USA > Illinois > Reunion of the 86th Regiment Illinois Infantry, 1889 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
7
EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
pany F: Chaplain. A. Q Wilson, Company A: to deliver the annual address next year. Adjt. L. J. Dawdy: alternate. Sergeant L. S. North.
The report was adopted unanimously and the officers declared duly elected.
Reading communications was the next in order. A large number of letters had been received. They were very interesting to those of the old guard. and many a tear was shed as incident after incident was recalled by the writer. It seems that the surviving members of the 86th have been scattered to the ends of the earth, as it were, as letters were received from California to Maine and from North Dakota to Georgia. When about half had been read the reading was suspended till evening.
An invitation was received from Capt. John H. Hall to take a ride next day over the Fort Clark electric railway. It was heartily accepted by a rising vote.
The meeting then adjourned to ;: 30 p. m.
Evening Session.
Promptly on time the fifes and drums discoursed several old military tunes in front of the building and then the meeting was called to order by Vice-Commander McGinnis.
Here it was found impossible to carry out the programme verbatim, as the Washington Quartette failed to appear as per contract. and Miss Jones and Miss Zinser were both unavoidably absent. The auditorium was filled with comrades. their families and visiting friends, and the absence of so many who were on the programme made it look unpromising for an inter- esting session: but a number of volunteer singers went upon the stage. and with Mrs. Strathman at the piano, right well did they perform their part.
Another bundle of letters were read: then, after singing "Coronation," reading the death roll was in order as follows:
Death Roll.
Chaplain G. W. Brown, died at Abington. Il ... July 24. 1893. H. S. Daman, Co. C, at Daning, Mo. J. W. Holland. Co. G. at Watseka. IIl. George Newman. Co. K. at Humpback, Neh.
The Commander appointed E. C. Silliman. L. L. Lehman and Martin Kingman committee on resolutions of respect for the departed.
The meeting was then turned into a camp-fire and carried on till a late hour. Speaking, singing, story telling, etc., were the general delight of all. A large number of comrades were present who had never attended one of our reunions before. They were specially called up for a speech.
At a late hour the assembly adjourned to meet at Sa. m .. to-morrow.
1.37
8
SEVENTH REUNION
Second Day.
The assembly was called to order by Commander Zin: er. A large attendance was present.
' America " was sung by the congregation with a hearty will. At the close of this very appropriate hymn prayer was offered by Chaplain A. Q. Wilson.
Capt. Jo Major then delivered the annual address. This address is published in full on succeeding pages.
After the address all hands repaired to the main entrance of the Y. M. C. A. and boarded the electric train. commanded by Capt. John H. Hall. It proved a most enjoyable diversion. After the ride a vote of thanks was tendered Capt. Hall for his kindness. all being highly pleased with the trip.
Dinner was next in order and the command broke ranks to assemble at 1:30 p. m.
Last Session.
At 1:30 the auditorium was well filled with the comrades and their friends who had come together to participate in the exercises of the last. session of the seventh reunion.
After music by the band Commander Zinser called order and introduced Col. J. M. Crews. of Memphis, Tenn .. who " fit " on the southern side, under Gen. Forest's command. The colonel is a very soldierly looking man. still in the prime of life. His address as written afterwards by himself is given on future pages.
The committee on death roll then reported the following
OBITUARY RESOLUTIONS:
By the death of our comrades, Chaplain G. W. Brown, H. S. Damon. Co. C: George Newman. Co. K. and Isaac Holland. Co. G. we are again reminded of the fight of time and of our gradual but sure surrender to the great leveller of all our race. These. too. valiant and true when put to the test. have been added to the long list of those of our rapidly thinning ranks who were saved from wars dangers to be gathered to their fathers.
We. therefore. resolve, as having been joined to them in this life by bonds of comradeship made hrm and permanent by the trials and dangers of war, that. mourning their lo's, praying that the Almighty may in His merey and wisdom judge tenderly of their human frailties and give full credit to their virtues and best endeavors in this life. We extend to their families and friends our deep sympathy and condolence, being joint mourners for the departed.
FICH.L.
10
SEVENTH REUNION
-
COMPANY A. 7
Capt. Jo Major, Eureka. Ill. John B. Varble, Secor, Il1.
A. Q. Wilson, Secor, Ill. Thomas Foley. Lostant. Ill. Peter Brubaker, Cruger, Ill.
J. L. Dehm, Havana. Ill.
J. N. Place, Peoria, Ill.
COMPANY B.
C. B. Erwin, Henry. Ill.
C. M. Dawson, Henry, Ill.
J. G. Faris. Mt. Ayr. Iowa. L. L. Lehman. Mattoon. Ill. Edward Me Vicker, Chillicothe. Ill.
W. J. Hubor. Peoria, Ill.
COMPANY C.
Lieut. E. C. Silliman, Chenoa, Ill.
Cyrus Reed. Northampton, Ill.
J. B. Ferguson. Princeville. Ill,
S. H. Stillman. Nortenville, Kansas.
Cyrus Root. Sparland, Ill.
A. L. Jenkins. Dana. Ill. Webster Green. Iola, Kan.
F. I. Saxton. Dana, Ill.
H. H. Nurse. Hallock. Ill.
W. J. Baldwin. Peoria. Ill.
W. M. Jenkins. Chillicothe. Ill.
COMPANY D.
Capt. Frank Hitchcock. Chicago. Ill.
W. R. Greenhalgh. Oak Hill. Ill. J. T. Morris. Eden. Ill. William Graham. Elinwood. Ill.
Jesse Frank. Trivoli, Ill.
S. D. Love, Pender. Neb.
COMPANY E.
Addison Tanquiry. Sparland, Ill.
G. W. Hall, Etonville. Kan. C. F. Hamilton. Wyoming. Ill. G. W. Ramey. Eureka, Kan. W. F. Speers. Stark. Ill. Ambrose Gehrt, Lawn Ridge, Ill. A. J. Kimble. Chillicothe. Ill.
11
EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
COMPANY F.
Capt. J. L. Burkhalter. Galesburg, Ill.
Lieut. John Holl, Galesburg, Ill.
C. W. Mckown. Peoria, TIl.
COMPANY G.
Capt. S. L. Zinser, Minonk, Ill.
Lieut. Martin Kingman, Peoria. Ill.
J. W. Trowbridge. Washington. Ill. C. G. Parker. Stromsburg. Neb. L. S. North. Washington, Ill. Alexander Graham, Washington, Ill. George Botham, Washington. Ill.
T. B. Lane. Deer Creek. Ill. Benjamin Whistler, Mackinaw, Ill.
Nathan Robinson. Lima, Ohio.
H. F. Heiple. Washington. Ill. Christian Magenheimer, Peoria. III.
H. S. Brown, West Hallock, Ill.
G. W. Ferner, Washington, Ill.
COMPANY H.
Capt. J. H. Hall. Peoria. Ill.
Liout. E. E. Peters. Peoria. Ill.
G. M. Moore. French Grove. Ill.
A. W. Belcher. Bloomington, Ill.
J. W. Ewing. Peoria. Ill.
J. A. McFarland. Peoria, Ill.
C. H. Rook. Brimfield. Ill.
Ken MeNeal. Henry. Il.
O. M. Cole. Gresham. Neb.
COMPANY I.
Lieut. R. W. Groninger. Trivoli. Ill.
Lient. J. L. Fahnestock. Peoria, Ill.
Lewis Krisher. Trivoli, IIl.
J. W. Tindall. Cramer. [Il. Bernard Friess. Glasford. Ill.
H. R. Sliester. Peoria. Ill. A. C. Tindall. Glasford. Il.
David Shrefiler. Peoria. Ill.
J. C. McQuown. Glasford. Ill. T. J. Love. Peoria. Ill. Benjamin Erford. Glasford, Ill. L. S. Sprague. Breeds, Ill. John Earnest. Peoria. Ill. J. A. Shreffler. Trivoli. Ill.
12
SEVENTH REUNION
.
COMPANY K.
Lieut. John McGinnis, Peoria. Ill.
W. H. Wisenburg. Princeville, Ill. J. Z. Slane. Princeville. Ill. W. H. Blanchard. Greenleaf. Kan. James White, Monica, Ill. G. B. Nail. St. David's, Ill.
Patrick Byrnes, Dunlap. Ill. Archibald Smith, Monica. Ill. George Gook, Buckley. Ill. Edmund Keller, Princeville, III. S. C. Coburn, Princeville. Ill.
The Annual Address.
BY CAPT. JO MAJOR.
Comrades, ladies, friends: We are informed upon good authority that the soul. the sense and the wit of an address lies in the brevity. That I will be brief. the fact is assured. That I will be sensible or witty, that proposition is a foregone conclusion. decided in the negative.
Yet. while I am truly thankful that I am permitted to appear before you to-day. I have no feeling of pride in doing so. I have had my dress parade. I know full well that I am utterly incompetent for this task. The Sith does not claim the boastful honor of having at any time or place. by some supernatural stroke of heroism, to have checked. with her frail arm. alone and unaided, the triumphant rush of whole divisions and corps of the confedrate army, and thereby to have saved the federal army from utter rout and destruction. We leave such feats of heroism to those who fired the paper cartridges.
But to be within the bounds of truth and propriety, we of the sith do and always have claimed that we were subject to the orders of our superior officers. That the 86th did, on all and every occasion. obey the orders strictly and impartially. as they were transmitted to us by our commander.
Therefore. in accordance with this principle. taught me during our three years of actual service. I appear before you to-day, simply obeying orders from my superiors, the executive committee of this Association, and associates of which any members of the old regiment may and ought to feel justly proud: for I do not think there is another regimental association in the state whose organization is so perfect.
-----
13
EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
This Association of which we are so proud is founded upon the simplest principles. It takes the nature of a family gathering; and old-time reunion of kinsmen. We assemble here each year, not to learn from one another the views held of the political situation: what they are doing in the religious world; not here to discuss or air our personal opinions upon the questions that agitate the public mind. We are not here to argue or expound the financial question, the Sherman bill, the Bland act and reso- lution; to censure or approve the acts of our legislators: yet I trust and believe that every one should hold. and at the proper time advocate, de- cided, honest. manly views on all the issues of the day. Those issues should not and do not mar the felicity of our proceedings. We meet to greet. to clasp each other's hands, to gaze into each other's eyes, and through them into the hearts of our brothers; to replenish the fire of brotherly love and comradeship with a heartfelt "God bless you and prosper you." and I hope and trust we may never forget, in our annual gatherings and through each day of our lives, to pay a worthy and fitting tribute of respect and esteem to our comrades and the families of those who gave their lives so freely while battling for the right as they understood it: and as each year rolls by and brings to our knowledge those of us who have. since our last meeting, passed beyond the shore. let us never forget to revere their memories, and with kind word and act encourage and sympa- thise with the families of our departed heroes, and so long as two of us are permitted to meet. may this Association live and prosper.
We are a busy. rushing people. We are prone to grasp, toiling with mind and body incessantly to overcome often imaginary troubles: are not given enough to social pursuits, but we come here joyfully. and with boyish feeling unrestrained, and, our friends may think, with boyish foolishness recount to each other our many experiences, swap what to them seems ridiculous lies, give and receive what to them seem utterly improbable jokes. But they must stop and consider that we lived for three long, tedious years almost as one family. each dependent on the other; and. methinks, there is no positition in which a man can be placed where the good or bad qualities can be so well studied as in the army.
And. on the other hand. there is no place so well fitted for knocking off the corner. straightening out the crooked places and reducing the conceit in a man's character as in the army.
Then. my friends. when you come to fully realize how intimately we were connected; that we drank from the same canteen -- not always water and cold coffee: that we touched elbows from Jo Holt to Atlanta. from Atlanta to the sea, through the swamps of the Carolinas, through the historie valleys of Virginia, even to the capitol's door, you will wonder not and freely accord to us the privilege of our actions.
Better representatives of those well remembered years have preceded me in our former reunions. They have depicted to you in song and story
14
SEVENTH REUNION
our marches, battles, bivouacs, and. I ought to say. routes: so I shall try and interest you for a few minutes only with other themes.
Twenty-eight years ago we were assembled at our nation's capital for the purpose of being discharged from the United States service. Uncle Samuel needed us no longer. No more work for us to do: grub short. and the wherewithal to pay us shorter.
After three years of toil. hardship and privation we were about to return to our once happy homes.
. Did we fully realize the responsibility of our positions: the duty that devolved upon us as free born citizens of this republic? Did the lessons taught by our noble dead: did the principles inenleated by our most worthy commanders find a lodgement in our hearts? And right here, my com- rades. I must divert, as it were, for a few moments, and talk to you of the noble virtues and sterling worth of one whose whole life was full of those manly and unselfish lessons which I hope and trust every member of the Army of the Cumberland received and profited by. That man was pre- eminently not only the commander of the Army of the Cumberland. but their sire as well, and I believe is to-day enshrined in the heart of every man of that grand old guard. Other commanders, at home and abroad. have been lauded for every act. The poets of our own and other lands have sounded their praises to the remotest corners of the earth. But should you chance to hear one word spoken in praise. in commendation. telling of the sterling worth of this departed hero of ours. you could rest. assured that the exponent of the just was a member of the Army of the Cumberland, our army.
With no political aspirations, with no selfish ambitions with which to pervert him from his high sense of duty. as he saw and understood it: often . misjudged by more impatient commanders: never losing sight. for one moment of time. the welfare and comfort of his men: but when convinced that the time had come for decisive action, 'twas like an avalanche, a monarch aroused from slumber. invincible. unconquerable, and, when all others fled. as steadfast as the rocks on which he stood. Then wonder not that his robust form fills every eye, that we pronounce his name with filial pride and will wear his image next our hearts and transmit his name to our remotest posterity. As the rock of Chickamauga. he showed and exemplitied by every act and impressed his whole command, that obeyance to orders of which he was a living exemplification.
A perfect self-reliance and strict integrity were the sure paths to success. with not even a semblance of jealousy toward his fellow co-workers. He never neglected to bestow merit when deserved: never censured unless compelled by force of circumstances to do so. He lived and acted through his whole life with the principle of ample justice to all men.
As the guiding star of his destiny. when clouds gathered around and about him and his command. then it was that the grandeur of his noble
15
EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
character. the inflexible will power of this commander of ours flashed forth in its bright rays: and truthfully has it been said of him that he saved the fortunes of the day at Stone River: held the entire confederate army at bay at Chickamauga. the river of death: broke the enemies' center at Missionary Ridge, and outgeneraled Hood at Nashville.
Then truly. most truly, have we the right to claim him as pre-eminently our commander. No man of the old second division can ever forget our parting near the capital city. Like unto an indulgent father parting with his children. tears coursed down the bronzed and furrowed cheeks of general and private soldier. And. using the language of another. "could you marshall every soldier of the Army of the Cumberland now living, and call from their honored graves the glorious dead, fifty-seven thousand of whom lie in seven known cemeteries of Tennessee, with many other thou- sands in the soil of Georgia. with a fervent prayer, born of the heart's sincerest desire, each would say, 'God bless and perpetuate the name of George H. Thomas.'"
Then. comrades. have we, as citizens profited by the lessons taught us? Have we, through these long years. manfully, cheerfully, honestly. borne our burdens befitting members of the old guard? We have lived. and we live to-day. in the most progressive age. We cannot but be thankful that our lots have been thus cast. that our time of life can be passed in this decade: for we have the happy privilege of viewing the grandest cyclorama the world has ever been allowed to witness.
We have viewed with awe the most gigantic strides of science and civilization: we have seen the shackles of bondage fall from millions of our fellow men in our own and foreign lands: the rise and fall of powerful dynasties. and above all, have witnessed the Christianizing of heathen lands.
Hundreds of years ago a little plant was allowed to raise its feeble stem on the sunny slopes of Switzerland. barely receiving nourishment sufficient for life and feeble growth. This little obscure plant of liberty. often almost famished, was now and then sending out frail shoots, which. on being trans- planted under various circumstances and conditions. in divers places in other lands. had a varied existence: never seemed to grow and prosper. always failing to draw the essentials of life and growth necessary to its permanent upbuilding. This little plant was as frail as the clinging vine. but as tenacious as life itself. its influence being felt through the entire eastern hemisphere. 'Twas then the hand of destiny, with a mighty move, transplanted from over continent and seas, a germ upon American soil.
Look at it to-day: then ask yourselves the question: Are we not favored? Are we not abundantly blessed in being permitted to have our existence in this. the nineteenth century? This tree of liberty. no longer watered and nourished by the blood of our fathers: succored and supported by the loyal sons and daughters of this patriotic land: its existence no
16
SEVENTH REUNION
longer an experiment but an assured fact: its influence felt by all people: its .boughs spreading, sending its fruitage freely to the oppressed of every elime. and under its benign influence making us the favored chesof this green earth, the recipients of untold wealth -wealth not circumscribed by bonds, stocks, railroad shares or other perishable property, but wealth above and beyond all these. We, in this generation, are rich in the perfect knowledge that we live in a free and enlightened land, under the benign shade of this magnificent tree: that we have the right to claim as ours its protecting care over our free institutions, whose influence for God and . humanity is sufficient. if properly directed by us, to leaven the whole loaf of ignorance and superstition.
In that constellation of stars that emblazons our beloved flag. we. my comrades, you and I. have the right to claim as ours one of its brightest. Every citizen of this prairie state ought. and I believe does. feel doubly t roud of the part she has ever borne in all the varying, shifting scenes that have marked our nation's advancement: ever ready to fill to repletion her ull measure in blood. treasure and enlightenment.
During the Black Hawk war of 1512, Illinois, then a boy of only four- tren Wa s. stepped grandly to the front with the inborn steadiness of a veteran. and gave of her sons, men whose names are to-day revered in every land.
In 1846, when it became necessary that Mexico should be taught the lesson of her life. Illinois was in the front rank. And during the seventeen succeeding years. when our brothers of the south. girding themselves about. with the fa leicus impression that they could and would dissolve this union, bequeathed to us by our God and cemented by the blood of our fathers. you can well remember how valiantly her illustrious sons fought for this uni n. cre and undivided. in our legislative halls.
But notwithstanding all the efforts that were exerted. listen to reason? No. Accept our prayers, our entreaties, the olive branch held to within their grasp? No. They had become so impressed. so imbued with their own mistaken ideas of dissolution that on the 14th day of April. 1801. they committed the unpardonable offense of deseerating the emblem of our liberty. What was the attitude of Illinois in this the nation's crisis? Not like the desultory skirmish firing that you have so often heard on scores of fields, but like the well remembered boom, boom of Kenesaw. or when the mountains trembled at Missionary Ridge. She arose as one man, and in the four succeeding years gave freely illustrious statesmen, renowned chieftains and the flower and pride of her stalwart sons, two hundred and sixty thousand strong. with the prayers and offerings of her loyal daughters.
And since the peace of 1565. she still holds her position proudly in the front. And to-day we see gathered within her borders to celebrate this.
17
FIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
the Columbian year. representatives of every nation, vying, each with the others, for -places within the shade of our tree of liberty.
And now. my comrades. have we performed our part? Do we shirk the responsibility of our allotment? I hope. trust and believe not: for your appreciation of all the benefits. the blessings that have been given us, will, I believe, be reciprocated in the fullest. And may we never swerve one jot from the precepts taught, remembering always that our free institutions are the foundation of our nation's greatness.
Gol. J. M. Grews' Address.
Ladies, gentlemen, fellow citizens, and especially veterans of the 86th Regiment Illinois volunteers:
A few minutes ago I was much surprised and greatly delighted to be called upon at my room by a committee of your regiment consisting of Com- mander S. L. Zinser. Col. Fahnestock and Fife Major A. P. Webber. with a cordial invitation and pressing command to address you. Having served more than four years in the late confederate army and there learning that the duty of a good soldier was to obey orders. I immediately complied with your command: am now here in person to return most sincere thanks for the courtesy and honor which you have conferred upon me and report ready for duty.
It was intimated to me that many veterans of the G. A. R. would be much pleased to hear from one who participated in the late war upon the confederate side: the views and sentiments entertained by the southern people. and the motives which actuated the confederate soldiers in '61. Also that the S6th regiment would be pleased to know something of my personal participation in that terrible conflict.
However averse I may be to speaking of myself and personal history. which is always better left to others, I shall nevertheless endeavor, upon this occasion. to briefly comply with your wish and desire in the premises.
The election of Mr. Lincoln to the presidency of the United States by a majority of the electoral college upon a platform of principles circumserib- ing the limits of slavery. beyond which bounds it should never go. was considered by the south the death knell of slavery in that section: and when we reflected that the constitution of our union guaranteed to every citizen the right of property in African slaves upon every foot of American soil except where a sovereign state had voluntarily abolished it within its own
+
----
18
SEVENTH REUNION
lines; that the individuals of the several states had equal rights in the territories with their property of every kind: that the northern and southern soldiers fought side by side for the independence of the colonies; that their blood has flowed and mingled together in defense of our union of states and honor of the stars and stripes: that the Dutch and Yankees first brought the African from his native land under the sun and made him a slave in America, but after finding that he was not profitable in the cold climate of the frozen north. they sold the negroes to the southern people in exchange for southern gold: that the original states united in framing, adopting and ratifying a constitution recognizing and protecting the right of property in slaves, and that. too, when the north had a majority of the states. the southern people were amazed. mortified and astonished at the election of a president by the northern people upon a platforin of principles at war with the constitution of our union: proposing to take (per force, as we construed it,) the property of the south, without saying one word in regard to the payment therefor-as the government does for every species of property which it wants for any purpose whatever. belonging to the individual. Therefore the southern people said: What use to us is a union where a majority disregards its solemn compacts. or a constitution which is not respected by the many? The only course then left us was for each state to first resolve itself into its original sovereignty and then make such alliance as might become advisable for mutual defense and protection. Per se, the south never favored secession. only as a means of securing a coveted end. I. like all true men and women of the south. was heart and soul with my country, and for any measures whatever that would secure to us our rights as free born American citizens, whose ancestors had fought, bled and died for the independence of the colonies and union of the states. The blood of my ancestors flowed as freely for the independence of the American colonies. the maintenance of the union and honor of the stars and stripes up to 1861. as any family in America. Why, then. was I to be ignored as a citizen and deprived of my property without a just and fair compensation?
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.