The National tribune., 1885-10-08
Reunion Of the 39th and 18th Ind.

At Kokomo, Ind on Sept. %, occurred the Re-
union of the 39th and 57th Ind. The most interest
ing feature of the occasion the return of the flag
of the 57th captured by the Confederates at Frank
lin, Tenn, in 1854 At the recent Confederate Re-
union at Cleburne, Tex, this flag presented to
Department Commander Wylic, of the GA. r.. to
be 10y him returned to the surviving members of the
regiment from which it was captured.
The delegation accompanying the flag from Texas
consisted of Its captor, Corp. Wiley Nj Crook, for
merly of Co. l, 18th Tenn, q. S. A, now living at
Iowa, now Commander of the GAR, Department
OF Texas now residing at Dallas, Tex; q. u. Ser
viss, also an ex- Union soldier, now living at Sher-
man, Tex Capt. w. q. Neale. of Dallas, formerly
OF the 18th Tex. Cav &. s. A., and Maj E. n. Heath,
of Clcburne Tex, formerly of the 10th Tex. Cav,
&. s. A. Col. Wiley made the speech presenting
the flag to the GAR, Department of Indiana, III
an admirable manner narratng the circumstances
of its capture, and passing from the bloody epoch
of the war TO the of fraterna feeling which is
now happily coming Oman era of tolerance, good
feeling, and brotherly affection that betokens a
glorious period OF peace and prosperity for this
great Nation. This was responded to by Conrade
d. n. Foster, Department Commander of Indiana,
who spoke as follows:
Tie work of the Department has so pressed
upon me that i have had little oppor-
tunity to prepare words BETTING occasion
of this character That duty has been assigned to
another, who will voice in eloquent phrase the
wonderful suggestiveness of "a scene like this.
Standing here under these peculiar circumstances,
We are reminded TO how great an extent the war
OF tie rebellion educated our people, North and
South, to a proper understanding of each other.
Before 1t taught them differently. Our countrymen
OF the South regarded US of the North very much
III the light of mere money gctters, with not half
so much devotion to principle as to our pocket and
possessed of but little sentiment and still less
airy characteristic of the South. Thus estimating
the OF the North it not strange that ut the
outbreak Of the the ot-headed soldiers of the
South each believed himself able to whip at least
half a dozen Yankees.
I'VE of the North hadn't much better opinion
OF the men of the South. For years they had been
we dubbed them fire-eaters' Brag and buster
took to be their stock in trade Barking dogs, ,
we said, would never bite They were cowardly
and would never fight. Such about the esti-
mate we had formed of one another.
. 1t didn't take long TO undeceive both sections.
The Southern soldier who started out to whip five
Yankees soon concluded that his contract was too
large. After Fort Donelson 1t dawned upon his
astonished apprehension that one Yankee was
about all he could handle with any very fattering
prospect of success. After Bull Run came to the
conclusion that the Johnnies would fight, and that
if we succeeded in whipping them it would he
through superior numbers and greater resources.
We were soldiers of the same flesh and blood, and
when aroused to action displayed the same valor
and the same endurance. During those four years
Of agony and bloodshed we learned to know and to
respect each other. Superior resources enabled us
to conquer, and j do not think / am anticipating
the future much when say that both the Blue and
the Gray glad did conquer. 1t Is better to be
a citizen of this great Republic than of New York
or of Texas. Better Nation than State. Better
Union than a Confederacy.
And now it is my pleasing privilege to accept
this flag at the hands of Comrade Wylie, the De-
partment Commander of Texas, Grand Army of
the Republic, and, acting in the capacity of the
Commander of this Department, relieve him of
the sacred trust committed to his hands at the Con-
federate Reunion at Cleburne, Tex, on the 9th of
last month. In doing SO, want to thank him right
heartily for the interest he has taken III this matter
even to coming here in person to make this presena
ton On your return, Commander, bear with you
our profound Acknowledgements to our comrades of
Texas for favOrs extended, and say to the Boys in
Gray that we Hoosers are the same good fellows
we used to be in the times when they snapped
tobacco with for coffee day, and tried their
very best to shoot us the day after. Here, COM
rades, is to their health, and may they live long
and prosper.
Survivors Of the 57th, what shall say to you?
cannot voice the sentiments feel. cannot give
tattercd by service, torn by shot and shell. With
it you went gaily forth to do battle for the
many a bloody battlefield. Around it you
rallied when disaster overlook you. For it, many
of your comrades gave up their lives. You had
thought never to see IL again. 1t was lost treas
you could never hope to recover. Enemies
had wrested it from you and carried 1t Off you
knew not where But they are enemies no longer
The Stars and Bars, under which they won imper.
ishable fame as soldiers float nowhere in the land
and If, perchance. they sometimes bring out and
eracy, it Is that they may recall sad memories of
the past and not that they sorrow over the Lost
Cause This dear old flag is their flag. They and
lube Union, reunited Nation 1t is from their
hands it comes back TO you. Take II, comrades,
rejoicing that the war Is at end and that white
winged peace hovers over all the land"
As Commander Foster closed his speech there
loud cries of Let's the flag! unfurl It'll"
The banner was then upheld by Corp. Crook, and
the battle-torn emblem waved aloft, amid great
enthusiasm and long-continued cheering. The
face Of Col. Blanche-sturdy old soldier as he is
was suffused with emotion, and there were moist
ened eyes all around him.
Rev. T. d. Thorp, member Of the 57th, now
pastor of the Simpson NJ f. Church at Fort Wayne
received the colors on behalf Of the regiment in a
glowing spirit, fervent with gratitude for the bet
ter days that have fallen upon the Republic-the
era of peace and National Observation-Disclosures,
Kokomo.