The National tribune., 1882-11-09
Particulars of a Fine Post in the
HOOSier State.
GOOD TIMES IN IOWA.
Our Haversack Filled for a
Seven-Day's March.
Special Correspondence National Tribune.

Tades Of Gettysburg Post, No. %, of this place,
and learn these interesting particulars in their
brief history: Organized on the evening of
August 18th, 1852, with charter membership
of eighteen, and mustered by that gallant SOL
der and enthusiastic worker for the Order,
Comrade David Agncw, Adiutant of JEFF. c..
Davis Post, No. I6 Vincenncs, Indiana, muster
ing officer. and installed the present comrades.
"Onfcers" are said by distinguished mill
tary writer to be the d" soul of an army" hence
the soul of this Post is centered in the follow
ing corps of officers, who ably fill their posi-
tions: Com, David Z. BEEN; :. V. c., Nathaniel
D. Cox: J. Y. c., Robert McNaught; Chap,
Wesley Cofey; Surg, DIR. W. V. Wilds; @ NJ
G. W. Edwards; Adjt., Thomas II. Boswell; ;
O. D., William s. Mead; O. G., Jacob Coble;
s. NJ, Wiley E. Ditmore.
The Post meets on the second and fourth
Fridays Of each month; they are getting along
finely, the Order giving satisfaction, and are
well esteemed in the community, for in it are
representative men of both parties, comprising
the best clements of society, the valor, brains,
wealth, intelligence and high character of the
comrades. This Post takes front rank among
the local Orders.
Commander David E. BEEN is a man that
exercises a great influence in the community.
Few Posts can boast of having a banker as
Commander, with the purse of Fortunatus at
his back: a self-made man; in life a public
spirited citizen: a comrade thoroughly imbued
with the principles of the Grand Army, and
one who will do a vast amount of good, sub
stantial work for the Post. His military
record while an officer of the old Fourteenth
Indiana is one which he can reflect upon with
pride. He entered the service April 10th 1861,
and remained with his command until the
close of the war.
Among the comrades, and an officer highest
in rank, a recruit of the Grand Army, whose
career well illustrates the possibilities of the
American soldier, is Brigadier-G General Thomas
A. Mcknight who enlisted as private Sep
TENDER Is, 1861, in Co. A, Fifty ninth Indiana;
rose through the regular channels Of rank, cor
poral, sergeant, orderly, lieutenant, captain,
major, Northumberland, colonel, and briga-
dier-general, commander of First brigade, Third
division, Fifteenth army corps. 1t was in front
OF his brigade that Gen. Mcpherson was killed.
This comrade was in the Mexican war; has
prepared paper which | shall soon give to
THE TRIBUNE, on the conduct of the Second
Indiana at the battle of Buena Vista, which
will somewhat reverse the unjust judgment
that history has placed on that command and
for years made the " Indiana troops" lay under
cloud. Gen. Mcknight after the rebellion, like
"Cincinnatus of old, went back to the plow,"
which he left to take the musket. He likes THE
TRIBUNE, and says all soldiers should by all
means take it.
Their Adjutant is one of those loyal Southern
men that stood by the old fag-Major Thomas
II. Boswell, late of the Sixth Tennessee Union
cavalry, who did as much, suffered as much in
establishing Federal authority as an any Ten
.neseean. Having fought the madness of seces-
sion. struggled against disunion before the war
while threatened with death, raised and COM
manded Co. D, Fist West Tennessee. When
the State government was reorganized this
command became part of the Sixth cavalry.
He rose to the rank Of major, and was wounded
at Salem, Miss, October s, 1863. He came into
this section and became a leading merchant:
was conspicuous in forming this Post, and is one
Of its valuable members.
The old Fourteenth Indiana has a number
Of surviving members residing here, who have
splendid military records. This regiment was
one Of the first three years regiments to leave
the State, and formed part of the Reynolds
brigade" consisting Of the Thirteenth, Four
teenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Indiana
regiments, that left indianapolis the 4th dav of
July, 1SGl, the Thirteenth lyour correspond
ent's regiment succeeding in getting into the
command that fought the battle of Rich Noun
tain, July II, 1861: captured the works, the
entire command surrendering prisoners Of war.
This was the first National victory after Fort
Sumter. Comrade Nathaniel D. Cox Senior
Vice Commander, Chaplain Wesley CofTey,
Wiley Z. DetmOre, and other comrades of the
Fourteenth regiment, belong to the Post.
Comrade S. II. II. Mathes, late of Co. F, Fiji
teenth Indiana, editor Of the Republican, who
served thirty-nine months during the war. is a
man Of unusually brilliant talents. writer Of
ability, wields pen Of iron with the force Of a
magnet. His paper is the organ Of the boys,
and receives-as such paper should-cordial,
substantial support from them.
l had the pleasure 10 meet with one of my
old regiment, a comrade who as a prisoner of
war, tasted the horrors Of Libby and Andcr-
souvillc for over twelve months Henry c.
Grooms, late Of Company D, Thirteenth Indi-
ana captured at Fo't Darling May 10 1864,
and remained in rebel hands until abandoned
by them in a corral in the woods at Lake City,
Fla, 1850, after the war was over He remem-
beers " Little Red Cap" well. This comrade
was instrumental in taking the steps that led
TO the formation of this distinguished Post.
Comrade William s Meade, Of the extensive
manufacturing firm of Messrs. Meade & Way
land, one Of the substantial members Of the
Post, has a conspicuous military record, en-
bracing four years continuous service. He
entered the service when only fifteen years Of
age in Company Z, Sixth Indiana infantry,
served calamity all through the war, though
receiving wounds in three battles, "StOne
River" Chickamauga," and Dallas. He was
q prisoner SIX months.
COmrade Harvey d. Ellis late of Company
j, Eighth New York independent sharp
shooters, has a brilliant army record. He was
three years in the Army of the Potomac, was
wounded at SpottsyIvania, and suffered horrors
Of prison life for seven months. Since the war
, he has been successful in business; he is now
one Of the firm Of Ellis Brothers, extensive fur
uiturc manufacturers, and a member of the
board Of aldermen.
In the line of surgeons, this Post has two
that were assistant surgeons in the army. DIR.
William Y. Wilds ateassistant surgeon Eighty.
fifth Indiana, an eminent physician, one Of the
board Of trustees Indiana State Asylum for the
Blind. During the war he had charge of The
losDitals in the refugee camps at Chattanooga: