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 7
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DES MOINES, lowA. August both 1805.
V. P. Twombly, treasurer in account with lowa Hornets' Nest Brigade.
DR. C'R.
Sept 2. 1590. Balance on hand this date. $15.75 .. .. Received from Secretary. R. L. Turner. 98.00 Aug. 15, 1895 Received interest on balance to date 16.30
$130.05
Sept. 3, 1890. Paid voucher No. 1, W. L. Davis. $ 8.50
2. E. L. Turner, expense.
.. 9. ** 3. . For Frank Moore. 5.00
. .
9. .
.. .. Jan. 27. 1891. .. 5. ** .. July 18. 1895. ..
.. ti. .. .. postals and printing. 20.75
Aug. 12. ..
7. .. expense.
.. 20.00
.. Balance on hand this dale 16 85
$130.05
Respectfully submitted.
V. P. TWOMBLY. Treas.
The report was adopted.
Col. Shaw and J. C. Kennon, of the executive committee, having examined the books and vouchers of the secretary and treas- urer, made the following report:
We the undersigned. members of your Executive Committee, beg leave to re port, that we have examined the books and papers of your secretary and treasurer, we find everything correct, and all moneysaccounted for by the proper vouchers.
WM. T. SHAW, J. C. KENNON.
..
..
.10
.. expense. 8.30
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IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
The Brigade then proceeded to the election of officers:
Colonels W. T. Shaw and W. Bell were nominated for president. Col. shaw receiving a majority of the votes, was declared elected as president. On motion made and seconded, the election of Col. Shaw was made unanimous.
It was moved and seconded that the present vice-presidents of the brigade be elected to fill the same positions another term; motion carried and the following were declared elected as vice-presi- dents of the Brigade:
2nd lowa, G. 1 .. GODFREY, Des Moines, lowa.
7th lowa. S. M'MAHON, Ottumwa, lowa.
Sth lowa. J. C. KENNON, Van Horn, lowa.
12th lowa, R. P. CLARKSON, Des Moines, lowa.
11th lowa, S. M. CHAPMAN, Plattsmouth, Neb.
On motion made and seconded, R. L TURNER and V. P. TWOM- BLY were re-elected to till the positions of secretary and treasurer.
Voted that the Committee on Resolutions consist of one from each regiment, and that each regiment make its own selection.
The secretary was by vote authorized to select an assistant secretary.
COL. GODFREY -- chairman of Committee on Badges- stated that he had a badge in the shape of a hornet, made of metal, and to be used as a pin, which he showed to the comrades. After some discus- sion, it was voted to continne the Committee, and instructed them to have some metal buttons made with a hornets' nest stamped on them, similar in size to those worn by the different orders in the lapel of the coat.
Voted to reconsider the vote as to badge.
Voted to have the badge made of metal representing a hornets' nest and to be used as a pin instead of a button. Comrade Akers, of the 7th lowa, was by vote added to the Committee on Badges. The following comprise the Badge Committee:
G. L. GODFREY, 2nd lowa.
J. W. AKERS, 7th lowa.
DEWITT STEARNS, 8th lowa.
R. P. CLARKSON, 12th lowa. JOE MCGARRAN, Hth lowa.
Voted to send greetings to the 30th lowa, now holding a reunion at Brighton, lowa.
The several regiments then presented those selected as Commit- tee on Resolutions:
COL. MOORE, 2nd lowa.
J. W. AKERS, 7th lowa. W. B. BELL, 8th Iowa.
T. B ED HNAITON, 12th lowa.
.
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IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
SAMUEL CHAPMAN, 14th lowa.
Moved and seconded that the proceedings of the reunion be pub- lished in pamphlet form. Motion carried.
COL. SHAW was by vote added to the Committee on Publication of Pamphlet.
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned.
R. L. TURNER, Secretary.
Afternoon Exercises.
The Brigade assembled at headquarters at 2:30 p. m., and headed by the drum corps, marched to the opera house, where Col. Ryan pre- sided during the exercises. As it was ascertained that not one half of the crowd could get into the opera house, Gen. Prentiss kindly con- sented to speak both there and in the court yard. His speech in the opera house was a grand effort. It was a plea for more patriotism and the fire, logic, devotion to the flag, and the intense appeal to every one to be more loyal toour blood-bought country stirred the pulse and moved the hearts of the people in a wondrous way. "True Americanism" is the way he termed true patriotism. The climax of the afternoon was reached when he stepped to one side of the stage. took in his hands a beautiful silk flag, carried it to the center of the stage and called upon the vast audience to take the pledge of loyalty with him. It was a picture, indeed, to see the martial figure of that white haired war veteran standing with his hands lovingly upholding "Old Glory." After the audience had risen at his request, he solemnly repeated the vow of allegiance, and then, led by him, the men joined in three cheers that made the rafters ring, while the ladies wildly waved their handkerchiefs.
GEN. B. M. PRENTISS.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades of the Hornets' Nest Brigade:
To me, reunions have ceased to be a pleasure. It is true. in obedi- ence to the request and call of friends I attend them, but memory comes untrammeled when I am at a reunion and a sad feeling arises. Not from what we have done as soldiers, more from present condition of affairs in our own country. By way of explanation let me say, I am here attending the reunion of the lowa Brigade of the Hornets' Nest. I have but little to say of Shiloh though I claim to know much of it; I believe I was there. I have a recollection of being there, at least, and I have this to say. You have been re-unioning with a bri- gade that represents a position, a brigade that saved the army of the Tennessee on the 6th of April, 1862. (Applause) Those words have
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never been uttered by me in public before. I know whereof I speak and at my age, knowing that I am soon to pass away, knowing what I do of the conditions at that day, and of the trials, and gallant services of men upon that occasion, Ican truthfully say, this regi- ment was located in what was called the Hornets' Nest of the battle- field of Shiloh that saved the Army of the Tennessee. Fhad waited for others to say that for us. But you must bear in mind the defend- ers of that position stood. and were captured, taken to the South and put into prison, no one to write for them whilst there. The nation being engaged in a terrible war: other battles were fought Those at home make the report. We that were there in the South could not be heard. Every regiment had its say upon that occasion and that is what has caused so much discussion concerning Shiloh. I was pleased, yesterday, listening to the paper read by Judge Ryan. While it is true, perhaps we, some of us, might differ with him as to the propriety of discussing questions that have been discussed for thirty years. You ask me the question today in the presence of the Brigade of lowa, known as the Hornets' Nest Brigade: "General Prentiss, was it a surprise at Shiloh?" My answer would be: No general on the Union side for one moment entertained the idea that the battle was to be fought upon the ground where it was fought. Loccupied the extreme front that morning and at 5:if the battle commenced. It commenced a mile upward and a little in front of any encampment on that battlefield, and he that intimates that any of our soldiers were found asleep in their camps and drawn from their tents to enter that battle, he is a slanderer of the soldiers that fought, that you young people might enjoy the liberty you do today.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have often been amused in visiting places, picking up pamphlets, pictorial pamphlets, in which was a picture of General Prentiss being drawn from his tent at head- quarters on the field of Shiloh, by two long haired fellows and taken to the Sonth. Today there cannot be found a publication throughout the entire southern states that has one sentence or utterance of di :- credit towards the man that held the Hornets' Nest of Shiloh. I visited them on the 6th of April last. I talked perhaps toeight or nine thousand of people. The Confederate soldiers were there. Iwas speaking of Shiloh and was very particular as to my utterances upon that occasion. I talked just as radical as I used to talk to you people of lowa in the years past. When I was through, every thing that 1 said there was endorsed by north and south. They knew that we were telling the truth, and when you hear Union men taking excep- tion to men that defended the Hornets' Nest on the field of Shiloh, put it down that they were not in that Hornets' Nest at the last hour and a half of that day. I know whereof I speak.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am not to speak of Shiloh. I want to appeal to the young people of this country. I want to say to you that if I could have my way. the action and conduct of every old soldier would be such that you could follow his example. I am told, Mr. Chairman, you have at Normal school here, or an assembly of normal students. I would that every one of them were seated in my presence today. To you teachers of the country, let me make an appeal. In behalf of posterity, the hour has come, the day is, when we must turn oyer a new leaf in this land of ours. I do not enjoy the army stories at reunions. I do not enjoy the talk that canses us to smile and laugh at army scenes. It is too serions a matter. Those of my age that look back know the troubles through which we have passed.
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We can say to you younger people something of the cost of this nation.
I don't know how many there are on the pension list, but I am not on it for the war of the rebellion. I kept off of it for this reason: 1 am not yet willing, as a general officer, to receive a pension as long as there is a private soldier that is deprived of his pension. (Ap- planse.) No application of mine is on file at the Department of Washington. I have been asked, too, to allow the Congressmen. in this wonderful state of lowa, to let them introduce a bill to grant me a magnificent pension. No. ladies and gentlemen, I could not accept it as long as the private soldier is deprived of his pension. Patriotism is what is needed in this country. You people of the normal school, you younger ladies of the country, take for example the defense of this nation by the old soldiers, and particularly those that defended it at the Hornets' Next of Shiloh. A gentleman intimated to me this morning that some one was intimating to him, that we who held there so long were taking too much credit to ourselves. Great heavens! Why didn't you look after our reputations whilst we were down south suffering, and you up here living off the fat of the land? Patriotism of the right kind is needed in this country. What is that? An edu- cated patriotism. That is what it is. No man in this country has a right, under the laws of our land. to be a brute in feeling. No man has the privilege under the guise of liberty in this country to make a home unhappy. Too many unhappy wives and children in this coun- try today. Educate to a higher plane. What will do it? I will tell you. Look at that flag, every one of you; plant it in every school room of America. Keep it there. Explain to the rising generation what it means. Not only the emblem of liberty, but the emblem of a nation's pride. It was that flag that you men suffered in upholding. Teach it to the children of this country that the soldier that raised his hands and eyes to Almighty God, took the oath of allegiance be- neath that Hag. swore to defend it. protect it and serve his country beneath its folds; let the children understand that that obhgation meant something more than mere battle. It meant to lead the ar- mies on, to educate the public of this land. Normal students, listen. In twenty years from today it will be impossible, unless we educate differently, to make the young man of the country and the young la- dy of the country understand that this great nation of ours, this proud and mighty country of ours, ever endorsed that deadly institu- tion of slavery as it existed at one time. It will be impossible to make them believe that the American people ever placed upon the auction block the mother, stripping the infant from the breast, and selling that mother as a chattel. Educate. We are making great progres; think of it, yoa norma students. In 1849 it took some of your fathers and friends four months to cross the mighty plain, seck- ing a few dollars in the hills of California. Today you can start at Boston Monday morning Friday afternoon you take supper in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California. What did it? You boys that took the oath of allegiance beneath that fag. You boys that carried it successfully and won the victory and sustained the umton of states. Since that day, all over this mighty country, you can tray I bysteam, by rail. Think of it. What cansed it? Sus- taining the union of States. Yes, says some. Now don't be alarm- ed. I have got too much sense to switch off on to a side track here. Someone says, oh, it costs so much money. We have got to have more. Go to work and earn more, everyone of yon in this country. That is what is wanted. ( Applause.) I never heard of two soldiers
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complaining of this government. Why, God bless yon normal stu- dents, we have got the best government on the face of the earth. Surpassing all nations in everything that pertains to greatness. We have the greater men; we have the better soil: we have the greatest extent of country, more lines of railroad, more telegraph communication, more telephones, longer and better and hand- somer rivers than any nation on earth, and decidedly better look- ing ladies than any on the face of God Almighty'searth. What is it made them happy? Not money. Not money. I don't know, my dear brother, but what there is too much money in the country. I can get along with a nickle. I have only ten cents today that I can call my own. Poverty. I have suffered the stings of poverty in this nation that I claim to have done some little to defend, and yet there is not wealth enough in the nation to make me repudiate one single dollar of national indebtedness. Patriotism is what is needed in this country and none better, gentlemen of the lowa Hornets' Nest Brigade, none better to keep it in the state of lowa than you. Every true soldier understands that. Great God, what a country we have, but, oh, sometimes how it is managed. (Ap- planse ) I could run this country I think i could run it if I had the privilege. I once thought I had got the privilege but they sent me to prison and I couldn't get out in time. (Applause.)
Yesterday a gentleman handed me this program. I noticed that Capt. Mccormick was not to be here and your president ask- ed me if I would respond for him. His subject was "After Shiloh, prison." Capt. McCormick was to respond. I consented to respond but afterwards we made a change. I wanted to go home. Hlad 1 responded to that i would have had to tell you army stories. I was thinking of it, but when reflecting, gentlemen. something else must be said and done at reunions besides telling army stories, besides misrepresenting certain scenes, I thought I had better not embark in that direction and thus I stayed over a day to talk to you soldiers today.
Gentlemen of this Hornets' Nest Brigade of Iowa, I like every one of you. I doubly respect and like those that were captured with me there at Shiloh. I know what you passed through in those prisons: I know what your fare was; I know how your Colonel suf- fered: 1 know what they lived on; the kind of soup they had. I know full well that I sold a nice gold watch to get Confederate scrip to keep an lowa soldier alive, and that colonel was the columnel of the Sth lowa-J. L. Geddes. God bless him. He suffered; scores suffered. Ferguson died in prison. Oh, the sights that we behold when we reflect. Today for the first time I learned that you had a Tennesseean in the 8th towa, three of them. One was captured and shot, by the name of Roland. The other is a nice gentleman living in Tennessee today. I was telling him that we met from three to four hundred of those poor east Tennesseeans in a starving condition. We divided our rations with them. I am telling this that you young people may know what these people passed through. You officers remember there when we tore up the floor and we received our first rations, we divided it with the hungry Tennesseeans by dropping it through the hole in the floor. How they grabbed for that provision. They were American citizens. They had been misled, some of them of the south, as they acknowledge today and I hate and despise those who misled them. Let me tell you, it is the arrant demagogue of our country who causes all the
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trouble. There were not to exceed 150 men that were responsible for that great rebellion. They were led astray. Appeals were made to them. . Oh, how pleasant, then, they receive this informa- tion today. Tell it to them. They will listen and realize the truth as it is told, and they profit by it, too. I may say this. Down there upon that bloody field of Shiloh, in that county, from the day of the battle up to the present time, it has been a loyal county to the union of the United States of America, and is today. I would that every county in the state was in the same condition. But how can we get them there? Educate. That is what it is. Go with me down into my state. Ryan, I told a soldier today I lived in Missouri. Says he, the devil you do. says he, what are you living there for? Why, people of lowa, let me tell you. We have a grand population in the state of Missouri. We have one of the grandest states of the union, made so by the war: that is what made it. We got rid of that pecular institution whose darkness seemed to pre- vail in certain districts of the state, even to this late day, thirty years after it has been swept from American soil. We suffer from it yet but we are rid of the institution by law and we are coming to the front. Mark what I tell you. Seventy-six years of age but there are listening to me today a hundred people that will live to see the state of Missouri the second state of the Union in population, wealth and grandeur. It is coming. We have a grand country. Why, people of lowa, we are decent people down there. We go to church down in Missouri. We have abundance of ministers. We don't pay them quite enough, and you normal students, let me tell you, don't come to Missouri'expecting to teach school. Why God bless you, we are grinding out school teachers there, a hundred to where there is one can get employment. Abundance of them. We are educating in that wonderful state. When I went to the state of Missouri I couldn't have taken that beautiful banner in my hand and talked plainly without being insulted. Today I can go into any township of the state of Missouri; I can defend that flag, I can say what I please in its defense: I can portray the horrors of the old institution; I can persuade those people how they were misled in the rebellion. They listen and as I raise the flag and ask them to renew allegiance to it, not a soul will refuse, not one. Why, what has become of them. I will tell you what has become of them. Those that don't like the llag, they don't go to meeting. That is, to my kind of meeting. So help me God, ladies, if I was a minister of the gospel, no sermon would ever be preached by me unless the stars and stripes were in my pulpit. (Loud applause)
Now, friends, it is patriotism we want in this country. It is not republicans. It is not democrats It is not that other set. (Langh- ter) it is not them we want. You people of lowa found that out. But I will tell you what we want. We want christian people true to the flag, true to the country, true to the union schools of the coun- try, true to the churches, true to Immanity, true to their families. Confound the lazy, triffing enss that will marry a decent woman and have a family and fail to support them . well, he ought to join the other- (Laughter.)
Ladies and gentlemen, now, you see, I claim to be a patriot, and I claim for the lowa brigade that every mother's son of them is a true patriot, and if any of them dodge, just put them beneath the flag and administer the oath anew again. Thus let me appeal to the young. Take the advice of an old man, 76 years of age, talking to you here to- day and appealing for his country. I know the danger that threatens
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this land today. It is a dangerous element that comes to this country, not knowing what liberty means in this land. That is what it is. He that is a true American likes every American institution in this com- try and he likes to protect them, too. Now don't take that in a polit- ical seuse, but it will apply awfully well if you did. (Applause) Why, young man, I am a true American. ) like everything that is made in America. All you fellows like bicycles, don't you? If you don't you are different from us Missouri lads: and, ladies, let me say to you, I have made up my mind, the first extra 10. 20 or 30 dollars I get, to buy a second-hand bicycle and commence riding. (Laughter) 1 want to encourage American institutions. I want to keep the money at home and make a market for every American that is willing to toil for a dollar, and confound the fellow that wants somebody to give him a dollar.
Ladies and gentlemen, patriotism is what we need. Is a man a patriot that will go to Ohio, to New England, and borrow a thousand dollars, come home, mortgage his home to pay it, when he fails to pay the interest and principal, goes to damning them for loaning him a thousand dollars? What do you think of such a fellow? Ladies, never marry one of the young men of that kind. Let them alone. Those fellows will work out their own salvation after they have starved a year or two. True Americanism is what we want: true pa- triotism is what we need in this country. Let us sustain every insti- tution that defends right and justice. As i am to talk in the square, let me appeal to you old soldiers, if you don't like the laws of this country, obey them anyhow. (Cries, "That is right!") Obey every law. Don't violate the laws of our country. Don't violate the laws of God. Do right. Administer justice everywhere. If you have got an old justice of the peace that hasn't sense enough to administer the laws of this country, or a constable or a sheriff, and I know you haven't here in Jasper county, but if you have, the sooner you get them out of possession the better for the rising generation.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to have met you here this af- ternoon. I know it is warm. I have an esteemed comrade here. I am not going to let Ryan introduce him. He has been a general --- in the army. He was in the eastern army. He is a better looking gentleman, if possible, than the one now talking to you: and that is an acknowl- edgment that I don't often make. But I have known my friend so long. He is a good natured gentleman. I believe he will endorse ev- ery utterance I have made, with the exception of the little rough language that I have put in here and there, but { will seek forgive- ness for that. You know I am a pretty good Methodist and they, when they get a little off of their base and get a little excited, some- times say things that had better not be said. If I have said it today, and it wounds the feeling of anyone here or sounds harsh, forgive me. I have a right to talk plain .. Let me ask again of you young people of the country, get you a lag, look at it, and see if it doesn't come up
I don't know that I can quote the stanza a little boy of mine com- posed and said, that is pretty good, get that off over in lowa. I got it off in one or two places of the state, too. It is this:
"Take the flag; put it in your pulpit: put it in the school house, and learn your children lo exclaim, as 1 do mine:
Now, great emblem of the brave, With purpose fixed we stand: Ready to battle, ready to save The pride and honor of this land. Wave over the country from on high. Wave d'er the halt and lame, Wave on! We will battle till we die To save that honor-fame."
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God bless the flag of our country! Don't you say so, too! Now, with me, as one of the defenders of the flag, I have one request to make. I want every one in this audience, in the presence of General B. M. Prentiss, that loves that flag, I want him to hurrah. Old and young, arise to your feet. Now with me, renewing our allegiance to the nag of our country, give three cheers to the dag as I cheer. Wait and you ladies get your handkerchiefs in your hands -- you needn't cheer, but just wave your handkerchiefs as the men cheer. Boys and gentlemen, all together-three cheers for the flag of our na- tion and its laws! (Hip, hip, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!)
Now, ladies and gentlemen, having that pledge from you, I can go to Missouri a happy man.
Col. Ryan then introduced Gen. Osboru. of Chicago, in the follow- ing words:
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