USA > Indiana > Reunion of the 9th regiment Indiana vet. vol. infantry association, 1892-1904 > Part 32
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Comrade B. A. Dunn stated that while on a trip south, a few years ago, he had visited the National Cemetery at Murphreesboro, and had also visited the old town of Ready- ville, Tennessee, where the Ninth was in camp for several months. At Readyville he was shown, by old residents, the graves of two members of the Ninth Indiana who died there, and were buried in the graveyard while the regiment lay there in camp. He suggested that these bolies be dis- interred and reburied in the National Cemetery on the battlefield of Stone River, in the plat of ground marked by the Hazen Brigade monument.
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On motion, Comrade B. A. Dunn was designated to correspond with the superintendent of the National Ceme- tery at Stone River, and ascertain whether these bodies have, since his visit to Readyville, been transferred to the National Cemetery, and if not whether they will be ex- humed by the cemetery authorities, and reinterred in the National Cemetery, along with the other dead of the Ninth Indiana buried there.
The ladies having prepared a banquet for the regiment in the chapel of the Presbyterian church, all comrades and their relatives accompanying them assembled at the the- ater at 11:30 A. M. Comrade Val Marks, on behalf of the local committee, having pinned red and white carna- tions upon those entitled to sit at the banquet, after lis- tening for a short time to enlivening music by the Martial Band, with Lieutenant Ed. Ephlin, former Fife Major of the Ninth, playing the leading fife, the members filed down stairs into the street, and in a column of twos, with the band and colors in front, marched to the chapel, where the good ladies had spread a royal repast on long tables gar- nished with vases of beautiful flowers. AAfter each couple had been placed at the table, President MeConnell, owing to the absence of our good Comrade Kelly, acting Chaplain of the regiment, detailed Lieutenant Helmick to ask a blessing. This the Lieutenant, with his usual readiness and in well chosen words, proceeded to do, and after a hearty respond of amens the company were seated. The white-robed tables were laden with all the toothsome viands that the witchery of cookery provides, and it goes without saying that the Ninth Indiana veterans rose to the exigen- cies of the situation, and did their whole duty. It being tacitly understood that every man was to bring his appe- tite right along with him, and be sure it was in good work- ing order, under penalty if he failed to overcome a full ration at that sumptuous feast of having to carry a rail on each shoulder the whole length of the guard line. Thus forewarned and forearmed, we are safe in recording the fact that Captain MeConnell's battalion responded manfully
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to the injunction of the generous ladies of old Mishawak: "Every soldier of the old Ninth is expected to do his whole duty at this dinner." At the conclusion of the splendid repast President McConnell reminded the comrades that there was yet one item of unfinished business to be dis- posed of before final adjournment, and he called for a report from the Committee on Resolutions. Comrade Brower, on behalf of the committee, read the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted by a rousing, rising vote:
Captain Thomas Madden, with his characteristic lib- erality, again places the regiment under obligation. On being advised that the Secretary was unable to procure a loan of the electrotype plates of the Ninth Monument at Chickamauga, he took the matter in hand and at once pro- cured at his own expense of the State Printer at Indian- apolis five hundred sheets with a front and rear view of the monument printed thereon all ready to bind into the annual report, and forwarded them to the Secretary, with his compliments, thereby enabling us to comply with the request made at our reunion in October, that the engrav- ing of the monument be shown in our forthcoming report. Our comrades are not unmindful or forgetful of this and other evidences of Comrade Madden's substantial remen- brance of his old companions in arms.
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Report of Committee on Resolutions.
The members of the Ninth Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry, in their Fifteenth annual reunion assembled, do hereby adopt the following resolutions:
First: That we extend to the Century Club of Mishawaka our sincere thanks for the use of their magnificent theatre and rooms for our entertainment and enjoyment.
Second: That we extend our thanks to all members of the local committee, to the speakers, and to those who favored us with music, and did so much to entertain us, and add to the enjoyment of the Reunion.
Third: That we desire to express our deepest thanks to the Business Men's Association of Mishawaka for the portrait of Major-General Robert H. Milroy. our first colonel: of Colonel W. H. Blake, our third colonel, and of General I. C. B. Suman, the last colonel of our regiment.
Fourth: That we desire to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the warm-hearted and patriotic citizens of Mishawaka who generously opened their doors and their hearts to us and contributed so much to our enjoyment while in the city.
Fifth: That we are more than grateful to the ladies of the Presbyterian Church for the sumptuous bangnet provided, and who have filled us almost too full for utterance.
Sixth: That we extend to Alex 1. Whitehall, the worthy Corresponding Secretary of the Association, for his indefatigable labors and his wholesome interest in behalf of the association our sin- cere thanks. We feel that most of the success of our reunions is the result of his unselfish devotion to our interests.
Seventh: That we will ever remember and carefully treasure in our hearts tender memories of this reunion in this goodly city to which the citizens generally have contributed so much to make it a grand success.
B. A. DUNN. A. S. MCCORMICK, N. V. BROWER. Committee.
After the adoption of the report of the Committee on Resolutions the meeting adjourned sine die.
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Present at Regimental Reunion.
(The State is Indiana where Postoffice only is given.)
Field and Staff-Major James D. Braden, Elkhart.
Company A-Lieutenant Ed. Ephlin, LaPorte; Corporal, A. S. McCormick, Lafayette.
Company B-Sergeant Levi Van Winkle, Walkerton; John Vesper, Anniston, Alabama; A. Vesper, Elkhart; William Web- ster, Union Mills.
Company C-Sergeant Abe Dils, Elkhart; Byron A. Dunn, Waukegan, Illinois; A. C. Manning and wife, R. stutsman John Nolan, Wm. F. Shaver, John 1 .. Daly and wife, H. L. Shupert, J. C. Koehler, Jesse B. Drake and Philetus Abel and wife, all of Elkhart: Sam'l 1. Kesler, LaPorte; Wm. Speese, Jones, Cass Co. Michigan; Geo. B. Gongdon and Geo. P. Bellows, Bristol.
Company D-Corporal C. 1. Andrews and wife, Plymouth; Corporal Jones Grant and wife, Bourbon; Frank M. Dunbar, Elk- hart; Geo. Peoples and wife, Maxinkuckee: J. G. Leonard. Plym- outh; Jesse R. Moore, Argos; John D. Goddard and wife, Warsaw.
Company E-Lieutenant Thos. Prickett and wife, Ligonier; Lieutenant J. M. Helmick and wife, Wheatfield; Corporal J. P. Baldwin Leroy, Corporal B. F. Hentzell and M. Nicolai, Syracuse; John Stewart and George Williams, Hurlburt, Porter Co., and James McKnight, Leroy.
Company F-Captain Wm. H. Merrit. Elkhart; John F. Hul- derman, Wakarusa: Adolphus Whorwell. Bangor, Michigan; Wm. H. Carr, New Carlisle; Caleb C. Redding. Reger, Missouri; Ales 1 .. Whitehall and wife, Chicago, Illinois.
Company G-Ellis Palmateer and daughter, Michigan City; Wm. Brummitt, New Carlisle.
Company H-Lieutenant R. F. Drullinger, South Bend; Ser- geant Harvey Gibbs, Leroy: Corporal J. W. Zea and John Ritz, Valparaiso: Dan lynch and Charles E. Ketcham, of Lowell, Indiana.
Company 1-Lieutenant Frank W. Childs, Fort Madison, Iowa; Sergeant N. V. Brower, North Madison, Ohio; : Sergeant E. O. Newman and daughter, Mishawaka; Corporals. John N. Holliday. W. F. Avery and H. O Kremer, wife and two daughters, all of Mishawaka; V. 1 .. Marks, Elkhart; John Lundy, New York City; Horace Parks, Bonita, Kansas; H. M. Beck and wife, Elk- hart: . Amos W. Reynolds, Peter Sternberg and William Bonney, Mishawaka: Win. A. Markel. Goshen; David Slongh and wife. South Bend: George I. Badger. LaPorte.
Company K-Captain D. B. McConnell, Lieutenant John Banta and wife, Sergeant Saml Landis. Wm. Banta and wife, George Friend and wife. 1 .. H. Burns. Alpheus Porter and Henry Chilcot, all of Logansport: Wm. Mclaughlin, Lucerne: Jerome Martin, Wakarnsa
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Additions to Roster of Survivors.
Three Months' Service.
Guilford D-Snodgrass. Company G. Battle Ground. Indiana.
Three Years' Service. . Company B-Corporal E. A. Sutton. Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Company E-Corporal William Bloomfield. Kendallville, Indiana.
Company H-Charles H. Ketcham Lowell, Lake Co., Indiana. Company K-L. H. Burns, Logansport, Indiana.
Corrections of Roster,
Three Months' Service.
Company C-Phillip Chritsman, Soldiers' Home, Marion, Indiana.
Company D-A. B. Davidson, Hamilton, Ohio (not Indiana). Three Years' Sercice
Company A-William Young (not Christopher). Delphi, Indiana.
Company C-Lieutenant Ambrose Bierce, No. 1825 Nineteenth St., N. W., Washington, D. C.
Company E-Lieutenant Thomas Prickett. Ligonier, Indiana.
Company E-George Babbitt. 113 North Lincoln St .. Chicago, Illinois.
Company F-F. Emory Dokey. Decatur, Michigan.
Company G-Win. Brunnitt, New Carlisle.
Company H -- James K. Powers, Superintendent of National Cemetery. Springfield, Missouri.
Company I-Amos W. Reynolds. Mishawaka, Indiana.
Additions to Roll of Dead.
Three Months' Service.
Company H-Lietenant Gilbert A. Pierce, late Governor of North Dakota and U. S. Senator, at Chicago, Illinois, February 15. 1901.
Three Years' Service.
Major George H. Carter, LaPorte, Indiana, October 31, 1901.
Company B-Allen L. Pierce. Rolling Prairie, Indiana, May 4. 1901.
Company C-Henry D. Nichols, July 8, 1901.
Company D-Captain Amasa Johnson, at Plymouth, Indiana. September 27, 1901.
Company D-Lieutenant William H. Mattingly, about two years ago at Washington, D. C.
Company K- Henry Clay. Wakarusa, Indiana, no details.
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In Memoriam.
Major George H. Carter.
Born January 39, 1840. Died October 31. 1901.
George H. Carter was born in Albany, New York, Jan- uary 30, 1840. His father, Samuel Carter, was a skilled cabinet-maker in Albany, and as early as 1800 held the
rank of Major in a New York infantry regiment. George H. Carter was educated at a college for boys in New York. Doubtless working under the eve and direction of his skilled father he learned much about working in wood and painting that afterwards proved valuable to him as a me- chanic. In 1854 George H. Carter accompanied his eldest brother, Samuel Carter, Jr., to LaPorte, Indiana. In 1856 he entered the car shops of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. Co. as a painter's apprentice, and became so efficient and satisfactory to the company that he was made division superintendent of painting, and was occupy- ing that position at the outbreak of the war in 1861. He was among the very first to volunteer from his county under the first call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volun- teers, in April, 1861. He was elected Second Lieutenant of Captain Don J. Woodward's Company, organized at LaPorte, and which a few days later was assigned to the Ninth Regiment Indiana Infantry, as Co. F. In the regi- mental organization Captain Woodward was made the Major; Carter was promoted to First Lieutenant, and the gallant young Thomas J. Patton was made Captain of the company. Lieutenant Carter served creditably in all the campaigning of his regiment in West Virginia, participat- ing in the earliest engagements of the war, notably Phil- lipi, Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. In the reorganization of the Ninth Regiment for the three-years' service. Lieu- tenant Carter was made Captain of Co. F. In command of this company he participated in the battle of Buffalo, or Allegheny Mountain, and in all the severe campaigning of the Ninth Indiana during the fall of '6f and winter of '61 and '62, up to the month of February, when the regi- ment was transferred to the department of Kentucky and made a part of General Bnell's army. He was in Nelson's division. and in April. 1862, took a conspicuous part in the terrible battle of Shiloh. In this fierce fight the regi- ment lost 177 men killed and wounded, and Captain Car- ter's gallant comrade, Adjutant Patton, was killed by a cannon shot. In the subsequent campaigning of the regi- ment, Captain Carter proved himself a brave, patriotic and popular line officer, always found at his post of duty, and received his merited promotion as Major of the regiment April 17, 1863. In this position he served with fidelity and gallantry until the date of his honorable discharge. Janu- ary 11, 1865. Major Carter fortunately passed unscathed through the numerous battles and skirmishes in which the
Ninth Indiana took so prominent and creditable a part. His old commander and loyal friend, General I. C. B. Suman, though suffering from severe wounds received at the battle of Stone River, was present at the funeral of his trusty Major, and at the bier of his departed friend and companion in arms, in a few eloquent words, paid a just tribute to the soldierly behavior of Major Carter on all occasions, and to his manliness as a soldier and his excel- lence as a citizen. General Suman, in an article published in the LaPorte Republican, recalled several "close calls" the Major experienced in battle, namely: At Chicka- manga, while lie and Colonel Suman were sitting on their horses, watching the fighting and talking of the situation, a Confederate sharpshooter, with well aimed bullet. cut off his bridle-reins uncomfortably close to the Major's hand. At another time in the battle in front of Atlanta. the Major was struck fairly in the breast by a bullet which was so nearly spent that it did not have momentum sufficient to penetrate his body, though force enough to make an ugly bruise and to stun him so that he reeled in his saddle. As his colonel sprang to his side to catch him, the Major, recovering from the shock, thrust his hand through his clothing and drew the bullet from where it rested against his bruised and naked flesh. General D. S. Stanley, his corps commander, who had witnessed the incident, after learning the Major was not mortally wounded, remarked, "Lucky for you, Major: you are worth a dozen dead men vet." In the first day's battle with Hood's forces at Nash- ville, in December, 1864. Major Carter led the gallant skir- mish line of the Ninth Indiama as it steadily brushed back the Confederate skirmish line, finally, with the regiment, being the first to reach and capture the strongest salient in Hood's entrenched line. A few weeks after this meritori- ous conduct, crowning as it did years of splendid soldierly. conduct, Major Carter yielded up his position in the regi- ment as its Major. The war being nearly ended be re- turned to LaPorte to again take up the duties of life as a citizen. During the year of 1861 the handsome and genial young Captain of Co. F was married to Anna May Koplin of LaPorte county and a few days later left his bride for active campaigning in West Virginia. To this worthy cou- ple six children were born, of whom three are now living, viz: Mrs. James Berger of Portland, Oregon (known to the regiment as "Nora"): Justin Carter, an art student of Boston, Massachusetts, and Frank Carter, the leader of an
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orchestra in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Anna M. Carter died in 1895. The Major subsequently married. in 1897, Miss Josephine McCrosky, an elderly maiden lady living near LaPorte, an estimable woman who survives him as his widow. On his return from the Civil War Major Car- ter resumed his position with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. Company, and soon removed to Elkhart, Indiana, where he was residing in 1871 when he resigned his railway position and engaged for a time as traveling salesman for a furniture firm, subsequently opening up a furniture establishment of his own at Elkhart. Selling out this to take a position with the Indianapolis, Peru & Chi- cago R. R., the Major removed to Peru, Indiana, where he resided till 1879, when he resigned and again returned to LaPorte and established a paint store, etc., taking con- tracts for painting and decorating up to the date of his death. For several years prior to his death the Major had been in somewhat failing health, and particularly the year preceding his demise, but with his accustomed energy he attended to his business, and until a day or two before his death drove over from his pleasant home on the banks of Stone Lake to his store on Indiana Avenue, near the Court House. in LaPorte, to superintend his business.
His death was such as comes to many old soldiers, sud- den and almost painless. He died of dropsy of the heart. Major Carter in life was in honored and respected citizen of LaPorte, and an energetic, conscientious business man. A devoted member of the Methodist church, a manly, genial and kindly man by nature, his passing was sadly and keenly felt by all the good people of LaPorte. He was a faithful member of Patton Post, G. A. R., and a member of the Veteran Association of the Ninth Indiana Veteran Infantry, and usually a member of its executive committee. Ile will be most sadly missed in all future gatherings of his comrades of the war.
His remains were laid to rest with the appropriate and impressive ceremonies of the order, by his Masonic breth- ren, in the beautiful Pine Lake Cemetery, where repose the ashes of many of his gallant old comrades of the war, and of his own beloved dead.
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Captain Amasa Johnson.
Born April 25, 1837. Died September 27. 1991.
Amasa Johnson was born in Putnam County, Indiana, April 25, 1837. His father, Rev. James Johnson, was a prominent Methodist minister. His mother died when Amasa was a lad of ten, and her sister, Mrs. O'Hair, assumed the care and education of young Johnson, who attended the common schools and eventually graduated from the Law Department of the Asbury College, at Greencastle, Indiana, now the DePauw University.
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The great grandfather of A masa was a Kentucky pioneer, contemporary with Boone and Kenton, and his two sons, one of whom was the grandfather of Amasa, were captured by the Indians in one of their forays, and carried into Ohio. Though mere boys, the youngest but twelve, they con- trived, after being taken over one hundred miles from home, to free themselves at night from the thongs that bound them, and seizing the guns of their savage guards, shot them as they slept, then made their way through the wil- derness to the colony in Kentucky.
In 1858 Johnson, then about 21 years old, opened a law office in Plymouth, Indiana, and the same year was elected prosecuting attorney of his county, filling the posi- tion two years. While engaged in the practice of law in 1861, he assisted in enrolling a company which became Co. D) of the Ninth Indiana Infantry, then being reorgan- ized at Camp Colfax, LaPorte, for the three-year service. He was elected captain and held the position until a short time after the capture of Atlanta, Georgia, when he and the other non-veterans of the Ninth were honorably dis- charged. He participated in all the engagements in which his company and regiment took a part, and during the Atlanta Campaign served as Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of General William Grose, commanding the brigade to which his regiment was attached.
On his return from the war in 1864 Captain Johnson married Miss Adelia Sherman, daughter of the late Dr. N. Sherman of Plymouth, Indiana. He opened a law office at Valparaiso, but soon returned to Plymouth and resumed the practice of law, associating with him a former univer- sity classmate. David T. Phillips. The latter subsequently removed to California, after which Captain Johnson con- tinued in the practice alone up to the time of his death.
Faithful as a soldier, Captain Johnson as a citizen soon established an excellent reputation as an honest and able lawyer. and as a man faithful to every trust reposed in him by his fellows. Being intelligent, patriotic, broad-minded and eminently practical, the ex-soldier became an ideal citi- zen, and was honored by his fellow citizens by being cho- sen. in 1868, to represent his district, consisting of Marshall and St. Joseph counties, in the General Assembly of Indi- ana. Later he was twice elected mayor of his home city during the seventies, and again in 1807-8. He also served two terms in the city council. Captain Johnson was not a politician as the term is usually understood. But his fel-
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low citizens respected him for his level-headedness and sterling integrity, and hence selected him for official posi- tions which they felt he would capably and honestly fill. As evidence of his excellent character as a lawyer and man, and his standing in the community in which he lived, for upward of forty years, we append (omitting a long preamble reciting his honorable career and manly qualities) the fol- lowing resolutions passed by the Marshall County, Indiana, Bar, at the regular October term of the Circuit Court. to-wit:
RESOLVED. That in the death of Amasa Johnson the Marshall County bar has lost an able, honest, conscientious, upright and unsullied member. the community a worthy, true, honorable and just citizen: his family a kind, generous, affectionate, gentle, noble . and loving husband and father; and to his bereaved wife and chil- dren we tender our most sincere sympathies and kindest con- dolence in this, their greatest sorrow and deepest gloom.
RESOLVED, That, as an additional mark of respect to the mem- ory of Mr. Johnson, long a distinguished member of this bar, the regular business of the Marshall circuit court be now suspended in order that his former associates may pay fitting tribute to his public and private virtues.
RESOLVED. That, as a further testimony of respect to the mem- ory of the deceased, the Marshall circuit court, at the conclusion of these ceremonies, shall adjourn.
RESOLVED. That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this court and a copy thereof be transmitted to the family of the deceased.
CHAS. KELLISON. W. B. HESS, JOHN W. PARKS. CHAS. P. DRUM MOND. SAMUEL PARKER.
An equally eloquent tribute to his worth as a man is set forth in a testimonial from his brethren of Cyrenius Council, No. 944. Royal Arcanum. His old-time friend, ex-Congressman Thayer, headed the committee of the council, which prepared the testimonial to his worth. Cap- tain Johnson was also proud of his Grand Army Post, and a faithful attendant upon its meetings, and at the funerals of comrades, and he will be sadly missed by his old com- rades of the Post, who voiced their appreciation of him in the following words:
RESOLVED, That in the death of Comrade Amasa Johnson. Miles FL. Tibbits Post No. 260. Department of Indiana, G. A. R., has lost a devoted, faithint and most talented member: the church an earnest, devoted Christian: the legal profession an able and con- scientious member; the community a noble and worthy citizen. and the family a loving, kind and indulgent husband and father.
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In concluding this memoir the writer, who for many years has entertained a comrade's affection for Captain Johnson, as well as a wholesome respect for his amiable wife, and likewise a kindly regard for the children who sur- vive him, viz: Mrs. Ida Jost of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Carrie Baker, of Fort Wayne; Mrs. Edith Seward, and Dr. Sherman Johnson, of Plymouth, Indiana, we can only say, we keenly appreciate the deep sense of loss that comes to each member of his family in the passing of one so well beloved in the old home.
The Ninth Regimental Association will sadly miss Cap- tain Johnson in its future meetings, as he always mani- fested the liveliest interest in the welfare of all living com- rades, and was so desirous that the memory of all our dead comrades be duly honored, and particularly that the hero- ism of those who died in line of duty be perpetuated and . revered for time immemorial.
Allen 1 .. Pierce.
Born April 11, 1834. Died May 4. 1001.
Allen L. Pierce was born at Hamburg, Erie County, New York, on the above date. He removed to Indiana in 1848. The enlisted in Co. B of the Ninth Indiana Infantry in August, 1861, and re-enlisted as a veteran in 1864, and was mustered out with his regiment September 28. 1865. Comrade Pierce was an excellent soldier. He returned to LaPorte County after the war, and after the death of his wife made his home with his sister, Mrs. William Diamond, Rolling Prairie, LaPorte County, Indiana. Early on the morning of May 4, 1901, he was stricken with apoplexy and died in less than an hour. His sister testifies to his kindly and affectionate nature, while his old comrades and many friends speak in warm commendation of him as a genial and manly man.
Henry D. Nichols.
Born February 18. 1832. Died July 9, 1901.
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