USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Newton > Third reunion of Iowa Hornets' Nest Brigade : 2d, 7th, 8th, 12th and 14th infantry, held at Newton, Iowa, Wednesday and Thursday, August 21 and 22, 1895 > Part 2
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comrades, we must not take all the credit and forget the girls in blue. Our mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts all performed their part, and the long, weary years of the terrible struggle pa- tiently suffered at home, hoping and praying for the end of the ter- rible conflict, writing long, cheerful, loving letters to the loved ones in the field, encouraging them and cheering them during the long weary hours of camp life. And, comrades, I submit, if the boys in blue are termed heroes, are not the girls in blue equally en- titled to the term of "sheroes"?
Since the termination of the war, Ihave been unable to attend any of the reunions of the regiment, but I promise myself the pleas- ure of doing so in the future. It certainly is a pleasure to meet and feel the warm hand-clasp of the comrade who has marched and fought with you, shoulder to shoulder. in the struggle to preserve the Union. More than one-third of a century has passed since the battle was fought which we meet this day to commemorate. Com- rades, we are all on the short side of life's journey. The new genera- tion are fast forgetting the services rendered our country by the soldiers of the war, but, comrades, we cannot forget them: we must not forget the trials and sacrifices of 1861. Many lie sleeping in the graves of the south: thousands lie sleeping in the graves in national and private cemeteries. We still have those among us suffering from wants, exposures and privations. It is therefore meet that we should assemble to do honor to the dead and to the living hero. In behalf of the 2nd lowa, and the cordial greeting and kind words- I thank you.
MAJ. SAMUEL M'MAHON, Seventh lowa.
Mr. President, Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades of the Brigade:
It seems to me about the best appreciation a man can feel or make to a welcome of such splendid hospitality as is presented to us today, is the effort that he makes to accept it. And I have come 300 miles to accept their hospitality today. my friends. I think. however, the last twenty miles from the trunk line of the Central railroad of Iowa, from New Sharon to Newton, was the longest half of the journey, and there is about thirty comrades that came along with me on that eventful journey, who will back me up in what I say. We investigated the town of New Sharon pretty thoroughly this morning and had plenty of time to do it: then we started out and we got to Lynnville, and we stayed at Lynnville awhile, and then the train commenced backing, backing down, and the conduc- tor happened along and he was a hotel clerk kind of a fellow -- he didn't waste any words on passengers, and I asked him: "Where are we going now, conductor, we seem to be going back." Says he. "We are going to Newton, sir, going to Newton." I couldn't quite under- stand it until we got back to the Junction. We got back to the Junction and then we got headed west again. Well, we jogged along and finally we got to Murphy and I knew that we were close to New- ton when we got to Murphy, because Murphy reminded me of an Irishman that was in my regiment, and I knew that the reunion was approaching close. Only, his name was not Murphy. We will call him old loc. Now old low belonged to the same nationality that Murphy does. Old Joe regularly got drunk. just as often as he could get enough but it took a good deal to supply him. And it was mid- dling scarce down at the front so we didn't often have inch bother with it, bat one evening -we were down in northern Mississippi -and
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we were chasing Chalmer's cavalry. Now you fellows know just what it was to chase cavalry a-foot back. (Laughter.) When we got to where Chalmer's was, he wasn't there: well, we marched about thirty miles, I think; we started about 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning and wore the boys out that day, hunting Chalmers, and every man was dead tired ont when they said we might go into camp. That was an invitation to spread our blankets on the grass and get out the little tin cups on our hips here and boil some coffee and go out and forage for the rest of our supper, and some of the boys started out and that night I noticed there was an musual stir in camp. I thought something had been discovered, I couldn't tell just what and I didn't take very much pains to inquire because I was terribly tired and I didn't think the boys would keep it up very long. But the next morning we started out bright and early again-there wa'n't any eight o'clock breakfast those days. It was get up about an hour be- fore daylight. you know, and pick your teeth and start. And we marched about an hour or so, and every fellow was cross, and his hair was pulling and his feet were sore, and I think most of them were damning everything m sight pretty much, including the main officer, and Old Joe edged up alongside of me and he had two can- teens on. Well that was very unusual. very unusual for a regiment in light marching order and it wasn't the proper thing, and I asked Joe what he was doing with so much baggage. Says he, "Captain," he whispered up in my ear, says he, "would you like a drink?" Says I, "it depends on what it is loe." " Well." says he, "just put this can- teen on you," and I put on the canteen and pretty soon I was thirsty and took a drink; says 1, "Joe, where did you get this?" " Why, Captain, we went out foraging last night for our supper and the boys got to a house and they found a nagur there and he told them where there was a barrel of apple brandy buried out in the back vard and we got as many of the boys as we could find and we all filled up our canteens and I don't think there was much of the barrel left when we got through." This was all confidential; this wasn't the proper kind of intercourse between an officer and a private soldier fond applause] but it was strictly confidential between Joe and I. "Well," says ], "Joe, how in the world did it happen that you didn't get drunk?" It happened Joe had one of these quart affairs, you know, they carried on their belts to make coffee in and it held about a pint and a half. "Well," says he, "Captain, I was very dry and 1 knew it wouldn't do to get drunk, and I just took and filled that full and I drank it down and I wouldn't drink any more because I was ateered I'd get drunk." Now the question with me was, how much it would take to make Joe drunk: I never found out. The poor fellow is gone now and in a better country I hope. Now this has all come up from Murphy.
Well, friends, I have had a fashion of attending these reunions, year after year, and I have grown to be very fond of them and I no- tice most of the boys are beginning to come out. Some of them did- n't use to come out, but I see several of the boys, the familiar faces of the old army boys now showing up at these reunions, but I never took any coaxing; I was always glad to come to them, and I notice one contrast, year after year, down here in the body of the hall; I see the heads of the fellows growing a little whiter, a little whiter every year, and then I look off in the galleries and i see the beautiful, blooming faces that have come up, grown up from babies, children, since the war, and I feel as I look over these galleries. that we are
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assured wherever we go of a warm welcome every time. And it does me good to tell some of these old army stories to these beautiful girls to whom the war is only a memory and a matter of history. and the manly boys that come out to look down over the gray heads of the men that they have already read about in history, although the time has hardly come for that yet. That will come when we are all gone, but as the years go by, my friends, the record that these walls display today will be impressed deeper and deeper on the minds of this generation-of the generations coming and growing up, and when we reflect on it -- the babies and children of the war are the stalwart inen of today; thirty-three years, one third of a century: why, just think of it. I don't realize it. When I come to these reunions I feel just abont as young as I did when Istarted out at 19 years old, into the old Seventh lowa. I don't feel quite as bright often, after a hard day's work, but it renews me, this coming here and looking over these faces and opening my heart to them, and I believe we all feel the better and the younger for it. But the work, and the actions and the privations, and the self-denials of the men of the war will be better appreciated in the next generation, even, than they are now. Did it ever occur to you what the possible result would have been had the war proved a failure? Did it ever occur to yon that no fur- ther south than the line of the Missouri river, running through our. beautiful sister state, would have been a line of fortifications, such as are built on the Rhine, in Europe today? Has it ever occurred to you that the railroads that have been built through Towa since the war would have gone into fortifications no further south than the Missouri river, with two hostile nations looking across their lines of bayonets at each other? Has it ever occurred to you that out of the money that it has cost for our 14,000 school houses, it would have gone into recruiting barracks for a standing army? Has it ever occurred to yoo that the ten millions of school fund that lowa poury out with a lavish hand for the education of her beautiful youth would have gone to pay the soldiery? Think of it. Think of it. Has the possible result of the failure of the war. that your bayonets helped to bring to a successful termination, ever occurred to you?
Now I started in to express the thanks of the Seventh regiment for this glorious welcome which you have given us today. I read it in the faces in the gallery rather than in the graceful words of the speakers that have preceded me. I feel it, ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls, in my heart, and I speak for every man of the Seventh regiment, that they endorse every word I say, and I want to say to you all, God bless you for this glorious welcome.
COL. W. B. BELL. 8th Iowa.
Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades:
I feel that I am in a situation that in one sense is unfortunate, and in another sense is rather fortunate. I am fortunate to have been preceded by so many in the way of a response to our address of welcome, that has been so well done, that it leaves so little for me to say. On the other hand, I am like the boy that always liked to say his piece first because some person else that talks before him, is apt to say it and he is left without anything to say, but as I have been seated here, watching the proceedings of this happy reunion, it oc- curred to me, according to the notification of the program that I had for this occasion, that one matter has been overlooked. If I remem- ber, there was a quotation at the head of the program from the high-
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est authority, something like this: "And I will send hornets before thee which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite and the Hittite from before thee."
It seemed to me ] might be mistaken on this, but it seemed that it was a part of the program, and as no one else has made any appli- cation or explanation in regard to it, I thought I would undertake to make a few remarks on that. It seems that it certainly is applic- able to this brigade. That it was so intended. And that there was work for this brigade to do on this occasion. And I have been puz- zling myself to think what part the 8th had better undertake on this occasion. I would feel loath to assign them to tackle the Canaanites for various reasons: it seems to me that the 7th lowa would be the proper regiment to assign to that task, for the reason that the mmm- ber seven is a perfect number, and if the 7th lowa is not a perfect regiment, it comes within one of it. [Applause.]
I had about concluded that I would suggest to our boys that they had better tackle the Hittites, and I want to say to the good people of Newton, that if these Ihittites have much in this world. I promise them that the 8th will have some of it before morning. You remen- ber the context of that -that this work was not to be done all at once: for the good of that people it was to be done little by little, and I will venture to promise that on the part of the 8th. that the work they do not accomplish on this occasion. they will come back again at your request and finish up the job.
I want to say to the good people of Newton that we heartily ap- preciate the reception they have given ushere. Col. Meyer expressed my idea when he said, the soldiers should be proud that they had tak- en a part in accomplishing that that was worthy, that that was ap- preciated by the people. And I would remind the good people of Newton, the ladies and gentlemen, that this is not local, this feeling - this feeling of gratitude on the part of the citizens here that they delight to show forth to the soldiers of the war that it is a national feeling. a genuine patriotism. It is a feeling that is innate in human nature, provided that we appreciate it, when it is administered on our side of the issue. The ladies on the opposite side of the contest in the late war were a power there as much and in the same propor- tion as the women were a power on the Union side of the issue. } want to then, return thanks here, not only in the name of the com- rades that are present of the 8th, but in the name of all the soldiery of the country. We would respond and bring you hearty greetings in response to this national patriotic sentiment, and, ladies and gentle- men, if I have not sufficiently expressed our appreciation of your kindness and of your entertainment of us here, we will just remind you that actions speak louder than words and we will see you later on.
CAPT. T. B. EDGINGTON, Twelfth Iowa.
Mr. President, and Comrades of the Hornets Nest Brigade, and t'ili- zens of Neoton :
One speaker said he had come over three hundred miles to attend this meeting. I would state to you that I have come over a thous- and miles. I did not come this thousand miles to deliver you a speech but when I learned that I was expected to make a speech I well nigh turned aside and concluded I must not come. I did not believe that I could entertain you, and I do not think that I can entertain you very well now, and I think I shall make my remarks but brief. But
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I feel a pride in the people of lowa, a pride in their success as a people, and a pride in them that is well nigh akin to idolatry. I came to lowa comparatively one of the carly pioneers: I came when the larger part of your state was a wilderness. a mere playground for the whistling winds. Those places now have been filled up by settlers and your people are made up of the best elements-those that were not born here were made up of the best clements from the eastern and middle states, and when I went with the balance of your people into the war, your character was not yet made, because you were a State too young at that time to have been said to have had a character. But you have a character now and if you want to know what your character is, go among the people that I live among. They were the people who were on the other side in this light and if there are any people on the face of the globe that the confederates have an admiration for it is the people of lowa and the Hornets' Nest Brigade. [ Applause. ] Why, on the first day of this month they had a great rennion at Brighton, They invited me, not because of anything personal to myself but because I was one of that grand Hornets' Nest Brigade from the state of lowa, and } accepted their invitation, and I came to look over their program, I found I was the first speaker on the list, and I did not go. The reason I didn't go was because I didn't want to be making any speeches. I had been to their reunions before and they had treated me in the most hospitable manner, which I ascribed somewhat and to a very large degree, because of their admiration for Iowa people.
As I said, when we went out into the war, the state of lowa was too young to have much of a character as yet. There had been no great war in which her people had participated, and even today when you come to measure her by the ages of empires or states, why she is a young state yet, in her swaddling clothes and standing beside of the cradle in which her infancy has been reared. If you were aware of the great admiration those people have for you, you could then understand the feelings that I have to desire to be in some measure still identified with the people of Iowa, and while my home is not here, my heart is often here, and I sometimes visit you because I love to mingle with the people of lowa.
Now as I said before, this idea of character. This grand state of lowa has verified a character for bravery which is not excelled by any state of this Union: her people have acquired a character for hospit- ality that is not excelled by any state in this Union, and when you come to understand the underlying canse for this, you find that one of the great canses of it is the grandeur of her women, Now it was not my purpose to say but a few words to you, but I know that this welcome that you give us, is not to us alone. those of ns that are mere survivors of the late war or survivors of the Hornets' Nest Brigade, but you wish to honor those of us that are not here, those who have fallen since the war from disease, and those who died in camp or in prison, and especially do you come here to honor those brave boys who went up to their rest by way of cannon's mouth, the minnie ball and the sword, that the nation might be free, that man might be free, and that the nation might be preserved. Now as I say, it is not thus alone, and we feel, that in a certain sense, that the fittest did not survive when you come to this matter of war-the fittest have fallen and the unfittest, as a general rule, have survived,
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I noted what Col. Shaw said about our not being in the hottest of the fight and at one period of the battle I would state, that so far as the Twelfth Iowa was concerned, that during the early part of the day, in the morning, a part of our regiment was not in the hottest of the light, but after we were surrounded and after we had about- faced to fight another enemy in our rear, then the Twelfth lowa was in the hottest of the fight and it was there that Co. A. the company to which I belonged. had six killed and twelve wounded out of an entire number of thirty-three who were actually that day on the field, and those six were killed in what is called Hell's Hollow. if 1 understand terms right. I haven't talked these matters over, but if I understand our position right, Hell's Hollow is the place where we about-faced and made a fight the second time.
Now I wish to say one word more. This battle of Shiloh in which about ten thousand men bit the dust, about ten thousand killed and wounded on each side, was the bloodiest battle that had ever been fought on this continent, and in any other up to the date that it had been fought. It is said of one or two battles that are equal. so since -- I have not compared notes to see whether that be true or not -- but I have this to say, that the confederates had planned that battle with consummate skill. It was their purpose to destroy onr army under Grant before Buell could reach there with his forces, and after Grant's army was destroyed they had their own theory and leisure time to destroy the other army, and it was the conjunction of these armies that they expected to prevent by accomplishing our ruin before that. Now then, it was this Hornets' Nest Brigade, the persistent fight that it made during that day, that enabled Buell to cross and saved our army from destruction on that very day, and my opinion is, that the Hornets' Nest Brigade will go down in history beside the defend- ers who defended the pass of Thermopalae. And when you come to speak of the fact of our having surrendered -- it is true we did surren- der after we were surrounded and thrown into confusion, but it was through no fault of the Hornets' Nest Brigade, and through no want of bravery on the part of the soldiers, and through no want of skill on the part of any of our commanders.
I have talked to you longer than I had intended to talk. I want to say though one word more. These soldiers are passing away. They are the survivors of the Hornets' Nest Brigade, and they are the particular jewels of the State of Towa. You remember that Cor- nelia, the mother of the Gracchi, drew to her bosom her seven sur- viving sons after one of them had fallen in defense of the rights of man, saying as she did so, "These are my jewels." These old one-leg- ged men, these old gray headed men, are the jewels of the state of Iowa, and they are your pride and I am so glad that you thus delight to honor them. Again I thank you for your hospitality that you have extended to the Twelfth Towa, and to the Hornets' Nest Brigade.
The andience then arose and sang the stirring song ~While We Were Marching Through Georgia," amidst waving of hands and shouts. The most elaborate address of the day was then given by Robert Ryan, of Lincoln, Neb :- "Was Shiloh a Surprise?" It was a written production and showed great care and much thought in its preparation:
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IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
WAS SHILOH A SURPRISE?
It is but natural that as participants, we should discuss the bat- tle of Shiloh in the light of what we saw and did, but this very cir- cumstance subjects us to a suspicion of being somewhat biased, and it may be, unfair in our statements. General Grant and General Sherman each denied the want of preparation for that battle charg- ed by the officers in command of the army of the Cumberland, as well as by those in command of the Confederate forces and the issue thus joined was discussed with a vigor and directness, which a proper res- pect for the memory of our deceased commanders renders impossible to us. This, however does not deny the right of a fair analysis of the testimony of those distinguished officers in support of the negative of the proposition under consideration.
General Grant's first written description of the battle of Shiloh was made public in Feb., 1885 -almost twenty-three years after the trans- actions which its author undertook to describe. In explanation of this great delay he said that "Events had occurred before the battle, and others subsequent to it: which determined me to make no report to my then chief, General Halleck, further than was contained in a letter written immediately after the battle informing that an en- gagement had been fought, and announcing the result." The occur- rences to which General Grant referred are matters known to every person at all conversant with his career; the misunderstanding of his movements and of his plans during and after the investment of Fort Donelson. The undeserved censure with which he was visited, and his practical removal from command after the achievement of the first great success with which the Union arms had been crowned
After the battle of Shiloh, General Halleck in person took com- mand, while General Grant, still nominally in command of his old district and army, was entirely ignored and not even permitted to see one of the reports of General Buell or his subordinates as to that battle until they were published by the War Department, long after the event. These reasons of the commanding general of the Union forces for not making an official report, without doubt justified a feeling of resentment on his part, but against whom should it have been directed? The practical result of the course pursued by Gen. Grant was to subject to misrepresentation and censure akin to that of which he complained, thousands of bis faithful subordinate officers and soldiers, who had the right, confidently to look to him for vindi- cation against the unjust aspersions under which they have suffered. Ile himself said in the article referred to that correct reports had been published, but these had appeared at a period long subsequent to the rebellion and after the public opinion had been erroneously formed. At such meetings as these, it is possible to correct to some extent the erroneous conceptions of events entertained by the public and no one is so directly interested as ourselves that this should be accomplished. That the mere historian is apt to be anything but discriminating is well illustrated by the statement in a school his- tory of Barnes' Historical Series entitled "A Brief History of the United States" on page 140. This model of reckless carelessness occurs in an account of the Siege of Yorktown and is in this lan- guage: "Batteries were opened upon the city, and the vessels in the harbor fired by red hot shells." With such statements of the doings of Revolutionary fathers in mind, it is not at all surprising that the youths of this generation dare to tackle the cannon fire cracker. It is to be hoped that in these meetings no material will be turned out suit-
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