The National tribune., 1885-10-08


years since by the regiment, namely, that one COM
pany shall each year entertain the regiment. This
year the company from Gilmanton and Barnstead
Co 81 the hosts of the OCCASION and the fact
that nearly 800 members of the regiment responded
to the invitation, and 5000 of their friends paid
their respects to the veterans day tells the story of
its success.
The local interest in this regiment is more pro-
nounced than in the case of any regiment from this
State, from the fact that response to the call of
President Lincoln for 100000 three years volun-
teers, Gov. Berry, Aug TO- 1863 granted permission
to several influential citizens of Belknap County
to raise and officer regiment, providing it could
be done in 10 days. In six days the Adjutant-Gen-
cral of the State was informed that 10 full eompa
MES had been recruited, officers elected and they
Were ready to be mustered into the u S. service.
When we remember that nearly every household
called upon to give some loved one, whole
school districts formed into companies, choosing
from their number Captain and company officers,
in fact the whole County robbed of their young
men and in II few days this section made desOlate,
we must acknowledge the interest in the old 18th
is natural to this section her lakes and granite
hills.
Twenty-three years ago Co. B. numbering 1Ol
men, in command of Capt Barker, marched away
from this town never again to answer the roll-call
" Present" Mt the old home. The cloud of war
overshadowed the sunshine Of that day never to
pass entirely away in memory of those they left
behind them. To-day 33 of the old company an
swered present. Only 80 Of the l0l could be
in line, but the veterans counted l01. Every COM
rade felt the missing ones beside him. and the line
invisible was longer than that of those who re-
ported present. The company point with pride,
they stand before the citizens to-day to the rec
ord of this company. Every man not present to
report for himself, was reported on the roll of
honor by the Sergeant If the eyes of the boys
were dim, it was with tears of pride well as
row.
Friday. the day of Reunion, was a perfect day;
the town lovely with decorations. The very trees
had matched the red of the old flag, and every
crossing, bearing the words Welcome Veterans
were but the herald of the welcome extended.
The invitation to Fall in, Veterans from the
Colonel, was responded to by about 800, and as
readily in 1863 they took up the old step. No
one can march like the veterans. As escort, the
Young America Cadets, uniformed to represent
every State, appeared and two veterans of the war
OF 1Sl2-Col. j. 5. Hoyt 81 years of age and TheO-
dore Evans, 96-were in carriages with veterans of
other regiments The orator. Congressman Haynes,
OF Lake Village, a member of the I'd n. H.. and
citizens were III carriages. After the march the
column halted at the Commons, where address
of welcome by Miss Cora Il. Gale, daughter of
Sergt Gale, TO the veterans, responded TO by
the President of the association. j. 7. Whittier.
Col. Hoyt veteran of the of 1872, made some
excellent patriotic remarks
The Master OF Ceremonies then invited the COM
pany gathered to report at the tent, where all
would be entertained at dinner. / must confess /
felt some alarm at this generous invitation when
looked upon the hundreds and hundreds to be
tertained; but all my fears dispelled enter
ing the dining tent. and CHANGING down the beauti-
ful and bountitui tables thought the hospitality
of Co. safe i'll the hands of the ladies. And why
not? Mothers were there whose hearts were over
flowing with gratitude for the safe return of their
sons; wives who knew more OF war than soldiers
dream; but happy in return Of their soldiers,
proud 10 90 them nOnOr. SIDE by SlUe with them
the widowed wife, who felt she was at heart u
member of the company, having given her all to
that company and anxious to do her part to enter
tam the veterans. As readily as III 90 they an
swered the call for men, they responded with
their donations for the success of the day.
After the veterans had dined they adjourned to
the tent where the exercises of the afternoon
held. The platform and its surroundings were
beautifully decorated with flowers, notices and
flags In the rear of the platform large portrait
of Grant displayed, draped in emblems of
mourning and silk flag overhanging it.
The Grafton was by Col. Haynes. Subject: IN.
III. independence from outside influence" Chaplain
Durgin read an eulogy on deceased comrades, which
was followed by poem by Chaplain Greedy,
Chaplain of II Western regiment; music by Gilman
town quartet; remarks by Rev. Mr.. Malvin, of
Laconia and recitation of poem, written by Mrs.
VIM. III. Shackford and rendered by Mrs. Thomas
Cogswell.
In the evening q grand Campfire was held, Col.
Cogsweil POSTMASTER. The entertainment of
song and story was II success, with the following
gentlemen assistants: Col Batcheider. Capt. X. n.
Musgrove Past Commander Linehan, Col. Thos.
T.. Barker, Col. Haynes, with a presentation to
Woodbury. Sanborn, a member of the l2th who has
done much to make this Reunion a success, closing
with original song, written by friend of the
regiment now totally blind.
Saturday spent i'll small reunions, and all
over the village were groups of veterans living
the old camp life and, judging from the sounds of
laughter that reached U.S. not all the "reminiscences
were sad.
Sunday we continued the work of Reunion by
attending church III company with many veterans
remaining in town. where we listened to a discourse
from n member of the 18th regiment, who made a
profound and impressive appeal TO all there gath
cred 10 TAX the same earnest work that had made
this Reunion such great success unto the prepara-
ton for the Reunion eternal.
In the afternoon we visited the cemetery, where
lay many of the boys who did not answer roll-cal.
Pauslng at each grave for remarks from their old
comrades on their record soldiers, each grave
was marked by the little flag bearing the name of
the Post whose tender care they are. Thus closes
the Reunion with the living and dead o. the old
18th N. II. for 1885, and to- mOrrow shall return
home, rejoicing that we are members of the 18th
n. III. and belong to Co. BE Florence Barker,
Maiden, Mass
DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS.
DEAR TRIBUNE: On Tuesday, the 22d ult., Wis
tied the W.RC. at Aurora, and was received and
entertained by Mrs. Clara w. Harval Department
Senior Vice, also President of Aurora Corps, No.
TO- / was invited to take a drive around the city
by Mrs Harval and Mrs. Lydia Ayers, Secretary of
the Corps, after which we attended the regular
W.RC. meeting, which found in good working
order. A short time ago the ladies of this Corps
held fair, the proceeds of which melted them $500
The Post and Corps at this place in perfect har
mony and working together for the good of the
cause. On Thursday evening left Aurora for Chi
cago to attend Department meeting, and while
there saw several comrades, among them Maj.
Burst, Past Department Commander, who gave me
glowing accounts of Potter Corps, No Is, Syca-
more. The Major is very enthusiastic the
energy and perseverance of this Corps and Syca
more is his home, he very naturally has more than
a passing interest in Potter Corps Recent letters
from Chillicothe contain intelligence of rapid
growth and enterprise at that place. The Corps l3
months ago started with III members. They now
H
Julia u. Sine, Department President.
DEPARTMENT OF KANSAS.
DEAR TRIBUNE: see by THE NATIONAL. TRIB-
UNE that since the Grand Encampment Mt Portland
Grand Army interests have been advanced all along
the line Kansas has not been laggard. Several
Posts have been organized and 10 new Corps with |
n charter membership of 2S9, have been added to
our roster. Doubtless the many Reunions have |
done much toward stimulating the soldiers to re-
enlist The rattle of drums and musketry, the fly
ing flags and lines of blue, set the blood tnglng
with the memory of the stirring days of '6l-5 and
make the boys long to fall i'll line again and follow
the flag In grand parade. 1t Is exceedingly lynn
phatic temperament sharp twinge of reu-
matism that can Withstand the witchery of white
tent and IL campfire anyway. y three days Re- |
union for Northern Kansas and Nebraska under |
the auspices of Post I3 Hiawatha was held at this
place last week. Gov. Martin and Adj't-Gen.
Campbell Were present and addressed the soldiers,
also Department Commander NJ. Stewart, A. a. q. |
WoOdcock, Past Commander Pond, and Junior |
Vice Commander Maunder. Battery +, I'd regi- |
ment, u. S. A, from Fort Leavenworth, was here |
GA. X. boys also had a battery-guns sent from |
Topeka. Mrs. Wilkins, Department President, |
W.R.C., came down the guest of Hiawatha |
Corps No. AZ, and myself. We had headquarters |
In the camp and Oh the fair ground. We the |
recipients of many attentions, and the Woman's |
Relief Corps spoken of i'll highest terms by Gov
Martin and Commander. Mrs. Wickins's Corps,
No. A, Sabetha, in body with its Post and |
many We're present from other Corps. The pres
of ladies' wives sisters and friends i'm the camp
did not seem to mar the fun of the boys but rather
spurred them on to exhibitions OF their skill. AasI
they found sometimes that the had lost its old
time suppleness and the saber's rapid cuts were
very proud of their skill all the same, and found
growing moist with the of the |