USA > Indiana > Annual reunion of the 36th Indiana volunteers: 4th-5th, 1887-1888, 7th-14th, 1890-1897 > Part 1
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IVI. L. 973.74 In2i 1373600
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
O. C.
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 2049
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/annualreunionof300indi
ANNUAL REUNIONS
36th INDIANA INFANTRY
ASSOCIATION
Fourth-
1887 at Muncie
Fifth-
1888 at Richmond
Seventh- 1890 at Knightstown
Eighth- 1891 at Hagerstown
Ninth- 1892 at Farmland
Tenth-
1893 at Indianapolis
Eleventh- 1894 at Liberty
Twelfth- 1895 at Cambridge City
Thirteenth '96 at New Castle
Fourteenth '97 at Hagerstown
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.
Fourth Annuel Reunion
OF THE
36th Indiana Infantry Association
HELD AT
MUNCIE, INDIANA,
ON
Doboben Bah, 1007.
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1373600
Conrade :_
You and yours are invited and expected to be at the 4th He-union of the
36th Indiana Infantry, at Muncie, Ind., October 6, 1887,
Report your acceptance at once to
John 20. Little, Muncie, Jnd.
There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours -- Fetters of friendship and ties of flowers, And the true lover's knot, I ween: The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss; But there's never a tie, old friend, like this :-- " We have drunk from the same canteen."
J. C Livesey, Sec'y. I'm. Grose, Bres't.
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PROCEEDINGS.
The fourth annual reunion of the 36th Indiana Infantry Association met at the city of Muncie October 6, 1887. Was called to order at 10:30 a. m. by the President, General William Grose. Prayer was offered by Comrade Carson, after which, by reason of siek- ness of Mayor Ellis, Judge Buckles in a very happy manner in behalf of the citizens extended a welcome to the ex-soldiers, their wives, children, families and friends. This was responded to in an eloquent address by General Grose on behalf of the organization, as follows:
COMRADES: Prior to the war, and in 1860, the pro-slavery party at the Charleston con- vention took the position that Congress should maintain slavery and prevent unfriendly legislation in the Territories and everywhere else. They expressed a willingness to let the Supreme Court determine the question of the right to hold slaves in the Territories. Breckenridge was the representative of these people and was their candidate for Presi- dent.
Another party, or portion of a party, took the position that people in the Territories should be sovereign and control slavery therein, and have it there if they so desired. This was known as Squatter Sovereignty, with Stephen A. Douglass at its head.
The third and greatest party took the position that slavery should not be allowed to extend into free territory. Senator Seward, of New York, declared it to be an irrepres- sible confliet. The grandest and greatest of them all declared that the Government could not continue to exist half slave and half free, and he was in favor of human lib. erty. This was Abraham Lincoln, and he was made President of the United States, and the conflict was upon us, brought on by bad and wicked pro-slavery men. And the men of the 36th Indiana were invited to take part on the side of the Government for its per- petuity and, finally, for human liberty. Now let me say --
Surviving Comrades of the 36th Indiana Regiment: Our people admire and love von, because of your patriotism and fidelity to this great and good Government under which we live. Your history, for three long and perilous years, cannot be told on an occasion like this. Yet with mingled sorrow and pleasure I may briefly refer to a few of the incidents in that eventful period of your lives. In sorrow, when I think of those brave ones who started with you in the vigor of life and manhood and fell by the way- side, a sacrifice upon the altar of our common country. With pleasure, when I recomt, in truth, the many brave and daring deeds performed under trying circumstances, that are only performed by the bravest of the brave.
The 36th Indiana was mustered into the service at Camp Wayne, at the city of Richmond, September 16, 1861, was soon after shipped by the way of Indianapolis, there anded, and thened to Jeffersonville, reported to General Sherman, remained there in camp a couple of weeks, thence ordered, by General Buell, who had succeeded General Sherman, to New Haven, thirty miles south of Louisville, in Kentucky. In December was ordered and reported to General Nelson at Camp Wickliffe and formed one of the icar regiments of the 10th Brigade, 4th Division, organized and placed muider command of General Nelson, known then as the Army of the Ohio. February 7, 1862, marched to Camp Heart, deven miles toward Green River. From thence, on the 14th of Febru . any, to the Ohio River, at the month of Salt Creek. Thence by steamboat Woodford,
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via Paducah, up the Cumberland River, and arrived at the city of Nashville February 25, and, with the 6th Ohio, was the first Federal troops to enter that city, and clear its streets of rebel cavalry. Remaining there until the 17th of March, when, with General Buell's army, it marched to Savannah, on the Tennessee River, one hundred and thirty miles, but frequently halting on the way for two or three days at a time. Arrived at Savannah April 5, at noon, and went into camp. On the next day, April 6, a bright and lovely Sabbath morning, the great conflict between the troops under General Grant, of the Union army, and those under General Johnson, of the rebel army, commenced on the left bank of the Tennessee River, in plain hearing, eight miles distant. Orders were received and at 1 o'clock that day General Nelson's division was put in motion, with the 36th at the head of the columns, to march to the scene of action.
The 36th arrived at the river at 4 o'clock p. m. and crossed over from the east side to the west at Pittsburg Landing, upon a steamer, as soon as it was possible to do so. As soon as the regiment was over it was formed in order of battle by its commander, under orders given by General Buell in person. The brigade commander, Colonel Ammen, was at the river directing the passage over of the other regiments of his brigade. The historian has said of your action on that evening, that "the Colonel brought into action eight companies, about four hundred strong, the remaining two companies having been left on other duty at Savannah. The regiment had hardly completed its alignment when the rebels made their appearance, massed in column of attack, moving steadily toward it. The 36th immediately gave them a volley, which was promptly re- turned. The regiment had never been under fire before. It had formed under cireum- stances the most discouraging possible to new troops, losing one man killed in so doing. but being well and coolly commanded, the men stood up to their work most gallantly. Amazed at the warmth of their reception, the rebels still strove to close in upon their antagonists, but they could not face such a fire and were forced to retire in disorder. Twice in quick succession the attack was repeated, and twice more it was beaten off, Grose's men expending fourteen or fifteen rounds." This is true, but the regiment, after formed, advanced about 200 yards to meet the enemy.
The 36th was the only troops of Buell's army that took part in that day's engage- ment. The next day, April 7, was a bloody day, and the regiment performed its share, and lost in this great Shiloh battle nine killed, thirty-eight wounded and one missing: total loss, forty-eight.
Remaining at Shiloh until May 1, when your Colonel became commander of the 10th Brigade, and Lieutenant-Colonel Cary of the regiment, and moved in the campaign against Corinth, Miss., entering that city in the front line on the morning of the 30th of May. Thence in pursuit thirty-five miles south, and then returning via Inka, Tuscul- bia, Florence and back to Nashville, arriving there July 17, and on the next day, by rail, with the brigade, to Murfreesboro, thirty miles, drove the enemy out and possessed that city. Thence forty miles east to MeMinnville, at the foot of the mountains, there harrassing the flank of Bragg's army, and returning to Woodbury fought with Forrest's cavalry with successful results. Then on to Nashville, and marched to Louisville, side by side with the rebel army, arriving at the latter city September 26, careworn, footsore and weary from the great fatigue and toil of a long summer's campaign, which would seem to say, let us go home and see our dear ones, and have a little rest from our labors. But the country's interests otherwise demanded, and as soon as your feet and bodies could be clad, your haversacks and cartridge boxes could be replenished. the orders came to move on the 1st day of October out to encounter again the rebel hosts, under Bragg and Smith, combined. At Perryville they were overtaken, on the 8th of October, and that bloody conflict ensued, and although it was your good luck once to share with your more unfortunate comrades but a light portion of that battle, yet you performed to the full measure all that was ordered or demanded of you. This battle over, it was your part to engage in close pursuit, your command overtaking the enemy at Will Cat Mountain, engaged him in a close contest, with success, but at the sacrifice of some of your brave comrades. Your pursuit cont ned toward Cumberland Gap until ordered to cease. Thence withdrawing by Rockcastle River southwest out of Kentucky into Tennessee, across the Cumberland to Silver Springs, then to Nashville, there to prepare . for another great struggle and save that city from the grasp of the enemy.
At Nashville the 36th was organized as one of five regiments of the 8 1 Brigade, Ist Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and on the 26th day of December, 1802. moved out with the command to meet the enemy, then encamped at Murfreesboro, thirty
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miles distant. Skirmishing began on leaving camp and continued until on the morning of the 31st, the last day of that eventful year. The enemy, under General Bragg, again met our army in deadly conflict upon the banks of Stone River, and began an early at- tack upon the right of the Union lines. Our whole right and eenter were driven back, until the enemy came upon the 2d and 3d Brigades of Ist Division. The 6th Ohio and 36th Indiana were ordered to the front, at the Cedars, to meet the enemy, rapidly ap- proaching in column of regiments, and "rolling up" onr lines from the right, with terrible carnage on both sides. These two advance regiments fought like demons until over- powered by numbers; were compelled to give way, but not until Colonel Anderson, commanding the 6th, and Major Kinley, commanding the 36th, were both wounded, the latter with a broken thigh, and along with many of his killed and wounded comrades, disabled upon the field, and is a living witness of what I say, along with many others that are around me. The enemy continued forward with success until they came in deadly conflict with the second line of the brigade, composed of the 23d Kentucky, 24th Ohio, 84th Illinois and H and M Companies of 4th Regiment United States Artillery, with twelve guns. And here, for the first time, the rebel columns were brought to a halt and hurled back. The line of these three regiments and two batteries, protected on the left by the 2d Brigade of 1st Division, and in a short time after the first assault by Van Cleve's Division, brought from the left of the Union lines to assist in sustaining this position. That portion of the 36th Indiana and 6th Ohio remaining from their heavy losses at the Cedars was again marshaled, the former under Captain Woodward, and assisted in maintaining the position until nightfall kindly threw its mantle over the scene and put a stop to the further flow of blood for that day.
These two brigades of Palmer, Davidson and Woods-Davidson on the left of Pal- mer -- were the only troops of our line that maintained their position during that event- ful day. The historian has written: "Night fell at last, and the left, alone of all the line, retained its original position of the morning." During the night, our line thus maintained at such heavy eost was retired three or four hundred yards and a new posi- tion taken. That night the rebel commander Bragg telegraphed to Richmond: "The enemy has yielded his strong point and is falling back; we occupy the whole field and shall follow; God has granted us a happy new year." The first day of the new year both armies stood face to face in amazement at the terrible work and strength of each other. On the afternoon of the second day VanCleve's Division, under Beatty, and the 3d Bri- gade were put in position across Stone River, the 36th in the front line of the brigade, and was there attacked by that portion of the rebel army under Breckenridge, and the last desperate contest for the mastery of the field ensued, with success to our armies. We could then exclaim that "the enemy has yielded his strong point and is falling back; we shall follow; God has granted us a happy new year." Thus ended the great battle of Stone Biver. The loss of the 36th Indiana was 134; of the brigade, not including the two batteries, 659.
Remaining in and about Murfreesboro, with frequent skirmishes, until the 24th of June, when the army moved out on the Tullamahona and Chattanooga campaign; and the next great battle was that of Chicamauga. in the State of Georgia, on the 19th and 20th of September, 1863. The particulars of the part taken in this two-days battle by the 36th tint will not permit me to detail on this occasion. The loss of the regiment was 128; of the brigade, 547. Suflice it to say we were compelled to retire from the field, leaving our dead and wounded in the hands of the enemy. Falling back to Chattanooga, eleven miles, from the force of overpowering numbers, our army there took a position and awaited assistance. We remained there under the labor of defence and fatigue un- til Hooker and Sherman came with brave comrades, and Grant came. We might then have said to the enemy: "Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth "
The preparation was made to attack the enemy overlooking us from Lookout Moun- tain and Mission Ridge in defiant numbers, and on the 24th of November it was announced that "All's ready," and the 86th, with its brigade, was in the attacking col- mn, under Hooker, and ascended and took part in the noted battle above the clouds, and assisted in driving the enemy from his lofty position to the valley, to Mission Ridge, and from there out of Tennessee and back over the bloody grounds of old Chica- manga. In these engagements the regiment lost 11 and the brigade of six regiments 64; a small los compared with former battles.
Your next trouble with the Johunies was the reconnoisance "Seven Days before
Dalton," beginning on February 22, 1864, with a loss of but three men of the 36th, and 34 of the brigade.
You then rested from your labors, except drill and preparation, at Blue Springs, east Tennessee, until May 3, 1864, when our army was again put in motion. The enemy then encamped around Dalton, Georgia, met us at Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face, and the 9th and 36th Indiana, after several days' fighting, were the first Federal troops to enter Dalton.
From thenee I only have time to call to your recollection Resaca, Austanoola River, Adairsville, Cassville, Etawah, Pumpkinvine Creek, Pine Mountain ( where General Polk of the rebel army fell), Keresaw Mountain, Marietta, Kulps' Farm, Chattahoochee River, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, and around that city to the Macon railroad, Jonesboro and Lovejoy, in the center of the great St .. te of Georgia, where, on the 3d day of Sep- tember, after almost a continuous battle of four months, and the enemy driven from Dalton, his stronghold, a distance of a hundred and fifty miles, over rivers and moun- tains, naturally strong military positions, one after another were yielded up to the prowess of our arms, until the "Gate City," Atlanta, was vacated to the ouwardemarch of onr brave and gallant armies, and one of the greatest campaigns in the history of the war, as well as the term of service of the 36th, was announced as ended. And it was said in orders to the 36th, "You have served your country well." The loss of the 36th in this campaign was 66, and in the brigade of nine regiments and one battery, 711.
This ended the service of the regiment, except the veterans and a few recruits formed into a company, with John W. Swisher as captain, remained in the service, were after- ward attached to the 30th Indiana regiment and performed a gallant part in the battles of. Franklin, Nashville and in pursuit of Hood's broken army south across the Tennessee River, thence back to Nashville and formed a part of the residuary battalion of the 20th Regiment, was transferred to New Orleans, then into Texas with the old 4th Corps, with which their old regiment had served so long, and upon the last sound of the war-bugle were mustered out and returned home to meet and greet old friends and comrades and become citizens as before the war.
While it may be said that other regiments and soldiers of the Union army served as well, it will never be truthfully written that any ever served more gallant and faithful than the 36th Indiana Regiment; and you must allow me to say that through your long and changing conflicts you were never surprised or caught off your guard by the enemy, and I do not say too much in stating the fact that many times the continuance of my own existence depended upon the determined firminess of the 36th and the other brave regiments that fought so long and so often side by side with them.
Soldiers: I am truly glad to see so many of you present on this interesting occasion, and to have the pleasure of seeing so many faces that I have met in groves and upon fields of more peril than present themselves to us to-day. Twenty-six years ago, when the repeated insults to our Government and flag by the attack of traitors upon Ft. Sumter were given, our people were nused to war and its attending train of calamities. They were forbearing until' forbearance ceased to be a virtue, but when the great insult came by an overt act, aimed for the destruction of the Government and downfall of liberty in these United States, then it was that our people became aronsed and at the call of the then new, and since lamented President our people came forth from "fen and field," from mountain and from valley, from land and from sea; the farmer from the plow, the me- chanic from his shop, the merchant from his counting room, the clerk from the desk, the lawyer from his books, the doctor from his pills. The great uprising, the unfurling to the breeze of the national emblem from every mast and staff and spire of the true and loyal States, demonstrated that the fire of patriotism was still burning upon the altar of our country.
But yet, our sleeping dead, we must not forget them, who were not permitted to live to share the harvest of freedom and to behold our land happy in the enjoyment of uni- versal liberty, for which they were the sacrifice.
Men for public service during life often receive the poorest kind of thanks for their noblest efforts. The world at large is not always swift to comprehend; associates look ou with torpid indifference, and enemies are made glad by every new field exposed to assault. But when the grave closes the scene, praise of the dead harms no rival, and the final verdict of history proclaims only truth, generously, perhaps, but free from detrac- tion and all uncharitableness; and then men for public service, who have deserved well of their country, obtain that full measure of recognition and reverence which at last
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confers merited rank in the roll of honor.
The present age, however, always suffers at all points by contrast with the past, be- enuse none but the great among the unnumbered dead, the few screened and idolized products of picked centuries, have been preserved, while all of the present age are visible, so that no deformities can be hidden. The spots on the present sin can be more readily observed and pointed out.
Yet our fallen braves in the great contest are not and will never be forgotten. No words of mine can perpetuate their memory, but so long as liberty is estimated and prized, so long as our government illustrates justice, so long the blood of its patriots and their names should live in the hearts of the people of these United States.
And when we, too, have completed that duty we owe to our country, may it be our good fortime when the Great Captain shall sound the last reveille that each one for hin- self may have on the suitable armor to enter the eternal camping grounds.
l'pon reassembling at 2 p. m Comrade Shoemaker then extended a cordial welcome on behalf of the. G. A. R. Post of the city.
Koll-call was made and the following members answered to their names and were present:
Colonel William Grose, New Castle.
. Major Tom Bennett, Richmond.
Joshua Jester, Yorktown. Harvey B. Chew, Kennard. E. C. Cross, Blonutsville.
I. H. Carmorn, Seldon, Ohio. Hugh A. Stevens, Portland, Ind.
Miles Smith, Muncie. William HI. Steven, Connersville.
Jolin W. Newby, Knightstown. Mike Conners, Anderson.
John M. Clevenger, Muncie.
Joseph Hewitt Blountsville.
Lemmel T. Eastes, New Corner.
William Lowe, Warrensburg, Mo.
Jacob Sweigart, Muncie.
J. Pickett, Hemlock. Alonzo Burton, Muncie.
John Wayman, New Castle. Peter A. Helm, Windsor.
Jacob Haskin, Fishersburg.
W. P. McClain, Royerton.
Thomas Connelly, Greenville.
William Hewitt, Neff. James Werking, Anderson.
William Stevens, Cambridge City.
William Callahan, Knightstown.
William Baily, Farmland.
Lather T. Vaminater, Muncie.
Lindley Thornburgh, Farmland.
F. M. Fronda, Farmland. Albert Cain, Greensport. John Fullhart, Yorktown.
(. S. Wat-on, Pendleton.
J. Il Reichart, Cadiz. Olive Miller, Carlo City, Ind
J. A. Sullivan, Dunkirk.
B. C. Hornady, Trenton.
Edward Gilbert, Muncie. William Clevenger, Farmland.
John P. Robinson, Muncie.
Ed Price, Fountain City. Joshua Inthultz, Kennard. Wade H. Reagan, Delphi. Clark Gordon, Spiceland.
J. Stigleman, Spiceland. John H. Cecil, Muncie.
Nathan Nicholson, New Castle.
R. A. Leavell, Winchester.
J. W. Saint, Knightstown."
J. W. Thornburgh, Selma.
G. L. Janney, New Corner. William II. Shorer, Winchester.
M. H. Brower, Anderson.
H. L. Mullen, Fowler City, Kan.
George Conrad, Lewisville.
J. E. Werking, Elwood. Milton Lester, Connersville. O. P. Brown, Camden, Ohio. Harvey Harris, Flora, Ind. J. F. Camplin, Lewisville. 1. D. Shafer, New Castle. John W. Taylor, Muncie. Alford N. Me Nees, Farmland. J. T. Broyles, New Corner. Benjamin Bartlett, New Corner.
J. W. Thomas, Dunkirk. 1. B. Everett, Muncie.
W. H. Hubbard, Dunkirk.
C. II. Smothers, Modoc, Ind.
William Slater, Greentown.
J. C. Livezey, New Castle.
J. G. Lemon, Adjutant, Richmond. George F. Andrew, Albany.
Daniel Veal, Williamsburg. Enos Hutson, Gilman. J. W. Sapp, Goodland. George W. Lykins, Yorktown.
John Ervin, Muncie.
T. H. Kirby, Muneie.
Nathan Weeks, Rushville.
A. J. Slinger, Muncie.
William P. Sherry, Muncie.
T. N. Lewis, Cadiz. Benjamin Turner, Harrisburg.
W. H. H. Richey, Muncie. Addison T. Hull, Cammack.
Joseph Frank, Dublin.
John W. Little, Muncie.
Joseph L. Smith, Richmond.
H. L. Powell, New Castle.
P. A. B. Kennedy, Chicago. George Mnhl, Richmond.
. Gripp Scott, Richmond. G. W. Morris, Aroma.
The election of officers for the ensning year was had as follows:
General William Grose, President.
General Thomas W. Bennett, Vice-President.
Captain John C. Livezey, Secretary.
Captain John W. Taylor, Treasurer.
Captain Joseph G. Lemon, Corresponding Secretary.
The city of Richmond was selected as the place of the next annual reunion in 1888, and the following execntative committee of arrangements were appointed: Thomas W. Bennett, Joseph G. Lemon, Joseph L. Smith, Agrippa Scott, Richmond, and R. M. Clark, Fountain City. The time for next reunion to be fixed by said committee.
T. H. Carman, of the 48th Ohio, was present, and having fought with the 36th in the battle of Shiloh, he was introduced to the meeting, with a cordial greeting, and elected an honorary member of the Association.
The Camp-fire at night in Patterson's Hall was a regular love-feast, enjoyed by the old comrades, with appropriate speaking and war experience. General Grose, after a short talk, took leave with a good-bye to reach another reunion at Connersville. General Bennett made full good time, as well as dozens of others, and all felt that it was a happy reunion.
The Treasurer reports balance on hand of contributions of members for contingent expenses, $21.35.
Upon motion the Association adjourned until next annual in 1888.
WILLIAM GROSE, President.
JOIIN C. LIVEZEY, Secretary.
James Undlow, Connersville. John Campbell, Pendleton. James I. Newby, New Castle. J. C. Murray, New Castle. W. F. Limpus, Alpine. Aaron Rinker, Daleville. David M. Minnick, Daleville: John B. Veal, Williamsburg.
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FIFTH ANKLAL PE!
36th Reg't Ind. Volun
RICHMOND, INDIANA,
ON
Wednesday, Sopt. 5, 1888
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