USA > Illinois > Complete history of the 46th regiment, Illinois volunteer infantry, a full and authentic account of the participation of the regiment in the battles, sieges, skirmishes and expeditions in which it was engaged > Part 34
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THE BANQUET.
As early as 8 o'clock the veterans and their ladies began to arrive at the Brewster House, where the banquet was to be held. Some of the veterans told stories in the office, others entertained the ladies in the parlors, and the Henney Buggy Company band discoursed sweet music in the corridors. It was 9 o'clock before Mein Host Gates announced that the banquet hall was ready to receive the guests. Covers had been placed for 250 people, but even then about fifty had to wait for the second table. By the glance at the following Menu it will be seen that the Brewster had provided amply for the guests :
Selected Oysters
Soups Consuminie a la Royal Oysters a la Tremont. Baked Red Snapper with Croquettes of Potatoes. Ham, Champagne Sauce. Roast Mallard Duck. Roast Ribs of Beef. Stuffed Turkey, Cranberry Sauce. Boiled Chicken, Sauce Champagne. Hard Tack, Sow Belly.
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Boned Turkey, with Jelly. Spiced Beef Tongue. Croquettes of Chicken. Spiced Oysters. Chicken Mayonnaise. Fried Oysters. Saratoga Chips. Sweet Corn.
Green Peas. Lettuce.
Radishes. Olives.
Cocoanut Cakę.
Fruit Cake.
Macaroons.
Kisses.
Charlotte Russe.
Roman Punch Orange.
Vanilla Ice Cream. Figs. Almonds. Brandy Jelly.
French Coffee.
P.S. Any person asking for anything that does not appear upon this Menu will be quietly put into the guard house.
After the guests had done ample justice to the good things set before them, Capt. W. WV. Krape, Master of Ceremonies, called for order and an- nounced that they would have a few short speeches, but first they would listen to a song by the Occidental Quartette, composed of Messrs. Bokhof, - Schaad, Kennedy and Haist, with Mrs. W. S. Benson accompanist. The quartette rendered "Welcome To-night" and then Capt. Krape introduced United States Marshal Fred Marsh, who ably responded to the toast "We Meet Again Boys." Capt. Marsh said it was the first reunion he had ever attended, and it did his heart good to greet his old comrades once more, many of whom he had not seen since they were mustered out of service. He had served with the boys of the 46th from the beginning to the close of the war and no one loved them better than he. He did not think they were better than other soldiers, but he knew they had performed their duty well. The 46th was not exactly a Sunday School regiment, but Capt. Stewart, and Capt. Arno and others were good Sunday School boys. He remembered the ovation the boys had received when they left Freeport for the front and the citizens of this town would always be glad to welcome the boys of the 46th. He hoped the boys would continue to command the respect of all mankind.
The Occidental Quartette then rendered "We Meet Again Boys," after which Dr. Bradshaw was introduced and he responded briefly to the toast, "Surgeons Since the War." He said that during the war the surgeons worked night and day for the soldiers, and since the war they were kept pretty busy making out certificates for the veterans. He paid a glowing tribute to the memory of the late Dr. McKimm, who was chief surgeon of the brigade. In closing he said that he knew of no class of men who were more in favor of pensioning the soldiers than the surgeons of the war.
"Patriotism" was the toast which Judge Crabtree was called upon to respond to. He did not think it was necessary to talk to the boys of the
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46th about patriotism. They had proven their patriotism on many a battle- field. Patriotism means love of country, and the soldiers had proven their love of country by offering their lives in its defense.
Capt. Walter G. Barnes responded briefly to the toast "Pensions." He thought on that question all soldiers agreed, and the only difficulty was in securing the necessary proof. He thought that any soldier who is entitled at all to a pension had justly earned it.
Herman Wagner responded to the toast "The Ladies." He paid a high tribute to the ladies who stood so nobly by their husbands and sons during the war.
Com. Sergt. James Musser responded to the toast "The Commissary Department of the Soldiers Since the War." He said :
There were no officers in the army that held more intimate relations with the soldiers than the Commissary Sergeant. He dealt out to you your rations of sow belly, hard tack, coffee and candies. He was never held responsible for the "Commissary stores" that you bought from the sutler, and carried in your canteens; that kind of commissary often made you happy and jolly, and often got you into difficulties.
When it was regularly used Doctor Bradshaw dealt it out to you in tin cups sweetened with quinine, and for demoralization that it caused the medical and not the commissary department must be held responsible. But since the war, ham and eggs, slapjacks and honey, strawberry short cake and peaches and cream.
You have a specimen of your Commissary stores "since the war" here upon these tables, that is you did have when you sat down, but they have gone down the red canal now. What a contrast, and none greater than in the presence of ladies.
We took our "Commissary stores" without their cheering presence in the days of the war. Perhaps all of our comrades have not had all the Commissary stores they ought to have had since the war, but in this land of plenty it is hoped that none really suffer.
The soldiers are entitled to the best and I agree with all said by our distinguished orator this afternoon about the duty of the government to see to it that the Commissary department of the old soldiers shall not be empty for the few remaining years that they will need them. If any men on the face of the earth have earned a right to eat it is the old soldiers, who sometimes with rations, and often without rations, put the rebellion beneath their feet, and kept the starry banner of the Republic flying in the wind.
"The Dead Soldier" was feelingly responded to by Lieut. T. B. Jones.
"Duty of the Living Soldier to his Comrade" was Capt. Arno's toast, and he stated that he was not prepared to make a speech, but he thought the duty of a soldier to his comrade was to encourage him in all the walks
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of life, and lend a helping hand to a comrade in distress. He thought that all honorably discharged soldiers should join a Grand Army post, as the old soldiers should be united and in union there is strength.
John A. Waddell was called upon to respond to a toast as long as the moral law, and although John does not pretend to be an orator, he surprised his friends on this occasion, by making a very entertaining speech, made up of incidents occurring during the war.
Capt. Pike, of Chana, Capt. Stewart. Dan Galpin and other veterans made brief speeches. Mr. Donmoyer, of Winslow, sang several songs, and then the old veterans bade each other good bye, and the successful reunion of the 46th came to a close.
The following veterans registered on the roster after our report closed Thursday :- F. H. Marsh, Isaac Little, J. M. Murphy, Chicago; L. W. Mogle, Kent; W. S. Reynolds, DeKalb; I. N. Mallory, S. Buchanan, Wm. D. Ford, D. M. Hart, Robt. McLees, Freeport ; J. T. Clingman, Cedarville ; P. C. Davis, Flandreau, Dakota ; A. W. Babb, Shannon ; Adam Smith, Free- mont, Ill .; C. H. Hormell, Oregon ; E. P. Hills, Pecatonica ; John Deisher, Lena; Albert Stecker, Rockford; D. A. Galpin, Lanark; C. A. Bellknap, Orangeville; H. A. Eurnga, Wonsevu, Kansas; D. H. French, Baileyville; L. M. Rodgers, Galena.
ADJUTANT WOODBURY HEARD FROM.
When the reunion of the 46th was held in Freeport a few weeks ago, members of the regiment kept constantly inquiring for Henry H. Wood- bury, the popular adjutant of the regiment. No one seemed to know where he was, and but few of the old boys had seen him since the war. Secre- tary Held wrote to him requesting his presence at the reunion, and is just in receipt of the following reply :
F. C. HELD, Sec.,&c.
WOODSTOCK, VT., '89.
Dear Comrade :- I am sorry I have to decline your kind invitation to be present at the next reunion of the dear old regiment. I fully expected to be able to meet with you this year, but circumstances compel me to re- main at home. I want to see you bad enough to walk the whole distance. It has been over 20 years since I have seen a member of that immortal band who marched, camped and fought together during the battle years of the Republic. What a glorious memory. Who would give up his ex- perience in the glorious old army of the Tennessee, for years of life in these dull days. We are all proud of our old regiment, proud of our old brigade and division, and proud of the Army of the Tennessee. I have al-
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ways regretted that we were not retained in that army, where we properly belonged, and so missed the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. Many of us would have gone to rest on southern soil, no doubt, if we had remained in that army, but it was our home, and our regiment helped to make that army's reputation in the early years of the war.
Give each and every one of the old boys my best wishes. I love them all, and I trust their paths along the crest of life may be made smooth, and that all may answer to their names at the roll call over the river.
Yours in F. C. and L., H. H. WOODBURY, Adjutant.
REUNION OF 1895.
COMRADES IN ARMS.
(Copied in part from FREEPORT JOURNAL, of Sept. 4th, 5th, 6th, 1895.)
The survivors of the gallant old 46th Illinois Volunteers are as- sembling here to attend the biennial reunion. There are not as many of the old boys present as there were two years ago, for the simple reason that in the intervening two years a goodly number of the veterans of this famous regiment have joined their comrades in the other world. The 46th was made up of young men, most of them enlisting before they had become of age, but now they are quite old men and very few of them are without gray hair. The 46th was made up of a jolly lot of fellows, three companies or more being from this county. They were noted for their bravery, and also for their fondness for mischief when not on duty, atid the boys have any number of good stories to tell at each other's expense. The reunion will be held today and tomorrow, and many of the survivors have traveled hundreds of miles to be present on this occasion, and many more are expected before tomorrow.
The reception committee was kept busy this morning receiving their comrades from out of town and at 2:30 this afternoon the annual business meeting was held at Germania opera house. Captain Reitzell, the presi- dent of the association, presided, and Capt. W. G. Barnes officiated as secretary.
Secretary Barnes then read the minutes of the last meeting and Capt. Arno, the treasurer, read his report, after which the following officers were elected :
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Capt. Wm. Stewart, president; B. F. St. John, Sterling, vice-presi- dent ; Capt. Philip Arno, treasurer; Fred C. Held, secretary.
GEN. BLACK COMING.
Gen. John C. Black, of Chicago, who is to deliver the annual address at the reunion of the survivors of the 46th tomorrow afternoon, will arrive tomorrow morning and will be entertained at the residence of Hon. Win. O. Wright. Gen. Black is a great favorite with the Stephenson county veterans, as he is with the veterans in all parts of the union. He is an eloquent orator and is in great demand at gatherings of old veterans. Gen. Black has a magnificent war record and was severely wounded in battle.
TOMORROW'S PROGRAM.
The program for tomorrow will be as follows :
SEPTEMBER 5TII.
9 a. m .- Social reunion at Germania Hall.
1:30 p. m .- Surviving members of the 46th regiment Illinois Volun- teers present, will assemble in front of Germania hall, and under com- mand of senior officer, headed by Henney Buggy company band, and accompanied by G. A. R. posts, other old soldiers, Sons of Veterans, Co. L, Sixth Regiment, Illinois National Guard, Boys' Brigade, other organ- izations and citizens, will march to Taylor's park where the following exercises will take place.
Music-Henney Buggy Co. band.
Invocation-Rev. J. D. McCaughtry.
Welcome -- WV. N. Cronkrite.
Response-Capt. W. W. Krape. Music-Henney Buggy Co. band.
Reading, Brief History of 46th Regiment-Capt. W. G. Barnes, secy. Address-Gen. John C. Black.
Music-Henney Buggy Co. band.
War Songs-Members of the 46th Regt.
Addresses-Old soldiers and others. Music-Henney Buggy Co. band.
Form and march to headquarters at Germania hall.
A banquet will be held the evening of the 5th, at the Brewster House, at 8 o'clock, at which responses to toasts will be made by Gen. John C. Black, Gen. J. H. Stibbs, Gen. S. D. Atkins, Major John D. Crabtree, and other prominent speakers, as well as members of the regiment. Gen. Stibbs will render some recitations at the banquet which is so highly pop- ular at all old soldier's gatherings.
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GEN. BLACK TALKS.
The second day of the reunion of the 46th shows a large increase in the attendance of the survivors, many more of the old boys having arrived here last night and this morning. At 1:30 this afternoon the veterans paraded to Taylor's park, where the exercises of the afternoon were car- ried out. The parade was divided up as follows :
Platoon of Police. Capt. Phil Arno, Marshal. Henney Band. Company L, I. N. G. Members of the 46th. John A. Davis Post. W. J. McKim Post. Speakers in Carriages. AT THE PARK.
A large crowd of people followed the veterans to the park and listen- ed with great interest to the excellent program, which consisted of an address of welcome by Corporation Counsel W. N. Cronkrite, response by Capt. W. W. Krape, prayer by Rev. J. D. McCaughtry, an eloquent address by Gen. John C. Black, and short speeches by members of the 40th, also the following interesting sketch of the history of the 46th, by Capt. W. G. Barnes:
MEMBERS OF THE 46TH REGIMENT, COMRADES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
The committee of arrangements in making up the order of exercises for this afternoon said the secretary would read a brief history of the regi- ment. Don't take up much time in this reading, was the quiet hint given me. 1 little knew at that time what I was expected to undertake. A brief history of the 40th regiment. Ilinois veteran volunteers, from Sep- tember '01 to January '66, if put in the fewest words possible, would make considerable of a reading. It cannot be crowded into a few words, that which takes pages: a regiment that gave service in that grand old army of the Tennessee under that great captain of all captains-Grant, served with Sherman, Logan. McPherson, Gresham. Hurlbut and so many others I can name, made history too fast to crowd into a few words. Taken from what I had at hand, I can give you a synopsis of some of the events of the gallant old 46th regiment, of whom all of us as members are so proud.
In the summer of 1861 President Lincoln made a further call for troops. About that time Gen. S. D. Atkins, then captain of Company A, 11th Illinois, met Hon. John A. Davis at Freeport and urged on him the necessity of his entering the service, as he believed there was to be a mighty struggle before the end would be reached. assuring Mr. Davis if he did 1.000 Stephenson county boys would spring to arms and follow him. Mr. Davis, thoroughly patriotic as he was at all times, decided to render his full measure of support and undertook the raising of a reg-
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iment, in which enlistments were made as early as September, '61. The 46th regiment, Illinois volunteers, was thus begun and was organ- ized at Camp Butler about sixty days thereafter, and John A. Davis was commissioned by Gov. Yates as its colonel. In the early part of Feb- ruary, following, the 40th was dispatched to Cairo, thence up the Cumber- land river to a point below Fort Donelson, where the regiment was assigned to the division of that great man of letters, Gen. Lew Wallace, and immediately participated in that memorable attack causing the final surrender of Fort Donelson and the largest body of Confederate soldiers captured up to that time. After arduous duties at Dover, the regiment was ordered to Fort Henry. Every soldier here present that undertook it is not likely to forget the march we made, in the fearful condition the roads were then in. After lying at Fort Henry until March 6, the regi- ment embarked for Pittsburg Landing. and after twelve days, most of which time was spent on a steamboat, the regiment disembarked in a condition that can be better imagined than described. The 46th was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 4th division, with Col. J. C. Veatch, 25th Indiana, commanding the brigade, and Gen. S. A. Hurlbut commanding the division. Soon thereafter, on April 6th and 7th, was fought the great battle of Shiloh, one of. if not the most terrific battles ever fought. The 46th took a conspicuous and honorable part, losing over half of its officers and men in killed and wounded. In this action General Hurl- but's "fighting" 4th division achieved great reputation for bravery. Gen. Atkins, at that time chief of staff for Gen. Hurlbut, in the order of Gen. Hurlbut extending congratulations to the survivors of his division, con- cludes the order: "Let it be the chief pride of every man in the com- mand. as it is of your general, that he was at Shiloh with the 'fighting' 4th division."
Following the battle of Shiloh and during the month of May came the siege of Corinth. made tedious by the movements of Gen. Halleck. In early June the 46th camped near Corinth: thence to Hatchie river. Grand Junction, Collarbone Hill, Lagrange and Old Lamar Church. July 1st marched to Cold Water and on the 17th moved toward Memphis, pass- ing Moscow. LaFayette, Germantown, White's Station, camping south of Memphis, and in August engaged in a scout to Pigeon Roost. Septem- ber 6, left camp near Memphis via Bolivar to Hatchie river, and on the 27th took part in a general review by Gen. McPherson.
October 4. the regiment moved towards Corinth and on the 5th met the enemy at Metamora, or what is more generally known as the battle of the Hatchie, in which there was some heavy fighting, compelling the flight of the enemy. The 15th suffered a serious loss, among which was the generous. noble and brave Col. John A. Davis. November 3 the regiment marched to La Grange, and moved from there to Holly Springs, thence to camp near Waterford. Miss., where the boys got up splendid winter quarters, and which they completed just in time to move away from.
In December the regiment went to Hurricane Creek, Yocona and Taylor Stations, and the latter part of December acted in connection with 33rd Wisconsin as a train guard to the north side of Tallahatchie river.
January 6, 1863, we moved to Holly Springs, acting in connection with other regiments as an escort to ammunition trains and rendering other service until Feruary 3, when the regiment moved to LaFayette and thence via Collierville and Germantown to Memphis. In April was en- gaged in an expedition to Hernando, returning April 24, and on May 13 embarked for Vicksburg, where the regiment took an active part in that
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famous seige and capture of Vicksburg after the surrender was actively engaged until the enemy evacuated Jackson. The division was now trans- ferred to the 17th corps, and in August moved to Natchez and in Septem- ber went on an expedition to Louisiana and on returning moved to Vicks- burg.
November 28 the regiment went to Camp Cowen on Clear Lake.
January 4, '64, the 40th was mustered as a veteran regiment and soon thereafter started, north on veteran furlough. The ranks being greatly decimated, many new men were added, as well as an entire new company, which was given the letter D, what was left of the original D having been merged in other companies.
On March 2 the regiment, whose ranks had been again filled when north, and numbering 987, officers and men, returned to Vicksburg, near which point the regiment rejoined the 2d brigade, 4th division, 17th corps. It being necessary to give the new men instruction in "hay foot, straw foot," the regiment remained in camp until April 25, when the 46th came into Vicksburg to do garrison duty until May 4th, when it went on an expedition of 200 miles, engaging the enemy and meeting with severe loss. The regiment returned to Vicksburg, remaining in camp until July
1st, when it started on an expedition to Jackson. Miss., encountering the enemy in a skirmish near that point. On returning on the 6th a large force of the enemy was met and an engagement took place which was continued on the 7th. The regiment reached Vicksburg on the 9th having sustained a loss of 43 men. On July 29 the regiment went by steamer Adams to Morganzia Bend, and August 13 the 16th was transferred to the first brigade. second division, nineteenth corps, Col. Dornblaser com- manding the brigade. In August the regiment marched to Port Hudson, then to Clinton and returned to Morganzia. In September went into camp at the mouth of White river. Arkansas. October 7th the regiment went to Duvall's Bluff. thence moved to Memphis, reaching there Decem- ber 1. and continuing on the 21st to Germantown. Moscow and to Wolf river, returning to Memphis December 31. January 2, 1865, the regiment proceeded to Kennerville, La .. and in February went by steamer to Dau- phin Island, Ala. While at Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, the 46th was assigned to the thirteenth corps. March 18 the regiment with its corps marched toward Mobile. Was present at the capture of the Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. This reminds me that in a poem recently pub- lished in the National Tribune. I noticed the lines. "The colors of the old 46th. borne on despite the balls, were among the first that floated triumph- ant o'er the walls." The flag of the 46th was planted first on Blakely's walls by Thos. E. Joiner, of company "G." The regiment reached Mobile the 12th of April. One month later it moved by rail to Meridian. Miss .. returning May 21st. and one week later departed for New Orleans, and from there to Alexandria. Natchitoches and Shreveport, and on June 19 to Grand Ecore. La .. where the regiment remained on garrison duty until November 20, when it moved to Shreveport.
On December 27, the regiment was ordered to Baton Rouge, La .. thence to Springfield, Ill., for muster out, and final discharge. January 20. the regiment was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., and finally dis- charged at Springfield, Ill., February 1, 1866, after a service of nearly four and a half years, having traveled upwards of 10.000 miles and having at different times, owing to decimations in its ranks. upwards to 2.000 men. From the capture and surrender of Fort Donelson in February, 1862, to the capture and surrender of Fort Blakely in April, 1865, the 46th
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rendered its full measure of service to its country and taking the words from the address of Col. Dornblaser delivered last Tuesday at an old soldier's meeting at his home, "We have the right to rejoice that our efforts were crowned with such abundant success."
CLOSED WITH A BANQUET.
The old boys of the 46th knew how to fight during the dark days of 61-65, and they also knew how to forage for grub, and it is said of this regiment that while soldiers all around them frequently went without a square meal, the boys of the 46th never knew what it was to have the pangs of hunger knaw at their vitals. So in these piping days of peace the boys of the 46th are still pretty good hustlers for grub and always manage to get a square meal.
Their sixth biennial reunion closed last night with a splendid ban- quet at the Brewster House, and again the boys of the 46th and their families and invited guests fed on the fat of the land.
It was a grand reunion of the survivors of a grand old regiment which has a history to feel proud of, and it was the most successful reunion in the history of the organization. A large representation of the survivors of the regiment were present, some of them coming hundreds of miles to greet their comrades and talk over the trials, hardships and pleasures they shared during the days of the war, and there was not a veteran who was sorry that he made the trip, no matter how great the distance he had come.
EXERCISES AT THE PARK.
A large crowd of people assembled at Taylor's park yesterday after- noon to hear the eloquent speeches made by General Black and others. An excellent program had been arranged and it was of interest to all. Capt. Reitzell, the retiring president of the association, presided in a dignified manner and introduced the speakers.
The program opened with an excellent patriotic selection by the Henney Band, after which Rev. J. D. McCaughtry offered prayer. Capt. Reitzell then introduced
W. N. CRONKRITE,
who as corporation counsel delivered the address of welcome to the vet- erans in the absence of Mayor Younger. Mr. Cronkrite is one of the most gifted orators in the city and always makes a good speech, but he never spoke so well or so eloquently as he did in extending to the sur- vivors of the 46th the freedom of the city. His words were in excellent taste and were pleasing to the veterans. He said that it afforded him
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