USA > Indiana > Reunion of the 9th regiment Indiana vet. vol. infantry association, 1892-1904 > Part 11
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.CONFEDERATE ARMY.
Gen. Braxton Bragg. comd'g. Escort. Capt. Dreux's Co. La. Cav. ud Capt. Holloway's Co. Ala. Cav .- Right wing. Lieut-Gen. Leon- ins Polk (Bishop). Escort, Capt. Greenleaf's Co. La. cav .- Polk's orps. Lieut-Gen. L. Polk -Cheatham's Div . Maj-Gen B. F. Cheat- m. Escort. 05 G. 34 Ga. cav. Brig .- B. Brig-Gen. J. K. Jackson :
cus J. Wright ; 3 .. Brig-Gen. O. F. Strahl Hats .. Frogin's, fin. ; Smith's Miss. ; Scott's. Tenn : Carnes. Tenn and Stamford's, Miss -Bind- man's Div . Maj-Gen.T.C. Hindman. Brig-Gen. P.Anderson. Escort. Capt Lenoirs' Co Ala. cav. Brigs -38, Brig-Gen. P. Anderson. Col. J. H. Sharp; 39, Brig-Gen. Zach Deas; 40. Brig-Gen. A. M. Manigault, Bats .. Garrity's Ala., Dent's Ala. and Water's Ala.
Hill's corps. Lieut-Gen. D. H. Hill. Cleburne's Div., Maj-Gen, Pat Cleburne. Capt Sanders' Co. Tenn. cav. Brigs .- 41. Brig-Gen S. A. M Wood: 42. Brig-Gen L E Polk: 43. Brig-Gen. Jas Deshler, Col. Roger Q Mills Bats . Semples'. Ala : Calvert's. Ark ; Douglass. Tex. -Breckenridge's Div . Maj-Gen. J. C. Breckenridge. Escort. Capt. Foule's Co. Miss. cav. Brigs .- 44. Brig-Gen. B. H. Helm: 45. Brig- Gen. D. W. Adams. Col. R. E Gibson: 46. Brig-Gen. M Stovall. Bats .. Cobbs. Ky. ; Graves. Ky, and Mebanes. Tenn.
Reserve corps. Maj-Gen. W. I. T. Walker. Walker's Div., Brig-Gen. S. R. Gist. Brigs -47. Col. P. H. Colquitt: 48, Eetor's, brig. Brig- Gen M. Duncan: 49. Col C C. Wilson. Pats .. Ferguson's. & C. and Iowell's Ga -Liddell's Div . Brig-Gen. St. J R Liddell. Brgs .- 50 Col D. C. Govan: 51. E C. Walthall. Bats. Warren's Miss and Fow- ler's Ala
Left wing Lt-Gen. James Longstreet-Buckner's corps. Maj-Gen. $ B. Buckner Escort. Clark's Co Ten cav. Start's Div .. Maj-Gen. .1. P. Stewart Brigs .- 522. Brig-Gen Wm. B Bate: 53. Brig-Gon H D. Clayton: 54. Brig-Gen 1. ( Brown Bats. Eufaula. Ala .: Ist Ark and Dawson's. Ga. - Preston's Div . Brig-Gen . Win. Preston, Brig- - 35. Brig-Gen Arch Gracie Jr .: 56. Col. Robt ( Trigg: 52. Col, John H Kelly Art . Maj. Leyden's: Bats. Jeffress'. Va : People's. Ga. and Wolihan's. ba, Maj. Williams. Baxter's. Tenn: Darden's. Miss. : Kolb's Ala. and MeCants. Fla.
Longstreets corps. Maj.Gen. John B. Hood. Me Laws Div .. Maj-Gen. 1 .. MeLaws. Brig-Gen. J. B. Kershaw. Brigs .- 5s. Brig-Gen. J. B. Kershaw: (Woffords and Bryan's not engaged): 59. Brig-Gen. B. E. Humphrey-Hood's Div .. Brig-Gen. E. M. Law. Brigs .- (Jenkin's brig. not engaged): 60. Col. James E. Sheffield: 61. Brig-Gen. G. T. Anderson: 62. Brig-Gen II L Bening - Johnson's Div . Brig-Gen. B R Johnson. Brigs -02. Brig-Gen JJ. Gregg. Col C. Sugg: 64. Col. J. S. Fulton. Art. corps. Flickin's. S C : Jordon's. Va : Moody's La Perking' Va : Taylor's Va : Woolford's Va : Barrett's. Mo .: lavies Ga. : Lumsden's Ala. and Massenburg's Ga, batteries.
Forrest's cav. corps. Brig-Gen. N. B Forrest. Escort. Jackson's Co. Tenn. cav. 60. Armstrong's Div . Brig-Gen Frank C Armstrong. two brigades -- Cols James T Wheeler and Gen C Dibrall: Higgin's and Martin's Tenn battery 73. Pogram's Div . Brig J I. Pegram. two brigades-Brig-Gen. II B Davidson and Col. J S. Scott. Huw- ald. Tenn. and one section of Robinson's La. battery.
Wheeler's cav. corps. Maj-Gen Joseph Wheeler. Wharton's Div. Brigs. of Col ( C Crews and Col. Thos. Harrison, and White's Tenn. Bat. Martin's Div . Brig-Gen. Wm. T Martin, brig of Col. John T. Morgan and Col. A. R Russell and Higgins Ark Bat'v.
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
,
PRESIDENT, SERGEANT JOHN MORROW. Hebron, Ind.
VICE-PRESIDENTS,
H-DAN LYNCH, C-SAMUEL I. KESSLER,
E-THOS. J. ROBINSON,
I -- SERGT. E. B. CHAPIN,
K-ALPHEUS PORTER. D -- EVERETT CAWOOD,
G-LIEUT. B. R. FARIS, F-MAJ. GEO H. CARTER,
B-HENRY L. MURRAY, A -- CAPT. J. M. WHARTON. BAND -JOHN LATHROPE.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
SERGT. JOHN MORROW;
GEN. I. C B. SUMAN, CAPT. D. B. MCCONNELL, Valparaiso, Ind. Logansport, Ind.
LIEUT. B. R. FARIS, A. S. MCCORMICK. Medarysville, Ind. LaFayette, Ind.
Corresponding See'y, ALEX. L. WHITEHALL, 627 West 61st St., Chicago, Ill.
Recording Sec'y, LT. J. M. HELMICK, Wheatfield, Ind.
Treasurer, LT. JOHN BANTA, Logansport, Ind.
:
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1
ELEVENTH ANNUAL RE-UNION
OF THE
Ninth Regiment Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry
ASSOCIATION
Held at Hebron, Ind, October Ist and 2d, 1897.
Pursuant to plan of the Executive Committee of the Associa- tion and President John Morrow and the Local Committee at Hebron, the meeting which was to have been held in October, 1896, and postponed on account of the prevalence of diphtheria to a dangerous extent was held Oct. 1st and 2nd of present year.
Barring the heat and dust the weather was all that could be desired and the welcome of the big-hearted and loyal Hebron- ites most hearty and spontaneous.
The incoming trains were met by the members of the Reception Committee and the Veterans who came by rail, were escorted to the music of a martial band to the G. A. R. Hall where after registration, the comrades and the members of their families who in many instances came with the soldier. were assigned to Quarters at the hospitable home of patriotic Hebronities, and it goes without saying that the open-hearted gracious welcome and entertainment accorded all of our visit- ing comrades will remain in their memories as a very pleasant episode of their lives.
As usual at Reunions there were many pleasant greetings among the old comrades, and as several had brought their wives or daughters for the first time, these relatives had to be made acquainted with some mess-mates or boon companion of the soldier husband whose name had almost become a house- hold word in the comrade's home and yet the good wife had never met him until that sunny October day in the year of our
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Lord 1897 and the comrade for the first time in his life looked into the face of her, who was his "Pardners" best girl in the days of the war. Several old vets crossed palms with comrades they had not met since the muster out of the regiment, notable among those was Comrade O. H. Tibbetts, an editor from Hamburg, Iowa, in these piping times of peace, but a lively drummer boy of Co. K in the stirring days of the war. Com- rades Van Auken of Iowa and Barkley of Wisconsin were on the hunt for familiar faces. Only those who touched shoulder to shoulder in the battle line --- watched together at a lonely- Picket post through the dark dismal hours of a night when the chill of winter seemed to freeze the marrow in one's bones, or who in the loathsome prison pen on vermin infested sand or soggy muck "spooned" as union twins beneath a ragged blank- et in a painful attempt to woo the drowsy God, or who has patiently and with manly tenderness watched and comforted a wounded or fever scorched comrade or who have in short shared the manifold dangers, hardships privations and the dearly won fruits of victory in battle as companions in arms can understand the heart thrill and emotion that comes of a reunion with the old time comrade after the lapse of a third of a century when time has furrowed the cheek and whitened the head of the happy hearted rollicking boy's of '61 to '65.
Rallying as of old to the inspiring note of fife and drum, the little band of near seventy survivors of the old fighting 9th, many with a good wife trudging at his side fell into line and marched to Good Templar Hall where the afternoon exercises were to take place.
Shortly after 2 o'clock Sergeant John Morrow who as a farmer boy in 1861, had enlisted at Hebron, in a company . forming for the Ninth Indiana, now the President of the regi- ment called his comrades in reunion assembled to order, and the following proceedings were had:
At the request of the President Rev, Hill, pasto" of the Christian church at Hebron, offered to the God of Battles and of Blessed Peace an eloquent and earnest invocation for the maintenance of our National Unity and the up-building of right and justice in this fair land purchased at such a cost in
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blood and treasure. And his feeling petition to the Supreme Commander to extend to the fragment of the famous old Ninth Regiment yet living and to all good soldiers of the Union everywhere and to the dependent ones of fallen heroes a fa- ther's tenderest care was made in such tender earnestness that it assured the battle scarred men bowed before him that his heart was indeed full of loyalty to his God, his country and his countrymen, and brimming over with honest love for the old soldier.
President Morrow then introduced Comrade E. C. Gregg, Esq. of Hebron, who had been deputed by Wmn. Sweeny, Esq., President of the Town Board of Hebron, to extend an official welcome and the freedom of the town to the Ninth Indiana.
MR. GREGG
Said that he appeared in the role of a substitute; he was not displeased that he had been delegated to perform a duty which to him personally and as a citizen and representative of his town, was a peculiarly pleasant one. The speaker said he had so often been called upon to officiate in the stead of some other person that he would not be at all surprised to be invited by the friends of some gentleman holding some position of influence and dignity in the community on an occassion of great solemn- ity to please take the place of the gentleman in the coffin," and he wished it understood distinctly that was a case of sub- stitution he should respectfully decline.
In a most happy manner Comrade Gregg tendered to the Ninth the entire freedom of Hebron and a cordial welcome to the homes and hearts of his neighbors and townsmen.
REV. W. E. MCKENZIE,
Pastor of the M. E. church at Hebron, being next introduced supplemented the hearty welcome of Mr. Gregg in a scholarly and instructive address recounting at some length the causes and results of the war for the Union, assuring his audience that to fully appreciate the services of such soldiers, as constituted the Ninth Indiana, the younger generation must be instructed not only as to military campaigns of that great conflict, but what led up to the clash of arms between those who would overturn the Government and those who dared defend it with their lives; and recalled the splendid results of that superb struggle for human rights and the maintainance of National Unity. Suffice to say that his address was historical, instruc-
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tive and complimentary of the grand courage shown by the Volunteer soldier of the Union and the Reverend gentleman on his own behalf begged to impress upon the fragment of an honored regiment of Indiana's brave soldiers that the memory of their heroism would not fade from the recollections of the younger generations, but would be cherished in their hearts as Indianians and as loyal sons and daughters of the great Am- erican Republic, as an incentive to unselfish patriotism and un- swerving devotion to Government. and the principles for which the men of the Ninth Indiana and their heroie dead comrades so manfully battled in the darkest hour of our Nation's history.
As a citizen of Hebron he for himself and all the good peo- ple of Hebron extended to the men before him as the survivors of a historic organization of the Nation's bravest defenders a most earnest and cordial welcome.
At the call of the President Comrade ALEX L. WHITEHALL on behalf of the regiment, thanked Mr. Gregg and Rev. Mc- Kenzie for the compliment paid to the gallantry and devotion of his comrades living and dead of the old 9th, and begged to assure them that having for years been thrown in constant contact with dead and living comrades of Company E and H who had come to the Ninth from homes in Hebron and vicinity and learned to love them as manly warm-hearted courageous companions in facing the grave conditions that confronted the soldiers of the Ninth Indiana from 1861 to 1865. And from what he knew of the character of these representatives from Heb- ron and this portion of Lake and Porter counties had formed an opinion that the locality from which these splendid comrades came, was a good one, a neighborhood distinguished for its grand loyalty to Liberty and Union; a community of night minded law abiding earnest people in whose hearts there was genuine respect for-aye, love for soldiers of the Union. Having this estimate of Hebron and surrounding country and neighbor- ing hamlets, we are not surprised at our most cordial welcome to your homes. Knowing what this loyal community contribu- ted in the way of gallant sons to fight for and not a few to die for Old Glory, and how their strong young arms were upheld by the loyal loving ones at home we felt morally certain that these comrades of your sons and brothers who fought in the old 9th regiment would find a most generous welcome, and we can in all candor say we have not been disappointed-the warmth of your greeting is even more profound than we dreamed of. Pardon me, good people of Hebron, for saying I knew most of your guests personally as soldiers, and I know something of their comings and goings since the war as citizens, and I dare
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to say in honoring these men you do only that which they de- serve. We are more than glad to meet you, and the comrades present will cherish in their heart of hearts this generous greet- ing.
President Morrow then announced that the committee of ar- rangements, in consideration of the extreme heat and proba- bility of a large attendance, had felt that it would be impossi- ble, to hold the camp fire in their hall as intended, and that no building in town would be sufficient to accommodate the peo- ple, and it was deemed best to hold the camp fire in the grove, and that himself and the committee would be glad to have an expression from the regiment before adjournment.
It was deemed advisable to go to the grove and accordingly the camp fire was announced for 7:30 p. m. at the grove. Af- ter stating that after the audience had been dismissed the mem- bers of the regiment would remain for a business session the President declared the audience dismissed until the camp fire.
AT THE BUSINESS MEETING
Which took place next, the following business was transacted:
On motion the Officers' Reports were made a special order for the first business of second day.
CAPT. D. B MCCONNELL
Stated that he desired, with the consent of the Association. to make an oral report both as the representative of the regiment and as a member of the Indiana Chicamanga Commission rela- tive to the location of the 9th Indiana monument on the Battle- field of Chicamauga. Unanimous consent was given, and he said in substance, that pursuant to instructions from the regi- ment he had made the best fight he could to have the monu- ment located where the regiment voted-on Snodgrass Hill. and that his fellow members of the Indiana Commission had most loyally and unselfishly supported him in his efforts. That when the president of the National Commission came to Indianapolis to hear evidence in support of the claim of the Ninth Indiana to place its monument on Snodgrass Hill he had hoped that despite Gen. Boynton's determined fight against the Ninth, that overwhelming proof of the regiment's presence, position and condnet on Snodgrass Hill the evening of Sept. 20th, 1863, might impel the National Commission to recognize the justice of the regiment's claim to put its monument there.
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But in spite of the fact that the Indiana Commission were a unit in your favor and the Governor stood with us and we had such strong proof from officers and men present during the battle, it soon became evident that Gen. Fullerton came not in a judicial capacity to hear our proofs and aet, but rather to urge the regiment and Indiana Commission to put the monu- ment upon some one of the other positions where Gen. Boyn- ton was willing to concede the Ninth showed conspicuous gal- lantry.
As some of you know, when we became convinced the Na- tional Commission was inclined to stand by Gen. Boynton in his apparent determination to hold Snodgrass Hill sacred to the regiments of Vanderveer's Brigade, his regiment being one, and saying this we do not disparage the brave men of this Brigade or Boynton himself, but common fairness seemed to dictate, that these brave fellows should be ready to extend a soldierly courtesy and divide honors with another regiment or regiments who played a like part with them in holding the Hill against overwhelming odds. The Captain here mentioned other troops who had been crowded off of Snodgrass, as he thought, in a selfish, ungenerous manner. As a last resort an appeal was had to the Secretary of War, and a Brief, collat- ing the proofs of our claim had to be prepared and sent on, and most of you are familiar with all this, and have learned that the Secretary also seemed to be dominated by the Boyn- ton influence. There is no hope left to the Ninth to place its monument where it has elected to, while Gen. Boynton lives to combat us. Gen. Boynton, as I have before stated, until he was absolutely driven to it by uncontrovertible proof from both federal and confederate sources, ignored the fact of our regiment having relieved bis own late in the evening in that dangerous position on Snodgrass Hill. I do not wonder so many of you boys who were there feel indignant and outraged that the action of the regiment should be thus ignored I can understand why Comrade McCormick and his fellow skirmish- ers who were captured there that dark night only a few rods in front of the regiment, feel that an injustice is being done him and his brave comrades, especially such of them as died in Andersonville. But so it is, comrades. Gen. Boynton seems to have effectually steeled his heart against you, and although only a Lieut. Colonel then, he has now attained as a chronicler of the late war and as a politician, an influence at Washington that enables him to practically dominate the National Chica- mauga Commission. You need not flatter yourselves you are the only soldiers who have encountered Gen. Boynton's oppo-
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sition. You will readily recall, most of you, sturdy old Gen. J. B. Turchin and his Brigade. Well, they have run up against Gen. B- in the location of their brigade monu. ment on Mission Ridge at a point where the old General and his brigade always thought they did some pretty good fighting, but General B. seems to have pre-empted that particular spot as well as he has Snodgrass Hill. But I have a letter I received from Gen. Turchin which I will now read, showing you that he and his good fighting boys are having troubles very much like our own. Capt. McConnell then read the Gen- eral's letter, in which the old warrior seemed to intimate that Gen. Boynton proposed to make history to suit his own plan and idea whether all the facts actually upheld him or not. He expressed a determination to carry the matter into Congress and let the claim of his brigade be made the subject of Con- gressional investigation, that the facts of history might thus be given to the world, and suggested that the Ninth in his opinion had better take a like course, for he felt assured there was no hope for the regiment to get its monument on Snod- grass Hill while Boynton lived.
In conclusion Capt. McConnell said: Comrades, I agree with Gen. Turchin that Gen. Boynton's influence at Washing- ton is such we cannot hope while he lives to secure the desired location of our monument on the field of Chicamauga. Per- sonally I have done my best to carry out your wishes, and my brothers of the Indiana Commission have stood by me most loyally, feeling as Indiananians that our regiment had by its conduct on Snodgrass Hill on that dark and fateful night fairly won its right to plant its monument there. But. comrades shall we continue the controversy with Gen. Boynton when the odds are in his favor? Gen. Hunter, former president of the Indiana Commission, who labored so earnestly with me in your behalf is now dead. Gen. Fullerton is also dead, but Boyn- ton lives and will not recede from his unjust position as re- spects this regiment. Unless, as Gen. Turchin suggests. we carry our appeal to Congress, I can see no possible hope for our success in carrying out your choice of location.
In justice to our comrades who died fighting on other por- tions of the battlefield. and our State who like ourselves takes a pride in our regiment's devotion to duty on that trying field, our regimental monument ought to go up on one of the tive positions held by the Ninth during the two days of bloody combat. And as Gen. Boynton himself seems willing to cred- it the regiment with good conduct at the Brotherton House, I submit whether under existing circumstances it is not wise
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and especially just to our comrades who gave their lives on that battlefield that we put a marker with the most favorable inscription on it that the National Commission will consent to on Snodgrass Hill and our monument near the Brotherton House? (Strong cries of disapproval. ) Well, comrades, your only hope lies in memorializing Congress to take up the matter and do justice as it may find the facts warrant. The Indiana delegation must be appealed to, and must stand solid. ly by the Ninth, an able champion must be your spokesman on the floor, and proof and documents must be provided, and this, my comrades, means a good deal more than you can con- ceive of. Funds will be required to carry your claim through Congress with the National Commission and Gen. Boynton op- posing you. It means some one must give time and able effort to establish such a just claim as yours is. By combining with other organizations who feel injustice has been done them, you may win. If you fail, you will have spread the truth of history upon the records where just chroniclers in the future will give credit, where it is deserved; but are you my comrades in a posi- tion to win from Congress or your fellow citizens, a recogni- tion of your just claim to place your monument where you made your last stand at Chicamauga?
I stand ready as a man and a member of the Indiana Com- mission to do whatever I ean honorably to secure in some way a just recognition of the gallant conduct of my regiment on Snodgrass Hill, and that we may arrive at some well consider- ed and definite plan of action, I move that a committee con- sisting of one from each company present be appointed to con- sider this matter and report tomorrow morning.
The motion was seconded and an animated discussion fol- lowed participated in by Captains Madden, Hodsden, Major Braden, Lieut. Hehmick and Comrades James and MeCormick, the latter who with 15 other of the regiment's skirmishers were captured on Snodgrass the same time the three regiments of Steedman's Division were taken, was emphatic in his declaration that the monument should go where the regiment had elected to put it. The sentiment of the members present seemed to be with Capt. Hodsden and McCormick to refuse to put up a monument and either appeal to Congress or wait for the death of Gen. Boynton, or for something to happen which would in- sure the regiment fair treatment in the location of its monu- ment. Comrade James begged the comrades not to allow their indignation at Gen. Boynton's opposition to get the better of
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their judgment, but urged the selection of a committee of men who were on the field and who could make a report that seem- ed to them in committee as the best plan to pursue, and there would be an opportunity then to discuss a definite plan, and more could be accomplished than in desultory talk with no de- finite plan of action. Finally the motion prevailed and the following were selected as a committee:
Co. A-Capt. Thos. Madden. Co. B-No one present. Co. C-Maj. J. D. Braden. Co. E-Lieut. J. M. Helmiek. Co. D-Sergt. Geo. S. Curtis. Co. F -- Capt. W. H. Merritt. Co. G-H. E. James. Co. H-Sergt Harvey Gibbs.
Co. I-No one present. Co. K-Capt. D. B. McConnell.
On motion the Association took a recess till 7:30 p. m. to meet at the camp fire.
CAMPFIRE.
Call to order by President Morrow.
Song by Klondike Quartette, Miss Gregg presiding at the organ and the elub consisting of Geo. C. Gregg, L. J. Clark, H. P. Wood and Frank Gossett.
COMRADE BYRON A. DUNN,
late of Co. C, and now an editor at Wankegan, Ill., was call- ed upon to open the campfire, which he did in a short speech, referring to the exciting times in '61 when war meetings were being held to enlist volunteers, and how he as a slender Mich- igan farmer boy had been roused by the President's call and volunteered first in a Michigan Cavalry regiment and subse- quently enlisted as a recruit in Co. C of the 9th Indiana the first of April, 1861, and was hurried to the front just in time to have a musket of a comrade who had been shot a few mo- ments before put into his hands, and as a green country boy with little experience he then received his first baptism of fire. He spoke of his constant service with his company, receiving a wound at Chieamanga which did not disable him from service; alluded to the tragic death of his mess-mate Color Sergeant Charles Zollers, who died holding up the regiment's colors in thick of the desperate fight at Stone River, and referred to other gallant comrades who had died for Old Glory. He had passed safely through all battles after Chicamauga along with the old regiment till at Nashville. Dec. 15th. he east his eyes upon the loved old shot and shell torn flag of the 9th for the last time while the smoke of battle wreathed about its silken
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