The National tribune., 1882-04-29
NEW YORK VETERAN kssoCrATIoM.

/ Town meeting day, 1879, being the first Tues
day in March, IL number of the boys" i'll Ar
gyle assembled in one corner of the public hall,
and talked Up the idea of holding Reunion Of
! the cx-soldicrs of the town. 1t met with -
hearty and unanimous approval. A time was
fixed Up0n--au evening in the latter part of the
month-c committees appointed, and the move
ment fairly inauGurated. A tew invitations to
comrades in other towns were extended, and
the Rev. Henry Gordon, chaplain Of the One
Hundred and Twenty Third New York Vols,
requested to deliver an address. At the ap-
pointed time the hall was filed to eycrOWlnC.
The Argyle Brass Band enlivcned the occasion
with patriotic music. A vocal club, extempor-
sed for the occasion, sang number OF the old
! army songs. The reverend chaplain was pres
ent. and in one Of his happiest moods. Ills adj
dress consisted chiefly OF "reminiscences OF the
| soldiers life. intcrsper5ed with humorous allu-
sions, which never failed to bring down the
house. The ladies had provided a sumptGous
| entertainment, to which all did ample justice.
The evening passed pleasantly to all present,
and the first Reunion in Argyle was voted
| complete success. After supper it was decided
to attempt the organization OF county assCci-
alton, and committees in the several towns
were appointed, who were requested to meet
and take the matter into consideration; also
the adyisability of holding county Reunions.
Among those present at the Argyle Reunion
from other towns and who warmly approved
the suggestion of holding county festivals of
this character, were Sergeant II. C. Morhouse,
editor of the Peoples JsarnGI, and II. B. Tcft, OF
Greenwich Sergeant George Scott, of Fort
Edward, and others whose names do not occur.
During the month of June following 4 meet
ing Of the county executive committee was held
at the hotel in Argyle. The committee con-
sisted of two from each town. The meeting
was organized by the election Of General James
&C. Rogers, of Sandy Hill, president, and John
+ Dwyer, secretary. 1t was unanimously resolved
i3tO form county organization for the purpose
i of holding annual Reunions. Invitations wero
extended from Argyle, Salem, Cambridge, and
| other towns for the first one. Salem offering
! the greatest inducements, won the badge. The
time set for the first grand blowout was the
25,h OF August From this time the boys all
over the county entered into the spirit of the
movement and began to brush up their rusty
Military recollections Meetings for drill were
f, held, and some procured uniforms. On the
! 25th Of August, not only the veterans of the
| late war. but seemingly the larger part of the
population of the county and the western side
OF the State of Vermont, were aiming for Salem.
Never before was that usually quiet village
/ visited by such crowd. The people of the
town and village, bound to make it a success,
and do honor to the soldiers, had fairly out
no ctr and bui in
I were one perfect mass of bunting. Flags and
words Of welcome were flung to the breeze in
every available spot. Upon their arrival the
boys were treated to a substantial lunch Of
! coffee and sandwiches. Some eleven company
organizations reported to Colonel S. W. RUSSELL
marshal of the day, numbering in all about 200
men. At noon they sat down to a banquet fit
! for the gods. This grand entertainment was
provided gratuitously by the people of Salem
! 1t was sufficient for the soldiers and their fam
/ lilies, aud to spare. The tables fairly groaned
| with the weight of the good things for the sol
| diers As an illustration, it was said the milk
of eighty cows was brought in on the morning
! Of that day. After dinner the line was formed,
! and marched to the speakers stand, where an
! address of welcome was made by Judge James
| Gibson. The orator of the day was Gen. J. c.
Rogers, who was followed by Rev. Henry Cor
don, of Costa Generals T. J. Strong and Charles
! Hughes, of Sandy Hill. After the speeches the
! line was reformed, and grand parade made
! through the principal streets. Doring's Band
of Troy, one of the best in the country, was
present, as was the Burleigh Corps of Whitehall,
I an independent company of the State militia.
| These added considerably to the zest of the
I event. The real object of the gathering was
! emphatically attained. There was a constant
handshaking the day long, and general count
ing up of how long ''sirce we met before" "
| Thus ended the first Reunion of the Washington
| County Vets, and grand success it proved TO
be- Everything was quiet and orderly. and
the soldiers proved themselves men as we'll as
veterans All felt the thing must be kept up
as long as there were TWO eft to get together,
! have Il quiet grasp of the hand, and bring to
| mind those days " when we went a soldering"
/ The second Reunion was held in Granville
i on the 26th Of August, 1850. On this occasion
4 there was not quite as large Il turnout on the
part of the Veterans, although they made a
| more soldier-like appearance. Nearly all were
armed and equipped with Springfield rifles and
4 better uniformed. On this occasion General
1 Joseph b. Carr, secretary of state, and his full
| staff, were present The day was fine, but the
/ streets were terribly dusty, reminding the boys
4 of army iife when their line of march could be
1 traced by the clouds of dust. The people of
l Granville were generous, kind and gave the
bows" a hearty welcome. They thought it
most too much of an undertaking to try and
emulate the Salem folks in the way of enter
1 tainment, so the soldiers carried their own
rations although it was afterwards said that
! there was plenty of provisions on hand if
there had been some system instituted to place
/ them before the men. Addresses were deliv-
cred by Gen. Carr, Gen Rogers, and others.
The day, but for the intoerable dust passed
pleasantly, and to the soldiers was in realityyl
| Reunion. In June, 1881, the county executive
committee met again in Argyle to determine
the place for the next gathering AT this time
| Col S. w. Russell, of Salem, was elected presi-
/ dent of the association, and II. G. Morhous, of
| Greenwich, secretary. The location was hotly
contested by Whitehall and Argyle, each offer
ing to entertain the boys" " and their families,
! but Argyle won by majority Of one. On the
4th of July the citizens held meeting and ap-
was granted by the Rev. George Mairs to hold
| the Reunion in his grove. 1t proved capital
| place, and being warm day was highly appre-
| ciated by everybody. On the day assigned the