The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-06-10
REUNION OF TENTH RESERVES.
Grafton Of Hon. j. -. McCaimont

Grafton OF Hon. J. =. McCaimont.
Following is the Grafton of Hon. J
S. McCalmont, delivered at the Re
union of the Tenth Reserves, held il
Mercer, on Tuesday, May 10, "A.
"Thc days come and go so rapidly
that it seems but a short time since
last addressed you at the reunion two
years ago. 1t then occurred to me
that / would be excused thereafter
from serving as orator, and be allow
ed the privilege Of participating,
without anxiety or care, in the future
meetings. This appeared evident from
from the fact that were so many OF
your members well Cited for the spec
ial task. 1t surprised me to see my
name in the papers as the orator
designated forthis occasion. | wrote
to the alternate, my friend Col. Knox.
urging him to take my place, but he
could not promise to be here.
Without further preface, rather
than disappoint you, l endeavored to
prepare a few thoughts for the occa-
sion; but a sad bereavement, of
which you have doubtless heard men
ton, and which has come sore to my
heart, has almost wholly untitled me
for the duties of this occasion.
You come together again a portion
of the survivors gilmore than a thous-
and men, mostly young, all full of vigor
and patriotism, who, thirteen years
ago fastened to rally around their
country's flag.
They went to save the Union of
these States; and in spite of all fears
and forebodings that object was, we
hope, permanently accomplished
You bore an humble, though i'm
portant part in the work, and You
have lived to enjoy the plaudits Of
your country.
The animosities cngendered by the
war have in a great measure subsidized.
The spirit Of charity all over the
land is such that it is safe to say,
there is more earnest and cordial at
tacbment to the Union of 1874 than
to the Union as it was in 1860.
The names of your comrads have
been put upon the roll of fame. You
feel justly proud that you were sol
diers, not for holidays or dress parades
merely, but you went through all the
stirring sceEes by flood and field
Ignorant of tactics, you set diligently
to work, advancing step by step from
the lowest round of the ladder You
cooked your own food, washed your
own dishes, made your own beds and
policed your own camps. You dwclt
in tents sometimes of brushwood, and
often slept in the open. air with the
cold ground for your couch and the
starry vault for your canopy.
There is no fiction or exaggeration
in describing the hardships of your
life or the heroism of your services.
Time would not suffice to recount
your trials. | know but few of them.
Beginning with Camp Wilkins; the
march to Bedford; back again to Har-
risburg; the tedious hours standing
in the sun under arms at Harrisburg
on the day of the first battle of Bull
Run; the weary days and nights fol-
lowing getting to Washington; the
vexation of not getting quick trans
portation; the loss of our mail; the
trouble with our chaplain mail carrier;
the disagreeable marches and picket
ings on the Potomac during that
warm and wet summer; the long and
seemingly useless marches, through |
heavy drenching rains, and waters
waist deep; the numerous night
alarms, without any cause; the move
ment to Camp Pierpont and lcng
malt there; the reconnaissance to-
wards Leesburg: the disaster at Balls
Bluff; the gloomy depression caused
hereby; the dissipation thereof for a
line by the victory at Drainsville
he weary winter and disagreeable,
,old spring of 1862, with its useless
exposure to pelting rains and hail,
ire vivid in my recollection.
But it was only the beginning of
,our trials. You went through them
Ill with wonderful endurance.
The troubles were not without their
,ompensations. 1t was not always
gloomy. There was something to
,eep you busy-much to cheer you.
rhe sociabillty of your companions;
he freedom from worldly cares; the
ight amusements of the camp; the
tories told round the camp fires the
many curious incidents necessarily
occurring among so many men; and
he foraging expeditions Of which you
leard, served to while away the time
Even the alarms and turning out of ,
he guards and regiment by night as
veil as by day, and the duties which
eemed hard, of cutting and carrying (
'our own iirewood, relieved the te-
liOusness and mOnotony of camp life. :
DO you remember the good music? |
What good band, and what a fine {
orps of drummers and fifers. How
hey could play and beat the tattoo ,
nd the reveillc. Don't you some ,
ines in the morning now hear the
pirit-stirring roll of the drum and ,
he whistle of the ear-pearcing fife, |
nd awaken to the find that it is but !
dream, and you hear perhaps only
he morning call of the robin red !
'reast TO his lovely mate.
You took delight in the martial
and, but, alas! when the players