The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-05
JOLLY VETS.
The First Camp Fire OF Gen. John Blu
ford Post, &. A. R.---Speeches,
Singing and Beans.

Over one hundred veterans and twice
as many more who would give great
deal if they were veterans, so they could |
tell of hard battles won and the suiferings |
of fields and prisons, and last but not
least, the pleasures of the evening camp
fire, with its stories both thrilling and |
comical, serious and laughable assembled
at Armory hall last evening to attend the
camp fire of the Maj Gen Buford Post,
G. A. r. Nearly fifty ladies were among
the guests Of Buford post, and they evi>
IDENTITY enjoyed the proceedings greatly.
Post Commander +. H. Bowman, Jr.,
called the assemblage 10 order. lie in
quired of the adiutant if all present were
veterans, the adjutant reporting that all
were not old soldiers. Commander Bow
man declared it an open camp fire of Gen.
John Buford Post No. 243, of
the G. A. r.. and called on the
martial band for music. The band re
spondcd with tune which made the feet
of the old soldiers 90 up and down in
time When they had finished Comman>
der Bowman expressed his regret that his
abilities as a speech maker would preclude
him from welcoming those present as he
knew the post felt towards them, but it
gave him great pleasure to see so many
there. He called for a song from the
glee club, and Messrs NJ COrns, William
Don, J. K Cook and S. j. Collins re-
sponded with Il Long For Thee"
DIR. Mckinnie was called upon and
made a short speech. He extolled the
objects of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie and said that it was most noble or,
ganizatiOn. He spoke of the camp fires
and their tendency, and said that it was
the mwritten history which appeals to
the hearts of all when the written seems
cold and barren. He then referred to the
inauguration of the first democratic press
ident for twentyfour years, and said that
at that Inauguration, when the procession
went down PENNSYLVANIA avenue, escorts
ing the old president out and the new one
in, the G. A. r. was given the post Of
honor. While this was going on there,
in another place, the last act Of demo.
cratic congress was to pass bill retiring
that grand old hero, Gen. Grant loud
applausc) on full pay of general in the
army, and the bill was taken to the sen
ate and there passed unanimously. From
there it was taken to President Arthur,
and his last official act was TO atfix his
signature making the bill a law (applausc).
Guy Bowman gave "Tcnting on the
Old Camp Ground" on harmonica, after
which William B. Bruner was called for.
He told of how his grandfather had been
in the revolution, his father in the later
war of 1912 himself in the late Unpleas>
antncss, and in the Mexican war when
those generals who became famous were
captains and lieutenants (applause). He
thought it ran in the family to defend the
dear old flag, and even now when he saw
the flag he was ready to do anything. Capt.
Sullivan, of Aug Wentz Post, No 1. of
followed with a recitation,
Slaves Dream, after which
the quaItettc gave Health to the FAIR
est
Major Connolly excused himself from
speaking, saying that he would supply a
substitute, and as it was the first
substitute he had sent to the
front, he thought it would be
accepted Thcrcupon he introduced
Lieut.. Schwatka, the arctic explorer
vino is in the city visiting friends. The
lieutenant said it was a surprise to him
He was not in the late war His experts
ence in fighting was against freezing and
behind trees with the Sioux Indians. He
was in but three fights with them. only
one Of which was of any Importance.
They were then opposed by about G,0OO
Indians, of the Sioux tribe under Crazy
Horse, Sitting Bull and others. 1t was
the same band which shortly aftcrward
surrounded and massacreG Gen Clusters
command They fought all day aud got
the fcld-about they ever do get when
they fight Indians. His other fgEt-that
with the cold, was more recent They
fought it when the thermometer registered
- degrees below zero. In that line it was
a very cold day when We get left
Otto IIerkcrt rendered Home, Sweet
Home" very crcditably on the harmonica,
and Dr. Bowman, of Andalusia, was re
questcd to talk with ''thc boys He said
he felt unusual embarrassment in finding
it necessary to call the boy, whom he had
larruped and whipped in the usual way,
Commander, but he had learned to obey
superior officers and would not do othcr~
wise now. He related his eX-
periencc in enlisting as surgeon,
his first fight with beasts of prey, on the
first army couch he slept upon, his trou,
bic in getting good bread for the soldiers,
and as a prisoner of the rebels. Also his
impressions during the battle of Mission
Ridge
Then came the rations, beans, coffee
and hard tack, in tin cups and plates
They were prepared by the ladies and
eaten by all with many Jcsts and much
laughter. The adjutant detailed squad
of vets to assist the commissary, and wait
on the guests. After all had partaken
of the 'beans for supper, beans for break
fast, beans for dinner" Col. Reed, of