USA > Indiana > Reunion of the 9th regiment Indiana vet. vol. infantry association, 1892-1904 > Part 14
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A goodly number of citizens and comrades of Burnham Post G. A. R. awaited the arrival of the north and south trains on the Monon, which came in bnt a few minutes apart. Shortly after 11 A. M. the Veterans, the wives of such as ac- companied the soldier husband, formed into a column of twos and preceded by the Lowell Cornet Band marched up past the still smoking ruins of what a few hours before had been the stores, shops, offices and homes of many of our Lowell friends.
Despite the gloomy and discouraging surroundings the music of the Union and the fluttering folds of the dear old flag, seemed to inspire both citizens and visitors with a quiet en- thusiasm.
Inspired with true fraternity the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters had rallied to the relief of Burnham Post, (the hall of the Post having burned) and domiciled the 9th in the K. P. Hall and 20th Regiment in the Foresters Hall as head- quarters, respectively. Both are handsome halls and adjoin.
The Reception Committee by 11.45 A. M. had assigned nearly 100 of the visitors to hospitable homes where they were warmly greeted and found waiting such a dinner as the good Hoosier housewives can so deftly prepare and serve, and that the guests did ample justice to the meal set before them, goes without saying. Ye Regimental scribe and family camp- ed and messed for the two days with Lieut. Clark of the 73d Indiana and his amiable wife.
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On re-assembling at the hall after dinner everybody was in prime good humor and individually asserting their willing- ness to stake odds on having the best stopping place in town, and many warm friendships sprang up between the entertain- ed and entertainers that will be kept green to life's end.
AFTERNOON FIRST DAY.
Meeting called to order at 2 P. M. by General Suman, the President.
Comrade Whitehall at the request of the Committee on Arrangements stated that as the east wall of the opera house had been cracked by the intense heat of the buildings burnt down next east of it, was pronounced safe by experts but the people feared owing to the disastrous experiences of the past few hours to have a large crowd assembled in the opera house for a camp fire, lest the wall give way and loss of life result, hence the committee urged that the camp fire be held in a church even though the largest church in town would not hold all who desired to attend. Accordingly, the Association voted to hold the camp fire in the Christian Church. It was deem- ed best to turn away part of the people than to take any risks with present feeling that the opera house might be insecure.
It being the desire of the citizens that the welcome ad- dress and response be postponed till evening so a greater num- ber could hear the speeches, it was voted that the address of welcome and response be made the first order of exercises at the camp fire.
Officers reports were submitted as follows :
To the Officers and Members of the 9th Indiana Veteran In- fantry Association :-
Your Corresponding Secretary begs to report that he has compiled, published and mailed the usual Annual Report and attended to correspondence with members and the issuance of invitations etc., for this re-union as upon former occasions. I regret that the nature of my employment in the Abstract Department of the Recorder's office of Cook Co. Ills. is so exacting that I cannot possibly find time to give the care and attention to my labors for our regiment and association I would like to, and feel assured that knowing as many of you do some- thing of the burden that is upon me, you will be charitable if my reports are not as complete as they might be made under more favorable circumstances, and will also excuse delay in answering your letters. Death continues to thin our ranks each year and many dear comrades write me that owing to their growing infirmity they can not "align up" with old com- rades in this reunion. But send good cheer and want to hear from us.
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An account of Receipts and Expenditures by me for the Association is hereto attached as "Schedule A" all of which is fraternally submitted.
ALEX. L. WHITEHALL, Corresponding Secretary.
SCHEDULE A. RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand date of last report. $2.50
To Dues remitted by 20 members ineluding arrearages (list
read). . . 35.50
Reed from Treasurer Banta to apply on printing 22.00
Total $57.50
DISBURSEMENTS.
Pd. Brink & Ingram printing 300 delinquent dues notices. . . $3.00
Pd. for 2c stamps mailing 200 above 4.00
Pd. Englewood Eye Printing Co. for printing and binding 97 Report, 32 pages and covers. 34.00
Paid for stamps mailing reports.
5.00
Pd. for printing Programs Reunion Lowell.
Pd. for stamps mailing same. 2.50
3.00
Pd. for Printing Postal Cards (100) announcing excursion rate to Lowell 2.00
Pd. for 2e stamps used in correspondence for the Association and mailing the dues, receipts &c .. 2.00
Pd. for Envelopes large and small, Dues, Ledger, Letter file 2.25
Total. $57.75
Balance due Whitehall. 25c
Treasurer's report as follows :
Comrades of the 9th Indiana :-
I herewith submit my report of receipts and disburse- ments for the year ending Oct. 6th. 1898, viz :-
Amount on hand last meeting $6.50
Received at Hebron. 60.00
Received since 2.50
Total $69.00
DISBURSEMENTS.
For Stamps and Stationery $1.00
February 19th, '98, sent to Whitehall 22.00
Total $23.00
Amount on hand.
$46.00
Respectfully submitted, JOHN BANTA, Treas.
On motion of Lieut. Helmick the foregoing reports were accepted and ordered printed in the Annual Report.
On motion report of committee on locating 9th Mon- ument and Markers on Chicamauga battlefield was laid over until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
Also report of committee on feasibility of holding a re- union on Chicamauga battlefield postponed till immediately after report as to locating monument.
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On motion recess was taken till 7.30 P. M. to report at Camp fire.
CAMP FIRE.
The Christian Church was early crowded to its fullest
. capacity, seats being reserved in front for the comrades of the 9th and 20th Regiments. Comrade HI. H. Ragon, editor of the Lowell Tribune (one of the fire victims) called the meet- ing to order and introduced Gen. Suman, saying he had been selected to preside.
After appropriate music by the Lowell Cornet Band, Rev. J. L. Worley made an address of welcome, saying that he had accepted with much pleasure an invitation from Burnham, Post G. A. R. to say a few words of welcome on behalf of the people of Lowell to such survivors of the 9th and 20th Regts. as had been able to meet in reunion on the occasion. He al- ways felt during the war and since, a warm admiration for the men who wore the blue, and animated by love of country as were his neighbors who had gone at their country's call, he had volunteered in '62 but was rejected and remained at home to aid the cause of the Union as best he could as a civilian, and assured the surviving veterans present that while they were doing their duty at the front, good Union-loving men and women were having their own trials at home. The speaker said during the war he had visited the camps and knew what the soldiers had to suffer, and their uncomplaining fortitude had aroused in his breast love and admiration for them that would abide while his life lasted.
In a pathetic manner Mr. Worley narrated incidents which occurred in Porter and Lake Counties during the darkest days of the war-of sad funerals of brave boys sent home to be laid at rest in the old home burying ground, of suffering fam- ilies of brave defenders of the flag who had to be looked after till the heroic father, husband, or son, could come back to the needy ones. How after four long years of awful war, of heart- breaking scenes in the homes of. the Northland, the joy of the home-coming of the men of the 9th and 20th and other brave regiments was something to be remembered for a life time, And terrible as had been the anguish and loss of many Lake and Porter County mothers, fathers and wives it seemed if any- thing to only intensify the reverence and love of these stricken men and women for the surviving comrades of their dear ones and for the cause which had called them into battle.
The results of that war have been so stupendous and magnificent in the up-lift of our country and of humanity, the great cost in human sacrifices and life seems compensated for. Today in spite of the fearful drain from the best blood of the nation, our government has been by the heroism of its sons
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maintained, and our flag sustained. And the old starry ban- ner you boys loved so well, that our young soldiers in the present war with Spain have showed such devotion for, floats over a united country and is likely to bring cheer and liberty to many millions of human beings. We thank God that you men of the war for the enfranchisement of man, and the maintainance of our national supremacy, have some of you lived to witness with your own eyes, the result of your hero- ism as American soldiers. Lowell is proud of you as men, proud of the splendid record you made as regiments of this state, and you are indeed welcome to our homes, and may you carry in your hearts a pleasant remembrance of this occasion and of our people.
Col. Suman briefly thanked Rev. Worley for his cordial welcome on behalf of the Ninth, and assured the speaker that he and other comrades were glad to be present and enjoy the hospitality of Lowell's good people in connection with the old 20th regiment, and that his boys always understood he was not given to speech making, but he was happy to say there were men in the 9th, and no doubt also in the 20th, who could make a good speech, and it would be his pleasure to call on them, and first of all he desired to hear from Col. Taylor of the 20th if he was present. Comrades of the 20th stated Col. Taylor being a Circuit Judge at Lafayette, was unable to get to the reunion.
Miss Ruby Bacon rendered a piano solo in a very artistic manner, being assisted by Mr. Carter Castle on the violin. (Mr. Castle is a G.A. R. Veteran.)
The audience were further entertained with a musical selection by the Lowell Orchestra, directed by Comrade Castle, after which Adjutant John E. Luther of the 20th, was called on as a substitute for Col. Taylor, and in a few happy words accepted the welcome on behalf of his comrades of the 20th, but insisted he was not equipped to respond in the stead of Colonel Taylor, and said he felt that Lowell people in the face of disaster had shown such grit and hospitality that they deserved to come into the fold with old veterans, and he would suggest that the 9th adopt one half of them and the 20th take the other half as honorary members and thus take them into the family. Comrade Luther referred in complimentary terms to Indiana's military record, and hoped and believed that the blessings of a good government and our free insti- tutions would be extended to the people of other lands that were being oppressed.
A class of boys from the Public School sang Old Glory. Miss Dinwiddie sang a solo entitled "A Winter Lullaby" which was well received.
Master Wardie Childress was next called to the front and
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sang a solo "Break the news to mother" that pleased the aud- ience so well that he received an encore.
Mrs. Alice Whitehall then sang the solo "He Laid Down His Life for Old Glory," which was well received by the Vet erans and audience.
Miss Ruby Bacon then rendered in such a happy and ar- tistic manner a beautiful piano solo that it won her much ap- plause and she was obliged to play an encore.
Of the next performer the Lowell Tribune says :- "Little Earl Whitehall, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Whitehall of Chicago, astonished all by singing the "Star Spangled Ban- ner." The little fellow is only five years old, but he is cert- ainly a prodigy in singing."
After some lively music by the Lowell Cornet Band, Col. Suman said he would listen to a few good short stories from the "old boys" and said recently inquiry had been made of him concerning Andy Wadel, of Co. D. of the 9th, who in the At- lanta Campaign actually captured a confederate rifle pit with 6 men in it. They all emptied their guns at him, but failed to "down him," and running in on them before they could load, he having saved his charge "he had 'em" and recognizing Andy had them well under cover of his loaded musket, they just walked into the Union lines ahead of Andy, and Gen. Sherman, to show his appreciation of this daring act of a pri- vate soldier, called him up and complimented him and gave him a drink of Bourbon from his own flask.
Wm. Rifenburg, discharged on account of wounds receiv- ed while in the 9th, was next called upon, also paid a compli- ment to the grit and generosity of Lowell citizens, and told a story of how a Yankee Regiment unearthed from a new made grave in a cemetery near the home of a pious old Virginian, sev- eral dozen hams, and so disgusted him that he was led to make the remark to some Union officers that the Yankee soldiers had taken everything from him but his hope of heaven-whereupon a Yankee officer said : "Old man you want to hold on to that mighty hard, for the 20th Ind. is just coming over the hill and they'll take even that from you."
Comrade Wm. Root, Secretary of the 20th. Regiment. Veteran Association, said that he had to report that up to the present time, but 18 of his regiment had reported for this re- union, and that fact so impressed him that he felt too serious to relate any foraging stories. On the contrary, he felt that at these camp fires, the young people should be impressed with what sacrifices this nation had been saved to them and to future generations by the Volunteer Soldiers of the Army of the Union at a time loyalty and manly courage and an unflinching devotion to duty was demanded of them.
Captain Tom Madden, of the 9th., in response to a call for
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a speech said-like many of his comrades, his ability as a speaker was only excelled by his modesty in presenting his thoughts to the public. He had met in this reunion some of the men who carried him off the field when a Confederate bul- let downed him and he needed the help of those big hearted and loyal comrades. It made life seem very happy and dear to him to be able to meet those old comrades so many years after that to him important episode in his life. It was a pleasure to him to know that they were yet alive to remind him of the close call he had when they proved themselves friends in his hour of need. This is the grandest government God ever gave to man and we want other men who love liberty to share its blessings and privileges No doubt some of our gallant young fellows who enlisted to fight Spain, have gone hungry and had some hard times, seems to me like some of you boys had to go hungry just a few times, our well de- veloped Hoosier appetites led us to take mighty big chances, for we used to eat our 3 days ration all up the first day and "pray God to send us something off the country for the next two days." We did not get into the papers much, and did not have pie, but we had our troubles just the same.
Comrade Yeoman was called for but excused himself from speaking as he did not belong to either of the Regiments gathered here.
J. K. Powers of the 9th., said he was known to some of the older residents of Lowell as a red headed youngster that in years gone by prowled around Lowell somewhat till the " war broke the country up" and he enlisted in the 9th. He got a puncture at Shiloh and drew an honorable discharge and came back to God's country and soon went to Iowa where he had lived since the war. He received the invitation of Secretary Whitehall while in far off Maine to drop into this reunion, and the trains having made close connection he was just able to "drop in." While he was not in the penitentiary he was right up against it all the same, for at the present time he and one of the State prison's of Iowa were located in Marshalltown. He felt at this time just like a good old Governor of Iowa once expressed himself. The Governor had visited the Pen- itentiary on Sunday and found himself in the Chapel, and at the conclusion of the sermon was invited to make some re- marks to the convicts and started out by saying, "I am glad to see so many of you here." (laughter. ) Well, he was glad to see so many of his old friends at this reunion.
Lieutenant Clark of the 20th, responding to repeated calls, said he had lived 61 years in Lake County without es- tablishing a record as a talker and he did not feel inelined at this time to break the record of those 61 years, He had a
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very distinct recollection that the old 20th experienced some pretty hard times during the civil war.
Quartermaster Kelly of the 9th, said he remembered with a shudder 48 hours of terrible suffering endured by the 9th in a severe storm on Cheat Mt., west Virginia, where 13 horses perished from extreme cold and the soldiers endured great suffering, but no yellow journal wrote it up or called the Government to account. War was just what Uncle Billy Sherman said it was and the lot of the soldier is not always a pleasant one.
Mr. Wm. Emery Brown, former Secretary of the 20th, said he was as pleased to meet the comrades of the 9th as of his own regiment and to enjoy the whole hearted hospitality of the Lowell people, and begged to assure them that in his opinion both the 9th and 20th had shown themselves worthy to be re- membered and honored by the people of Lake County and the State at large.
Sergeant John Marrow of the 9th, said he enjoyed the speeches of the comrades but recalled some brief speeches that Col. Suman and some of the other officers used to make that didn't always make him feel perfectly happy and comfortable, such for instance-"Men of the 9th, Load- Ready-Aim- Fire-Fix Bayonets-Charge." He referred to the sometimes lack of rations and of the "Watch on the rind" when the bacon was a little thin and the rind was thick and juicy and not to be despised or uneveuly divided among the messinates.
Captain Ragon of 55th Ohio Infantry, said :- Comrades of the 9th, you have seen what the fire did to myself and many of my neighbors, we feel very much as if we had just passed through a great battle and got licked, but while we may feel a little ' shaken up" as a result of the fire, we still have a warm place for old comrades of the war. Our Regi- ment fought over the same ground with the 9th in West Vir- ginia and while you boys were having the measles at Fetter- man we were having the measles at Grafton, and so there is much of your history that was our history in early part of the war. We are glad to greet you even in the hour of our trial and tribulation.
Comrade John Banta of the 9th was willing his comrades should do the talking.
Comrade C. W. Wise, of the 9th, now visiting his old home Hebron, from Los Angeles, California, who has suffered for many years with a wounded leg that he was finally forced to have amputated, at the call of his comrades. stood up and in his quiet earnest way assured his comrades he was glad to be among them once more.
Comrade Whitehall said he was glad to have the regiment enjoy the hospitality of Lowell, for he had previously been
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personally convinced of the public spirit and patriotism of Lowell people, and was pleased to meet even the few survivors of the gallant 20th, having had a personal acquaintance with Capt., afterwards Col. Fred Dick and many of the men of his Company (D.) Last winter he assisted in installing the officers of Geo. H. Thomas Post and Phil. Sheridan Post in Chicago, and had been requested by the Sheridan Post to speak, and had re- lated the heroic conduct of the Sergeant, Chas. Zoellers, dying while holding up the colors of 9th and saying to his comrades: "I hold him up till I die. " A few weeks later Adjutant of Sheridan Post, Albert Sibley, who has written several army songs, sent me these lines which I will now read.
"I HOLE HIM UP 'TILL I DIE !"
He carried the flag without bluster or brag, An emigrant boy from the banks of the Rhine. At the "Stone River" fight he stood for the right With heart and soul, leading the line.
The long line in blue, line of hearts that were true, The Ninth Indiana, brave volunteers.
'Mid shot and 'mid shell they had fought long and well : Listen ! What mean those loud cheers ?
Their flag, which laid low but a moment ago, Is now waving again, held toward the blue sky,
And 'though wounded to death. Zoeller shouts with last breath, "Boys ! I hole him up till I die !"
Wounded and dying, on the bloody ground lying, The flag still afloat ; neither tremor nor sigh.
Above the battle's loud din hear his cry : "You mus' win !" "Boys ! I hole him up 'till I die ! " Feb'y 4th, '98. ALBERT SIBLEY.
Comrade A. S. McCormick in response to the calls for a speech, said : My comrades of the 9th and 20th, I wish I was capable of expressing fitly my sentiments. I seem to be hap-
piest when in a reunion of old soldiers. Thirty-five years ago at Chicamauga I was captured and spent fourteen months at Andersonville and other prison pens, and the blue uniform and Old Glory mean a whole lot to me, and for years I tried to get my good wife to feel interested in old soldiers and attend a 9th reunion, and never till this year has she fully realized in her own heart what war meant to our mothers. Now we have a son in an Indiana Regiment and now the blue coat and old flag are dear to my wife, her boy is a soldier boy too, and Old Glory is raised every morning over my house by me and my little 12 months old grandson, son of our boy who is a volun- teer soldier. Comrades, I am glad I'm here.
H. E. James responding, said : Comrades, there are but two of us here to-night from Co. G, and it may not be long till not two of my old company can answer "Here." We must
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jealously guard the rights of men for which we fought and see that the rights and liberties of the citizen are protected. Our regiment and other regiments from this state made a proud record in the war for the Union, such a record was made by our volunteers that it has been, and is now, an inspiration to the young manhood of this Republic, who have recently shown the world they will not only stand by the flag of Union and Liberty, but have taken the flag of their fathers and carried it nearly around the world. Honor to the old soldier as to the young soldier who faces death on land or sea that our flag may give freedom to the oppressed.
Judge N. L. Agnew was next presented by Col. Suman as his substitute, one too young to go to war but always ready to make a speech to or for an old soldier. Judge Agnew said : I am proud to say that my father was a soldier, and while the good people of Lowell are extending you men of the 9th and 20th a splendid welcome, it is none too good. I know sons of the best families marched and fought in your ranks, and far too many of them gave up a chivalrous life to shield the flag from dishonor and the Republic from dissolution. As a boy I can distinctly remember these Porter and Lake County soldiers were a splendid looking body of young men. You are ageing fast, 35 years has brought great change to you, and to the country you so admirably defended in the hour of peril. You may not be rich in this world's goods, but you are rich in the proud record that the two regiments of which you were a part, made in the great struggle for the right and for humanity. The people of Indiana can not and will not forget your splen- did achievements as defenders of the nation's life. The 30 years which have succeeded the close of the war for the main- tainence of National Unity, have indeed been the "golden years of this Republic" and fast prejudices between sections are fading away and our future is looming brightly before us. The curtain of gloom was lifted by your gleaming bayonets, and as we realize how magnificently you behaved in battle and how quietly and decorously you dropped back into the paths of peace and how well you have proved your worth as citizens, we can not, I trust, good friends of Lowell, go too far in hon- oring such men.
At the conclusion of Judge Andrews' remarks the band played a stirring air, and the camp-fire was declared closed.
FORENOON SECOND DAY.
The corresponding secretary read the following letter from Capt. D. B. MeConnell, constituting his report on the location of the 9th Indiana monument and markers on the battlefield of Chicamanga. The letter and enclosures read were as follows;
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LOGANSPORT, Ind., Oct. 5th, 1898.
Hon. A. L. Whitehall, Chicago, Ill.
MY DEAR WHITEHALL :- I find it impossible for me to at- tend the reunion at Lowell on account of some litigation in which I am involved as attorney, growing out of our big bank failure of more than a year ago. The burthen of the labor for the bank has fallen upon me, as against half a dozen lawyers of prominence in our place, and I have been so busy that I have not been able to give that attention to my duties upon the Indiana Commission which I would have been glad to do. It has not made much difference, however, for the reason that nothing could have been done while the troops occupied the battlefield.
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