USA > Illinois > Ninety-Second Illinois Volunteers > Part 38
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wretch go unpunished? I trow not. If he is not already suffer- ing for his crime, a terrible retribution will overtake him. The next morning we gathered up ten dead ones, of whom the largest part were foully murdered. The larger part of those who escaped murder by the hand of Pointer, were afterward murdered by star- vation and terrible suffering in Andersonville Prison. The vows of vengeance on the part of the Regiment were terrible. You declared, boys, you would never take another prisoner, but would shoot every Rebel that fell into your power. A few days afterward, I noticed you took some prisoners .. I noticed, too, how well you kept your vows of a terrible revenge. This is the manner in which you shot them down : " Johnny, are you hun- gry?" " Yes." "Sit down, then, by me on this log, and try some of Uncle Sam's hard-tack and sow-belly." " Johnny, have they any coffee where you came from?" "No, blockade can't get any." " Try a little coffee and sugar in this tin cup." " Where's your blouse, Johnny?" " Hain't got none." "Here, take mine; I can get another from the Quartermaster."
I must not stop to tell of your advance from Ringgold to the Oostanaula; thence to the Etowa; thence to the Chattahoochee, fighting your way as you went. I must not linger to tell of your raid about Atlanta, in which, for five days and nights, you were constantly in the saddle, without a wink of sleep or rest, unless you caught it on horse, being alinost constantly under fire, and in which Captain Billy Mayer and others received scars; but I will relate one day's experience in Sherman's flank movement that gave us Atlanta.
At seven o'clock on the morning of August thirtieth, 1864, we moved on the road toward Jonesboro, having the advance of the army of the Tennessee. General Howard was in command of that army, General Logan commanding the Fifteenth corps. We skirmished with the Rebs constantly, driving them easily till we reached Bethsaida Church, where, beyond an open field, they were massed behind a long line of works. Generals Logan and Kilpatrick reconnoitered the position. Kilpatrick said, "Logan, throw forward some of your infantry, and charge them out." Logan said, "Kilpatrick, you are a charging man, charge your- self." The General then ordered Colonel Baldwin, of the 5th Kentucky Cavalry, to make the charge. The Colonel replied, " I'll be d-d if I do it. It's not the business of cavalry to charge fortifications." Colonel Baldwin, not long after, went under arrest. The order then came to the Ninety-Second: " With the Regi-
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ment on horseback you will charge those works, and drive out the Rebs." The question was asked, " May we not charge on foot, as we were accustomed to do?" The reply was, " You will charge on horseback." Kilpatrick wished to show his cav- alry. Boys, you remember how hard it was to wheel the horses into line in that tangled wildwood, beneath a galling fire, the bullets rattling like hail against the trees. Some of you shouted, " Let us charge on foot." The reply was, " No; we are ordered to charge on horse." The command was given, " Forward." Like wild mad-caps you dashed over that field, and threw your horses against the works; you brought your Spencers down and pumped fire into that living mass; stricken with fear, they fled. The ground along the works was strown with Rebel dead and dying. Some prisoners you took. One boy of Company I, in his excitement, sprung from his horse upon the back of a big Johnny, and, grabbing him by the collar, dragged him over the works, and, leading him up to Captain Becker, said: "Cap, here's a prisoner ; what shall I do with him?" The Captain said, " Take him back to the rear." The boy said, "I have not time, Cap; you take him back; I want to go for another!" Captain Becker, at the time you told me the boy's name; I have forgotten it. Is he present? This charge cost us valuable lives, though the Rebs lost ten to our one. Here Lieutenant Dawson, of Company H, was mortally wounded, than whom a better, braver soldier never lived. His loss to Company H, and to the Regiment, was irrepa- rable. His body sleeps by the Chattahoochee; but his noble, daring spirit finds rest up yonder in the soldier's paradise. We moved forward again on the Jonesboro Road till we reached a valley, where we were ordered to halt. Here we witnessed a most splendid artillery duel. On the range of hills east of us was Rebel artillery; on a western summit our batteries were in position. We were midway between the two. It was a grand scene to witness. White wreaths of smoke curled upward from the guns, white wreaths from the bursting shells; Rebel shot howled over us; our shells screamed back again. Thunder answered to thunder, peal to peal, crash to crash! Earth fairly shook. Our boys beat. The Rebel gunners limbered up, and rumbled away. Onward we moved, still toward Jonesboro. We marched till we reached Flint River Valley, about two iniles from town. As we looked down from the hill, we saw the river, a bridge spanning it; Rebel ranks were guarding the bridge, and about to destroy it. " Forward the Ninety-Second!" was the
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order. "Charge the Rebs, save the bridge!" At our request we charged on foot. On the run you went in, cheer upon cheer uttered as you dashed upon the Rebs. They could not stand the blaze of your Spencers; they fled. The bridge was saved. As you were returning to your horses, you met Generals Howard and Osterhaus. General Howard said, " Boys, that was a splen- did charge; you are a noble Regiment." Osterhaus said, " Das ist ein goot Regiment; dey trills de infantry trill." Each of you, after these compliments, felt as big as a full-fledged Major General; and you had a right to feel thus, for you were good, brave, noble boys. Had you been ordered to charge into the very jaws of death, I believe you would have done it. As soon as mounted, Kilpatrick said, "Captain Estes will accompany you, and give you my orders." We moved down the hill, and as we were crossing the bridge you heard Estes say to an infantry Colo- nel who stood by, "Colonel, the cavalry will beat the infantry. We are going right into Jonesboro." We made a right turn as we crossed the bridge, and marched down the left bank of the river. The shades of night were falling. You had marched and fought the blessed day through-no rest; no dinner, no coffee or little hard-tack in your stomachs. After moving about a mile and a half down the river, you came to a swale; it was getting quite dark. Some of you said, " Yonder are the Rebels! I see their line; there are hundreds and hundreds of them." Estes replied, " It's a d-d lie; there's not a Rebel between us and Jonesboro." As we crossed the swale, and reached the foot of a hill, a rolling volley of musketry greeted us. Estes said, "The General directs that you dismount your command, charge the hill, take it, and hold it." He then moved rapidly to the rear. In advance of the rest of our Division, we knew not how far, the line of the Rebel army running across the top of that hill; we ordered to charge the hill, take and hold it. Great God, what a task! " Prepare to fight on foot," was the order.
" Was there a man dismayed? Not tho' the soldier knew Some one had blundered ; Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why; Theirs but to do and die. Into the Valley of Death Rode the Six Hundred."
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"Forward!" was the command. How like demons you fought your way up that hill. Terrible was the roll of your Spencers. The incessant, unbroken fire of your guns the Rebs, though ten to your one, could not withstand. Dismayed, they recoiled, and fled back to the foot of the hill. "Lie down!" was the order. You obeyed. How closely, how lovingly you hugged old mother earth; had you not done it, there would probably have been but one Reuion of the Ninety-Second, and that up yonder,-for fire to the right of you, fire in front of you, fire to the left of you, volleyed and flamed! Should you live till you are wrinkled and gray, you can never forget the terrible hissing, whistling, and whizzing of bullets above you. It seems as if ten thousand col- onies of bees were let loose in the trees about you. One, two and three different messengers were sent back with the word: " We hold the hill, send us reinforcements or further orders." The Division had come up. The balance of our Brigade tried to form on our left, but could not; had they succeeded, a general engagement of the two armies would have ensued. Orders came-" Fall back."
" Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them."
One·fifth of our number engaged were killed or wounded, and nearly all while lying flat upon the ground. As we were moving back, we met Colonel Murray; he exclaimed, "God bless the Ninety Second! Such terrific firing I never heard; I feared that not a man of you would come out alive. Brave, brave boys!" As he thus complimented you, the tears were streaming down his cheeks. In this fight, Lieutenant Sammis was twice wounded, one wound crippling him for life. It was midnight before we sank to rest on the ground. Thus ended an eventful day in the history of the Ninety-Second. A day or two after, General Howard issued an order to Kilpatrick, complimenting him for the brilliant diversion made by the cavalry on his right, which enabled him to get his men into line without firing a gun. The brilliant diversion referred to was made by you, boys, and by you alone.
Brother Cartwright's little sermons, so warm from the heart, that he talked to you down yonder, seldom exceeded twenty
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minutes. We always thought it safe to follow his example. I fear in my little talk to-day I shall digress somewhat from it; but I'll hasten.
I'll not stop to tell how General Atkins, with his Brigade, pounced upon the Rebs at Macon, making them believe that city was Sherman's objective point, which enabled the army to swing to the east, getting between the Rebs and the sea. In that charge you had the post of honor-the advance. Brother Cartwright undertook to pick up the Rebel wounded your Spencers had scat- tered along the road, most of whom were shot through the head, but he found the job too big. I'll not tell of your triumphant march through Milledgeville, the Capitol of Georgia, our Brass Brand, led by Collen Bauden, playing Yankee Doodle in finest style. Neither must I relate how well you acted as rear guard of the Division, Sunday, November twenty-seventh, while moving toward Waynesboro, Wheeler's whole command following close in you steps. Charge after charge of Rebs you repulsed; many saddles you emptied, horses going back riderless. The next morning General Kilpatrick said, "Atkins, the Ninety-Second must again act as rear guard to-day." General Atkins replied, "The boys are worn and weary from yesterday's toil; they ought not to bear the brunt again to day." Kilpatrick said, "They must." Atkins replied, " They shall not; if you think the other brigade can not take its turn on duty, I will again march in rear with my Brigade, but the Ninety-Second shall not be the rear Regiment." General Kilpatrick, with a little profanity, yielded, but not with a very good grace. I will not tell of the fight you had at Buckhead Creek, in which Kilpatrick lost his hat, and came near being captured; the Rebs, after our Division went into line behind barricades, meeting a terrible repulse, losing some two hundred men. Wheeler, and his command, were growing more and more insolent every day. It was necessary they should have a good drubbing. Sunday morning, December fourth, you were ordered to strip for fight. The night previous you had been on picket, so annoyed by Rebel shells that you got no rest. You had had no breakfast. You loaded up with cartridges. General Atkins was ordered to open the fight. The General directed that you should charge on foot in the centre, and the cavalry on your right and left, mounted. Our artillery opened up in fine style. On foot, in line of battle, you moved forward till you came to a creek, which you waded. As you halted on the opposite bank to re-form your line, you saw the enemy. On the crest of the hill beyond
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frowned their works; those barricades swarmed and were gray with Rebels. Wheeler's whole command was in and about them. Their battle-flags floated in defiance. You could see the gleam of their guns pointed at you, as at a rest they were taking aim. You knew when that death volley came, many of you would go down; but you were not daunted. Victory you were resolved to win. "Forward!" was the command. "Charge for the works ! On, boys! On!" Up that hill you double-quicked. When near the works, a sheet of flame volleyed at you-down went some of your numbers; the Rebs had fired high. Cheer upon cheer you now sent up, for you knew you had them. Like mad you sprang forward, threw yourselves upon the works, pumped fire from your Spencers at the Rebs as you climbed up. Down upon the Johnnies you leaped, capturing almost as many Rebels as you had men in your Regiment. You did not stop here; you ordered your pris- oners back to the cavalry, and forward you dashed, driving the Rebs from a lesser line of works. In consternation they fled. In grand confusion they were mingled together in a large open field, each in the other's way, struggling to get to the rear. An un- broken sheet of flame rolled at them from your Spencers. " Where's the cavalry? Where's the cavalry?" some of you shouted. "Oh! what a glorious chance for a cavalry charge!" The cavalry were not up to time-the golden moment was lost. The Rebs got on the Waynesboro road, and oh! how they did skedaddle! Kilpatrick came up, and in his fine, piping voice screamed out, " Boys, barricades don't stop you, do they?" You shouted in reply, " We want our breakfast." Said he, " Ride into yonder wood, and make your coffee." Of our hero boys that here fell, I must speak of but one-brave, noble Geede Scott, of Com- pany D, General Atkins's Brigade color-bearer. As you were dashing forward in your charge, sending up cheer after cheer, Geede rose in his stirrups and cheered with you, waving in triumph the Brigade flag. A Rebel shot struck him; he fell. You were victorious over the enemy-he, over death. He was transferred to the command up yonder, to become a standard-bearer in the shining ranks of Heaven's great army.
December fifteenth, IS64, from Midway Church some of you went to Sunbury Sound, and there watered your horses in the Atlantic. I believe you said your horses did not relish its briny waters; but that you very much relished the big, fat oysters you swallowed from the shell, seasoned with a little Atlantic brine. December twenty-second, 1864, Sherman presented to
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President Lincoln the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns, much ammunition, and twenty five thousand bales of cotton. A little rest beneath the giant live oaks, and you were away upon the Carolina campaign.
February eleventh, 1865, you were in front of Aiken, S. C. Wheeler's whole command and Cheatham's division of infantry were there. About the town in horse-shoe shape the Rebs were formed, a little retired and concealed from view. The road into the town was open, a column of Rebs in the town being in line of battle. Kilpatrick said, "Atkins, had you not better charge into the town?" Atkins replied, " I think not; I believe the Rebs are massed in heavy force in and about it; but if you order it, I will charge." The order was given. " Forward the Ninety-Second," was the command. "Charge into the town!" Away you went, boys, flying into the town. You struck the column of Rebs there, hurling them back. While you were thus charging, the Rebs outside of the town in massive columns closed in upon your rear, cutting you off, and surrounding you. Kilpatrick, who had witnessed the movement, said, "There's a Regiment gone to hell!" But to that hot place, boys, you did not go, and I hope you never will. " Right about," was the order. "Charge for your lives! Fight your way through! Surrender, never!" You charged, throwing yourselves upon the enemy ; they were ten to your one; the shock was so heavy it broke your slender line into atoms. Each was then his own General, and fought on his own hook. How nobly you did it, shooting down every man who con- fronted you. A majority came through, but a portion still remained in the coils of the enemy. You reformed, and, with the 9th Ohio and oth Michigan, you charged again, driving back the Rebs, and rescuing the remainder of your comrades. A his- tory of your daring deeds that day would make a book ; few were captured, but many killed and wounded. As you were charging back, several Rebs took after Kilpatrick, and chased him in fine style. The General called out, "Shoot the d-d Rebs, shoot them!" Several Spencers cracked, the Rebs fell, and General Kilpatrick and his spotted horse were saved. A big overgrown Reb charged Colonel Van Buskirk; their steeds came together with a heavy shock; both riders were thrown to the ground; Colonel Van Buskirk was first to his feet, and with his heavy navy revolver, which he had before emptied, he struck the rising Reb upon the head, prostrating him again to the earth. Ed. Webb, of Company B, shot his antagonist, and led off his horse
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and accoutrements. Thus I might relate a daring adventure of each of you, had I time. I wrote Captain Becker, asking him for incidents to relate. He replied, " Ridicule the officers, but praise the boys, for they deserve it. You may tell how I lost my hat at Florence, and how at Aiken my old sabre was so rusted in the scabbard I had to take both hands to draw it." I will add what the Captain did not tell me, but what I know. Two big Rebs confronted him, contemplating his capture. Captain Becker, in tones of thunder, yelled at them, "Get out of my road, you rascals, or I'll smash you!" As the Captain made for them, they thought discretion the better part of valor, and fled. It appears that Captain Becker thought his sword was in better condition to " smash" than to cut.
Many were your fights and skirmishes in the Carolinas.
April twelfth, 1865, you reached a branch of the Neuse River, as the Rebs were in the act of destroying the bridge. You drove them from it. As you halted to repair it, news came from Sher- man that Lee had surrendered. O, how the sky echoed and re- echoed again with your exultant cheers! The bridge repaired, you crossed. The Rebs charged you; you repulsed them, and, in return, charged them, driving them up the road, over the hill, and away to the railroad, and beyond it. While at the railroad, a train of cars came dashing along. You halted it. Ex-Governor Swain and others stepped out. General Atkins received them, and, for the first time, in the Governor beheld his future father- in-law. The Governor was bearing to Sherman the surrender of the city of Raleigh. The battle fought that day, my com- rades, was your last, and your trusty Spencers there fired the last shots of the war. In it the Regiment lost valuable lives. Of the wounded was our respected President, who fell in the thickest of the fight. Though maimed and deformed for life, he is loved and respected by his comrades, and esteemed and honored by the people among whom his lot is cast.
Of our noble patriot dead, their graves are scattered along the line of our march, from the banks of the Ohio through to the sea, and thence northward through the Carolinas. Their heroic spirits, I believe, are here to-day, hovering over us at this moment, and enjoying the blessedness of this home scene.
Sergeant Bloss, of Company K, who fel! mortally wounded in the charge at Powder Springs, Georgia, after commending his wife and babes to the care of Omnipotence, said: " My life is a part of the price of freedom : cheerfully I die." . Brave words,
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and true. Our fallen heroes died in freedom's cause-the noblest death allotted to man.
In the words of others:
" Their names will thrill the coming ages as they are spoken by the tongues of the eloquent; and their deeds will forever be chanted by immortal minstrels."-Manning.
" Every mountain and hill shall have its treasured name: every river shall keep some solemn title; every valley and every lake shall cherish its honored register. And till the mountains are worn out, and the rivers forget to flow, till the clouds are weary of replenishing springs, and the springs forget to gush, and the rills to sing, shall their names be kept fresh with reverent honors, which are inscribed upon the book of National Remem- brance."-Beecher.
Mr. President, dear comrades, and brothers: Let us so live that when tattoo with us shall sound, and the lights of our lives shall be blown out, we may lie down to rest, having well fought life's battle, and nobly done our duty in life's campaign, in full accord with that Book of Regulations that was written by God's own hand; that when resurrection morn shall come, and you awake to the peals of Gabriel's trump, as he blows reveille, you, with the boys down yonder, will rise triumphant to form a part of the great Reunion of the army of God, in Heaven's blessed encampment.
Major Woodcock's address was received with many demon- strations of applause, and was heartily cheered at its close. Music by the Band followed, when Major Hawk announced a business meeting of the members of the Ninety-Second Illinois, in the court-room, and with a benediction by the Chaplain the out-door audience was dismissed; not, however, without an urgent invita- tion to report promptly on the grounds at six o'clock for supper.
The business meeting was opened by prayer, and the Presi- dent stated the object to be to select a place for the next Reunion, and to elect officers for the coming three years. General Sheets tendered an invitation on behalf of Oregon, Ogle County, to the Association, to hold its next Reunion there on September fourth. 1876. Mr. King tendered a like invitation on behalf of Rochelle. On motion, the invitation from Oregon was accepted, and Ore- gon, Ogle County, fixed as the place of the next Reunion of the Ninety-Second Illinois Volunteers, and September fourth, 1876, fixed as the time. General B. F. Sheets, late Lieutenant Colonel
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of the Ninety-Second Illinois, was unanimously chosen President of the Association.
Major Hawk made a touching and feeling address to his com- rades, on retiring from the Presidential chair. A vote of thanks was unanimously tendered Major Hawk. General Sheets, on assuming the chair, returned thanks for the honor, and promised to serve as faithfully as he knew how. John M. King, Esq., late Corporal of Company B, Ninety-Second Illinois, was unani- mously elected Vice-President. Richard H. Lee, Esq., late private of Company B, was unanimously elected Secretary. E. A. Irvine, Esq., late Sergeant of Company B, was unanimously elected Corresponding Secretary.
A Committee was appointed to prepare and publish a History of the Ninety-Second Illinois Volunteers.
Thanks were returned to Major Woodcock for his able address, and a copy requested for publication. Major Hawk was unanimously chosen as the orator for September fourth, 1876. The Major was taken by surprise, and vainly tried to decline, but they would not let him off. He intimated that they would get the worst of it in the end. One of the boys said, "Cram in a big load, Major, and we will take the chances on your firing off your mouth."
The following letters and telegrams were then read :
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., July 2, 1873.
DEAR GENERAL: Your note of invitation to the third trien- nial Reunion of the Ninety-Second Illinois Regiment has just reached me. I regret to say I cannot go. I well remember the first time I saw the Ninety-Second, with you at their head, just begin- ning their glorious career, their uniforms new, their guns bright, their flags unsullied by battle smoke or shot, their men bright- eyed, buoyant. It seems but yesterday, so powerful and brave; gone now, scattered, dead. Who can answer the muster roll? Where are the shot-torn and ragged flags? Where the well burnished instruments of death? All have vanished like a pa. geant, and the mighty war itself, rocking thirty millions of people on its stormy waves, has vanished too.
But it was not all a dream; personally, life-enduring friend- ships were formed; politically, the greatest results were wrought out: and all time shall bear witness to the patriotism and devotion of the men who risked their lives to do it.
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I wish you all a most happy Reunion, and long life to the brave men of the Ninety-Second.
Yours truly, JOHN COBURN.
To General S. D. Atkins.
IOWA FALLS, IOWA, Sept. 1, 1873.
CAPTAIN E. T. E. BECKER :
My Dear Captain and Comrade: I had fondly anticipated meeting you and the old comrades of the Ninety-Second at this Reunion, but business has ordered otherwise. But though absent in person, will be with you in mind. Words are inadequate to express the true admiration and gratitude I have for the comrades of the old Ninety-Second, with whom I have been in many well fought battles, and, through you, extend the hand of friendship and fellowship, and the many regrets that I am not able to be with you at this, your third triennial Reunion.
Yours truly, M. VAN BUSKIRK. FREEPORT, ILL., Sept. 4, 1873.
MAJOR R. M. A. HAWK, Mt. Carroll:
Please present regrets and warmest greetings to my old com- rades. I am celebrating a Reunion at home. It is a big boy !
LAWVER.
The business meeting then adjourned, and the Ninety-Second boys again mingled with their friends in the Court House Square. The soldiers had come, bringing with them their wives and babies, their fathers and mothers, their cousins and sweethearts, and friends, and such happy groups as were there are seldom seen. Some had come more than a thousand miles to attend the Reunion. Stories of the camp and battle went around again, and the merry mood of all told plainly that they knew where the laugh came in. And tears started too, sometimes, when the names of beloved comrades, who had fallen, were mentioned. It was a Reunion where patriotism was both sanctified and born- in which the past was honored, and the future made more secure. Promptly at six o'clock, supper was announced. They assembled in an orderly manner around the long tables, and reverently bowed their heads while the good old Chaplain returned thanks, and asked God's blessing. And such a supper! Smoking hot coffee for the soldiers, and tea for the ladies! Cold chicken, turkey, ham, beef, mutton, buttered rolls, cake in endless variety,
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grapes, apples, and ice cream! And the free gift, too, of the generous people of Mt. Carroll. The ladies of that goodly city were again the waiting maids. Again there was abundance, and no hurry or confusion.
With the gathering shades of night the grove was lighted up with Chinese lanterns, and when the Band struck up, the audience assembled around the speaker's stand. The President called it to order, and the Chaplain offered prayer, when the President read the first toast-"The Fifteenth Illinois Infantry," which was re- sponded to by Major Adam Nase, the present Collector of Internal Revenue for this District. Major Nase was wounded in battle, and after having his leg amputated by Rebel surgeons, came back home by way of Libby Prison. His speech was full of patriotism and eloquence, and we regret that we cannot give it in full. We have not room for any of the patriotic and eloquent addresses made in the evening. We can only give in order the toasts, and the names of those who responded: " The 34th Illi- nois;" response by Dr. John S. Hostetter; an able address. The boys loudly called for General Atkins, when the General appeared and made a short speech. General Sheets was also called out, and made a humorous address. "The 45th Illinois;" response by Captain J. M. Adair, in an excellent speech. " The 52d Illinois;" response by Captain S. S. Dunn. " The 96th Illinois;" response by Moses Furlong. "The 19th Illinois;" response by Captain W. H. Wildey. " The Sth Illinois Cavalry ;" response by John H. Bowman. " The 7th Illinois Cavalry ;" .response by T. G. Smith. " The 55th Illinois;" response by D. B. Smith. "The 14th Iowa;" response by Rev. Mr. Kinen. " The West Virginia Cavalry ;" response by Rev. W. H. Tibbals. "The 3d Wisconsin ;" response by Charles Vandergrift. "The 146th New York;" response by D. W. Hughes. "The 20th Wisconsin ;" response by Captain H. Vandergrift. The toasts were interspersed with fine music by the Black Oak Band. During the evening Captain Becker (old dad) was twice called out, once to sing " The Trundle Bed Song," and once to sing "The Soldiers' Song." The good old Chaplain was called out, and responded feelingly. Thanks were returned to the people of Mt. Carroll, with three cheers and a tiger, and three cheers and a tiger were given by the Ninety-Second boys for their comrades of other regiments. The proceedings proper closed with prayer by the Chaplain, and a benediction. But while waiting for the 'busses to convey them to the cars, the boys called for Becker to lead in the song, " We'll rally around the flag,
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boys," and "John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave," while old and young joined in the chorus, and made the rock- bound hills of Mt. Carroll echo with their songs. So ended one of the happiest Soldiers' Reunions ever held in Northern Illinois.
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