followed the dashing Beeson in a charge after the retreating enemy. In the excitement of the moment with no thought save how best to turn you from following the retreating lines, your commander rudely snatched the colors, waved them over his head and rode toward the second fort. He was soon overtaken by the Sergeant who, with tears rolling down his cheeks, demanded the colors, saying "You have no right to take them from me. I will carry them as far as you dare." "Yes Sergeant, a thousand times farther." replied the Major as he returned them to him. After reaching the ditch, and while laying close under the rebel guns, when asked if he could plant the colors on the works, his prompt reply was: "I will try," and without another word sprung upon the parapet, followed by the whole brigade: the fort was ours but the brave Sergeant fell mortally wounded. While kneeling over him, to learn the nature of his injury and to thank and commend him for his gallantry, he seized my hand and in a husky voice said: "Its all over with me, Major. Tell my mother I died doing my duty."
In the midst of all the clash and trials of war, there was sunshine and fun and frolic, and merry will ring out the laugh to-day at mention of 'some long forgotten joke or some ludicrous affair. I am myself tempted to relate some of those old jokes, but I see mischief Working in the eyes of some of those old boys over yonder and am warned that it will not be safe or wise for me to set that ball in motion.
But, friends and comrades, let us turn for a moment from the past to the present. There are throughout this proud and prosperous land of ours, thousands of maimed, sick and suffering soldiers, and the widows of soldiers, who are having a hard struggle to keep the wolf from the door. Yes, I fear that in too many cases, his gaunt form has already crossed the threshold of their little homes, and, let me say. that often the most worthy and meritorious of this class must be sought for if they would be found. They struggle or suffer in silence, doing all they can to give a comfortable support to their loved ones, but how far short of this they fall. God only knows! I ask for them no cold charity at your hands. No! They would spurn such. But give them work! Give them employment commensurate with their strength and pay them for it. Help that poor widow in her struggles to educate her children, and then assist them to find employment. But, I hear someone say those men are sick: have no strength, and can not do a day's work; no man can be burdened with them. Where, I ask, did they lose their health? Where spend their strength and the pride of their young manhood? The answer comes thundering back from Donaldson and Shiloh; from the trenches of Vicksburg and Richmond; from the swamps of Louisi- ana and the Chickahominy; and is echoed back from the hills of Atlanta and Nashville. While keeping step to the music of the Union, as they stood shoulder to shoukier with the heroes who fell in the cause of National unity, of human liberty and human rights. Aye, while bat !! ing in defense of the old starry banner, whose bars are dyed a richer. truer crimson by the blood of their comrades. Methinks that every groan that is wrenched as it were, from the very souls of those men, in their despair, and through tears and cries of the widow as she falls under her too heavy burden, rises as burut incense heavenwaid, and is accepted by
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the God of battles, as a fitting sacrifice to be placed side by side with the blood of their comrades on the altar of liberty. Let us as individu- als, and as a Nation, see to it that we are found in the line of duty in this matter, least, perchance, their groans and tears rise up against us in the day of final reckoning.
There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Colonel Horton reached the conclusion of the story so well known to the boys of the Second Cavalry.
When the applause following this eloquent effort of one of their old commanders ceased, Mrs. G. W. Weeks and Miss Roxy Beeson sang Glover's "Two Merry Alpine Maids." It touched the hearts of the boys, and they cheered and cheered until the singers gave "Swaunee River." General Beeson then introduced A. F. Haradon, Esq., Commander of Frank M. Thomas Post, No. 94, who gave the following address of wel- come on behalf of the Post:
Comrades of the Second Iowa Veteran Cavalry:
It has fallen to my lot this evening, as the representative here of the Grand Army of the Republic, and on its behalf, to welcome you to the hospitalities of our post, our city. our homes and our hearts. With the location of our post rooms you are already familiar, and in them, at all times, you will find warm hearts and willing hands responsive to your wish. Our city, and homes and hearts you will find everywhere.
Although not myself in and of the Western military service during the war, although in fact not identified with the army, but rather with the navy at that time, yet in the eighteen years I have lived in Iowa my fondness for. military history, and my frequent communings with your comrades. Beeson, Brock. Belden, Weatherly, Canfield, Wallace, Andrews, Beard, Gregg. Herbert and others, have not left me altogether unfamiliar with the officers and men, and their services as members of the gallant Second Iowa Veteran Cavalry.
I find on the pages of history as connected with your regiment the names of men distinguished for soldierly valor, names that fair Fame has inscribed on her seroll for bravery in battle. I find Elliott and Hatch. Coon. Horton and Hepburn, Love, Egbert, Lundy. Crocker and McConnell, Sergeants Hartman and Coulter. Corporal Heck, and many others. and it is no poetic figure of speech drawn by a rattled brain to ask, "When can their glory fade?"
General Elliott. as the first Colonel and commanding officer of your regiment became renowned as the most efficient dieciplinarian and exact tactician in the cavalry service. His field of action and for display, however, was not on dress parade occasions. The history of the regi- ment and its achievements while under his command from September 14. 1861, until June 11, 1862. amply attests this. Your pursuit of Jeff Thompson towards New Madrid, marching thirteen days through the almost impenetrable swamps and morasses that border the Mississippi proved Colonel Elliott and his regiment to be knights of some other than the silk stocking order.
The services of the Second Iowa and Second Michigan Cavalry regi- ments before Corinth in the spring of 1862. gave the Second Brigade of General Pope's cavalry division a national reputation. From April 29. the date of your capture and burning of the enemy's eamp at Montery. Mississippi, until May 30-one month-you took part in five distinet expeditions and ten skirmishes and engagements It was no detriment to your zeal and succes that in nearly all these operations yon had as a co-worker the Second Michigan cavalry under the leadership of that peerless fighter of the world, that Marshal Ney of the American armies, the gallant Phil. Sheridan.
But the most glorious feat at arms of your regiment while under Colonel Elliott was its charge on the rebel battery at Farmington, Missis-
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sippi, on the 9th of May, 1862. As is well known to you all, Colonel Elliott for promptness and soldierly qualities displayed prior to and at the siege of Corinth. won his spurs as Brigadier General, his commis- sion bearing date June 11, 1862.
Lieutenant Colonel Hatch succeeded to the command and Coloneley of the regiment, which he held from June 1862 until the spring of 1864, when a star decending and resting upon his shoulder gave him position a round higher on the ladder of military fame. Your next Colonel was the brave and intrepid Major Coon, who. however, most of the time he held that rank, acted as commander of the Second Brigade of the Fifth cavairy division, the actual command of the regiment in the meantime devolving upon Major Horton.
General Hatch was essentially and emphatically the fighting cavalry officer of the west. General Coon, like him so lately deceased and in memory of whom our post room is darkened with habilments of mourn . ing, was devotedly attached to the tactics, the principle, and decidedly the practice of fighting it out on the all summer line. Major Horton possessed qualities both as a soldier and Christian gentleman, which bound to him the regiment and each member thereof with bonds stronger and more enduring than if made of steel, for the tooth of time cannot destroy, cannot impress them.
Of the dashing and gallant Colonel Hepburn, little need be said. More than any and all is he competent to speak for himself. These walls, ceilings, corridors and friezes have often resounded with the rev- erbations of his eloquence and will do so again If there is anything the Colonel can do better than to talk, it is to fight, and as a fighter he proved himself a worthy compeer of Elliott, Hatch, Coon and Horton.
The entire command, both of officers and men, seem to have been influenced by a single principle, to have been actuated by only one motive and purpose, to have adopted and lived up to only one motto, and that was: "Where duty calls, there you will find us." They seem ever to have obeyed implicitly, promptly and to the letter, all commands, asking no questions.
The brilliancy of your cavalry charge on a rebel batteries at Farming- ton, Mississippi. May 9,1862, has ripened into fame. Your engagements at Inka, Corinth, Holly Springs, Oxford, Coldwater and Coffeeville, in the same year, were events which have become as pages, as full chapters, in the book of history. Well may any soldier feel a pride in seeing those names inscribed on the battle flag of his regiment. Well may Marshall- town. or any other city or place in the world, feel itself honored in being allowed to extend its hospitalities to men who have wrought for them- selves, their flag, their State and country, records like yours.
Your operations during the summer of 1863, in the rear of Vicks- burg, your most valuable assistance to General Grierson in his wonder- ful raid through Mississippi to Natchez, your many skirmishes and engagements with the forces of the rebel General Hood in his march on Franklin and Nashville, your storming and capturing two forts in the the first day's siege of that Sevastapol of the west, and your other deeds and achievements of valor, are all inscribed high, and in letters indelible. on the great scroll; victories all of them, which have challenged and received, as they well merited, the admiration of the world.
Yes, we welcome yon, not only in the name and on behalf of the old soldiers, members of otner regiments, who helped to bear with you the heat and burden of the days of iron hail and leaden rain, but in the name and in behalf of the mothers and wives and daughters of the Republic, who, like the matrons of ancient Rome, gave their brightest and best loved to defend the eagles of the Empire. We welcome you for those whose tears have kept green the graves of sons, and husband -. and brothers, whose voices were hushed, whose hearts ceased to throb in the roar and crash of battle.
Less than two and a half decades ago you mustered in and went forth as a regiment; twelve hundred strong, young and vigorous,
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determined to restore the stars that had disappeared from the badge and banner and emblem of our liberties. At the close of the war-it seems but yesterday-only 300 of the 1,200 mustered out. To day how many, or rather how few. have answered to the muster call. To-morrow, in the language of decades must answer for itself. We shall all be gone.
Comrades, I bid you again and again, and thrice, welcome.
Colonel W. P. Hepburn, arising to respond, was greeted with hearty cheers.
Comrades of F. M. Thomas Post:
We thank you-I am deputed by my comrades to thank you-for this welcome, for this hospitality, for the warm places you have in your hearts for us and all old soldiers of the Union. We know that we as a regiment did nothing to distinguish us above the one and one-half mill- ion of other comrades. We made our sacrifices; so did they. They helped to win victories: so did we. We tried to perform our duty ; so did they. We left our dead and loved ones on the hillsides and valleys all over the Southern battle grounds; so did they. We left onr full quota of the 56.000 men who died on the field of battle; of the 35,000 who. died of wounds in hospitals; of the 200.000 who died of disease in the morasses and swamps of the Sonth; and of the 40,000 who were starved to death in rebel prison hells-but all others did the same. Did yon ever think of that vast concourse of the dead? If they were in column-if one could bring them back to earth-that column of the noble dead would reach from this city to the capital city of the State, and if divided into the three arms of the service they would extend from the western to the eastern limit of this grand State. That was the price, in part, paid to preserve the unity and grandeur of the Republic-a priceless sac- rifice that those who are now coming on the field of exercise fail to appreciate. Those who remained at home were loud in promises. No deliberate body met in which there were not given pledges of reward. Now we hear men talking of the insolence of those who are constantly parading their services-they profess to be sick to nausea of the stories of the prowess of Northern armies and Northern soldiers; and now we hear men boasting that those who were our enemies-those who fired npon us from the rear; the copperheads-that they are on top in this country to-day. But there is one thing that we can surely pride onr. selves upon, and that is that the contest was necessary and unavoidable and not of our choosing. We had done no act to precipitate the con- fiet. That was the sum of our offending. War was necessary and the thoughtful man came to the conclusion long years before Sumter was fired upon that a conflict was imminent. Two hostile civilizations were struggling for the mastery. They had to be antagonists. There was no settlement except by the arbitrament of war. Some say that the elec- tion of Lincoln prodneed war. It was merely the occasion of the pre- cipitation of war. War was in the hearts of men long before the nomi- nation of Lincoln. So long as the slave power was satisfied, so long it was content with. its status in the Union; but when there was no new fields for slavery-when an aroused public sentiment had drawn the magic circle around the virgin States and said, "Thus far shalt thou go but no farther." then they precipitated war. Now we are told that the time for reconciliation, for forgiveness, is at hand. I beg leave to differ with the teachers of this idea. I ask who desires forgiveness? Mind yon, I'm not talking polities now-Intter the thoughts that come welling up in the heart of every man who was in the war with me. They say we should forgive our erring brothers. Let me tell you they don't want forgiveness. JA voice: No, sir! Tell one that you're ready to forgive him, and he'll tell you to go to hell He claims that he has committed no offense: glories in all that he has done, and says that his memory of his services in the rebel army is the proudest legacy he has to leave his offspring. They ask for no forgiveness: and if they should I'm not pre- pared to say that we should forgive them-withont reservation.
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To illustrate just the kind of forgiveness that he might under cer- tain circumstances be willing to administer, the Colonel, in his inimit- able way, told the story of the saloon keeper, who, threatened by prose- cution, took the advice of friends and quit the business, and, ever after- ward when brooding over his fallen fortunes and the prosperity of his successor, was generally full, and when full was pious, and when full and pious was in tears, in relating his experience, would exclaim, "I'm ruined-my friends ruined me; but I forgive 'em-the last one of 'em-G-dd-n their souls!" [Laughter and cheers.] "In this way," said the Colonel, "in some such quasi, subdued, indifferent manner, I might be willing to forgive them." Then he turned to the bright side of the picture and related incident after incident of camp, field and forage -how, at the head of old company B, he went with the 112 boys of that company out from Marshalltown. He pictured the good bye at home, the supper at LeGrand, the breakfast at Indiantown, the dinner at Columbia, the ovations at Costa, at Marengo, at Iowa City, and the recep- tion at Davenport, and convulsed the audience with comical incidents of early war days. Drawing a vivid comparison between the operations and the actuating principles of the two armies, he closed with a touch- ing word to his old comrades. Cheer after cheer followed him to his seat.
The male quartette then sung "Tenting On the Old Camp Ground," and following a fiye-minute talk by Hon. J. G. Brown on "Soldier's Rights," the meeting was turned over to Colonel Horton, who inangu- rated camp fire proceedings in a hurry, first calling out Capt. Lippin- cott, of the Sixth Illinois, who happened to be present, and who paid a soldier's compliment to Generals Hatch and Coon, Col. Horton and the boys of the Second. Sergeant Lawrence, of Company A, followed, giv- ing a pathetic incident of his experience in the first war days, that brought tears to the eyes of nearly every person in the room. The ir- repressible Jones, of Kansas, followed, and literally convulsed all pres- ent with his droll recital of life's experiences. Capt. J. N. W. Rumple. of Iowa, who came in on a late train, responded to persistent calls, and the quartette sang "Old Shady." "Marching Through Georgia" was then given, the veterans rising and joining in the chorus, and just before 11 p. m., an adjournment was taken till 9 next morning.
THURSDAY MORNING.
The association assembled in G. A. R. Hall at 9 a. m., and the first business was to adopt a membership fee of $1. Capt. J. N. W. Rinple, Chairman of the Committee on Permanent Organization, made a report providing for officers, and an annual fee of 50 cents from each member, prescribing conditions of membership and providing for the election of honorary members, which was adopted.
On motion, a committee was appointed to nominate permanent ofli- cers, and Chairman Brunton, from the committee to select a place for the next rennion, reported in favor of Muscatine. Comrade Burnap moved to amend by naming Clear Lake, and after some discussion the amend ment was voted down and the report adopted.
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Chairman Belden, from the Committee on Resolutions, reported.
DEATH OF CAPT. WM. LUNDY.
WHEREAS, Since our last rennion. Win. Lundy, the first Captain of Company G, has been removed from our midst by the great destroyer, death,
Resolved. That it is with feelings of profound sorrow that we realize that no more on earth will onr reunions be graced with his genial presence and cordial greetings.
Resolved. That our remembrance of his whole souled patriotism. the alacrity with which he performed his duty as a soldier. and the grandeur of his character as a man, will ever be fresh in our memorie, while time lasts.
Resolved. That we also hold in kind remembrance all other comrades whom the Grand Commander above has called since our last meeting to join the army of the dead.
Resolved. That we too remember with love and high esteem those still living who for various reasons have not been permitted to meet with ns on this enjoyable occasion.
RETURNING THANKS.
WHEREAS. At this, our second reunion as a regiment. we have been so royally enter- tained and had so glorious a meeting. we feel that formal resolutions will but feebly ex- "press the fullness of our hearts. but as duty impels, we offer the following:
Resolved. That to the good people of Marshalltown, and especially to the old soldiers and their wives and daughters. we extend our warmest gratitude. (and as this was writ- ten just after the sumptuous dinner they served for us, we add. ) onr fullest thanks.
Resolred. To F. M. Thomas Post. G. A. R., we express thanks for the free use of their splendid post quarters during our stay, and we are just as thankful as though we had not mnddied the carpets.
Resolred. That we thank the hotels, railroads and transportation lines that so gener- ously reduced their rates for those attending the reunion.
Resolved, Finally, that we are thankful to everybody, and though we may have failed to mention, we will not fail to remember them all.
RESOLUTIONS BY COMRADE JNO. LU TAYLOR, OF COMPANY L.
WHEREAS The law now enforced denies to our disabled comrades arrears of pension in all claims filed since June 30. 1880; and
WHEREAS, It is a great injustice to our disabled comrades who were so unfortunate as not to have had their claims filed prior to June 30, 1880; be it
Resolved. By the Second Iowa Cavalry Veteran Association, assembled at Marshall- town, Iowa. ou this 1-t day of October. A D. 1885, that we hereby. as a body. earnestly and urgently request and direct that onr Senators and Representatives in Congress, when convened in December next. shall use every honorable means in their power, and that they shall urge to the utmost of their ability, the repeal of the law now limiting the time in which claims shall de filed in order to entitled claimants to arrears of pension ; and also, that they will urge with the same earnestness and persistency the passage of the act now pending before Congress for the increase of widows' and dependent mothers' pensions from $5 to $12 per month.
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