USA > Indiana > Reunion of the 9th regiment Indiana vet. vol. infantry association, 1892-1904 > Part 12
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folds as borne by the sturdy color bearer it was floating above the heads of dear old comrades as they made a successful charge upon rebel works and with a shell wound through his body that was supposed to be a mortal one, was carried to the rear and to the hospital, while his old time comrades pushed on to victory beneath the sacred folds of that dear old battle flag he had so long followed in march and fight.
Comrade Dunn then alluded to his trip to the South after the Louisville Encampment, and of visiting Chicamauga, Stone River and Nashville, and other battle fields, and of his visits and talks with ex-Confederates, and particularly of his recep- tion at Reedyville, Tenn. Comrades, there are yet traces of the war in many parts of the South, but Chattanooga has spread out to Mission Ridge and the prettiest part of Atlanta has been built on our old camping grounds, and the Exposi- tion buildings stand on grounds where the 9th camped. . There is much of interest about my visit to these old stamping grounds" of the Ninth I might tell you, but I must not take up more than my share of time. At a campfire the speeches are supposed to be short and sweet-or at least short, Con- cluding, comrades, I can only say while I am pleased to look into so many of your faces, it gives me pain to note the evi- dences of old age. If we never meet again, I shall cherish in my heart kindly thoughts of you, and I hope old boys, we may all of us so live as to be able to answer the call of the Su- preme Commander with "Here."
Music by Prof. Reed's Orchestra.
CAPT. STEVE HODSDEN
was next introduced as the handsome man of the regiment,". and the Captain said he supposed he would have to confess that he was handsome if Morrow had made a public proclama. tion of it, and that he supposed everybody had learned early in life that "a thing of beauty was a joy forever." Capt. H. then got back at Morrow and Gregg who it seemed to him wanted to put him in confusion before the "wimmen folks" by alluding to his good looks. He said these comrades had lately been reaching for some political plums they did not get, and because he had reasoned with them and told them that being old soldiers the plums were not for them, even at the hands of the G. O. P., his comrades had somehow felt sore at him for the truthfulness of his prophecy, and hence they made sour faces at him. and when they came to accusing him of being good looking he simply would not dispute John Morrow's word on a little thing like that, especially when he was not to blame for being good looking, as he was born that way.
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These old comrades think they are just as smart and cute as they used to be, but then they aint; the young fellows are "headin 'em off" and getting the plums politically and other- wise. Some of them have done pretty well in the pension line, so I made up my mind I'd try myself, and when the Commis- sioner of Pensions sent me a list of 32 ailments and disabili- ties I thought I must keep up with the procession, so I just wrote ".I had 'em all," and I haven't heard from him since.
The captain then said one reason why old soldiers did not in some communities stand up as high in public esteem as they ought, they were too prone to tell of the mischief and devil- try done by them when wearing Uncle Sam's store clothes, and he advised them as their loeks began to take on the "16 to 1 sheen" to be a little more diplomatic in telling what they done while in the army. He was awful glad to be with the old boys again and hoped to meet them in years to come, and would ad- vise them to forget they were growing old and keep their hearts young, and do just as he intended to do, continue to carry his good looks around with him as long as the good Lord would permit.
Mrs. ALICE WHITEHALL then sang the Banner Solo, display- ing successively in accord with her song the flags of Germany, France, Ireland, England and the United States. Of course the crowd very lustily cheered the Stars and Stripes as the "bonniest of all." Miss ORA BRYANT played the accompani- ment for Mrs. Whitehall and Miss Whitehall.
CAPT. MC CONNELL
being called for, excused himself on the ground he had alrea- dy spoken quite fully to his comrades in the business meeting and they might have to listen to him on the morrow. He would prefer some other comrade should occupy the time. He was glad to be with the comrades and appreciated the hospitality extended the regiment by the patriotic citizens of Hebron and vicinity.
Miss NELLIE M. GREGG sang with good effeet a sweet and impressive solo entitled, "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep."
A. S. MC CORMICK
greeted his old comrades with keenest pleasure, he said, in an- other re-union, and assured the citizens their hospitality was as different from that of the Southern Chivalry at Anderson- ville as Heaven is from that other and warmer place.
He had soldiered in the old 9th because he was for freedom and union as were the other comrades with him, and had en- joyed prison fare and accommodations for fourteen months in
the heart of Dixie and for one he wanted things called by their right names and was for such a revision of school histories and such training of school teachers as would insure that the pre- sent and coming generations would be taught.something about the great civil war that would not only be truthful and instrue- tive, but fix in the child's mind that the Government had a right to suppress the rebellion and that the Union soldiers fought on the right side.
The Klondike Quartette next gave a "Hot time in the Old Town to-night."
COL. SUMAN
being called to the front, said: Ladies and gentlemen, this is all wrong; Sergeant Morrow and the rest of these old boys know I am out of my place; the Colonel of a regiment kept in the rear while the men went ahead, when the bullets were fly- ing around carelessly and I got so accustomed to let the boys do all the fighting that I find myself perfectly satisfied to hang back in the rear, and let them do the talking for we have got some good talkers yet in the Ninth and we always had plenty of good hard fighters, whenever we got into a tight place at the front.
I speak of them as boys, and they were indeed but boys, the vast majority of them when, I had the honor to command them.
From the time our brave old Milroy led the boys of the 9th in '61 till you came home with me in '65, I can testify that these boys were as loyal and brave as any set of men that ever wore the blue. I thank the people of Hebron for their kind hospitality toward these old boys of the Ninth, who are here gathered. They are worthy of your good cheer.
Miss Madge Whitehall sang a solo entitled, "When I'm big I'll be a Soldier." Miss Bryant of Hebron, played the ac- companiment.
COMRADE JAKE MILLER
of Co. K was called and coming forward said: "Comrades, 1 am not a speaker at all and suppose I am called for, because I am like that beast mentioned in Scripture which had a mark in its forehead-you see my mark is on my forehead.
(The comrade bears in the center of his forehead an unhealed bullet wound received on the 2d day at Chicamauga. )
Prof. Reed's Orchestra next rendered in good style "El Captaine. "
After which CAPT. JOHN W. ELAM from Valparaiso, who had came over as a sort of body-guard of the Colonel, said he could not quite agree that the Ninth Indiana unaided put down the rebellion, but as an Indianian and a soldier in another
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regiment he could say in all candor he was proud of the splen- did record the Ninth Indiana made in putting down the rebel- lion. The Captain then told several spicy stories which the audience enjoyed.
Miss Ina McAlpin sang a solo, supported by the Klondike Quartette, at the conclusion of which a tableaux of the "Union Guard" was presented.
CAPT. REAGAN OF LOWELL,
was introduced and said he came to urge the regiment to hold its next Re union at Lowell, promising the old Ninth a cordial welcome from his townsmen. He then recited the following poem :
THE NINTH INDIANA.
"On Sumpter's proud ramparts a traitorous hand,
Has corn from its staff the bright fag of our glory; And blessed be God, who inspires our bold band.
That flag we'll replace though the ramparts be gory. And the .Bloody Ninth's' name. and the . Bloody Ninth's' fame Shall shine in our history in letters of fame.
And the Star Spangled Banner, onee more it shall wave O'er our country united, the home of the brave.
"Shall we shrink from the contest, brave comrades? Oh, No! Let us fight while the stripes of that banner are waving, Or fall with each face bravely turned to the foe' -.
To the traitors who fight for their country's enslaving; Contented to die. if that flag waves on high, But never before the base ret els to fly:
For we've sworn that the Star Spangled Banner shall wave O'er the Union again. or the 'Bloody Ninth's' grave.
"Let them come with their Beauregard. Davis and Wise, The ' Ninth' will be there with their Colonel to lead 'em, And while that proud banner is floating the skies.
With him they will fight for their Union and freedom. The foe we'll destroy. and the name of Milroy
Shall sound through our country in paans of joy.
While the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave ()'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
The Klondike Quartette followed with an Improvised Par- ody on Marching thro' Georgia, in which Col. Suman, Capt. Hodsden, John Morrow, Dan Lynch. Jim McKnight and Tom Robinson were made the subjects of a very humorous reference. At the conclusion of this jolly take off the camp fire was broken up.
*The above poem appeared in THE REPUBLIC of July 19, hot. and is sup- posed to have been written by Col. Gil Pierce.
]
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SECOND DAY-FORENOON.
Meeting called to order by the President.
Officers' reports being in order, Treasurer Banta submitted his report as follows:
Report for the two years ending October 1, 1897.
RECEIPTS.
Amount on hand Oct. 9, 1895. $12 80
Dues received at Delphi reunion 39 00
Paid in since by different members, aggregating 8 00
Total receipts. $59 80
DISBURSEMENTS.
Jan. 29, 1896. Draft to A. L. Whitehall, Sec. $50 00
Sept. 16, 1896. Draft to A. L. Whitehall 3 00
Amount for stamps and envelopes. 30-$53 30
Balance on hand. $ 7 50
Respectfully submitted, JOHN BANTA, Treas.
Corresponding Secretary made report s follows:
Comrades: I have as usual prepared and had published and sent out by mail the Annual Report and invitations for re- union last year abandoned, and the reunion now being held, and owing to scarcity of funds have aimed to be as economi- cal in my expenditures as possible. I beg to present the fol- lowing schedule of my receipts and expenditures since my last report at Delphi in October, 1895:
RECEIPTS.
Draft from Treasurer in 1896. $53 00 Dues paid in by Comrades, as per statement hereto attach- ed, which was read, aggregating up to this date, includ- ing amount from sale of extra copies of the Annual Re- port, or back numbers. 46 00
Total receipts $99 00
EXPENDITURES.
Eye Printing Co .. printing and binding last Report, 68 00 Stamps for mailing Reports. 6 00
For Dues Circular and mailing same. 2 00
Engraving map of Chicamauga battlefield 3 00
Large envelopes for Reports and extra stamps. 175
Exchange on draft and stamps.
75
Programs of Reunion and printing.
2 50
Printing excursion notice postponement in '96 and
stamps. 10 00
Excursion notice '97, envelopes and receipts 2 50 -$96 50
Balance on hand. .$ 2 50
Respectfully submitted,
ALEX. WHITEHALL, Cor. Sec'y.
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On motion the foregoing reports were accepted and ordered spread upon the record.
The committee appointed on location of Regimental Monu- ment in Chicamauga National Park made the following report:
HEBRON, Ind., Oct. 1, 1897.
Your committee organized by the selection of Capt. Madden as President and Horace E. James, Secretary.
After an interchange of thought Capt. McConnell submitted this resolution which was debated and adopted.
Your committee respectfully report to the Association that we approve with gratitude the earnest attempt to secure for the Ninth Indiana Infantry regiment the true and proper position for its memorial monument upon Snodgrass Hill by the Indi- ana Park commission, and out of an earnest desire to free the commission from embarrassment and remove from them the clog upon the future discharge of their duties. we consent that the location of the monument may be changed to the Brotherton field. And that the inscription upon the marker at at Snodgrass Hill and upon the monment shall tell the simple truth as to what the regiment did. without landation of or ref- erence to any other regiment or organization.
It is further recommended by your committee that publica- tion be made in permanent and convenient form of all the cor- respondence that has been had with respect to the subject, and a fund be subscribed to pay the expense of said publication.
The report of the committee was adopted and resolutions de- clared to be the sense of the meeting. Thereupon the chair appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions to publish the correspondence and papers relative to the location of the monu- ment in book form and announcement was made by the com- mittee previous to adjourmment that over $40 had been sub scribed and mostly paid in. On motion the Treasurer was made custodian of this special fund, and Capt. D. B. MeCon- nell empowered to superintend the compilation and publication of the said book, and instructed to furnish the Librarian of Congress and public libraries copies of this book, when published.
On motion the Association proceeded to select place of reunion. Elkhart and Lowell were placed in nomination. Maj. Braden begged the comrades to remember the east side of the district had not been favored with a reunion for years and that in justice
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to many comrades living within easy reach of Elkhart, the re- union ought to be held there next year, but so largely was the members present in favor of meeting at Lowell that the Major withdrew Elkhart for future consideration and Lowell was de- clared the unanimous choice. And the date was fixed for 1st Thursday and Friday of October, 1898.
The election of officers being declared next in order.
Capt. McConnell offered the following:
RESOLVED, That the Association shall at the present meet- ing elect a President who shall hold office permanently, and
RESOLVED, That we deem our comrade General Suman, be- cause of previous rank and connection with the regiment, to be the proper person to hold the office of President of the Assoca- tion so long as he shall feel that he can give us the benefit of his services in that office, and that we here and now make a record of our love and admiration for him, not only on account of his past services as commander of the regiment, but as a man and comrade, and of our desire that he shall meet with us as our President upon every occasion, And that when the As- sociation shall meet in the future he shall come early and stay late. All of the comrades desire to see him upon every oc- casion so long as Providence shall give him strength to meet with us.
The resolution was adopted and Gen. I. C. B. Suman elected permanent President by acclamation, and being called for thanked the regiment for the honor conferred and said he should in every way try to merit the confidence of the comrades and use his personal efforts to add to the success and enjoyment of these reunions while his health and strength lasted.
The following were chosen Vice-Presidents:
Band-John Lathrope.
Co. A -- A. S. McCormick. Co. B-John Vesper.
Co. C-Maj. J. D. Braden. Co. D-Capt Amasa Jolmson.
Co. E-Lieut. J. M. Helmick. Co. F-Lieut. Sam Dustan.
Co. G-Horace E. James. Co. II -- Dan Lynch.
Co. I-II. O. Kremer.
Co. K-Alpheus Porter.
Alex. L. Whitehall and Lieut. J. M. Helmick were re-elected for corresponding and recording Secretaries respectively, and Lieut. J. Banta for Treasurer by acclamation.
And present Executive Committee consisting of Gen. Suman,
Capt. D. B. McConnell, Lieut. Ben. R. Faris, John Morrow and A. S. McCormick were also re-elected.
The feasibility of celebrating the anniversary of the battle of Chicamauga by holding a reunion in Chicamauga National Park, Sept. 19 and 20, 1899, was quite freely discussed and the Consensus of opinion seemed to be that an excursion and camp on the battle field could be arranged for and by having timely notice very many comrades and wives could make pre- parations to attend and finally Capt. MeConnell, Capt. Hods- den and Comrade Whitehall were selected as a committee to take the matter under advisement and ascertain the probable cost of transportation and subsistence of such an excursion and a camp of at least two days in the Chicamauga field, and make report at Lowell next year.
After the call of the Secretary for information relative to comrades who have died since last reunion and for address of any living comrades not added to the regimental Roster of Survivors the following resolutions were offered:
By Capt. McConnell-
RESOLVED, That the hearty thanks of this Association are hereby tendered to the good people of Hebron for the mag- nificent reception and hospitable entertainment extended to us upon this our 11th annual reunion. We will bear the remem- brance of them in our hearts while life lasts.
The resolution was adopted by a rising vote supplememed with hearty cheers.
Capt. Tom Madden presented the following :
RESOLVED. That the thanks of this Association is hereby tendered Capt. D. B. MeConnell for his earnest and untiring efforts to secure for our regiment proper recognition of its ser- vices on the field of Chicamauga. Unanimously adopted, as were the following: That the thanks of this association are due and hereby tendered our retiring officers for their faithful performance of duty and kind and courteous treatment of all, and also that to the ladies of the Ninth and others who have graced our meetings by their presence, we tender our profound thanks.
President Morrow declared the business session closed and invited the comrades. their friends and families accompanying them to repair to the Tabernacle and partake of a generous
spread that had been prepared for them by the ladies of Hebron and vicinity, and assured the comrades that the town was simp- ly theirs for the afternoon till their home-going trains put in an appearance.
A few comrades felt obliged to leave at close of the business meeting, but the great majority proceeded to the Tabernacle and sat down to a "Dinner fit for the Gods." Ample justice was done to the feast and many hearty encomimus paid to the ex- cellence of the cookery of the good ladies who had prepared and presented the bounteous repast to the Veteran visitors. At the conclusion of the meal the comrades gathered near the door as if waiting for something to happen, and Lieut. Sam Dustan yanking from his plate the unfortunate corresponding secre- tary, who is always a little slow in finding out when he has had enough of a good thing, said: "Alex, the boys want you to thank the ladies for this splendid spread, " and though the afore- said scribe persisted that Gen. Suman do it, Sam said, .. It's his orders that you proceed to thank them right now, and in good shape, too." So we pulled down our vest, or tried to, and Lieut. Sam boosted us onto a chair and we thanked the ladies on behalf of the comrades not only for the good wholesome toothsome eatables they laid in the devastating track of the 9th Indiana, but as well for the many gracious acts of courtesy extended to the comrades and their wives. And as a proof of hearty appreciation of their generosity and to completely con- vince them that they couldn't take all the " crow" out of an old Ninth Veteran by dosing him on chicken the regiment would now give the ladies who had prepared this generous re- ception "Three times three and a tiger" and the old boys not only made the walls of the Tabernacle tremble with their hip hurrahs, but gave the tiger growl to such perfection that it made the little ones scud for their mammas startled and surprised.
In the shade of the leafy grove the men gathered and told army yarns or spoke tenderly of the boys left in Dixie, while the ladies formed groups and visited. Again at 4:30 p. m. the ladies called on all of the faithful who had not departed
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by train or carriage to partake of a farewell supper with their generous entertainers.
The good honest old fashioned hospitality extended to the Ninth at Hebron will long be treasured as a happy memory.
The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Comrade John H. Stanford, late of Co. D, from Columbus, Ind., urg- ing the association to hold its 1898 reunion at Columbus on the occasion of the department encampment of the G. A. R. there next May. The regiment by past experience has not found it satisfactory to attempt a reunion on such occasions, however there being a number of comrades living in Southern Indiana who have never attended our reunions, some of whom may be present at the encampment; Comrade Whitehall moved that those of our comrades who comtemplate attending the encampment, write Comrade Stanford and arrange to meet him early and designate some place as a Headquarters for the comrades of the 9th present to report and if possible have an informal reunion of all that could be thus rallied of the old Ninth. The motion prevailed and comrades who attend are urged to arrange to meet John H. Stanford, and see how many of our regiment can be gathered together upon that occasion.
Letters were read from several comrades regretting their inability to attend and sending hearty greeting to those who might be present.
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NINTH INDIANA MONUMENT AT CHICAMAUGA.
Judge McConnell immediately on his return from the regi- mental reunion set about procuring a settlement of the contro- versy over the location of the monument upon the lines indi- . cated in the resolution passed at Hebron, October 2d, and at the request of the Secretary he has furnished the following correspondence, etc., relative to the location of marker on Snodgrass Hill and monument to be erected near Brotherton House.
WASHINGTON, October 13th, 1897. Judge D. B. Mc Connell, President Indiana Chicamauga Com., Logansport, Indiana.
DEAR JUDGE. - I have received your letter to Major Smith of the 11th instant, with much pleasure.
. I desire to answer you on my part that the discussion to which we have been parties has left no trace of unfriendly or personal feeling in my mind.
It will be a pleasure to meet you at any time in connection with our several duties.
Sincerely yours, II. O. BOYNTON. *
WASHINGTON, October 14, 1897.
Hon. D. B. McConnell, President Indiana Chickamauga Com., Logansport, Indiana.
DEAR SIR. - Your letter of the 11th inst., with its enelos- ures, is received. In compliance with your wish this Commis- sion will recommend to the Secretary of War for approval, the location of the 9th Indiana Infantry monument, at the point where the regimental stake is now set near the Brotherton House, as well as the inscriptions for the monument and mark. er on Snodgrass Hill which you submit.
There was nothing in the controversy to which you refer that has excited in our minds the least personal hostility to- wards your Commission. We did our duty as we saw it, in the interest of historical truth, which, in a broad sense, is in the interest of all the troops of all the States represented there. The solution of the difficulty which you propose is entirely satisfactory. Lieut. Leonard's letter is returned as requested.
Yours truly,
FRANK G. SMITH, Major Second Artillery, Commissioner and Secretary.
WASHINGTON, October 19, 1897.
Hon. D. B. McConnell, President, Indiana Chickamauga Com., Logansport, Indiana.
DEAR SIR :- The Secretary of War has approved the proposed site for the 9th Indiana Infantry monument near the Brother- ton House, and the inscription proposed therefor just as sub- mitted, except that to avoid repeated use of the word "'near," the word "about" is substituted for it in line two. and the words "in the vicinity of the" in line three. A copy of the inscription as approved is enclosed herewith, and that for the marker to be placed on Snodgrass Hill, also approved
The Park Engineer will be instructed to put in the founda- tion for the monnment at the place designated for it in time to enable your Commission to complete its work there without de- lay, if you will advise us of the date when you wish to begin. Yours truly,
FRANK G. SMITH, Major Second Artillery, Commissioner and Secretary.
Comrade McConnell since the death of Gen. Hunter has been elected President of the Indiana Chicamauga Commission and he and his associates have deemed it best in the interest of the State to make the adjustment of the controversy between the Indiana and the National Commission on the basis above set forth. Many of our old comrades will continue to feel an injustice has been done in refusing the location of the monu- ment on Snodgrass, and partienlarly the few yet living who were captured there on the evening of September 20, 1863, will not be able to divest themselves of this feeling, but in the main we think the comrades will accept the location as the best that could be secured under the circumstances.
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