USA > New York > Yates County > The military history of Yates County, N.Y. : comprising a record of the services rendered by citizens of this county in the army and navy, from the foundation of the government to the present time > Part 3
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
the War of 1812, marched the new recruits, under command of Mr. . Cornwell, who had been appointed Lieutenant. Morris Brown, Esq., was president of the day, and over five thousand persons were in attendance on this occasion. Stirring addresses were delivered by Hon. Darins A. Ogden, Hon. Henry Spence, General A. F. Whitaker, and Abraham V. Harpending, Esq. At that meeting was appointed a finance committee, consisting of Messrs. Farley Holmes, Ebenezer B. Jones, Darius A. Ogden, and Charles C. Shep- pard, who circulated a subscription to raise funds to provide for the families of volunteers: The following vigilance com- mittee was also appointed : Moses W. Eastman, Farley Holmes, John L. Lewis, Jr., Nathaniel R. Long, Daniel Morris, and John Wilkinson.
The military company now recruited, and which at this time was known as the "Keuka Rifles," assembled on the 9th of May in Washington Hall, and was there inspected by Major John E. Bean, of Geneva, and mustered into the State service. An election was held for officers on the same day, resulting in the choice of James M. Letts as Captain. Mr. Cornwell, who had been active in raising this company, waived his claim for preference as an officer in favor of Ed- ward E. Root, the head clerk in his employ, who was elected First Lieutenant and William H. Long Second Lieutenant. The company continued to drill under its officers until orders were received to go into camp at Elmira on the 19th of May. On that day the company departed, and was escorted to the railroad depot by the Penn Yan firemen in uniform and a vast crowd of citizens. The company was presented
Emery, base drum, (also played in the martial band); William Wood, base drum and cymbals (last part of the war.) The martial band, which rendered effective service in drumming up recruits, was composed at dif- ferent times of some of the following named persons: Captain William Stewart Judd, leader; Amasa Holden, Charles Holden, Rowland North- rup, Loren Swift, William VanNorman, Garrett Martin, George Caton, John Wheeler, fifers; Freeman G. Wheeler, Homer M. Townsend, James A. Belknap, Jerry Hall, Edward G. Elliott, snare drummers; Wallace Betts, base drummer. The soldiers departing for the seat of war would usually march to the railroad station to the tune of "Rally 'Round the Flag," changing soon to "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which the band would play as the train was pulling out.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
by the ladies of Penn Yan with a beautiful flag, and was addressed on its departure by Hon. D. A. Ogden and E. B. Jones. A testament and a needle-case were also presented to each member. The men on their arrival at Elmira were quartered in the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher's church, and on the 24th of May became Company I, of the Thirty-third New York Volunteers, and with the history of this regiment from that date the history of the company is identified. Meanwhile other recruits volunteered, and, in squads con- taining a dozen or more men, left Penn Yan, some for Albany and some for Elmira, and there united with various com- mands. Letters soon began to come from the absent soldier boys, describing their experiences in the camp and on the battle-field. Throughout Yates County love of the old flag became a passion, the Stars and Stripes appeared waving over manufactories and private residences, and pole-raisings were of almost daily occurence. At Penn Yan a hearty and gratifying welcome was given to Colonel R. F. Taylor, of the Thirty-third Regiment, on the occasion of his visit to this village on the 14th of December.
In March, 1862, the Rev. Frederick Starr, Jr., became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Penn Yan. A mative by birth of the State of New York, he had, in the early part of his ministry, beginning in 1849, preached five years at Weston in Missouri, and there, by the boldness of his anti-slavery sentiments, had incurred the hatred of the lawless, slave-holding inhabitants of that section. Hearing of a plot to take his life, he left Weston by night and re- turned to Auburn, N. Y., where he had been a theological student. From Auburn he came to Penn Yan. To sincere and perfect piety in his chosen calling, he added great devo- tion to the cause of the Union. The whole county felt the influence of his true patriotism. Next to his God he loved his country. To awaken Christian patriotism; to enlighten the public mind; to fill the ranks of the army; to pay re- spects to the patriot dead, and make their graves preach a fresh love and devotion to our country and its institutions, he was always ready to go, far and near .* With all his un-
* Memorial sermon, preached by the Rev. David Magie, January 20, 1867.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
ceasing activity in the cause of National Unity, he found time to bring about an addition and improvement to his church edifice and to the lot on which it stood. He was a noble and talented young man, a "good and faithful ser- vant," a thorough patriot, a zealous Christian. At the elose of the war he left Peun Yan and went back to Missouri, having, as he told his father before he commenced his first pastorate there, always felt that with him the obligation to go to a place was great in proportion to its necessity. He died in St. Louis, January 8, 1867, in the forty-first year of his age .*
President Lincoln's second call for troops in 1862 was promptly and cheerfully met in Yates County. The Board of Supervisorst unanimously resolved, July 26th, and again
* When the new Presbyterian Church edifice was erected in Penn Yan in 1879, a proposal to place a Starr memorial window in the church was brought up among the Building Committee, consisting of the following members: Charles V. Bush, George R. Cornwell, George Cramer, My- ron Hamlin, Theodore O. Hamlin, Charles Hunter, Charles G. Judd, Charles R. King, John H. Lown, Ephraim W. Mills, D. Henry Palmer (pastor), Augustus W. Prentiss, Charles C. Sheppard, John S. Sheppard, Franklin E. Smith, Charles W. Taylor, and Charles D. Welles. Nearly three hundred dollars were contributed for this purpose, and mostly by persons not of the congregation. The memorial window is in the front of the edifice, and on the wall below the window is placed a tablet, bear- ing the following inscription :
In Memoriam. 1826. Rev. Frederick Starr. 1867. Pastor of this Church, 1862-1865.
His courage as a Patriot, His zeal as a Philanthropist, were only equalled by his industry and fervor as a minister of Christ.
t The following were the Yates County Supervisors during the war : BARRINGTON, Peter H. Crosby, 1861 ; Jonathan Taylor, IS62; Asa P. Fish, 1863-64; Delazon J. Sunderlin, 1865 ; BENTON, Homer Marriner, 2861-62 ; Caleb Hazen, 1863-64; John Merrifield, 1865 ; ITALY, Alden D. Fox, 1861-62-64-65 ; William S. Green, 1863; JERUSALEM, J. Warren Brown, 1861-62 ; Daniel B. Tuthill, 1863 64; Ferris P. Hurd, 1865 ; MID- DLESEX, Alexander Bassett, 1861 ; Daniel Bostwick, 1862-63 ; Thomas Underwood, 1864-65 ; MILO, Charles Wagener, 1861 ; Meletiah H. Law- rence, 1862; John C. Scheetz, 1863-64-65; POTTER, John Halstead, 1861- 62; Hiram Keeney, 1863 ; Henry Torrey, 1864; Whitford B. Wyman, 1865; STARKEY, Herschel W. Pierce, 1861; Anthony C. Harpending, 1862-63 ; Hiland G. Wolcott, 1864; Ashbel Hollister, 1865 ; TORREY, Ja- cob Van Deventer, 2d, 1861 ; Darius Baker, 1862 ; George W. Gardner, I863-64-65.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
on August 21st, "That the County Treasurer of Yates County be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed, to borrow and receive fifteen thousand dollars, to constitute a Volunteer Fund, from such parties as will advance the same, at such times and in such amounts as may be mutually agreed upon, and may be convenient, for the purpose of aiding in the en- listment of volunteers and the support of their families while in the military service of the United States and of the State of New York; and that said County Treasurer is hereby directed to issue proper certificates thereof, payable when in funds thereof, with interest." War meetings were held, recruiting offices opened, and soldiers rapidly re- cruited and sent to the front to swell the ranks of the "three hundred thousand more." On the 29th of November the following resolution was adopted unanimously by the Board of Supervisors : "Resolved, That the sum of thirty thous- and six hundred and fifty dollars be levied upon the County of Yates, collected and paid into the treasury, to be ex- pended, so far as necessary therefor, in payment of the cer- tificates issued by the County Treasurer, in pursuance of the resolution of this Board, adopted July 26th and August 21st, 1862, with the interest thereon; the residne, after pay- ing such certificates, to constitute a Volunteer Fund, for the payment of bounties and the support of families of volun- teers, according to the rules and regulations established by this Board, at its special meeting, on the 21st day of August, 1862."
In April, 1863, the Twenty-fifth Provost Marshal District, comprising the counties of Yates, Ontario, and Livingston, was organized, with headquarters at Canandaigua. The En- rolling Board consisted of Captain William T. Remer, Pro- vost-Marshal; Dr. Zerah H. Blake, Surgeon; and Jacob A. Mead, Commissioner. Captain Ralph T. Wood was ap- pointed Chief Clerk and George N. Hicks, John O. Wake- man, William Hildreth, and Alonzo Snyder, Deputy-Mar- shals. The work of enrolling all persons liable to a draft, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, was at once com- menced, and the first draft affecting Yates County took place July 31st at Canandaigua, under the direction of the Provost
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Marshal. The drafting wheel, which was hollow, was turned by Deputy Marshal Wakeman, of Penn Yan. At every rev- olution of the wheel a card was taken out by a blind man, (who was also blindfolded as the law directed) and the name called off by the Commissioner. Three companies of militia, one from Penn Yan and two from Rochester, were stationed on guard. The number of men in Yates County at that time drafted were 572. Of these a number were exempted for physical reasons, several were exempted for other causes, some personally provided substitutes, and 268 paid each a commutation of $300. On the 4th of December the Board of Supervisors, with the object of providing for subsequent drafts, and to encourage volunteering, resolved unanimously, "That the county of Yates pay $300 to each person who shall hereafter volunteer into the service of the United States for the term of three years or during the war, and be mustered into the service to the credit of this county; and the like sum of $300 to each man who shall be drafted and serve himself or furnish a substitute to the extent of the quota of this county." For the payment of these bounties the Board resolved, "That the sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars be assessed, levied, and collected upon the county," and that the county Treasurer be authorized "To issue Bonds or Serip of the County of Yates, from time to time, and as the necessities may require, in sums of not less than fifty dollars, with annual interest from the date of their issue, to the amount of eighty-four thousand dollars; said Bonds or Scrip to be negotiated by said Treasurer, and the money re- ceived thereon by him, and that the amount of money ob- tained thereon constitute a fund, from which the said volun- teers or drafted men shall be paid." The following were appointed as a Volunteer Committee to carry these resolu- tions into effect: James Burns, County Treasurer, John C. Scheetz, Supervisor from Milo, and Lewis B. Graham, Clerk of the Board. The times of payment of these Bonds were designated as follows: one-third on the 15th of February 1865 and one-third on the 15th of February 1866. The amount of issue was subsequently increased to $135,000 by a resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors August 3,
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
1864, and a further increase to $145,000 was unanimously resolved by the Board on the 31st of December of the same year. ' The time for payment, by thirds, of the new issues required was also extended to February 15, 1867 and to February 15, 1868. Liberal bounties to recruits were like- wise voted by the different towns. At the meeting held De- cember 31, 1864, Benjamin L. Hoyt was appointed general recruiting agent for the county, to act under the direction of the Board. Charles C. Miller and Charles Kelly were also appointed recruiting agents on the 9th of January, 1865.
The number of men raised by the later drafts and provided for in the foregoing resolutions were 576* in the second and third drafts and 253 in the fourth. For each man drafted three years of service were duly credited to the County by the State, including that of the men held by the first draft and who had then provided personally for the quota, the succeeding drafts being filled at the County's expense. In 1865 Yates County received from the State Bounty Loan $192,000, to pay the expenses of the last draft and $200 a year on 307 years of excess from preceding drafts. The re- ceipt of all this amount was reported by the Volunteer Com- mittee at that time as follows: "The $130,600 paid for boun- ties has been refunded to the County by the State, also the sum of $61,400 has been received for excess of years of ser- vice on former calls."
Little Yates, as may be observed, was as strong in her de- votion to the Union cause as any locality in State or na- tion.+ There were a few exceptions, where ignorance, stu-
* The Yates County Chronicle of July 14, 1864, contained the following interesting item of news : "Provost-Marshal Remer, Surgeon Blake, and Commissioner Mead, composing the eurolling board of the 25th District, held forth at the Court House on Saturday and Monday last. Some 400 to 500 applications were inade to be struck from the enrollment. Of those 260 were struck off for various reasons, but more on account of a lack of teeth than from any other cause."
t On the 6th of June, 1863, a branch of the National Loyal League was established at Penn Yan. Thomas H. Locke, Esq., was made President of the Penn Yan League. A branch was also established at Bellona by Hon. Samnel Jayne and others, and in the town of Barrington by Joseph F. Crosby and others. The following pledge was signed by the members: " We pledge ourselves to unconditional loyalty to the Government of the
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
pidity, or a lack of self-respect warped men out of line and let them sink from respectable notice. Their influence then was lighter than air, and since that time the class to which they belonged have not been trusted by either those who fought for or against the flag. During the war the County was represented in the Assembly as follows: Gilbert Sherer, 1861; Darius A. Ogden, 1862; Guy Shaw, 1863; Oren G. Loomis, 1864 ; Eben S. Smith, 1865. In 1862 and again in 1864, Hon. Daniel Morris was elected to Congress from the Twenty-fifth District, embracing the counties of Ontario, Liv- ingston, and Yates. President Lincoln received 3,036 votes in Yates County, when re-elected in 1864 .* The voice of the press of the County, from the beginning to the end of the war, was of unswerving loyalty to the National Govern- ment.1_
The efforts of the noble women of our County to alleviate the hardships incident to soldier life cannot be too highly commended. A Soldiers' Aid Society,# comprising over one
United States in its efforts to suppress the rebellion, and to spare no en- deavors to maintain unimpaired the national unity, both in principle and territorial boundary:"
* In August 1864 Hon. John Cochrane, of New York city, formerly Colonel of the New York Chasseurs, and later promoted Brigadier-Gener- al in the Army of the Potomac, but at this time Attorney-General of the State of New York, came to Penn Yan and remained several days, the guest of John D. Wolcott, Esq. General Cochrane had a short time be- fore received the nomination for Vice-President on the ticket with Gen- eral Fremont, but both candidates ultimately withdrew from the field. He made during his stay in Penn Yan several speeches, advocating a vig- orous prosecution of the war.
t The newspapers published in Yates County in war time were the Yates County Chronicle, conducted by Stafford C. Cleveland ; the Penn Yan Democrat, conducted during the first two years of the war by Mc- Connell & Stanton, (Eli McConnell and Warren J. Stanton,) and during the last two years by George D. A. Bridgman ; and the Dundee Record, conducted at first by David S. Bruner, then for about six monthis by George D. A. Bridgman, and afterwards by James M. Westcott.
# This Society, on its organization, October 15, 1861, elected the follow- ing officers : President, Mrs. Mary C. Porter ; Vice-President, Mrs. Maria C. Brown; Secretary, Mrs. Mary Wardwell ; Treasurer, Mrs. Juditli Og- den. In March 1862, Mrs. Wardwell and Mrs. Ogden having resigned, Miss Mary E. Curtis was elected Secretary and Treasurer. On October 15, 1862, officers were elected as follows : President, Mrs. Maria C. Brown;
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
hundred ladies, was organized in Penn Yan, October 15, 1861, as an auxillary to the United States Sanitary Commis- sion. By their exertions, blankets, mittens, socks, and other necessary and useful articles were collected and sent to the soldiers at the front. Even the little girls * became interested and eagerly assisted in the work of preparing lint, banda- ges, and other good things for the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals.
Yates County joined heartily in the general exultation throughout the North on the occasion of the successful is- sue of the Appomattox campaign.t The great event was celebrated on the 14th of April, 1865, at Penn Yan by a grand
Vice-President, Mrs. Mary Franklin ; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Mary E. Curtis. These ladies were retained in office until the close of the war. The Society received in cash contributions to June 7, 1865 $3,025.32, ad- ded to which, the young girls belonging to the Alert Club collected $744.09, making a monthly average of #57.23. Among the articles sent to the soldiers in the hospital were 369 gallons of pickles, 2, 188 lbs. of dried fruit, 222 bottles of liquors, 281 cans of fruit. 7,265 yards of cloth were made into garments by the Society and 5,220 garments were sent to the U. S. Sanitary and Christian Commissions. There were also sent to the soldiers 119 packages (boxes and barrels,) averaging nearly three per month. The last Society meeting was held May 30, 1865.
* The following letter, received by one of these little girls in Penn Yan, speaks for itself:
FORT FOOTE, MD., July 10, 1865.
MISS ABBIE K. WOLCOTT.
My good little girl :- As you very politely asked the finder of your let- ter and fixings sent to the soldiers last March, to answer you and let you know where and by whom found, I will comply with your wishes.
I amı at work in a hospital, where there is a great number of sick sol- diers. Yesterday I was looking over some things that cause from New York, for the boys, and found your things nicely packed away in a packet all safe. I think you must be a very smart little girl to do so muuch work.
If you would like to hear from the soldiers I will write you a long letter when I have time. If not, you can just tell me so. Good bye. Accept this from a good friend and well-wisher of little girls.
DR. R. L. JOHNSON, Fort Foote, Maryland.
t The joy of the North was unbounded over this great victory. Bon- fires, illuminations, and the firing of cannon attested the universal de- light, while Grant became the idol of the Nation .- Headley's History of the Great Rebellion, Vol. 2.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
parade formed under the direction of General A. F. Whita- ker, with the following aids: Messrs. Charles F. Rudgers, Henry C. Hermans, Homer W. Randall, and George Y. East- man. Amid cheers from the multitude and the booming of cannon, the procession moved through the principal streets, presenting throughout its whole length a grand and pleasing display. The Penn Yan Brass Band, an excellent band of martial music, fire companies, and their engines, and the Ke- uka Hose Company, in its new red attire, made a noteworthy attraction. Carriages, with the clergy and orators of the day and citizens in carriages, lengthened ont the line of march, while a slave whipping post* was carried, as in tri- umph, on a cart in the middle of the procession. Congrat- ulatory speeches were delivered from convenient speaking stands by Hon. Daniel Morris, Hon. M. H. Lawrence, Hon. D. A. Ogden, Rev. Frederick Starr, Jr., Samuel H. Welles, Esq., H. M. Stewart, Esq., Benjamin Joy, and others. The evening was made as light as day by the many bon-fires that were kindled, the houses, stores, and shops were generally illuminated, and there was a splendid exhibition of fire- works.
But in the midst of this rejoicing, and on the same even- ing that the streets of Penn Yan were ablaze with illumina- tions, the direful deed that deprived the Nation of her Chief Magistrate was perpetrated in the National Capital. When the news of his tragic death reached Penn Yan the residents were struck with the deepest sorrow. The innumerable flags that were waving to the breeze were half-masted, all business was suspended, and stores and private residences were draped in black. The County Court and Court of Sessions at once adjourned. On the following Sabbath the Rev. Mr. Starr preached a sermon eulogistic of the late President, the deep pathos of his remarks at times moving the congregation to tears. Imposing funeral ceremonies were observed in this village on Tuesday, April 19th. At eleven o'clock on that day a solemn procession was formed on Main street and moved in the following order :
* This whipping post was brought from Norfolk, Va., by Sergeant Charles C. Miller, and is now in the Sloan Post room at Penn Van.
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Captain Charles F. Rudgers, Marshal. (mounted.)
Captain Charles Kelly, Aid. (mounted.)
Lieutenant George Titus, Aid. (mounted.)
Martial Band with Muffled Druns. (Playing the Dead March.) Military Escort, with Arms Reversed, under Command of Captain William WV. Eastınan.
. Pall Bearers. (Civil Officers.)
Pall Bearers. (Military.)
Hon. Henry Welles, Hon. William S. Briggs,
Hon. Daniel Morris, Jolın D. Wolcott, Esq.,
FUNERAL
Col. B. L. Hoyt,
Col. James Conley,
James Burns, Esq.,
Capt. P. K. Deyo,
Joseplı F. Crosby, Esq., Alfred Reed, Esq.,
CAR.
Capt. M. S. Hicks,
Capt. Elias V. Ruger,
Lewis B. Grahanı, Esq.
Lieut. S. Hotchkiss.
[The Funeral Car was beautifully decorated with rosettes of crape and draped with a large National Flag, and was drawn by four white horses driven by Charles Shearman.] Returned Union Soldiers, Charles C. Miller in charge.
Jolın W. Green, a returned Andersonville prisoner, in a carriage driven by Perley P. Curtis. Clergy in Carriage. President and Trustees of the Village, in Carriage. Masonic Order. Citizens in Carriages.
The procession proceeded from the place of formation in front of Bush's Hall, (now Corn well's Opera House,) to Court street, thence to Liberty street and down Liberty street to Elm street, thence to Main street and up Main street to the Court House. Park. During the march of the procession minute guns were fired and the church bells tolled. At the Court House Park the exercises commenced by singing by the Methodist Choir of a dirge beginning with the words, "O, Weep Yc for Lincoln," followed by an appropriate discourse by the Rev. Daniel D. Buck. An address was then delivered by the Rev. Frederick Starr, Jr., who, in the course of his remarks, presented the case of the returned Union prisoner, John W. Green (late of Company G, Eighty- fifth Regiment,) whose emaciated form spoke more eloquent- ly than words of the hardship and starvation he had expe-
Gen. A. F. Whitaker,
Gen. George Wagener,
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THE MILITARY HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
rienced. The Rev. Mr. Buck read a poem entitled "In Memory of Our Beloved President," which was written for the occasion, and Elder John G. Gulick pronounced the bene- diction. The large assemblage, deeply impressed with the solemnities of the day, then dispersed.
The celebration of the Eighty-ninth Anniversary of Amer- ican Independence, held at Penn Yan, July 4, 1865, was made by the citizens of Yates County the occasion of a grand reception to the soldiers who had returned from the war. The President of the Day was Captain Peter K. Deyo, of the One Hundred and Second Regiment; the Chief Mar- shal was Captain Martin S. Hicks, of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, and his Assistants were Captains Meletiah H. Lawrence, Jr., and Richard A. Bassett, both of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment. The Chief Marshal and his Assistants led the procession, composed mainly of Veterans, and which was remarkably fine. An at- tractive feature of the parade was the grand National Car, arranged and furnished by George R. Cornwell, and contain- ing thirty-six beautiful young ladies, representing the thirty- six States of the Union. The singing by the young ladies and the music by the bands were all excellent. The exer- cises of the day were observed in the grove on Sheppard . street, and were as follows: Prayer by the Rev. J. G. Gulick. Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Prof. Winsor Scofield. Oration by the Rev. Ezekiel G. Robinson, D. D., of Rochester. Benediction by the Rev. Edwin P. Brig- ham. The procession then re-formed and proceeded to the Court House Park, where the ladies of Penn Yan, aided by the generous contributions of the people, had provided a bountiful dinner. The entrance to the Park was decorated with evergreens and inscribed, "WELCOME HOME," in letters neatly wrought with evergreen leaves. Nearly five hundred soldiers, with many of their wives, partook of the grand re- past so generously set before them. A gorgeous pyrotech- nic display was exhibited on the Fair Grounds in the even- ing.
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