The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
THE 72d OHIO.
It's Sixteenth Annual Reunion Mt Bradner. o.

Ohio, which was held at Bradner, o. In
September, was al event long to be remember
and although it was the 10th time that the
comrades have come together since the war,
their greetings were as hearty as though it was
the first time they had met since the close dis
solved the grand old regiment.
The meeting was called to order by the
President of the Association, Gen. Buckland
and opened by chorus of young ladies and
gentlemen with "Sherman's March to the
Sea" The General then held up the much worn
and battle-scarred remnants of the old cUlors
carried by the I'D Ohio, and called for three
hearty cheers for the old flag" these were
given with vim that made the woods echo,
but none the less hearty were the three which
followed for the commander of the I'D, Gen.
Buckland. Next came reading from the Scrip
lures and prayer by Rev. Comrade Meeks; then
an address of welcome to the I'D Ohio and
all soldiers present, by Comrade Stahl, of the
Sd Ohio Cav.
Gen. auckland followed, and in the course of
his remarks referred TO his rapidly-faillng
health and of his consequent inability to speak
as long and freely or to take as active part
at these Reunions as he would like to, or as he
had been accustomed to; nevertheless, his in
terest in them was undated and he announced
his intention of being present at them as long
as he was alive, even if he had to be carried
there At this stage of the exercises those having
the dinner in charge announced that 1t was
ready, and it took the I'D not a very long time
to head the column that charged on the tables.
The dinner over, the speakers stand was
again surrounded, and Comrade Beach sang
Marching Through Georgia" Capt Lennon
then read letters from absent comrades of the
I'D rs well as from WAREHOUSES; battery, the
95th Ohio and others, after which the Associa-
ton proceeded to the election of officers. Gen.
auckland, who has so faithfully served as Presi-
dent for years, was unanimously elected to that
Office for life, while Capt. Lennon and Com
rade J. G. Nuhfer were elected respectively
Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer for
one year. The place of next meeting was fixed
at Fremont, but the date to be fixed by the
President, Vice. President and Secretary, the
comrades to be duly notified.
Then followed the speaking. Capt. Lennon,
on behalf of the Committee on the History of
the Regiment, in his modest and unassuming
way, opened the ball by requesting every
member of the regiment possessed of diaries,
memoranda, or data and incidents of any kind
in the history of the regiment, or of the COM
panleS and members who composed it, to place
such facts, either written or unwritten, in the
hands of the committee Comrades Lennon,
Caldwell and Gessner,) or give them to the Sec
rotary of the association; he urged upon all
the necessity of prompt action in this matter,
our numbers were growing fewer year by
year, and those who were part of the regi-
ment and consequently possessed of its history,
were rapidly passing away and the work be-
coming more and more difficult.
At this point he was interrupted by the Sec
rotary, who held up to view an old torn mem
Orandum book, which he said WAS the diary of
a cOmrade from Co. q, and proceeded to read
therefrom the first and last two entries. The
first was: Nov. %, 1S61.-I enlisted in the u.
s. Army under Lieut. w. &. Bidle i'll the I'D
Ohio for the term of three years unless sooner
discharged. l went to a ball this evening in
Odd-FellOws Hall. The last two: Sept II,
1S65.-Went to Camp Chase i'll an ambulance.
Sep. Is, 1S65.-Paid off and discharged" The
Secretary said that within the covers of that
old diary was contained perhaps the most
complete history of the regiment thus far
placed i'll the hands of the committee, and that
he had already begun the work of copying it.
Capt. Lennon concluded his remarks with
short history of the regiment, beginning with
the battle of Tupelo. In rapid succession he
recalled the voyage up White River and de-
barkation at Devall's Bluff; the march from
there through Northeastern Arkansas to Cape
Girardeau, Mo-; the chase after Price away
across Missouri to the State line; the return
march from across the entire State through
snow and ice, fording the swollen Usage and
GascOnade Rivers; the trip up the Cumberland,
and the prominent part taken by the regiment
in the victorious battle of Nashville; the trip
down the Mississippi and the encampment on
Jackson's old battle-ground (Chalmette) below
New Orleans; the voyage down through the
mouth OF the Mississippi and through the Gulf
to Daupbn Island, at the mouth of Mobile Bay,
and its continuation up the crooked Fish River;
the campaign against Spanish Fort the gallant
death of Cyrus Wing. of Co. /, the last of the
regiment to yield his life ON the battlefield;
the capture OF Spanish Fort, Blakeley, and with
them Mobile and its defenses; the march from
the Gulf coast through Southwestern Alabama;
the reception of the glorious news of Lees
surrender; the arrival at Montgomery, the
first capital of the COnfederacy; the terrible
news of LincOln's assassination; the march
westward through Macon, Selma and Demopo-
lis; the short stay along the line of the Nicks-
burg & Meridian Railroad the return to Vicks-
burg, and the final muster out and return
home.
Comrade Caldwell, member of the Historical
Committee, urged prompt and hearty co-ope-
ration on the part OF all present in the gather
ing of facts and material for a complete history
of the regiment; and, in concluding, expressed
the hope that our interest in these Reunions
would never decrease
Comrade Beach arose to defend the regiment
from the base attacks made upon its behavior
at Shiloh, and COmfade Edgar, whose first eX-
perience with the regiment was st Guntown,
said he might talk hour after hour of the prison
life of members of the I'D, but preferred to
listen to those who could talk of the dongs of
the regiment i'll more active service.
After a song by COmrade Beach, Comrade
Rice took the stand and at once opened on that
much worn yet ever interesting theme-the
battle of Shiloh. He said that there had been
a great deal said about that battle, but much
more remained to be told. We were encamped
in the presence of a superior force of the enemy
at Corinth, yet no precautions were taken by
those in command to repel an attack; not Il tree
felied or spade of earth thrown up. Gen.
Buckland, Col. Garfield, even the rank and file
knew better what was going Oh in our imme-
date front than Gems. Sherman and Grant.
While all honor was due these Generals for
their brave and stubborn defense after the
battle began, they were guilty of gross neglect
in not taking such steps before the battle be-
gan as would have saved the lives of those
under their command. He had nothing but
communication for the I'D and the regiments
brigaded with it. 1t was not surprised, if
Sherman was. 1t was ready, and the brigade
Of which it formed part withstood the shock
of Cleburne's superior force of six regiments
and inflicted upon them such punishment as
to place them out of the balance of the fight
altogether, taking their own official reports as
testimony. He referred particularly to the 9th
Miss, which made three attempts to charge
Bucklands position, and which went into the
fight 425 strong, but went out with 60 men,
under the command Of the senior Captain,
every field officer having been killed or wound
ed. In conclusion, he said he wanted no prouder