The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
GRAND REUNION.

han Post No. 330. GAR, Monmouth, ILL.,,
issued a call for a Reunion of the ex-sodiers
and sailors of the Military Tract of Illinois to
meet at Monmouth on the 9TH. Sth and 9th days
of October, for the purpose of organizing them
selves into an association to be known as the
EX-Soldiers and Sailors Reunion Association of
the Military Tract of Illinois. In compliance
to this call more than 500 ex-so.diers and sail
ors responded, either by letter or i'll person.
The camp was organized on the first day and
deservingly hOnored with the namo of Camp
Harding. being i'll memory of that valiant COM
mander from Warren County, Gen. A. &. Har-
ding. Gen. j. n. Recce. of Springfield, ILL.,, was
elected Commander. X. H. Ostrander was ap-
pointed Officer of the Day. Owing to the
threatening weather the address Of welcome
was postponed till Thursday.
Drumhead courts-martial were the order OF
the afternoon and evening of the first day. An
order from headquarters having been issued for
the arrest of Comrades J. G. Burchiield and
Den. Williams, charged with cOniiscating, with
out the knowledge or consent of the sup
posed owner, chickens and turkeys without
number; also, one Spring lamb and numerous
other articles beneficial to soldier. 1t is need
less to add that the culprts were acquitted.
An order was issued from headquarters making
COmrade w. IL. Stephenson officer of the Day.
Serg't h. L. Graham was detailed with squad
of vets for guard duty, and to preserve order,
peace and quiet Of the camp. A large flag fioatcd
over headquarters and a large banner an
nounced " Headquarters of Camp Harding" On
the right of headquarters was large tent, size
14X14, where COmrade ID. ID. Parry, late of Co.
F, Sd Ohio with his assistants were kept busy
enrolling the boys in blue and assigning them to
quarters. On the left of headquarters was the
Commissary Department, in charge of Comrade
A. J. Ely, Co. K, LIST Ill. Cav. The earyarriv-
ing trains brought to the city large delegations
of veterans with their families and friends
f-nyr cnr,tI1 L,rl-.r low aud ~ fInc
from abroad. About 10 o'clock the Mon
mouth Marine Band came out to the camp and
furnished some excellent music.
This was followed by the exercises of well
come, which took place in the Amphitheater.
Commander ID. ID. Dunkle presided. After
prayer by Rev. J. W. Kelsey, Rev. A. II. Dean,
late of the Sd N. Y. Art, delivered the address
of welcome, which was responded to by Chap
lain w. J. Rutledge, of jacksonville, ILL.,, who
was Chaplain of an Illinois regiment during
the war. The veterans then fell into line for
company drill.
After the boys had satisfied themselves with
drilling nearly an hour, Commander ID. ID.
Dunklc, Of Mechanism Post, $50, called the
comrades to order. On motion, COmrade Jas.
RebstOck, OF G. w. Trafton Post, 239 Knoxville,
H., was elected Chairman, and Eugene w. Ste
vens, of kirkwood Post, 81, elected Secretary.
COmrade j. G. Burchfield read the following:
Seeking to unite in a common bond of interest
and fraternity oil who may have served faithfully
In the army or navy OF our country ut any time
during the late for the preservation of our Ma
tonal integrity desiring to preserve the memories
of tolls. sacrifices and dangers endured in spirit
of true love for and loyalty 10 the Union striving
to renew in mind the hearty sympathy, the pa
triotic heroism and unselfish devotion which actu
ated cOmradc toward comrade and the cause IN
which all were engaged; and mindful that the roll
of those now living who bore arms iii the great
work of maintaining universal liberty and pre-
serving National unity, Is rapidly melting away;
the following named Posts of the GAR here rep
resented, or which have given encouragement by
letter delegates to uniting in the formation of
such al organization, viz kirkwood Post, No. 81,
kirkwoOd, H.. McClanahan Post 800, Monmouth;
g. w. traitor Post, 239, Knoxville; d. J. Tucker
Post. 407. Swan Creek; Gen James Il. Shields Post,
As, Gaiesburg; A. g. Harding Post, III Rosevile;
Abingdon Post 5S, Abingdon; Morrison Post 465,
North Henderson; Mel. lin Post, 81. Beardstown;
Warren Shedd Post, 262, Aledo; Ellsworth Post,
172 Oquawka; Lookout Mountain Post, 81, Henry;
Carter Van Week Post, ia, bushnell; Dan Me
Cook Post So Elmwood. do hereby constitute
themselves into Al Veteran Reunion Association.
This association shall be known as the Ex-Sol-
diers and Sailors Association of the Military Tract
of Illinois.
The several Posts represented selected three
delegated from each Post and proceeded to elect
officers for the ensuing year, as follows:
For Commander, Maj. r. w. McClaughy.
Monmouth; S. V. c., Gen. =. Sidney Post,
Galesburg; J. V. c., C. A., Carmichael, Kirk
wood; Surg, DR.. b. A. Griffith, Swan Creek
Chap, Rev. Richard Haney, ID. d., Monmouth
Tucker, Roseville; ms. O., G. +. w. Froelich,
Oquawka.
The Commanders of the Posts of the Military
Tract were instructed to meet at Galesburg, ILL.,,
on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
February, 1856 to complete the organization of
the association and to select the time and place
of holding the next Reunion.
Commander A. J. Diehl, of Lookout Mount
ain Post, No. o. Henry, Ill.,, presented a gavel
to the Commander of the Military Tract Asso-
citation, and it will be used by each Commander
hereafter. 1t is made of cedar-the handle of
ash-frOm trees cut down by cannon balls at
the battle of Gettysburg; with Il bullet attached
to the handle that was picked up on the battle
field.
The members of the SD ILL., also held
meeting and organized for the purpose of hold
ing Reunion next year. The following officers
were elected
President, Maj w. G. Bond, Monmouth;
V.-Ps., Lieut.. Cyrus Butte Lieut.. Thos. Tate,
r. l.. McReynolds, Lieut.. III. b. Frazier, A. w.
Cochran aud John }. Quey; Sec, w. NJ. Buff
fngton.
Executive Committee-W. H. Sexton, J. L.
Shawman, Frank B. Davis, ID. c. Gowdy, Jas.
ii. Herdman.
A committee of one from each company was
also appointed to assist in the preparation for
next year, composed as follows: C.. ID. Shoe
maker, Co. A; S. c. Hogue, Co. B; Jonas Muir
DOCK, 20. y, JOnn BTduy, 20 ~, mos. latc,
Co. E; Chas. Barnum, Co. +; james Rebstock,
Co. G John Courson, Co. II: VIM. Veatch,
Co. l; DR.. l.. S. Lambert. Co. X. On motion,
the 9th day of September. 1886, was chosen for
next years Reunion, the Executive Commit
tee being authorized to choose the place of the
Reunion.
The closing day dawned bright and beauti-
full as the day before. At an early hour the
campground was filled with veterans. The
usual routine of business was gone through
with. At the Surgeons call number awaited
themselves of the opportunity of getting off
guard by complaining of all the aches and pains
ever thought Of
An order was issued from headquarters max
ing COmrade +. Graham Officer of the Day.
The day was given over to a general old fash
toned lovefeast and good time generally.
At l o'clock the crowds once more assembled
at the Ampitheater, where short speeches were
made by Maj. w. G. Bond, w. NJ. Gulbrath.
and many others; songs were sung and stories
told, and not till a late hour did the crowd
think of dispensing. At o'clock the signal
was given to break camp, and in a few minutes
the tents were struck and were rapidly being
rolled up and ready for shipping back to the
Arsenal at Springfield. Then came the parting
of old friends and new; many were the warm
expressions of undying friendship expressed to
one another and the promises made to meet
again next year wherever the committee choose
to select. Thus closed the first Reunion of the
ex-soldiers and sailors of the Military Tract at
Monmouth, ILL.,, Oct. 8, 1885. 1t was agreed
by all present that it was great Success
EUGENE w. STEVENS Secretary, Monmouth Ill