Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-10-22
Blank Cartridges.
An Enthusiastic Gathering of
Veterans IN this City
last Thursday.

A Gala Nay TOR $3.50 People
And q Rouslng Time
Generally.
To give in detail the events Of last
Thursday would require one page
of the COURIER, and. as that much
space cannot be spared, we shall 1t
tempt to write Of the most promi
nent features and circumstances o.
the day, thus giving to those moi
in attendance an idea of what trans
pired ut the Fourth Annual Re-un'
ion of Dakota Soldiers.
The night Of the 18th was one o
showers and dark forebodings fl
the morrow. In view Of the ex.
tensive and quite expensive prepa'
rations made by our people to enter
tain q large army of visitors q looa
of regret was pictured on every fAc'
a the heavens daxkened and rair
began 70 fall in torrents. AT al
early hour ON the morning of the
18th the sky was doudy, the roads
muddy and the outlook generally
unfavorable for . clear day and Z
large crowd. News sooe reached
the city that the ferry could moi
transport Nebraska soldiers, and
also that no train would arrive from
the east in time for people to take
part in the exercises Of the day.
With these and q few other things
to worry and disappoint the day be-
gan, which turned out so memorable
that our people and visitors will
long hold it in remembrance.
By train time, at 10 A. NJ, enough
of soldiers had c~ongregated to form
a company ard march to the depot
to welcome comrades from Yankton,
Vermillion and other points up the
river. A salute was fired from a
piece Of artillery, and accompanied
by the bands and led by Gen. Camp
bell, the troops formed and march
ed to LaBelle's Hall. In order to
further details and organi-
cations, they broke ranks until II NJ,
at which time they met and formed
into companies and marched to
came to get dinner.
The camp-scene was real. BY q
score of camp fires sat squads OF
soldiers eating the barbacued OK,
drinking coffee and grinding away
at bareback. Around the camp,
guards walked their beats, challeng.
now and then a luckless urchin OF
hungry spectator ec they struck fol
the hash department, while an occa-
sional forager would dash into camp
with a squawking chicken or youth
full pig. An unlucky suttler wan.
dered past the guards with o barrel
of apples, and in less time than ii
takes you to read Of the circum.
stance he had turned several i'm.
promptu summersaults, which his
wagon initiated, and the old horse
emerged with himself reversed in
in the shai,s. The scene was laugh
able in the extreme. The way the
boys took hold and ate that beef and
went for the coffee, was certainly
cheering for our people. Severa
thousand people were on the camp
ground at noon, and most Of thai
number took dinner.
At 1:3O the soldiers were called tt
arms. Two distinct companies were
formed and commanded by Capt
Hughes, Judge Bennett. and Capt
Wingett. When all was ready th'
order was given to march, and head
ed by bands Of music the soldier
marched to the battle field south 0
the city. Capt. Wingett's company
went direct to the fort, which it &C
cupied during the battle. The othel
company marched 70 within q thous
and yards of the fort on the north
west. A strong skirmish line wa
then thrown out under com
mand of Capt. Bennett. The caval
ry, commanded by Capt. Duncan
moved to the southwest Of the fort
After some maneuvering Of the con
tending armies, the thunder OF tn
artillery from the fort and field an
nounced the opening of battle. Sool
the sharp report of musketry be
tween the skirmish lines told of tn,
bloody af1ray in front of the fort.
Soon after the skirmish lines be
gan firing the battle opened in earn
est. The main body Of the assault
ing column moved on a double quicl
toward the fort and in aid OF tn
federal skirm;shers. On charged tn
column, cheering at every jump
while above the rattle Of musketr.
and yell of the assailante could b
heard the thunder Of artillery
When near the fort they were me
with q raking fire of musketry, an.
lust as the forces gained the ditcl
the old cannon in the fort belche'
forth such q sheet Of fame an.
smoke that the ditch was filled wit
fallen men. For q moment Their
there was a clash Of bayonets an
bloody gnpple Of armies, when tn
order to retreat IVES given. At tn
iuncture the cavalry dash ! in
hind the retreating army and drov
the enemy behind it's bieastworki
After some accommodating and cor
tinuous firing Of both armies anoth