The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-30
The Soldiers Re-Unior.
The Veterans of the 18th Illinois Infantry az
the Opera House.
Speeches, &c.

On Wednesday morning last, the display OF
flags on many Of tine prominent buildings
about the city, such as Turner Hall, Colwell
Clark d Co.'S shops, the FREE TRADER OF
rIcE, Franks, Siefel's and the Clifton Hotel,
betokcned gala day, and so il was, being the
reunion of the brave men, survivors OF the
celebrated nth Illinois Infantry, which went
to fight the battles of the Union under Col
afterwards Gen. VIM II. L. Wallace.
The regiment, as most OF our readers are
aware, was one of the first raised for the war
of the rebellion. II was raised within week
of the first call for $4,000 volunteers, and so
illy was the government prepared for its
equipment, that private donations were made
for that purpose, Judge Cation giving, we be-
live $50 to each company.
The original muster shows W. II. L. Wal
lace as Colonel; J. Warren Filters, Lieuten-
ant Colonel; r. Z. G. Ransom, Major and
tho following Captains in command: A,
Smith ID. Atkins; b, Fred M. Shaw; G, A l..
lockwood; d, Garrett Nevius; L, Lloyd D.
Waddell; F, VIM. T. Hopkins; G, j. II. :.
Locey; II, Theodore G. Gibson; l, VIM. L.
Gibson; X, II. II, Carter
The regiment was first enlisted for three
months, nearly all of which 1t spent at With
Ridge, some 80 miles above Cairo. AT the
expiration of the 3 months the regiment re
enlisted for three years, Gen. Wallace agar
as Colonel Ransom as Lieutenant Colonel
Nevius Major, Cyrus f. Dickey Adjutant
Guyan J. Davis Quartermaster, Owen M
Long Surgeon, Oliver G. Hunt LIST Assistant
Surgeon, George H. Dewey I'd Assistant Sur
ceon and Benjamin II Person Chaplain.
To recount its history after being thus or
canlzed would be to 20 over the entire his
tory of the war ia the west, and would fill al
volume At present probably not over $50 of
its members survive, of whom Al were pres
ent at the reunion on Wednesday,
At noon the firing Of the cannon indicated
the near approach of the time for the public
ceremonies. At 2 o'clock p. NJ, the Ottawa
brass band having called the soldiers to
the Court House square, procession was
formed consisting of the survivors OF The reg
iment, and marching thence up La Sale
forum was filled with ladies and gentlemen
principally of Ottawa, while the soldiers were
seated upon the stage, On one side of the
front of the stage were portraits OF Gen. Wal
lace, Gen Ransom, Adjutant Dickey and
over the centre were evergreen wreaths bear
ing the names of different prominent officers
of the 18th. In front of the soldiers in semi
circle were seated Gems. Ogelsby, Logan, Till
son and T. Lyle Dickey.
After music by Denhard's orchestra, Rev.
!, Mr.. Yates, of Ottawa, opened the proceedings
with an impressive; prayer then came pa
triotIc song by the Ottawa Glee Clnb, con
? sisting of Dr. Hobert, Miss Hattie Lewis,
: Miss Helen Jones, Miss Laura McNair, Mr..
I L. II. Smith and Prof. Carl Simon at the or
. gan. The music of the club was most exec |
lent and rnoaivnd tho general ana prolonged
0 applause which 1t so justly merited.
CHAs. BLANCHARD ESQ,
C followed with short address of welcome
! He said briefly: There are incidents in hu-
4 man lfe-certain events which time nor cir
s cumstances can ever efface The departure
4 and those who remained behind. He spoke
S of the sad partlngs of that eventiul day. The
regiment went forth to deeds of glory from
this bitter parting with near and dear friends,
e but the sorrow and anguish was but light and
Vt tr;flng in comparison with what were felt by
T. their friends when the regiment day by day
e was thinned by battle after battle. Many
+. came home with shrouds around them, and
D many fell upon the field and found graves in
n trenches. They died willing sacrifices to a
IS glorious cause.
). So sleep the brave who sink to rest
o With all their country's hOnors blest!
He drew picture of peace as a contrast
with that OF war, Closing music succeeded,
d and then was introduced
G GEN. TILLsoN,
VI who read the following poem written by
is himself expressly for the occasion. Ii was
Ii eloquently read, and elected frequent ap.
n plause.
q Men who once with Wallace blcd
~ Men who knighy Ransom led,
5, Followed Nevus martial tread,
!, | Why group ye here to-day
ls't the stirring long roll fall
il Hear ye now the bugle call,
Or the growl of cannon balls
stern summons the rray
"A Floats the rescued nation Ger
% Gayly ringing every shore,
ol Proud the banner that you bore
Through sheets Of battle flame,
81 Waves that wash New EnglAnd's strand,
Winds that sweep DER Texas sand,
Sun that lights the golden land
b. The seign OF reacc proclaim,
y What Caeth then
o. We iron
l. TO meet agains
y There richer notes than bugle blast,
n That deepest feelings start
There's long roll beat TO which we rouse,
81 It's the love beat of the heart:
, The yearung wish of the soldier old
~ To once again his brothers bold
ne To give gay greet to the 'boys in blue;
To clasp The hand OF ade true
III Who through dread scenes stood shoulder TO YOU
/. When you heard all around with half held brea IN
The buzz and boom of orders from DEATH