Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-19
Soldiers Reunion at Richland Cen
ter-Military and CIVIC Display
Great Crowds Of People Present
Speeches, Music ana Pa
radcliffe 9th Wiscon-
Sin Battery the Gen.
tral Figure.

Nestled among the tree clad hills
that skirt the beautiful valley of
Pine river. stands the thriving town
OF Riehland Center, noted for the
sobriety. intelligence, enterprise
and hospitality Of it's inhabitants.
This place had been selected by
the survivors of the old 9th Wiscon.
sin Battery as the place for hold.
ing their fourth annual reunion, on
the 18th and 18th inst, and gen.
eral invitation extended to all sol.
diers of adjoining counties to unite
with them. The train on the mar
row gauge from Lone Rock. on the
night previous bore q goodly num-
Der of soldiers to the place Of rem
desvous.
The morning of the 18th dawned
inauspiciously, as heavy banks of
black clouds hung threateningly up
on the horizon, and all predicted
rainy day. But Providence seemed
TO smile on our enterprise, and soon
the dark clouds were dissipated and
the weather continued pleasant
throughout. Soon soldiers and cit,
liens began to pour in from every
direction. The citizens were out
in their holiday attire and the town
gaily dressed in bunting-fsgs of
ali sizes from the toy flag of the
Juveniles to the largest garrison
flag being displayed from windows
and house tops, or suspended by
ropes across the streets and every
body and everything seemed to indi-
cate that there was s'a good time
coming
The various commands establish
ed their respective Head Quarters,
where tho soldiers went and regis
tered, the Battery boys being fur
nished with haversacks. Here old
comrades met, clasped hands, EN-.
braced, laughed and wept. In this
way the time was passed until din.
ner. Dinner over, the bugle sound.
cd the assembly and the boys fell
into line. A terrace on the bluff
west of town had been selected as
our camping ground and the pioneer
corps had thrown bridge across
the river connecting the town and
camp. We marched to camp, broke
ranks and proceeded to organize.
The different troops agreed to con-
soIidate and hold their reunions in
common hereafter. Capt. Henry
Dillon of the 9th Battery was cho-
sen Commander in Chief. He is a
veteran of the Mexican war and
war ofthe rebellion-serving in the
celebrated Bragg's Battery in Mex
leo, private under many who rose
to distinction in the late var; nota-
bly, among whom-then serving as
captains and lieutenants--wers
Gems. Bragg, Thomas, French, j. r.
Reynolds and 4. w. Sherman. All
these have passed from earth. while
Capt Dillon has passed the storm of
bullets and shells unscathed, and
the years have scarcely left the
trscery of their frosts upon his head
He stands straight az an arrow, the
very embodiment of the model SOL
der, and eminentiy fitted for Com.
mander in Chief. The organization
being perfected, we recrossed the
river to the drill ground, and spent
the time 10 drilling until the CON-
miassry arrived with supplies and we
fell 10 TO draw ratioas. Our rations
Of hard tack. bacon, coffee &c. were
i.sued army style, and being fur
nished With camp kettles, cups &c.
we lighted our camp fires and pre-
pared supper. After supper, tents
pitched, and we went into camp.
We could not realizs that so long q
time had passed since We struck
tents as We seemed TO take is up
right where we left Of. The old
ramp songs resounded through the
camp as OF yore. we seemed again
on the front. retought oar batiles
and mingled our tears over our fab
len comrades. About 10 o'clock,