Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-09-10
REUNION OF THE TWELFTH
REGIMENT.
A GRAND RECEPTION.

| ton. III was lue OCCASION Ol lue l. WellII
Annual Re-Union of the Twelfth Regi-
ment, New Jersey Volunteers, allusion
to which was made in last week s
! PIONEER.
At an early hour merchants com
menced befagging their buildings and
decorating them in a style befitting the
occasion. The dry goods store of w.
H. Woodruff displayed the handsom-
est decorations. The entire front of
his building was beautifully arranged
in red, white and blue colors. Many
private residences flung the national
colors to the breeze, and along the
streets congregated hundreds of citi-
zens of the County of Cumberland,
whose loyalty to the Union in the time
of the Rebellion. and since, has never
been questioned.
The sound of the familiar reveille
early in the morning, recalled vividly
the time when 60 X" composed en-
tirelv of Cumberland County boys, left
Bridgeton on Tuesday, August 18th,
1862. for the front, there to do bat
tie for the right which triumphed at
AppomattoX, April 9th. 1865.
As early as 8 o'clock in the morning
the streets presented scene of activ-
ity almost equal to that when the Boys
in Blue departed for the field of battle
a little over twenty-three years before
Enthusiasm scared to a giddy height
when the members of the City Cornet
Band, in their fine uniforms. ap-
peared on the streets and proceeded to
the rooms of \. L. Robson Post. No.
40, G. a. R., on Broad street, and then
escorted the Post to the depot where
they awaited but short time for the
train which bore the battle scared
soldiers of the Twelfth New Jersey.
The Citizens Committees were there
also, which included representative
men of the city. Mayor jeremiah
Dubois was chairman of these commit
tees, and was on hand and took great
interest in the proceedings. Other
representative citizens who were ready
toreceive the boys We're: Robt. Dubois.
Robert B. Potter William E. Service,
Dr. Joseph C. Kirby, Charles F. Dare,
VIM T. Bowen, Vim. n. Hewitt, Jas.
E. Hicks, Thomas w. Trenchard.
Walter H. Bacon, John NJ Laning, Jr.,
Alex. Fithian and l. T. Nichols.
The line of parade was formed on
Myrtle street, and was headed by VIM.
n. Hewitt, mounted on a snowy-white
horse. Following him were the police
men. then the band. the committees
of citizens, the Post. and last one hun
dred and thirtv-three members of the
Twelfth n. J. Volunteers, out of the
1899 that the regiment numbered dur
ing the war. All along the route of
the parade the veterans We're ap-
plauded, and the sight of the old flags
was the signal for loud applause.
The band played patriotic airs, and
the people seemed to live over again
the exciting times of the days of the
war Probably 5000 people witnessed
the parade. 1t was nearly II o'clock
when the procession reached the Opera
House, which was soon comfortably
filled.
The Committee on Decorations had
made the platform look very pretty.
On the stage We're some handsome
foral decorations, and hung from the
wings was a design in gilt letters which
read: "WELCOME, 18TH n. j." Stacked
arms, national colors, battle torn flags.
a miniature tent, soldiers in soldiers
dress, and representative citizens
added much attraction to the platform.
The exercises We're opened with
prayer by Comrade Harris, Mayor
Dubois following in a brief address. at
the conclusion of which there was
hearty applause. On behalf of the
Regiment, Lieut.. Troutman, of Wash
ington, d. c., accepted the hospitality
of the city and the words of welcome
of the Mayor in short and enthusias-
tic address, which was couched in most
beautiful language.
The Committee on Arrangements
had made a request of Prof. VIM. b.
Godfrey, of Iowa, to lead the singing
in the Opera House, and large repre-
sentation of the Musical Union was on
hand to aid him. Marching through
Georgia" 'Tramp tramp, tramp, the
Boys are Marching" and MY Country
'Tis of Thee We're each sung, the
Musical Union leading and the audi
dince joining in the choruses. "Tent-
ing Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
was delightfully."- sung by Mrs. VIM. E..
Potter 1t was sung with such fine
effect that many an old soldier used
his handkerchief to take away the
traces of moisture which came there
unbidden.
Col Maurice E. Pagan, a member of
Post No. 2, Philadelphia, formerly of
the 10th Pa. Cavalry, was called upon