USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > West Chester > Reunion of the Ninety-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, October 29th, 1884 at Camp Wayne, West Chester, Pa. An account of the proceedings with a roster of the comrades present > Part 1
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Gc 973.74 P38pr 1758084
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 9705
REUNION
OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH REGIMENT
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
OCTOBER 29th, 1884,
"ON THE OLD CAMP GROUND,"
AT CAMP WAYNE, WEST CHESTER. P.A.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS
WITH
A ROSTER OF THE COMRADES PRESENT.
PREPARED BY
BREVET-COLONEL ISAIAH PRICE,
Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Comrade of George G. Meade, Post No. 1, Dept. Penna. G. A. R.
AUTHOR OF THE
HISTORY OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH REGIMENT P. V.
PHILADELPHIA, IS84.
1758084
F 8349 .8602
PRICE, ISAIAH, 1822-
Reunion of the Ninety-seventh regiment Fenn-
- 1 sylvania volunteers, October 29th, 1884, "on the old camp ground", at Camp Wayne, West Chester, Pa., an account of the proceedings with a roster of the comrades present ... Philadelphia, 1884. -
64p. 23cm. -
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62858
CHELF DARD
NL 40-8909
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PRESS OF DONALDSON & MAGRATH, 614 SANSOM ST.
REUNION
OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.
PREPARATORY PROCEEDINGS.
WEST CHESTER, PA., February 2d, 1884.
The surviving members of the Ninety-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers are requested to meet at the Green Tree Hotel, West Chester, on Saturday, February 23d, ISS4, for the purpose of providing for a Re- union between the members yet living. All interested are invited to at- tend. [Signed] Louis Y. EVANS, R. BRUCE WALLACE.
WEST CHESTER, PA., February 23d, 1884.
Pursuant to the foregoing call, published in the Local News of this place, and signed by Lewis Y. Evans of Coatesville and by R. Bruce Wallace of Philadelphia, seventeen survivors of the Ninety-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, assembled at 2 o'clock this P. M. at the Green Tree Hotel in this borough.
By the terms of the call the meeting was for the purpose of taking measures to bring about a Reunion of the Regiment as soon as practicable.
The following were present :
Captain F. M. Guss, Co. A, Captain Leonard R. Thomas, Co. C,
Sergeant Isaac A. Cleaver, Co. C, Private John J. Still, Co. C, Private Oliver B. Channell, Co. C, Private Samuel A. March, Co. C, Quartermaster David Jones, Fife-Major C. C. Fahnestock, Sergeant George L. Smith, Co. E, Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. C. Lewis, Co. F. Private Evan Pharaoh, Co. F, Corporal Barnett R. Rapp, Co. K.
On motion the following officers were appointed : Isaac A. Cleaver, chairman ; Oliver B. Channell, treasurer, and Leonard R. Thomas, secretary.
It was moved and seconded that a Reunion be held as soon as it can be brought about. Agreed to.
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On motion it was resolved to call a preliminary meeting of the survivors, to be held in Cabinet Hall, West Chester, at 2 P. M., May 3d, 1884.
To assist the secretary in procuring the names and addresses of surviving comrades, the following named were appointed : Samuel A. March, David Jones, Geo. L. Smith and Evan Pharaoh.
A subscription amounting to $5.50 was raised to defray the expenses of correspondence.
On motion adjourned.
L. R. THOMAS, Secretary.
PROCEEDINGS OF MEETING MAY 3d, 1884.
THE NINETY-SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.
After many years they meet again in West Chester.
The preliminary meeting for the furtherance of the proposed Reunion of the old Ninety-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers, held in West Chester, Saturday afternoon, May 3d, IS84, was at- tended by sixty-nine survivors of that well-known military body, which went forth from here in the cause of the Union more than a score of years ago. The meeting was an enthusiastic one in every respect, its deliberations being characterized by the best of good feeling, giving evidence that hereafter the bonds of brotherhood are to be more strongly united among the remaining comrades. At 2.30 o'clock I. A. Cleaver rapped the assemblage to order, and stated what had been done in order to gather the boys together once more. The temporary secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting, held in the Green Tree Hotel, a full account of which has been published. Suffice it to say that at that gathering there were seven- teen of the comrades, who elected as temporary officers I. A. Cleaver, president; L. R. Thomas, secretary, and O. B. Channell, treasurer ; " that the secretary was authorized to communicate with all the old members of the regiment whose post-office addresses he could secure, in reference to the proposed Reunion, and also to call a meeting of the same for that purpose, to be held on May 3d in the Cabinet Hall, West Chester." The minutes were approved as read.
Colonel Isaiah Price then arose, and in a few well-chosen remarks stated that he hoped the good work commenced, would result in such an organization of the old members of the Ninety- seventh as would reflect credit upon it and place on a firm basis an
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association that would survive until the last man of them had gone to meet the spirits of those who had fallen in battle by their com- rades' sides some twenty years ago. He was glad to see so many of them about him looking hale and hearty ; was happy to notice that great interest had been taken in the movement ; he wanted a society formed in which they could all meet annually to talk over by-gone times and relate camp-fire reminiscences, besides the gathering together and keeping intact all records and historical papers relating to the Regiment during its service in the war. He concluded by moving that a committee of five be appointed to pre- pare a constitution and by-laws to govern the proposed association. His remarks were loudly applauded and his motion heartily approved by the comrades. The chair then named Colonel Price, L. R. Thomas, R. B. Wallace, E. L. Schofield and D. W. C. Lewis to serve as a committee for that purpose. They were also instructed to name suitable persons for permanent officers of the association, during their deliberations, whose names could afterward be sub- mitted to the meeting for action. The committee then retired, and the chair appointed Serg't-Major Hawley to officiate as secretary in the absence of L. R. Thomas, who was appointed on the committee.
A list of the names of the members present was then desired, when a member proposed that the old roll be called. The chair stated that, as the roll was not at hand, and that it would only revive sad memories to hear comrades' names mentioned who were dead and gone, it were best that two or three of those present go amory the members and get their names and addresses, also company letter, which was done with the following result :
FIELD OFFICERS.
Colonel H. R. Guss, Brevet-Colonel Isaiah Price, Surgeon John R. Everhart, Quartermaster David Jones, all of West Chester.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Sergeant-Major Samuel W. Hawley, Media ; Fife-Major Casper C. Fahnestock, West Chester.
CO. A.
Captain F. M. Guss, First Lieutenant Abel Griffith, West Chester ; First Lieutenant Harry T. Gray and Private Edward R. Hisenbeis, Philadelphia ; Alexander M. Chandler, Spread Eagle, Chester Co .; John A. Groff, West Chester.
CO. B.
Corporal R. Bruce Wallace, Philadelphia ; Private Samuel Miles, West Chester.
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CO. C.
Captain Leonard R. Thomas, First Lieutenants Emmor G. Griffith, West Chester, and George W. Able, Concordville, Dela- ware Co .; Sergeants Isaac A. Cleaver, Berwyn ; Stephen H. Eachus, West Chester, B. Lundy Kent ( Captain Eighteenth Heavy Artillery, U. S. C. T.), Wilmington, Del .; Corporals Jesse D). Farra, Davis O. Taylor, and Privates Samuel A. March, Oliver B. Channell and Emmor B. Hickman, West Chester ; J. Jones Still. Malvern ; Wil- liam D. Thomas, Downingtown ; James J. Dewees. New Centreville ; George W. Walton, Philadelphia; Isaac Paschall, Newtown Square, Delaware Co.
CO. D.
Corporal Robert Fairlamb, Elwyn, Delaware Co .: Privates Walter Pyle. Cheyney, Delaware Co .: Abraham Fawkes, East Whiteland ; Win. McIntosh, Downingtown.
CO. E.
Sergeant Geo. L. Smith, Musician Charles Riley, Jr., West Chester : Privates Michael Connor, Malvern ; James A. Riley, Coatesville ; George W. Eavenson, Thornton, Delaware Co.
CO. F.
Captain and Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. C. Lewis, First Lieutenant Thomas Cosgriff, West Chester ; Sergeant Samuel Wynn, Nantmeal Village : Herman P. Brower, West Whiteland : Corporal Jesse M. Boyles and Private Evan Pharaoh, West Chester ; Privates Eli Reynolds, Birdsboro', Berks Co. ; William E. Stiteler, Columbia, Pa.
CO. G.
Captain Caleb Hoopes. Media ; Second Lieutenants Joseph M. Borrell and William H. Eves, Chester, Delaware Co. ; Sergeants Charles E. Otter, Media, Charles Grav, and Corporals John S. Cul- bert. Joseph R. Parsons, Chester, Delaware Co., and Hillery Fox, West Chester, Pa., and Private Crosley B. Wilson, Media.
CO. 11.
Captain George A. Lemaistre, Wilmington, Del. ; Musicians Charles C. Taylor, William Dallings, and Teamster Marshall B. Eng- land, West Chester : Privates Allied C. AMison, Downingtown ; Abia C. E. Miller, Philadelphia, and William M. Steele, Phoenixville.
CO. I.
Private James Groff, Clifton Heights, Delaware Co.
CO. K.
Captain William Wayne, Paoli, and First Lieutenant William M. Sullivan, Warren Tavern ; Corporals William Taylor, Woods- town, N. J. : Barnett R. Rapp. West Chester ; E. Lane Schofield, Paoli, and Private William Miles, Willistown. Total, 69 comrades.
During this feature of the proceedings the men could not retain their composure, it had been so long since they had an opportunity
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of greeting one another in that way. Hands were shaken again and again, shoulders were slapped, jokes were cracked, compliments- were exchanged, and a running fire of merriment was kept up, much to the annoyance of the comrades who were trying to secure the list of their names.
One old man, who had come in his regimental uniform, stood in the doorway and fairly laughed with joy at the sight of so many faces he knew so well. He was older than any of the rest of them, but his spirits were just as light as in the days when he " drank from the same canteen" with those around him. His long white hair peeped out nicely from beneath the "sojer cap " on his head, which familiar tile he at last, in the exhuberance of his spirits, pulled off and gave three rousing cheers for " the old Ninety-seventh."
The committee returned as the echoes of the old comrade's cheers died away, and reported the following constitution and by-laws :
CONSTITUTION.
'I. The name of this association shall be " The Society of the Ninety-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers."
II. Any honorably discharged officer or soldier, who at any time has served in the said Ninety-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, shall be entitled to membership in the Society.
III. The object of the Society shall be the promotion of kindly feeling, the revival of old associations, and the collection and preser- vation of records of the services rendered by this Regiment during the " War of the Rebellion."
IV. The officers of the Society shall consist of a president, three vice-presidents. secretary, treasurer and historian, who shall be, with the exception of the historian, elected at each annual meet- ing of the Society.
V. The duties of the president shall be to preside at the annual meetings. to call such other meetings of the Society as may be necessary, and to issue such orders as may be required for the good government and control of the Society.
VI. The first vice-president shall exercise the powers of the president in case of the absence of that officer.
VII. The secretary shall keep a record of the minutes of the proceedings of the Society, a roll of the members, and perform all duties usually pertaining to the office of secretary.
VIII. The treasurer shall have the custody of all funds, to be expended only on approval of the president, by an order drawn and
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countersigned by the secretary ; and he shall render an account of all disbursements at the annual meeting of the Society.
IX. The historian shall collect and preserve for the use of the Society such history of the Regiment and its service as may be obtainable, and such papers, records, etc., as may from time to time be added to the collection which may serve to preserve the record of the Regiment after its survivors shall have passed on to join those comrades who fell during the conflict.
X. An executive committee of five members shall be elected annually, who shall attend to the business of the Association during the intervals of its session.
XI. Having a fraternal feeling for and honoring the glorious efforts of our brothers in arms belonging to other regiments who have shared with us in service, the president, vice-presidents or any member shall be authorized to invite the attendance at our annual meeting of any officer or soldier of any sister regiment.
BY-LAWS.
I. The entrance fee of the Society shall be $1.00.
II. The annual dues shall be 50 cents, payable at the annual meeting.
III. The president shall determine the time and place of each annual meeting, being governed in his selections thereof as far as practicable by the time and place of meeting of the Society of the Army of the James or of the Tenth Army Corps, or other organi- zations with which our Regiment was identified.
IV. When the place for the next annual meeting shall have been decided upon, the president shall appoint three members, resi- dent at or near the place, whose duty it shall be to assist the execu- tive committee in making all needful arrangements and preparations for such meeting.
V. This Constitution and By-Laws may be altered and amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any annual meeting, providing such alteration or amendment shall have been presented in writing at the previous annual meeting.
At the conclusion of the reading of the above constitution and by-laws, it was moved and seconded that they be adopted as read, which motion was carried unanimously. The committee then reported the names of the following comrades to fill the offices created by the constitution :
President, Colonel Henry R. Guss ; first vice-president, I. A.
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Cleaver, C ; second vice-president, Captain Wm. Wayne, K ; third vice-president, Captain Caleb Hoopes, G ; secretary, Captain L. R. Thomas, C; treasurer, William Taylor, K ; executive committee, Sergeant-Major Samuel W. Hawley ; Robert Fairlamb, D ; Her- man P. Brower, F ; Lieutenant Wm. H. Eves, G; Captain Wm. S. Underwood, K.
The members named for the various offices were elected by acclamation.
Colonel Guss then took the chair, and after thanking his fellow comrades in arms for the honor conferred upon him in having been called upon to preside over their deliberations, he said he was ready to proceed to business. A short recess was here taken to allow members an opportunity to pay the entrance fee of Er, when the meeting was again called to order.
Comrade William Taylor, who had been elected treasurer, asked to be excused from serving on account of his living so far away from Chester County-at Woodstown, New Jersey. His request was accordingly granted, and Oliver B. Channell, West Chester, was elected treasurer of the Society.
The chair then named West Chester as the place and October 29th as the date for holding the Reunion, and appointed John A. Gro#, S. A. March and B. R. Rapp as a committee to assist the executive committee in preparing for the event. The office of "historian " not having yet been filled, Colonel Isaiah Price's name was proposed, and he was elected by the voice of the entire assem- blage.
A comrade then arose and proposed for honorary membership the name of Mrs. Mary St. John of Philadelphia, which was received with great applause. Her name was at once entered upon the books. Mrs. St. John, who was the wife of the Drum-Major, James St. John, joined the Regiment as they marched through Philadelphia, as laundress, her home being in the above city. Her two youngest sons were also members of the Regiment as drummer boys. She stayed with the Regiment until 1864, and rendered valuable service to the sick and wounded.
With the secretary asking the members present to send all names of the absent comrades they knew to him, the meeting ad- journed amid much enthusiasm.
Comrades wishing to enroll as members of the Society will please send their names, with entrance fee, to the secretary, L. R. Thomas, West Chester, Pa.
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The committee intend to hold reveille on the morning of the Reunion, in front of the Court House, from which point the Regiment will march to the place where the event is to be held; the exact spot, for holding the contemplated Reunion, being as yet not determined upon. The day chosen is the anniversary of the formal organization of the Regiment at Camp Wayne, West Chester, on October 29th, 1861.
MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WEST CHESTER, September 4th, 1884.
Pursuant to call of the chairman, the executive committee of the Society of the Ninety-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers, met at the office of John A. Groff at 2 P. M. Chairman S. W. Hawley presided. Present: Robert Fairlamb, W. S. Underwood, I. A. Cleaver, Wm. H. Eves, S. A. March and Colonel H. R. Guss. A committee on music and one on decorations were appointed. S. W. Hawley and L. R. Thomas were appointed to arrange for an orator and chaplain.
It was decided to provide a dinner, to be paid for from funds raised by subscription among the members of the Regiment.
S. A. March was appointed treasurer of the executive committee. Adjourned to meet at same place at 2 P. M., September 19th.
L. R. THOMAS, Secretary. WEST CHESTER, September 19th, 1884.
The executive committee met at the time and place appointed, S. W. Hawley presiding. Most of the committee, with B. R. Rapp, S. A. March and John A. Groff of the assistant committee, present. Colonel Guss and others gave their advice and assistance. It was resolved to hold the exercises of the Reunion at the Fair Grounds. John A. Groff was appointed to ascertain the terms upon which the use thereof could be had.
The committee on orator and chaplain reported that Chaplain D. W. Moore would attend and officiate ; and that Comrade Marriott Brosius had accepted the invitation to deliver the oration. The other committees reported progress. John A. Groff was appointed to get estimates of the cost of furnishing dinner for one hundred and fifty, to be gotten up in a style suitable to the occasion.
It was decided to have appropriate toasts prepared, to be read and responded to at the banquet on the occasion of the Reunion.
Committee then adjourned to meet at the office of John A. Groff at 2 P. M., October 3d, 1884. L. R. THOMAS, Secretary.
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WEST CHESTER, October 3d, 1584.
The executive committee met at the time and place appointed. Chairman Hawley presided. Present : John A. Groff. H. P. Brower, W. H. Eves, W. S. Underwood, L. R. Thomas, S. A. March and David Jones.
It was resolved to have the dinner served in the Agricultural Building at the Fair Grounds. Committee on decorations reported progress. On music progress. On Fair Grounds reported they can be had for Sio.oo. Report was accepted and committee dis- charged. Mr. Groff reported an estimate for the dinner in accord- ance with a bill of fare adopted by the committee, to be placed upon the table with proper attendants, as follows: For 150 plates. $1.75 per plate ; for 200 plates, $1.50 per plate. On motion the last estimate was accepted, and the order given to furnish and serve properly in accordance with the bill of fare for two hundred plates for the dinner on October 29th at the Fair Grounds. S. A. March was appointed a committee to arrange the tables, etc., in the building selected. The programme was substantially arranged as follows :
Comrades to meet at the grounds at 11 A. M. Oct. 29th, ISS4. Business meeting from 11 A. M. to 12 M .; oration from 12 to I P. M. or after; dinner from 1.30 to 2.30 P. M. The secretary was authorized to have 300 copies of the programme printed, including the bill of fare, and directed to send one to every survivor whom he could reach. D. W. C. Lewis agreed to see that the stand for the purpose of the exercises and the oration should be erected in time. Committee adjourned to meet at 2 P. M. on Oct. 25th, at Mr. Groff's office.
L. R. THOMAS, Secretary.
WEST CHESTER, October 25th, 1844.
An adjourned meeting of the executive committee was held at the time and place appointed. Chairman Hawley presided. Present : Comrades Underwood, Fairlamb, Eves, March, Rapp, Colonel H. R. Guss, I. A. Cleaver, H. C. Reagan and others.
Committee on music reported that Dr. H. C. Wood's Orches- tra had been engaged to perform for the occasion at a price not to exceed $25.00 : the members of the orchestra to have dinner free.
Committee on decorations reported having made arrangements to have the work done at a cost of $25.00 or thereabouts.
Colonel D. W. C. Lewis and Major D. Jones were appointed a committee to extend a proper reception to the orator of the day, Comrade Brosius, and to receive Mrs. St. John with carriage at depot and convey her to the grounds. Adjourned to meet at call of chairman. L. R. THOMAS, Secretary.
Reunion of the Ninety-Seventh Regiment, Penna. Volunteers, AT WEST CHESTER, PA., OCTOBER 29TH, 1884.
The day set apart, and long anticipated, for this interesting event opened with skies overcast with gray clouds, that yet lingered from the stormy day preceding, as though typical of the clouds and storms of war from which the remnant about to meet had emerged twenty-three years ago, "when the curtain fell upon the Drama of the Rebellion," permitting the survivors of the war to return to their homes and receive the grateful welcome that there awaited them.
By 9 o'clock the streets of the town were occupied by groups of bronzed-faced, sturdy men, who had arrived by train or other conveyances, and taking their way toward the central point of gravitation, the old " Headquarters " at the " Green Tree," halted by the way at corners of streets when meeting other familiar faces of like acquaintance with the "signs of service." and having the same earnest gaze in quest of recognition of some old comrade, in the whitened locks of more than twenty years' bleaching; then the mutual recall between long-separated comrades, of the traces of the younger face in each, that caused the rush together, and the grasp of hand, and the " How are you, old boy ?" and the " Well, I declare, if that ain't my old bunk-mate! I shouldn't have known you for the young rooster that used to play off your pranks on the boys." So here goes for the old game of ear-pulling and the thumps, and the " ayau " with which the old camp used to resound.
Such were some of the first retouchings of elbows that initiated the reassembling in front of the Colonel's old hostelry as in the former days. And here the comrades continued to assemble as the morning hours wore on. the greetings becoming more and more numerous and cordial. One would point out to another-" There is Dave M. Taylor of Co. A. cashier of the Oxford Bank ;" or "Captain Dallas Crow, Co. B. Ile handles the money of the Adams Express Company in Philadelphia now. And here is Corporal Davis O. Taylor of Co. C, who is running before the people. as he never ran before the enemy, for the office of Clerk of the Courts of Chester County, and sure to win at that. And over there by that corner post is Walter Pyle of Co. D, who can still build a
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stone wall to stay, as he did in his younger days-solid to the front in every duty as a soldier and a master mason. Co. E is repre- sented over yonder by Sergeant Signet of Phoenixville, who works now amid the grime and smoke of the iron furnaces there, as in the old days he did in the trenches before Wagner under the smoke of rebel guns. Who could expect to recognize Sergeant Herman P. Brower of Co. F, who had counted but eighteen years when he shouldered his musket, and didn't tire of it in '64. but re-enlisted for the war, and now, after twenty-three years' wear has added to his eigh - teen, the man of forty-one might easily be passed without any of the boys picking him out, but the touch of palm and the glance of the eye entitle him to " the pass-word and the grip."
A pair of bright black eyes look out from a solid smooth face, upon which a smile is seen as he grasps the hand of one standing near him, and he says," You don't know me; do you, captain?" There is a famili- arity in the features that tells of a boy full of fun and mischief, with a smartness that could often circumvent the closest watchfulness of supe- rior officers, more to their annoyance than any very serious con- sequence! Yes, that eye and that glance, with the cordial smile of greeting must belong to young Sullivan of Co. H ! The pleasure of his remembrance and proffered greeting was one of the brightest in- cidents of the day. The man matured from the soldier boy is one worthy of full comradeship with his fellow survivors of the war. He became a good soldier and now helps to build ships as a machinist at Wilmington, Del. And there is Pioneer Snyder of Co. G, whose tall form shows his unchanged face beaming with the delight of meet- ing so many who have not forgotten his familiar features.
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