The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-19
THE ELEVENTH INDIANA.
Survivors of the Famous Old Regiment
Spend a Pleasant Day at Lebanon.
Interesting Letter from Gen. Lew Wallace
The Eighth District Reunion, and
the Reunion at North Vernon.
The Eleventh Indiana.
!, Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LEBANON, Sept. 18.-The veterans of the
Eleventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, held
their reunion at Lebanon to-day, the business
meeting being called to order by the president.
Thos. O.. Wood, of Franklin, soon after i P. N.
The attendance was not as large as has hereto
fore characterized the reunions of this famous
regiment. Letters were received from absent
Major-general Lew Wallace, the first colonel of
the regiment. The reading of this letter from
the old ard beloved commander was listened to
with the closest attention, and at the close the
boys gave it their warmest applause.
NEW YORK, Sept. Ia, 1885.
Mr; W p. Webster. Secretary of Eleventh Indiana
Dear Contradict hasten to acknowledge receipt Of
.he notice of the reunion of our old regiment for this
year. Greatly TO my sorrow it is now certain that /
cannot be present with you on that occasion.
l take the liberty of inclosing a page of Sep tember
number of Century Magazine con tanning an open
letter from General Grant, which, so far as it pertains
to me, 1 beg you will read to such comrades as may be
at the reuni on. The great soldier whose death we all
deplore thought once before to relieve me of the
aspersions in connection with my movements the first
day at Pittsburg Landing. Now again, at almost his
last of life, when he knew himself a dying man, he
returns to the subject, and yet more explicitly renevs
the generation. 1t remains to be seen what effect the
repetition, made under such solemn circumstances,
will have upon those who, pending the controversy,
chose to rank themselves as of my accusers. That
my friends will share my satisfaction and rejoice with
me over the justice at last and completely done, ad-
mits of no reasonable doubt. And whore, outside of
my blood kindred, can l look for truer friends than in
the dear old regiment which was always so stanch in
my defense? Since, in a degree. it shared my mortif-
sations, 1 am the more delighted to lay the fresh ver-
dict of acquittal before its survivors.
With my love to each and everyone of the boys who
may be at the reunion, l am. as ever, your conn ade,
LEWIS WALLACE.
Gen. Georg e F. McGinnis offered the follow
ing resolution. which was passed by a unani-
nous vote and amid great cheering:
Resolved, That we respectfully request the Presi-
dent. in case of q change in the pension agency at
Indianapolis, to appoint to that position our fellow
wars, and who has deserved we'll of his country.
Such an appointment would be regarded by all pen
sioners as a recognition of their own services.
1t was moved and carried that the next re-
union be a basket picnic, and Major J. r. Ross
motion that the next reunion be held at Indian
apolis, Oct. 10, 1886, was also carried.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President, W. G. David, Indian
apolis; vice-president, D. E. Stout. indianapolis;
secretary, Joseph 7. Cason, Lafayette; treas
nrer, George f. McGinnis, indianapolis; chap
lain, Henry Williams, Charlottesville; historian,
Gideon B. Thompson. Indianapolis; custodian Of
the c%olors, James r. Ross, indianapolis.
The following were chosen an executive COM
mis-, Indianapolis; S. L. Ensminger, Crawfords-
vile.
At the conclusion Of the business meeting a
number of the members were entertained at the
residence of Mrs. p. NJ. Hall, where they were
serenaded by the Logan lodge, K. P, Band of
Attica. The Eleventh did not participate in the
saam battle to-day, having come too late to ar
range to take part.