The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-09
THE SEVENTEEN INDIANA.
Eleventh Annual Reunion of the Vete-
rams Of that Regiment at Franklin.
Address by Capt. J. E. Cleland and Speeches
by 0thers-0ficers Chosen for Next
Year-Mortuary Resolutions
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

FRANKLIN, Oct. S.-The eleventh annual re-
union of the Seventeen Indiana Volunteers was
held here to-day 10 Music Hall, and the welcome
given by Franklin to the veterans of this gallant
regiment was so hearty and hosptable that it
| will be long remembered The Franklin Mill
tary Band, an organization of which this city
may we'll be proud Tor any other might we'll be),
escorted those who arrived on the early train
from indianapolis to the hall. There about l25
veterans, but the Seventeen men when they come
together, make family affair of it, and this
meeting was exception to the rule. Many
brought their wives and little ones, and when
the presiding officer, Col Samuel Merrill, of In
dianapolis called to order, ''the family mum
bered $50 or more, Gin addition to whom
friends had gathered in, filling every seat,
making gathering of perhaps 500 persons
Conrad Sexton; member of the regiment, made
a feeling prayer, after which W. G. Sandefur, of
Franklin, also member of the regiment, made
a ringing speech of welcome, which was briefly
responded to by Colonel Merrill
| Among the messages from abroad letter
| from Major 2. S. Raglan, now of Independence.
Mo-, who regretting his inability to meet with
the regiment. closed with these words. which,
q
comrades, were warmly applauded: I'm closing,
| let me say, comrades who fought for union,
equality, and the reinforcement of law, never
| lower your standard until men throughout the
| length and breadth of this Union shall be placed
| on the same footing of equality, with equal
| rights to ALL"
| The call Of the roll showed that that the boys
were widely scattered, the greater number Of
those who had left the State being in Kansas and
| Iowa.
| This was Cen Ben Harrisons regiment and
his inability to be present, he being engaged i'll
the Ohio campaign, was disappointment to the
veterans. who had expected to meet with their
old commander. handsome boouet intended
by Mr.. Peake for General Harrison was given to
comrade, who had come from lola. ILL.,, the
greatest distance of any one present, and
smaller boquet, as second prize, was given to
Mai James L. Mitchell Of Indianapolis who
thought he deserved one as he would come from
the ends of the earth to meet with his comrades
of the Seventeen.
| A loud demand was made for a song from
Stephen W. DUNCAN, of Franklin, once in high
repute in the regiment a vocalist, but when he
rose, gray and venerable, and protested that
quarter of century had cracked his melody, he
was allowed to depart on furlough. Some excel
lent vocal music followed, however. given by the
| Hurricane Glee Club. composed of members of
| the regiment and their wives all living in John
| son county. The Franklin military band fol
| lowed with magnificent medley, which
greeted, was the effort of the gee club, with
| deserved and prolonged applause.
| The dinner at the opera-honse spread for the
| veterans by the ladies of Franklin and johnson
! h1,D fol %hA hln,
groaned under their weight of wholesome. we'll
prepared substantials, pie, pastry and knick-
knacks is not enough. They fairly shreked
but they were to great extent relieved after the
| boys had tarried at them while, though there
yet remained enough to feed regiment or
| two
The afternoon exercises disclosed the fact that
| the Seventeen is chock full of varied talent.
There were several brief speeches, some glad,
| some joyous, and humorous descriptive poem.
| the last recited by its author, Eb Harbert, OF
Company l. The Hurricane Glee Club sung
| stirring war lyric, Union, God and Liberty"
composed by member of the regiment, Lieut..
| S. Wesley Martin. formerly Company ], now
| living at Wheaton, ILL.,
| The committee on memorial, Major g. w.
| Grubbs, OF Martinsville, chairman, reported the
following members as having died since the last
| reunion, and made touching reference to their
! association with the regiment and respect for
their memory: Samuel B. Gardner, r r. Glib.
bons. Isaac Baker. Rufus Ward and William H.
Fisher captain of Company 1. Captain Fisher
| died at his home near Whiteland, johnson coun.
| ty, Sept 13. 1885. He was the Oldest man in
the regiment, and had gone into the army at an
age when youthful enthusiasm was past led by
the purest patriotism. He was Christian hero.
His i've sons also went into the army. J. T.
Kinnick, Major G. W. Grubbs and Colonel
Merrill each bore testimony in af-
fecting terms to the moral worth of
| this grand old man. The company
commanded by Captain Fisher, was remarkable
in the number of officers it furnished. among
| whom Gen. T. j. Morgan. now living at
| Providence, R. l.; Major G. w. Grubbs, Capt
j. H. Meteor, Capt. j. E. Cleland and Chaplain
| VIM. Elgin.
The following officers were chosen for the as
| ISOLATION for the coming reunion. which will be
held at Martinsville on the third Thursday in
/ September, 1885, President. Benz Harrison;
vice-presdent. Samuel Merrill; treasurer. James
l.. Mitchell; secretary, NJ g. McLain. all of In
dianapolis; executive committee, G. W. Grubbs
chairman, Martinsvlle; Leroy Hadley. W. G.
Bane. George w Koontz. j. c. Bennett, Frank
Hall, j. H. Edwards W. 6. McVey j. Drake,
j. S. Morris, Robert w. Cathcart.
The orator selected for the next reunion is
Gen. Thomas ]. Morgan, of Providence, R. l.;
j. l.. Ketcham, indianapolis, alternate
| CAPT. j. e. oLELAND's ADDRESS.
| The orator. to-day, was Capt j. E. Cleland of
Indianapolis, and his address was of marked
merit. He said: "There is something dating
back into the sixties that draws soldier to
soldier in q way such other tie has ever
drawn you. There is brotherhood of arms a
| brotherhood of camp, brotherhood of battle
| 1t is a brotherhood born of patriotism, Graded
| in peril, baptized in tears and consecrated in
| blood 1t is a kinship second only to that of
nature herself. 1t is this brotherhood that each
year brings to right dress guide right
and little forward march together. In the
midsummer of 1862 this regiment a thousand
men, 1t had been raw material; it was now
manufactured article. 1t had been individual
bravery; it was now the mighty power of COM
! bined courage Its members had never known
| a stronger grasp than that of friendship; now
| they stretched forth their hands and grappled
with death. Thcmemories of the war are burnt
| into our lives. We remember how we thought it
tough that we had only twelve or fifteen wagons