The National tribune., 1882-04-01
THE 3eTH ILLINOIS REUNION,

The fourth annual Reunion of the Thirty
Ninth Regiment, Illinois volunteers was cele-
brated few days ago at Pontiac.
The organization of this regiment, SAYS the
Peoria Telegraph, was commenced as soon as the
news Of the firing on Fort Sumter reached the
North. Gen. T. o. Osborn was one of its
recruiting officers, and labored zealously to get
it accepted under the first call for troops, but
did not accomplish his object. The State
having filed its quota without this regiment,
efforts were made to get it accepted by the
State of Missouri, but without success The
regiment had already assumed the name of
His Excellency, the Governor of Illinois, and
was known rs the yates Phalanx." It was
finally accepted on the day succeeding the first
Bull Run disaster, and Austin Light, of Chicago,
was appointed colonel, and under his direction
the organization was completed and left Camp
Msthcr, Chicago, on the morning of October
Is, 1861. On leaving Chicago thu regiment
received orders to report to Brig. Gen. Curtis,
at Camp Benton, st. Louis Missouri. October
% it was ordered East The first engage
ment in which the Thirty-ninth figured was
on the 5rd of January, 1862, in which rebel
force of 5000 strong, under command of
Stonewall jackson, made attack upon the
Federal, near Bath, Virginia, and after brisk
fight the rebels were repulsed. On the first of
April the regiment took part in Gen. Hun
ters expedition against Charleston, and after
landing on Folly Island, took prominent part
in the erection Of batteries with which Morris
Island was taken. In 1854, after being recruit
ed, the regiment left with Gen. Buffers expe-
dition up the James river. At one time the
Thirty Ninth wa, entirely surrounded by the
enemy but succeeded in cutting their way out,
after great loss. To use Gen. Buffers own
words, "The Thirty-ninth fought most bravely
and suffered most severely" On the battle of
the 10th of August, 1864, near Richmond, the
Thirty Ninth lost one hundred apd four men in
killed, wounded and missing. On the 9th of
March, 1863, it took an important part in the
military movement which flnallyresulted in
wrestling the strong holds Of Petersburg and
Richmond from the grasp of the enemy. For the
gallantry displayed by the Thirty -Niuth in this
charge magnificent brazen eagle cast for the
purpose, was presented and placed upon the regi-
mental color-staff by the hand Of Major-Gen-
eral John Gibbons at the time of a grand
review of the corps. The regiment remained
on duty until the 9th day of December, 1865,
when it was mustered out of service and or
dered to Camp Butler, at Springfield, where it
was paid of and the Impressive ceremony of
surrendering the flags to the State authorities
occurred.
On the Denver yesterday morning, which
departed n little after IL o'clock quite num-
Der Of the old veterans Of the Thirty-ninth
assembled at the Union depot preparatory to
the departure for the county seat of Livingston
county. Among the number were several Nc
Lean county boys, including few from Bloom
ington who have survived and grown gray
since the regiment was mustered out of service.
Among the best known veterans who went
from Bloomington were the following: Captain
Al. C. swcetser, J. r. White, E. B. Hancock,
A. B. Johnson, George Riddle, ]. r. Covey,
William T. Morley.
At Chenoa a few more old members of the
old regiment were taken on and when the
train reached Pontiac the number of veterans
from Mclean county numbered about twenty.
The Lexington Band, which had been en-
gagged for the occasion, boarded the train and
disooursed appropriate and patriotic music as
tho journey wa, being made.
AS the train reached Pontiac three hearty
cheers were given, and the boys fled into line
upon the platform, where they were received
by about forty members Of the Fairbury Post,
G. A T., and about the same number COM
posing the Pontiac Post After forming the
procession the old members Of the gallant
Thirty-ninth, headed by General o. l.. Mann,
the former colonel but now sheriff of Cook
county, marched to the court rt-house, the band
playing that patriotic air SO stirring to the
souls of all old veterans, Marching through
Georgia."