The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-20
REUNION OF OLD SOLDIERS.
The Veterans Have Two Enjoyable Days
of Their 0ld-Time Life in Camp.
The Closing Yesterday of the Encampment at
Castleton-The Mimic Battle Between
the Militia and the Old Veterans.

VIC AulAltl6 buO OuC V1U FCtCldHSs
| The old soldiers of Castleton will assuredly
repeat their reunion next year, for in spite of
the inauspicious opening attending their enter
prise, the second and last day. yesterday,
brought enough money into the treasury to pay
all expenses. At the gates Grand Army men
enjoyed the privilege of free admission, hence
the larger part of receipts from this source
| came from those who had no war record. This
gives fair idea of the attendance, when it is
shown that the gates alone yesterday yielded
about $3.50. There were over twenty-five hun
dred people on the ground, and although part
of the speech making programme failed on &C
| count of the non-appearance of speakers espe-
cially starred, the crowd found every means of
enjoyment that day in the woods affords.
Night before last hundred and fifty veterans
found in the supper call, tattoo taps and sleep
under tents reminder of the days when their
soldering was the genuine article. Before turn
ing in, campfire was held at which Coils. Sam
uel w. Merrill and James B, Black spoke of the
old times down South In the intervals quar-
tet from Nora and the Sheridan Cornet band
supplied popular and patriotic music. The band
ID WOTbu d COIHpllmeut. Lib lids pGEu OIEdNlLCN
but year, and its playing is good enough to
give promise OF excellent accomplishment in the
future. 1t is great improvement on the or
binary run of village bands.
When the morning came the usual camp regu-
latons were strictly carried out After break
fast the police details were made the guard
mounted and the sick call answered by every sol
der in camp. The last order afforded great
deal of amusement, as Surgeon Rocker, mind
ful of his rigorous morning sick inspections,
years ago, put the boys through their best PAGES.
Each one reported that he mad one or more of the
| ailments common TO camp life
WELL" crustily asked the surgeon, as he
thnmped 250 pound veteran in the stomach,
whats the matter with you?"
81 can't eat doctor Besides, I've got bad
feeling in my head"
Put out your tongue, blank you. There is
nothing the patter with you but COMPOUNDED
| laziness A dose of calomel will make you all
| right" and then to the next. Here again, are
you? You want to spend the last of your service
in the hospital, do youl There hasn't been a day
for the last six weeks when you have not been
whining for medicine. Come here again and Ill
recommend your discharge as loafer" So the
inspection went until each one had
received a tongue flashing. or sent to the
hospital After this, as usual, just as it was in
the old days of camp life, the officers lounged
about headquarters, while the privates stood
guard carried out other onerous duties.
By 10 o'clock, the brightness of the day and
the advance of visitors told that the reunion was
| to be success. The Light Infantry boys, for
the entertainment of the crowd, gave an exhibi-
ton drill, and, of course, acquitted themselves
in fine style. General Carnahan then addressed
the people, who gave him the most earnest at
tention and warmest applause. Appropriate to
hic ha of
| the time when soldering was not all fun, when
every resource of the nation in
men and means was put forth to
| conquer the most formidable rebellion of any
| age The speech making closed with patriotic
| remarks and anecdotes from Maj. George Spahr.
| Throughout the day. until the hour for the sham
battle. instrumental and vocal music otherwise
| filled in the time
| The mimic battle was the one attractive feat
ure of the whole programme. There not
many men engaged, but enough TO give each side
force of hundred aud twenty-five A dis
| tinction had to be made between the contending
| parties. one fought under imaginary stars
| and bars while the other bore the stars and
| stripes. The latter, with the Rice and Richard
son Zouaves and forty veterans sup
porting the Light Artillery, had possession
of rising ground while off to the south appeared
| the Light Infantry and another com
| pany OF veterans. Major Ross, with
Captains Negley and Davenport as his staff,
commanded, with DR.. John Oliver surgeon.
Canadian, with Major Spahr and Captain Hes
sing as staff officers, and DR.. Rocker as surgeon
! No better field for the maneuvering of small
| forces can be found than the one in which this
| fight was carried out. 1t permitted the specta-
| tors to see every movement from the extreme
| rights and lefts' The skirmishing began with
| Rices Zouaves, who were sent out to annoy the
| approaching Light Infantry, Directly following
the artillery lads let their guns boom and the
| fight was on in earnest. It was charge and
counter charge for three quarters Of an hoar.
The popping of rifles and roar of
of the real thing The veterans
| on both sides were then brought into action, and
| the way they went at it showed that none of
| their old tricks and enthusiasm had been for
/ gotten 1t bacame too hot for the boys on the
| hill. Their lines began to waver aud the bat
terymen to dismount their guns, preparatory to
| retreat. Ammunition had failed and there was
no hope for the Union side Across the field
Tutewilers ambulance, here, there and every
| where, was driven to gather in the wounded and
all the time the rebel forces were encroaching on
| the HILL Finally the last dash was made and
the hill taken, while the artillerymen, redtrous-
cred zouayes and old veterans retreated in good
order, until overtaken and captured by the
| successful troops. The finale of the
battle was accepted by nine-year-old urchin
| with intense disgust. Said he, turning con-
| temptuous look toward the field, II bet papa
| if that had been real battle the rebels would
not have taken the HILL"
With the fight the Castleton reunion closed
| and by 6 o'clock there not vestige of the
camp left to tell Of the two days enjoyment
Provost Marshal Smith reported excellent order
| during the whole time. He was not required to
make an arrest. aud bad to deal with only one
| drunken man. The reunion was an effort that
| promises great things for the next one.
| Special Trains to Bethany Park Oamp-Meeting on