USA > Indiana > Annual reunion of the 36th Indiana volunteers: 4th-5th, 1887-1888, 7th-14th, 1890-1897 > Part 5
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Mrs. Hewitt, of Farmland, was called upon by General Grose, and responded with remarks appropriate to the occasion. Her heart swelled with gratitude as she looked over the assembly. On the 21st day of the month she had married her husband, and on the 23d had sent him out in the service of his country. She remembered how the boys looked then as they went away with proud footsteps and hopeful hearts. Since then many had fallen in battle, many had passed away, and many were standing on the verge of the grave. This would be the last meeting for some of those who were here. She was most grateful to tho people of Hagerstown for their generosity and kindness' and asked the Regiment to come to Farmland for its next reunion, and closed with the hope that God would preserve the whole assemblage until they met again.
Comrades Peter Helms, Dick Leavel and John Myers also made remarks, relating their experiences and those of many others since passed away.
The following resolution was presented and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That Benjamin S. Parker and wife be declared honorary members of this association.
The exercises closed with "Marching through Georgia," sung by the entire audience.
MEMBERS PRESENT.
Following is the roster of members present:
General William Grose, New Castle, Ind. Surgeon R. Bosworth, Winchester, Ind. HONORARY MEMBERS. S. T. Powell, New Castle, Ind. Benjamin S. Parker, New Castle, Ind. Mrs. Benjamin S. Parker, New Castle, Ind.
VISITORS.
Joel Collins, Co. A, 130th Ind.
COMPANY A.
Capt. Wm. D. Wiles, Indianapolis, Ind. J. T. Thomas, New Castle, Ind. J. E. Werking, Ellwood, Ind. J. H. Henry, Mays Station, Ind. W'm. Callahan, Knightstown, Ind. John Antrim, Knightstown, Ind. C. Watson, Pendleton, Ind.
George Beach, Lewisville, Ind.
COMPANY B.
Lient. Ed. Gilbert, New Burlington, Ind. P. A. B. Kenneday, Indianapolis, Ind. J. F Sullivan, Anderson, Ind. Geo. N. Worl, Farmland, Ind. Win. Clevenger, Farmland, Ind.
John Vale, Williamsburg, Ind. W. P. Mclain, Muncie, Ind. John W. Saylor, Muncie, Ind.
John Reynolds, Muncie, Ind. Joshua Jester, Yorktown, Ind. G. L. Janney, New Corner, Ind.
L. P. Everett, Mancie, Ind. C. L. Reynolds, Ellwood, Ind. John Little, Muncie, Ind. W. H. H. Richey, Muncie, Ind. J. T. Fullhart, Reed's Station, Ind. Benj. Bartlett, New Corner, Ind. C. N. Runkle, South Bend, Ind.
COMPANY C.
Capt. John C. Livezey, New Castle, Ind. Capt. C. M. Moore, New Castle, Ind. Lieut. John C. Wayman, New Castle, Ind. Jacob Sweegart, Muncie, Ind. Andrew McDowell, Muncie, Ind. John Sanders, Shelbyville, Ind. John Harvey, New Castle, Ind. 1 Henry Reichart, Cadiz, Ind.
L. D. Shepherd, New Castle, Ind. Noah McCormack. Cadiz, Ind. Eli F. Millikan, New Castle, Ind,
Geo. Atkinson, Sulphur Springs, Ind. Benj. Crawford, Losantsville, Ind. Zeno Pearson, Russiaville, Ind. Miles Hagnewood, New Castle, Ind. Nathan Nicholson, New Lisbon, Ind.
COMPANY D.
Capt. D. W Chambers, New Castle, Ind. J. H. Coon, Greensboro, Ind. J. Spencer, Spiceland, Ind. H. B. Chew, Kennard, Ind. Exum Copeland, Greensboro, Ind. Thomas Houck, New Castle, Ind. Wm, Macy, New Castle, Ind.
J. H. Bowman, Greensboro, Ind. Wm. Newby, Spiceland, Ind. Thomas Howren, Greensboro, Ind. Ferd. Rose, Snyder, Ind.
W. E. Bicknell, Richmond, Ind.
Lieut. A. W. Saint, New Castle, Ind. John Newby, Knightstown, Ind.
COMPANY E.
Capt. Z. C. Bohrer, St. Paul, Minn. C. II. Smothers, Modoc, Ind.
B. C. Hornaday, Mnneie, Ind. D). Munnick, Daleville, Ind.
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NINTH ANNUAL REUNION
OF THE
36th INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
FARMLAND, IND ANA,
OCTOBER 5 AND 6, 1892.
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OFFICERS.
GLx. Wy. GROsi
Vice President,
CAPT. W. D. WILLS
Secretary, J. C. LIVEZEY Corresponding Secretary, J. L. SMITH Treasurer,
THAD GORDON Chaplain,
W. C. Gines
NINTH ANNUAL REUNICH
OF THE
36th INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
HELD AT
PAREILUND, IT ON
OCTOBER 6 AND G. 1809.
New Castle, Indiana . Courier Company Print, 13-
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CAPTAIN W/ D. WILES.
PROCEEDINGS.
N as beautiful an autumn day as one ever sees in this latitude, the Ninth Annual Reunion of the 36th Indiana Volunteer Infantry opened at 10:00 A. M., in the G. A. R. Hall at Farmland, Indiana, on October 5, 1892. The hours until noon were spent in assigning Comrades to their quarters during the session, listening to a talk from the President, General Wm. Grose, paying annual dues and registering names. While waiting the arrival of Winchester and Richmond Comrades, the President appointed Captain J. H. McClung, Captain Z. C. Bohrer and R. E. Best as a Memorial Commit- tee. Treasurer Gordon made his annual report, which was accepted, as follows:
On hand from Knightstown Reunion. $13 78
Received at Hagerstown 36 40
Total
$50 18
Paid for Grose picture. 1 00
Short-Hand duties 5 00
66 Postage. 3 00
Printing proceedings 14 00
8 60
Invitations
Postage 2 40 $37 00
Balance on hand. $13 18
Captain McClung offered the following:
Resolved, By the 36th Regiment Association now in 9th annual session, that our sin- cere sympathy and condolence is hereby extended to our beloved comrade and former Major, General Thomas W. Bennett, in the severe affliction that has come upon him and it is our earnest prayer that if his life be not spared, he may find peace and comfort to the end.
On motion the resolution was ordered sent to General Bennett by telegraph.
After a general talk among Comrades and the belated ones having arrived the ses- sion adjourned to supper and to meet in the Opera House at 7 p. m.
At 7:30 p. m. the meeting was called to order in the Bly Opera House. Capt. Mc- Clung read the following:
Capt. J. Il. McClung:
RICHMOND, IND., Oct. 5, 1892.
General Bennett is better. Your telegram touched him most tenderly. . MRS. T. W. BENNETT.
The session was formally opened with prayer by Comrade Small, and Comrade Mullen, of Farmland, delivered an address of welcome as follows:
Mr. President and Comrades of the Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry:
To you and your wives, sons and daughters, I have the pleasure on behalf of the good people of Farmland and vicinity to extend a cordial and a hearty welcome.
The loyal people of this vicinity are ever ready to receive the defenders of our country and our flag with kindness and respect. But I want to assure you, my Com-
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rades of the noble 36th, that we want you to know that we feel ourselves highly honored by your presence here today, feeling assured that no more honorable or worthy citizens of this grand country could have visited us. We welcome you here today on account of your loyalty and patriotism and for the grand work you did as a regiment in the great struggle for National supremacy and universal liberty, and for the maintenance of the constitution and the laws of the United States of America. You proved your pa- triotism by your works in 1861, when treason had raised its hand to strike the fatal blow by which it sought to sever the Union and forever wipe out of existence our free institutions, and when our honor as a Nation hung in the balance, you men who com- posed the noble 36th Indiana, with hearts filled with patriotism and with steady hands placed your names on the muster roll of your country and by that act said "We will give our lives rather than have the Union severed."
We look back over the years that have passed and we see you men, then young and in the prime of life, coming from your fields, your work-shops, from the school room, the pulpit, from quiet homes, from fathers and mothers, sisters, wives and children, and though you were brave, yet you wept tears of sorrow at the parting. Yes, in my mind I see the mother as she holds her son in her embrace and imprints on his cheek the good-by kiss with heart too full for utterance, praying " God bless and save my boy." But the severest struggle of all was that of the separation of husband and wife. I see the father and husband as he places his arm around his wife, leans over and kisses his child and passes out at the door, possibly never to return, but thank God some of you did return and we are glad to welcome you here today.
We welcome you here today on account of the loyalty which prompted you on the 16th day of September, 1861, in Camp Wayne to raise your hands and before God take the oath that you would faithfully perform the duty of a soldier ; yes, more than that, that you, if it be necessary, would give your lives, which many of your Comrades did, that your country might be saved. We welcome you here for the noble work you did on the battlefields at Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Chicamauga and during the Atlanta Campaign, and we only have to refer to your history as a regiment to see how well you did your work, allowing your losses in killed and wounded to be your testimony. From Shiloh to Jonesburg we find your losses in killed, wounded and missing to be 486. This does not include those that died from disease.
While we do not say that the 36th was better than any other, we do say that it did its work well. Yes we view you going in to the battle of Shiloh, led by your brave Colonel, Grose, who never was known to falter in battle, but with firmness bravely faced the foe. fearless of the danger, his bravery serving as an incentive to stimulate his men. We view you, my Comrades, at Pittsburg Landing, as you follow your Com- mander up from the boat that brought you across the river when he reported to Gener- al Nelson for orders and was told to form his lines just " over yonder" and hold in check, if possible, the advancing foe. We view you as you stand there a living wall be- tween us and our enemy. You checked their advance and held them at bay until night-fall put an end to the conflict and victory on tomorrow possible.
We follow you to Corinth and to Stone River, where you were compelled to fight in front, on your right and in your rear, but you bravely stood to your post until victory crowned your heroism. Again at Chicamauga, where for two days you faced the foe; also at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and the Atlanta Campaign, when for one hundred days you were under fire and never faltered, For this we welcome you again. We feel that we are indebted to you for all of these sacrifices. Yes, the citizens of the United States are indebted to the soldiers for every dollar's worth of property they possess and for the privileges we enjoy. You were the friends of your country when it was in peril and in danger of destruction. You are its friends today.
There is much that I would like to say, but I desist, as this is not a political meet- ing, but a reunion, but I will say this much : Let us remember who were our friends then ; they are our friends now, and those who were our enemies then and tried to de- stroy the country, are asking us to give them the control of this Nation. My Comrades, let us rise in our might and say by the Eternal they never shall have the power. As for me I would suffer my arm severed from my body before I would give them comfort in any way. Let us stand by our Comrades. We know they are our friends, and trust our interests in no other hands.
In conclusion let me repeat again : Welcome, welcome, thrice welcome, noble 36th, to the privileges of our city and the hospitalities of our homes.
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Captain W. D. Wiles responded on behalf of the veterans as follows : Mr. President, Comrade Mullen, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades:
To me is delegated the inestimable pleasure of responding on behalf of these brave Comrades, to your kindly words of welcome, which is so right royally given us by your- self and friends; and on the part of the Comrades I desire to return to you and through yon to the friends that are so generously entertaining us on this occasion, our sincere thanks. We accept all these kind words and acts with the full assurance that they are extended to us on account of your great love for our common country's cause, and its brave defenders who so gallantly rushed to its rescue when the red hand of the traitor threatened its destruction. With this view of your feelings and sentiments, I wish to say to you, to this audience and to these Comrades, that more than thirty years have now passed away since we first met together within the confines of " Old Camp Wayne." We were called together for the purpose of protecting and maintaining, as we then be- lieved and still believe, the best Government on earth ; nor do I now believe that any one single individual of the whole Regiment volunteered his services, with all the risk of life, and health, and hardship, and exposure, and want of comforts that war imposes, because of any love for the profession of war; but he did it because of his great love for his country and its Government ; and with the hope that he might be instrumental in helping to maintain and perpetuate it in its integrity and entirety.
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The usual vicissitudes of camp life, with its, to us, new methods of living and nec- essary exposures, soon began the work of destruction, so that, even before we had met the enemy face to face, or heard the whistle of his leaden bullets, many of onr Com- rades having already filled their allotted duty in the great tragedy, had succumbed to the inevitable, the fell destroyer disease, and were buried by the wayside where their bodies are today lying in unknown graves ; whilst others, perhaps more fortunate, being strick- en and incapacitated, yet living, were sent to hospitals or their homes, in many cases to linger out a wretched existence. With reduced ranks the remainder of you pushed for- ward with the one great cause of country at heart; through years of exposure and hardship and suffering almost inhuman and unbearable; through years of want and hunger, deprived of all luxuries and almost the absolute necessaries of life; through years of weary tramping and scouting and forced marebes; through years of sentry and picket duty, and skirmishing and pitched battles ; where the roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry in connection with the shriek of the bursting shells, the whistling bullets, the clash of arms, the hoarse commands, the charging yell, the din of battle and the groans of the wounded and dying, all combined to make it a veritable hell on earth.
In this way Comrades' lives went out, and the already greatly reduced ranks were well-nigh obliterated. But the end came, God was on our side, the Government was saved; saved too, by the efforts and courage of the Comrades in blue and their loyal friends at home, who so nobly encouraged and sustained them. And now to yon, the living remnant of the once grand old 36th, after more than a quarter of a century of peace and prosperity in civil pursuits, comes this glorious reflection, as it does to all Comrades: My Country is saved. It is indeed, and in truth, the land of the free and the home of the brave, it is the land where all men's rights are equal before God; it is the land of plenty, it is the home of intelligence and ability, of peace and prosperity, of comfort and luxury, of beauty and love, of mercy and charity, and of qualities that go to make it second to none on earth. It is then a comfort for you to realize now, that when ruthless hands assailed it, it was your privilege under God to help: defend, main- tain and perpetuate it, so that future posterity may say of you, he risked his life-his all-for his country's cause; he could do no more. To the Comrades absent, stricken and suffering, let us send a greeting-you are not forgotten, God cheer and be with you.
Of the dead, standing with bared and bowed heads-let us say-" your works still live."
Following a generous applause, Miss Grace Collins sung " America."
Capt. Milton Peden then said :
Comrades of the 36th Indiana:
I have no speech, did not think I would be called on, and had I been have not sense enough to prepare one. I am highly pleased to be here and to be entertained so pleasantly. Two good meals of fried chicken so far and one or two more sure for to- morrow, and to see so many of my old Comrades, some of whom I have not seen since the war ended. Boys, I say God bless you. I have seen you under other circumstances,
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when chiekens roosted higher than here, down in Scquatchie Valley, upon Lookout and along our many marches. Thank God, you are here to renew these old memories and en- joy these blessings which come to us by your saerifiee. Our numbers are growing smaller. I see some vacant places, some have folded their tents and gone to the eternal camping grounds, where cannon are not heard and wars are no more. I want to shake hands with everyone of you while here and bid you God speed.
A word now to the younger generation. These old seallawags who lived on goose and hog meat so long, it is no use to try to tell them anything. But your fathers and mothers and sisters who sent sons and brothers into the army, know about the sacrifiee , you made. To the younger ones I want to say study your Government and study your surroundings, how you are situated compared with other nations. Ask how eame these things so? Who made the saerifiee to perpetuate these blessings we now enjoy ? If you find that these old fellows here who wore the blue accomplished this, honor them. Learn who sought to destroy this best Government the sun ever shone upon and despise them and learn to despisc a Copperhead above everything else. Remember St. Patrick, how he hated snakes, and, by the way, my mother was an Irishman. No one can take offense at anything I say, unless he be a Copperhead, and I don't care if he does. I am a pauper, a mendieant on the Government, I am glad the Government has a treasury, one we can depend on. I helped to make this reunion possible, that treasury good. have a right to say what I want to and I am going to say it.
Col. Peden related an experience of the old farmer's sheep bells, and concluded by exhorting the boys to attend the reunions; keep these memories fresh and especially when enjoyed among such grand people as we have here in Farmland.
Recitation-" Light of Rainbow " LENA MCGUIRE Glee Club -- " Tramp, Tramp."
Recitation-" Bivouac of the Dead " ROSA CLEVINGER
John Lockridge of Company D then made a few remarks as to his enlistment, his army life and his appreciation of the treatment we were receiving, and encouraged the Comrades to prove themselves men worthy of such treatment. He thanked the citizens for favors shown him and his.
Recitation-"Remember the Post " DAISY CLEVINGER
WMr. GIBBS Address-" Comrade "
Capt. Zene C. Bohrer said :
Language fails to express the pleasure it affords me to meet and shake the hands of so many of my old Comrades, many of whom I have not seen in twenty-eight years and may never meet again. Let me assure you, my Comrades, one and all, as long as life lasts and nicmory retains her throne with me. there will always be with me a bright, green spot set apart to the 36th Indiana, and should ever any of you, and I hope you may, come to St. Paul, Minn., the latchi-string at the Bohrer residence hangs on the out- side and a most cordial welcome awaits you on the inside. Good night.
The association then listened to the Farmland band play "Marching Through Georgia" and " Hail Columbia " and went to quarters.
The session convened at G. A. R. Hall at 9 o'clock next morning. The following was presented :
Resolved, That the next meeting of this association be held in Indianapolis on the day after the parade during the week of the National Encampment.
The President appointed an Executive Committee composed of Capt. W. D. Wiles, Capt. J. H. McClung and Thad Gordon. On motion the Association proceeded to elect officers for next year resulting as follows: Gen. Grosc, president; Capt. W. D. Wiles, Vice-President; J. C. Livczey, Secretary ; J. L. Smith, Corresponding Secretary ; Thad Gordon, Treasurer; W. C. Gibbs, Chaplain.
Letters of regret were read from Dr. S. H. Kersey of Centerville, Ind., R. A. Level, Austin, Ill., J. W. 1. Smith, Chicago, Col. S. II. Waters, 84th Illinois, Kansas City, Mo.
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The committee on memorials made the following report :
IN MEMORIAM.
Death has been busy in our ranks the past year. We are called to monrn with, those who mourn the severance of ties the most sacred known to human hearts. The gray haired veteran whose valiant deeds and heroic sacrifices in war made him a place among the noble and great of his race, he who knew no defeat in the clang and clash of arms on the bloody field of battle or in the noise and bustle in the busy marts of trade, where the struggle for life, thoughi peaceful, was none the less real and earnest, the hero, the friend, the brother, the beloved Comrade, bound to us by ties the dearest among men, has at last fallen before the conqueror who has never known defeat- Death. To our beloved dead-" peace;" to the sorrowing one in widow's needs or in or- ohan's tears, our sincere sympathy and love.
MORTUARY ROLL.
Win. Hewitt, Company K, March 1892, Neff, Ind, John Chandler, Company B, May 25, 1892, Neff, Ind. Zeno Pearson, Company C, January 9, 1892, Rushville, Ind. B. F. Turner, Company H, January 1892, Harrisburg, Ind. John T. Thornburg, Company B, April 10, 1892, Texas. David Young, Company A, March 17, 1892, Kansas City. John Dennis, Company F, June 14, 1892, Richmond. Abe Lennington, Company K, 1892, Winchester. Ulysses Davis, Company C, 1892, Kansas.
HEADQUARTERS 36TH IND. REG'T'L ASS'N. FARMLAND, IND., Oct. 5, 1892.
This association has learned with deep sorrow of the death in a foreign land of our beloved Comrade, N. L. Anderson, a brave commander of the Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, which was brigaded with the Thirty-Sixth Indiana from near the beginning o the close of our service in the war, and we hereby tender to his bereaved family our arnest sympathy and condolence. We who knew him in the strife of war learned to dmire him for his soldierly qualities and for the genial nature that made him the riend of all in social intercourse.
The Association marched to the Opera House, where Gen. Grose made the follow- ng address :
We are permitted to meet again in another annual reunion, under our old flag that ve periled life and all that was dear to mortal existence to save and bear aloft in honor nd triumph, as the living insignia of a great Government, moving forward for the well- are of the human race. $
This flag, under which you fonght, had its creation in the struggle of the Revolu- ion of our fathers, in the forward step for Independence, and the advance toward hu- han liberty. Again our old enemy struck at us in 1812, but was repulsed and the flag tood to the front, justified and maintained. In 1846-7, we struck out, whether right or rong, by the way of Mexico, to the Pacific ocean, and returned possessors of the goodly and, having permanently placed the stars and stripes upon the peaks of the Rocky fountains, and completed the extending of our form of Government from ocean to cean.
Next, in 1861, comes the Rebellion to destroy and have no more a Government of he United States, but a confederation of States, the foundation thereof to rest upon hu- han slavery.
The patriots came forth to meet the issue tendered, carrying the old constitution. Tillions joined, and then commenced the series of struggles and victories, re-baptizing he old tlag in fire and blood, which finally resulted in the overthrow of slavery and the riumph of free institutions in every part of our country, and this setting the example or the abolition of slavery in every other part of the world. No man who took part n this great struggle but must feel a sense of satisfaction that he contributed in some legree to the overthrow of the evil of human slavery, and the preservation of the
Comrades :
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union and the advance and progress of a Government "for the people, of the people and by the people."
When I review the history of the toils and dangers that the faithful soldier passed through, without which this country would have drifted into the feebleness of a confed- eracy, or worse, a republic founded upon slavery, then it presents the great good done by the patriots and soldiers, and the magnitude of the calamity had their labors failed. Then again are those faithful patriot soldiers deserving to be cared for as the Govern- ment is doing.
If you will excuse me I will give you a little taste of how soldiers passed some of their leisure time around their camp fires. One of the parodies which has been sung in every campaign since the war, ran something after this fashion :
" Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as jet, Shouting the battle cry of freedom ; And everywhere that Mary went that sheep was sure to get, Shouting the battle cry of freedom,"
and so on ad infinitum. " John Brown "was one of their stand-bys. The fellows who didn't know "b flat " from a base ball could sing "John Brown " with perfect safety- if the guards were out of hearing. The words didn't much matter, for a new set was presented on almost every occasion and two sets on gala days. Nobody seems to know " for sure " where the thing originated. A man by the name of Stiffe, a native of South Carolina, says that he is the author of the tune, which came out about 1855, and is probably sung by more people than any other tune in the world. The "John Brown " words don't seem to have had any origin, but, like Topsy, "just growed," a line added here to make a verse and another there.
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