The National tribune., 1882-10-12
SOLDIERS REUNIONS.
Our Veterans Renewing Their Youth
Over the Cheering Campfire.
COUNCIL BLUFFS ASTIR.
Echoes from Grand Army
Gatherings.
pecial Correspondence National Tribune.

Special Correspondence National Tribune.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Oct. 2.-The Re-
union of veteran soldiers of southwestern Iowa
and northwestern Missouri, held at Council
Bluffs, Sept. 28th, 29th, and 30th, was grand
success. About 1000 old soldiers were in at
tendance, and the crowd of citizens and visitors
was estimated by the Bluffs Nonpareil at more
than 100000 The vast amphitheatre on the
fair grounds was densely packed and on the
immense grounds there was scarcely room for
the veterans to parade. On Friday the old bat
tie flags of the Fourth and Twenty ninth Iowa
infantry were received by express from the
State arsenal at Des Moines. We formed col
umn under the gray-haired General Keatly, of
Council Bluffs, and the battle-scarred Colonel
Cook, of Carroll City, and with the tattered
banners under which our gallant comrades died
at Pea Ridge, Iuka, Vicksburg, and Kenesaw,
floating over us, we marched through the streets
of Council Bluffs. The veteran General G.. NJ.
Dodge the first colonel of the Fourth Iowa,
reviewed the troops. There were crutches and
empty sleeves in line and old men of wealth
wearing silk hats were proud to march with
the column once more before the last muster.
The sidewalks, streets, windows, balconies,
and hOuse-tops were packed with visitors for
many blocks. In camp g sham battle was in
dulged in for the qualification of visitors, and
speeches were made by Col. Hepburn, General
Keatly, and Major Anderson, of Iowa, and
Capt. HOwden, of Missouri.
Col. Hepburn is a member of Congress. His
speech was eloquent and well received. Gen.
Kcatly spoke nobly and was loudly cheered.
Capt. Howdcn uncovered his snow-white head
and began his speech by shouting " Boys say,
boys!' Hisspeech was humorous in the extreme,
provoking shouts of laughter, but serious
thought and noble utterance pervaded it all.
Capt. Howden, Col. Pultney, of Missouri, and
Colonel Cook, of Iowa, slept on the tented field
with the boys as in the Brave days of old" The
" feather-bed officers" went up town to sleep
and to eat. Colonel Cook had an arm, two ribs,
and leg broken by bullets in the war; but is
yet young and full of fire.
The nights in camp were glorious. It was
joy to sleep on the ground in tents again as we
were wont to do before the BATTLE"
We rallied to dress parade as to a banquet. At
nine o'clock tattoo" was sounded The old
familiar notes stirred every pulse But flights"
did not out" Each campfire had its circle of
old soldiers, singing, telling stories, and making
speeches. The hours of the Reunion were too
precious to be wasted in sleep. General Dodge
held a reception at his mansion in the city. In
his speech of welcome he said: "Boys, come
into this house and take it," The order was
promptly obeyed, and capitulation was COM
plete General Dodge, in the review rode like
a young trooper.
Dispatches were read from Generals Grant,
Sherman, Sheridan, and Howard. Three rous-
ing Western cheers were given each general
While party politics were ignored, the assembled
veterans proposed to watch Congress, and see
that our crippled comrades and the widows and
orphans of our dead are better provided for and
that Government shall pay its debts to the men
who gave their health, their blood, and their
lives to save the Union. A. j. TROTH,
FOrty-seventh Ohio Vols