River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-09-24
MADISON CORRESPONDENCE.
The Iron Brigade Reunion.
MADISON. WIS. SEpr. 10. 1885

tiers and comrades of other organizations,
all intent upon finding and greeting the
friends and filemates of "old lang syne."
As the boys" came into the city they
were at once marshalled to the Capitol
where two clerks were kept busy enroll
ing their names by Company and Regi-
ment The Iron Brigade, as most Of ur
adult readers will remember, was com
posed of the 2d, 9th and 9TH Wisconsin
the 18th Indiana and the oath Michigan
Infantry, and Battery "B," 4th U. S.
Light Artillery-the latter manned by
men taken from the above named.
Among the visitors on this occasion
were Brigadier General +. S. Bragg, Brig
adler General Lucius Fairchild, General
Hallon Richardson, and many other field
and line officers, backed by two hundred
and seventy-tiye of the "boys," and some
OF the girls. The first evening was de-
voted to renewing old acquaintance, and
recalling the stirring incidents of the
bloody campaigns through which they
passed quarter of a century ago. emily
ening the recitals, now and then, by
roaring one of the old war songs which
still stir the blood and thrill the nerves
of all who have heard them ON the march
or around the camp fires in the far south.
General Bragg delivered an impromptu
address in the rotunda which to me was
far more interesting than the more elabo-
rate address of Gen'l Richardson Put
ting his hands behind his back and turn
ing his face upward, the little General
walked up and down the pavement, and
in half so.iloquy said: "Boys, do you
know where we were twenty-three years
ago tonight? We lay on little ridge in
front of Antietam, near the center Of the
line. There were lot of hay cocks in
the field and the boys slept ON soft
beds for once. About three o'clock
we received orders to move oyer to
the left. We didn't 60 at once. We
were sleeping, some of us, and some were
laying in supply of fresh ratlons. We
found some cattle that evening and the
boys had 'em all cooked before morning.
About daylight we moved on, through
the creek and over to the left, up through
an orchard, and the boys filed their hay
ersacks with apples. Some Of the boys
didn't live to eat 'em, though. We caught
hill there from the word go! We
stayed with 'em, though. Some of the
boys are there yet! There is where Capt
Brow and Van Butchills and Lieut. Babe
got wiped out tell you it was a good
deal warmer" that morning than it is
here this evening Let's go up stairs
and see the fun" And off they all went
to join in the chorus of "John Browns
Body" which the husky "vets" were
roaring up in the Assem- bly, chamber.
A shorthand reporter could CLEAN a
highly readable lot Of anecdotes could he
take down the stories with which the
"boys" enlivened the hours of the Re-
union. Capt. Waddington, of the 9th
Wisconsin, told one which had never
heard before. While in front Of Peters
burg, in the spring Of G5, there had been
picket firing until both sides had become
tired of the fun, and by mutual consent
had stopped. An order was issued that
the Federal troops should commence
again, and one bright morning they be-
gan pegging away at every Johnny that
showed his head above the Confederate
works. Finally one of the Butternuts
showed up piece Of white cloth ON a
pole, and when the firing ceased followed
the rag with his countenance and hailed
the nearest Blue-coat with: Say, Yank,
what be you'uns shootin' at we'uns fer?"
Cant help it; got to, it's orders" replied
Yank, "Well then, shoot high, yelled
Johnny. Cant do that" said Yank.
"Why not?o" "'Fraid wen shoot over
and hit old Sherman" AS ''old Sherman
and his bummers" were fighting their
way up through the Carolinas in the
rear of Lee, the joke was mighty good
one.
Another Of the "boys" told how he was
ordered out with five or six others in
front Of our lines, and also in front of the
rebel line which was confronting ours, to
cut down a lot of trees that INSTRUCTED
the line Of fire. 1t was pretty hot job,
and he said the squad of pioneers, of
which he was one, never tipped over
trees any faster than they did. One little
tree which he. cut had three bullets
planted in it before it fell, all Of them in
tended for him. Finally the grove was
cleared and all six Of them run back for
the cover of their lines. Before they got
there they were met by the 18th New
York "red legs" who were ell arging at
double quick for the rebel line. The
sight was so inspiring that the squad
halted to Cook at the fellows run" while
the Johnnies poured volley into them.
They stood some time, but finally one of
them suggested that they had better
"hunt their holes or somebody would get
hurt" Only one, the speaker took the
hint and "dove." The other five stood
outside until finally bullet took one Of
them in the head and over be went, dead.
The others Borrowed" a spade and
buried him where he fell, and then
came in behind the breastworks The
story only illustrates the utter indiiier-'I
ence with which the men faced danger
and met death. and how little they re-
garded the casualties which iii times OF
peace would be the sensation Of week.
The Reunion closed N Thursday with
a grand banquet f beans at old Camp
Randall, whose grounds many Of the old
vets had not seen since they marched
ont If it to make the history which they
are now reliving, It's familiar bounda-
nes called up many a ludicrous remin-
iscence Of camp life, Of drill and duty, Of
guard duty and guard running and the
BOYS separated into little groups and
wandefed about, trying 10 plan the old
company barracks and guard house, the
commissary department and the physic
shop. Over many mind flashed the
scenes Of other days bringing smile to
the ftce, and yet over all came the
thought Of the days Of heroic doing
which have gone into eternity, Of the
''boys" who have answered to the roll
call beyond the stars, and the conviction
that they were looking now upon the
place which had known them in the
pride Of their young manhood, but which
4 l., ]. no