Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-05-13
THE STATE AT LARGE.
MEETING OF rHEr1Rsr MICHIGAN.
The Bows Meet after Twelve Years.

SURVIVORS OF tne fifsL MlcnlRan NOlunleef
Infantry took part in the exercises. Taking
advantage of their happening TO be together
an informal reunion was held and an organi-
cation was ELECTED. Two or three more re-
unions We're leld in succeeding years, and
then, owing 10 the inactivity of the officers
elected, the interest died out, and for twelve
years the organization was in comatose con-
dition. year ago several members of the
regiment happened to meet at the DEVILS
Lake eneampment of veterans and another at
tempt at organization was made. Fortunately
energetic and capable officers were chosen in
the persons of Capt. Z. II. Manly, Ann Arbor,
President; Daniel Griffith, jackson, Secretary
and w. A. Edwards, Jackson, Treasurer.
These three gentlemen went actively to work
and made arrangement for a reunion which
was held in Jackson on the 9th inst, and proved
the most successful aud pleasant one in the
history of the regiment.
One hundred and thirty-fve members of the
regiment were present. Several members
were accompanied by their wives and daugh-
tiers, making total number participating 100.
The davis exercises began at O'Clock In the
afternoon, when business meeting was held
in the q. A. r. Hall. 1t was called to order
by Capt. Manly
Gen o. b. Wilcox, the first commander of
the regiment, was asked to take a seat on the
platform, and as he advanced to the front he
was loudly cheered. Gen. w. III. Wilmington,
Maj. G. Q. Hopper, Congressman and Private
O'Donuell and Surgeon A. j. Hobart were also
invited to the platform and each received
generous cheers.
The election being next in order, Col. Geo.
p. Sanford Of Lansing, In neat speech, nomi-
mated Gen. Wilmington for President. He
thought jackson the best place at which to
hold reunions and that the executive officers
thould reside there. Gen. Wilmington was
elected by reclamation. The other officers,
also chosen without opposition, are as follows:
First Vice-President, Maj. &. Q. Hopper, De-
trot: Second Vice-President VIM. Widdicomb,
Grand Rapids; Secretary and Treasurer,
Daniel Griffith, jackson; Historian, Z. IL.
Manly, Ann Arbor.
1t was unanimously decided to hold the next
reunion at jackson.
TP.Wlllams, Commander of Edward Pom
roy Post, GAR, of Jackson, then delivered an
address or welcome.
Gen Wilmington drew a contrast between
the appearance of the regiment as he first saw
It in the pride of its unite ted strength at An
napolis Junction, and as he saw II again, at
ter the Peninsula cam align, with decimated
ranks and showing all the terrible effects of
war.
The General then recalled the scene on the
Campus Martius at Detroit twenty-five years
ago, when the ladies of that city presented the
regiment with battle flag Those were lost
TO, but not captured by, the Confederates at
Bull Run, but through no fault OF the regi-
ment. The speaker related the steps recently
taken TO recover the flag. He read letter
from Adj.-Gen. Drum, saying that there was
nothing TO show that the flag was taken from
the regiment and that its loss was under cir
cumstances rather favorable than otherwise.
He called upon Comrade Craig TO bring the
flag forward, and, as the latter advanced with
the old blue silk banner, the veterans arose to
their feet and greeted it with three rousing
cheers and a tiger
Capt. Spencer of Lsnsing, recited, with good
fleet, THE Old Flag" and was roundly APP
plaudcd
Col Wilcox spoke of the peculiarly thrilling
effect the sight of a flag had upon soldiers in
the midst of battle, and remarked that the one
just received was handed TO him in Detroit
twenty-five years ago by sixteen as pretty girls
as ever lived.
Mai Hopper, Surgeon Hobart and Chaplain
Brockway, the latter of the Sixteenth Mich
gan, were called upon and gave short talks
A recess OF twenty minutes was taken, after
which the soldiers formed in line and marched
to the First Methodist church, In the parlors OF
which Jackson ladies had spread an appetizing
feast
Congressman O'Donnell was the POSTMASTER
for the evening and happily DISCHARGE ed that
Office.
The first toast was "The Private Soldier" to
which Comrade Craig briefly responded.
"Our Michigan Soldier' brought ex-Gov.
Blair to his feet, and the venerable
war governor was the recipient of en-
thusiastic applause. His theme, he
said, was one Of which no man could speak
properly. To simply point out what they did
would honor the soldiers of Michigan the
most. Their achievements were written in the
history, the Ioetry and literature of the coun-
try. There could be no greater cause than the
one in which they engaged. IL was a struggle
for law. order and salvation, a struggle in
which every sentiment that tended to noble
man was At stake.
He remembered the feeling shown when the
first war meeting was in progress in Jackson
and company marched in and offered its ser.
vices as an organization. Gov. Blair caused
laugh by referring to the recent JEFF Davis
demonstration in the South. Mr.. Davis
thought the cause of the South was not lost.
The speaker had an impression that it was.
Perhaps Mr.. Davis thought he was the cause
and had found himself again. If so, it would
be better to lose the causel 1t was scarcely
probable that Michigan soldiers would again
be called upon to fight that cause, but If neees-
sary all the old soldiers would do so.
But the need of the services Of soldiers in
the future would not be in that direction.
Conflicts were coming. The country would
never he free from them. All good things had
to be fought for. Good government has to be
maintained by struggles. Blood was shed at
Chicago the other day. 1t was the same con-
fict that took place in the south. The speaker
did not think the matter would become serious
but these conflicts had the same foundation as
did the old struggle. 1t was the spirit of re-
sistance to law. 1t was a principle of this
government that nothing should be redressed
by blood or violence. The government was
our own and the people were responsible for
IL. They had the ballot and should remedy
their wrongs by it. He who sought to obtain
his end by violence-no matter how just his
demands-must fail.
"The Army Bean" gave Lieut.. Royal Ste
ems good opportunity, and he improved it by
making speech both witty and eloquent
'The Old First was Gen. Wicox's toast.
Els response was happy effort and abounded
in aneedote and "reminiscences. He paid fine
tribute to Mrs. Blair, who sat near him, and to
her untiring labors for the soldiers all through
the war. He proposed the election of Gov and
Mrs. Blair as honorary members. Mr.. O'Don7
neil put the question and it was carried
unanimously and with shout Gen. Wilcox
then related some more stories about the First
all in a taking vein, and in conclusion asked
that Blair-the greatest of the war governors
should never be forgotten.
Gen. Wilmington did not think it necessary
TO say much about 'Our First Battle" because
he did not believe the soldiers cared to hear the
story of that Bull Run affair. But he told lot
of good and pleasant things about the regiment
and its doings that Thoroughly pleased his
hearers
"The Old Canteen' was treated of by Daniel
Griffith, the engetic secretary of the regimental
association.
Several other toasts were given, and vocal
music was furnished by local male quartette.
AN OLD MANS CRIME.