The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-04-16
& HgTABLlsHKD IN
! MARCH. 1S4T.

| peach orchard in the classic shades OF
Shiloh, and crowded by hundred other
Regiments, we realized that our command
was small, and the rebellion was great
A little later, when calm succeeded the
fierce storms of war, on the bloody field
of Pittsburg Landing, and our number
was decreased by death and ghastly
wounds, we then first realized that war is
not play.
| l said in the beginning, we assemble
here-a few of us-after the conflicts of
war and the necessitudes of civil life, as
older, trust wiser men.
But we are not all present or accounted
for. If the roll call of that morning of
our hasty departure hence were repeated,
there would be silence after many
names.
They severally heard their final roll
call through the din of many a battle.
from the Hospital, and from their widely
scattered homes. May the sod lie lightly
upon their sleeping dust; may we cherish
their memories. May the government
for which they died be ever worthy the
sacrifices of their lives. But the soldier
mortality ceases not on the return of
peace. Thousands broken in health and
crippled in body are going to premature
graves through the casualties of war.
Victims direct or indirect, of "arrow
| that f1ieth by day"-"of the pestilence that
walketh in darkness and the destruction
that walketh at MONDAY" Great among
them is our Noble Chief-now slowly but
surely dying in distant city-May
Heavens choicest benedictions and those
of grateful people ever rest upon him.
1t is pleasant to know that this class, and
their dependents, are so generously pro-
vided for by the government, no nation
has ever thus cared for it's disabled SOL
diers.
| 1 was recently asked, "When will the
government cease to spend millions of
money annually in paying pensions and
erecting and maintaining soldiers, and
soldiers orphans homes ?" I replied,
"when the last union soldier is laid be-
meath the sod, and there is not living
comrade to shed tear at his grave.
Then only will the nations debt to the
soldier be discharged. The debt will not
even then be discharged. For duty will
still remain of guarding and caring for
the national cemeteries, and keeping
green the graves of our noble dead
We hold today our first reunion Ere
the next the Death Angel will have
spread his sable wings over the widely
scattered homes of many of our comrades.
Soon will recur our annual pilgrimage to
graves of our comrades, and as we deco
rate them with flowers and bedew them
with our tears, let us be thankful to the
Gracious Giver for their soldier virtues,
and for the blessings of free government.
And, when life's conflicts are past, the
last battle fought, and we stack our arms,
may we each be prepared to answer the
final roll call, and be accounted worthy to
receive the welcome approval, ''well done
good and faithful servant"
The veterans now adjourned to he old City
Hall for dinner. Here five long ia les, the full
length of the hall, were loaded with great
ray of good things. AS the veterans filed up
the stairway into the dining-hall where the Ia
| dies were ready to welcome them, the
Little 10 Band struck up 'The Girl 1 Left Be-
| hind Me-" Soon all were ranged around the
| tables, and season of solid enjoyment fol-
| lowed, resembling, in its merriment, some of
the scenes of the old camp life. After dinner,
on motion OF Sergeant Brewster, a Vore of
| thanks was rendered the l+dies of Jackson for
Their handsome reception of the old soldiers.
| The decorations of the dining room were
| beautiful, long strings of flags hanging in fes
toons about the room. More than two hundred
| persons ate dinner here.
After dinner the crowd went to the Court
House, where a permanent organization was
ts.ffa .,I1S liant
Dawes, J. K. Dukes and James D. Roberts, Vice
Presidents, G K. Crumit, Secretary, Sergeant
Brewster, Treasurer. The meeting was address
ed by Col. Mccormick, of the Seventy-Seventh
Ohio.
A sad scene was presented when DIR. Crumit
brought out the unclaimed Veteran Medals,
and began to call over the names. Many were
called who did not respond, and give few
names here, to show the nature of the reading
and responses
r. w Horton-"Killed at Atlanta
Sergeant Smith-"Killed."
Silas Rce-"Dead."
T. Hines-''Dead."
James Bowman - sc Died at Andersonvile
prison.
r. Hood-"Dead. Was hung"
B. Ford -"Killed at Kenesaw."
NJ. ], Smith-"Killed at Kenesaw."
II. w. Shepherd-"Killed at Kenesaw."
These responses came from soldiers in differ
ent parts of the room, and had a strange, SOL
emn effect. They were present and their
comrades fall some saying that they had car
ried their dead comrades off the field.
A motion was made and carried to hold the
next Reunion at Portsmouth. soldier named
Mathew Lyon was then called upon for song,
and responded with a lyric song relative to
Famous Beauregard' watering his horse at
Pittsburg Landing. 1t was grand thing.
Mathew is genius, and his song produced such
an electric effect that Gen. Jones, Maj. Dawes,
Capt. Crumit and others were on the point of
shouting.
The Choral Society then sang "Tenting on the
Old Camp Ground" after which resolution
was adopted that the Regiment, with band of
music, march to Camp Diamond. The rain |
prevented this grand feature of the day, as the
ladies tad decorated the old camp ground in the !
most beautiful manner. A resolution was
adopted thanking all ex-solders, and citizens, |
for their efforts to make the Reunion success.
Then Brewster-the only Brewster-was called |
out. Brewster is a whole volume within him. !
self. You might think, at first glance, that the
titlepage is not pretty, but inside there is rich
reading. He can be pathetically eloquent one
nome t, and the next be a whole circus, with |
the side-show thrown in, and the concert after
the performance. He gave a humorous descrip- |
tion of his early military experience. "Why,"
said he, sin the early days of the war, if you
called man Captain, the people thought you |
meant a man who stands on the upper deck of
a steamboat and swears down at the deck |
hands, and up at the pilot. The first time L
called out with the militia, some went with |
shot-guns some with rifles, some with corn
cutters, and / had mare and colt
He also told how, when he went into Camp |
Diamond, he wanted to real live Colonel, |
and cautiously peeped into Appler's tenI, and !
saw a fine looking sitting there-which |
aflerward proved to be Jeff. Shockey, leader of
the Band. Brewster called for the |
John Brown song, which was sung
with a wild enthusiasm, Gen. Jones sing
ing the solo. and everybody joining in the
chorus.
w Wy Nar,indala waS calIad ont apd snolra