Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-09-04

were thrown IN our midst as they were
at Antietam and South Mountain; but
we had never before been under file in
line of battle, and il is matter of rec
ord that the four regiments of this bril-
gade and two regiments belonging to
Doubleday's brigade, sustained for that
length of time and beat off six brigades
of the rebel army. 1t was a severe bap-
tism, but think the survivors will ac-
knowledge the fact that it was very
useful one.
Col. Watrous, Sec'y of the organiza-
ton said:
MIR. President and comrades: 1t was
thought best to take five or eight min
utes in giving history of the associa-
ton. In Milwaukee, four years ago, at
the general reunion of Wisconsin sold
iers, you will remember that quite a
large number of the brigade were pre-
sent. AT the suggestion of comrade
who is here to-day, meeting was
called to organize reunion association
of this brigade. A large number met
at hall over Capt. Schults' store and
the association was formed with Gen.
Gibbon as President and Gen'ls Bragg
and Kellogg Vice-Presidents, and a
large number of honorary Vice resi-
dents including men from all of the
during the war. From the fact that
they had been together in 1880, it was
thought not wise to have a reunion in
1881. but in 1882, Gen'l Gibbon issued
call for reunion at Milwaukee, to
occur at the same time as that of the
army of the Cumberland, lasting three
days, at which time we had genuine
reunion of the brigade at a public
meeting at the Court House where we
heard from Gen'ls Gibbon, Allen, Fair
child, Kellogg, and large number of
the old commanders. On that occas-
ion, little daughter of the old brigade
newsboy, whom we have all learned to
love and respect, presented us with this
little guidon. We prize the present
very highly. You remember we par
ticipated in the procession, and it was
there taken about and number of
gentleman thought that it would be
wise after that to have reunions at times
and places where there would not be 3
double shot poster to advertise and
build up some public enterprise. In
consequence of that, Gen. Bragg, who
was acting as president, (Gen'l Gibbon
informing us he could not be pre- sent)
called q reunion for 1888, at La Crosse,
the 14th of September, the anniversary
of South Mountain. There Gen'l Bragg
gave us much such speech as Gibbon
has given us of Gainesville. 1t would
"a ln han 4 bau 20 10
the meeting at Lacrosse. 1t seemed as
though every heart in Lacrosse and
every hand was extended in hospitality
and welcome to the survivors of the
IrJn Brigade. From the time we went
there until we left the most constant at
tentions were shown. You may re-
member who was there. | see great
many here to-day who were there then.
There was an urgent invitation from
the city of Madison to have the reunion
held there. 1t was left to the acting
President, who after waiting six or eight
months concluded it would be a wise
thing to meet in this part of the state,
where there were six companies of the
brigade, many of the members of which
had never attended reunion of the
brigade. | think it was wise move,
because we see many new faces here
faces that will be present as long as
they can attend the reunions.
That, in brief, is the history of the
reunions of the Iron Brigade. The Off
GERS have been reelected at each meet
ing, and Judging from what | have
heard it would be almost as impossible
to have made change of officers as for
Gen. Jackson TO drive the brigade from
Gainesville Oh that night
1t was decided by the meeting that
the places for the coming reunion should
be recommended to the President who
should select one of them.
A letter from Col. Mansfield was here
read concerning the battle of Gettys-,
burg. The brigade went into actionI
here with 302 men, with the following
result: Killed, q; wounded, IA; miss
ing, 9. Total left for duty at the close
of the engagement, SO.
Gen. Gibbon here announced that he
had received a congratulatory dispatch
from the Milwaukee Encampment and
had replied, on the part of the brigade,
as follows: 1.-The Iron Brigade heartily
appreciates your congratulations and
cheers and returns them duplicated"
(Applause.)
The officers for the ensuing year were
elected by reclamation as follows: For
President, Gen. John Gibbon; First
Vice-President, Gen. Bragg; Second
ice-President, Gen. FairchiId; Third
Vice. President, Col. Chas A. Hamilton;
Fourth Vice President, Col. w. w.
Dudley; Fifth Vice President, Henry A.
Morrill,; Sixth ce-Presdent, James
Stuart. Honorary Vice-P Presidents, in
addition to Col Dawes. Mansfield and
others, Sergt Milo Perkins, of the 2nd
Wis, Maj. Ed. Whaley, 9th Wis.
Capt. Harris said: We have thought
it advisable that the enlisted men of the
brigade should have some recognition
in the disposal of the offices, otherwise
Others might think, as | heard it ex-
pressed at q certain reunion where
there were so many Colonies and Majors
and Generals, that there must have
been great casualty among the pri-
Yates. We have therefore recognized
the enlisted men, some of them privates
and some like Ed. Whaley, who was a
private before he was major, and the
medical fraternity, because they cut off
one of Vhaley's legs it took a revolver
and some persuasion to prevent them
cutting off the other. Col. II. Monteith
and Sergts -, DR.. Ward. and ID. G.
Ayers, assistant surgeon, of the 9Th.
DIR. Ayers objected being placed on the
list OF officers, but the President re-
marked, Yes, Doctor, you had better
go on. We don't need you often but
when we do, we need You like the man
that kept hotel in Texasr'
Capt. Harris here made motion to
amend the bylaws so as to create the
Office of Chaplain and that the Rev. S.
W. Eaton, former Chaplain Of the 2nd,
be named rs such Chaplain Accom-
panying the motion he made the follow
ing well chosen remarks: Mr.. Eaton
was a man who, at all times and upon
all occasions. performed his duty faith
fully and well, and merited the esteem
not only of his own regiment but of ev-
cry man in the brigade, and | think
they will all bear me out in the asser-
ton that he perhaps was one of the best
ChaplainS that the army had. If there
was anything requiring his aid he inter-
ested himself, and when at the battle of
Gainesville he was brought into the
midst of the dying. under those trying
circumstances he didn't stop to ask any
conundrums, if they were sinners or
not, or if they knew who died to save
sinners, but he treated with great kind
ness and aid all alike think it is due
to him, and | think it is only we'll
merited tribute when | say that he
would confer an honor upor the assnci-