The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-14
A REUNION OF CAVALRYMEN.
A Regiment of Famous Fighters Gather
to Recall Their War Experiences.
"reminiscences Related at the Campfire Last
Evening, of the Surviving Veterans
of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry.

The fourth annual reunion of the Fifth In
diana Cavalry at Eneishs Hotel, yesterday,
brought togther about one hundred of the sur
vivors of this notable regiment. Col 7. Fl. But.
Ter, the president of the regimental association,
sent letter regretting his inability to be pres
emit, and in his absence the meeting was presided
over by Captain n. G. Jeffries, of Chester, Ind.
The roll was called by companies and revealed
the fact that in the past year quite number OF
the members of the regiment had died. Numer-
Gus letters were read from absent Ones who,
separated by great distance were unable to
attend the reunion. Among those present were
| Maj. c. H. Thompson, Minneapolis; Maj. Mel
Ell. Soper st. Joseph, Mo-; Maj. John s. Lyle,
| Richmond, Ind; A G. Fredricks, Liberty;
Howard Osgood, Gosport j. W. Wishard,
| Greenwood; G. c. Hiatt Portland; @. B. Bow
man, Vanderburg. Mo-; W. N. Pike, Vandalia,
H.; T. W. Hill, Frankfort Abraham Saurs,
Cambridge City; W. w. Angel, Button; Bar
nabus Hopper, Lockport, H.; Fred Weimer and
Henry OHarra, Martinsvile; W. A. Harbert
Macon, ILL.,. J. e. Chittendon, Centerville; r.
M. Meek, Philadelphia; T. o. Watterson, Ell
dora, Kan; Samuel Ross, Logansport, and
Lieut.. ]. A. Mccullough. Great Bend, Kan.
The Fifth Cavalry made very commendabe
record during the war. 1t was organized in In
dianapolis, in August, 1862 with Felix Graham
colonel, and John w. Woody lieutenant colonel,
afterward promoted to brigadier-general. Dur
ing the fall of 1862 the regiment was stationed at
different points along the Ohio river, with the
exceptions of companies F and G., which were
early in the sent into the heart of Ken
lucky to act as home guards It was this regi-
ment that headed off John Morgan while on his
famous raid. and captured him at or near Buff
6ngton's barn, Ohio. on Aug. 49, 1868. After
the regiment had captured him it marched over
the mountains of Kentucky, and was the
first Union regiment in Knoxville. It was
in all the battles in and around Knoxville,
including Rean Station, Brownsville alkers
Ferry, Rutlidge Rodgersville In the spring of
1864 they joined Sherman at Tunnell Hills, Ca,
and were in active duty through the whole of
the campaign to Atlanta. On the 9th of July
1864, they went with Gen. George H. Stoneman
on his ill-planned expedition to the rear of At
lanta, in which, after a hard days fighting they
were surrounded by General Judson and sent to
Andersonville prison, where they remained
seven months. The regiment went into service
with thirteen hundred men, and when it was
mustered out in June, 1865. but five hundred
and fifty remained. The regimen: was COM
posed of the largest men in the service, their
average weight having been 165 pounds.
The officers of the association elected for the
ensuing year are:
President and Treasurer-Maj. Joseph r.
Haugh, Indianapolis.
acknowledgement D. W. Patty, Sheridan,
Ind.
Not less than two hundred people attended
the campfire last night Capt. Reuben A.
Riley, of Greenfield. father of j. w. Riley. the
Hooser poet, the first speaker, and said
many very interesting things in an eloquent
way. He organized the first cavalry company
the State sent out, but was deprived of the prvi-
lege of going TO the front himself by being de-
tailed to remain at home and watch the move
ments Of the Knights of the Golden Circle and
he claimed the honor of having the first of those
persons convicted.
Captain w. G. Jeffries made short speech
relative to pension matters, in which he opposed
the private pension bills, because it tended to
give the man with political influence the ad-
vantage over the man without it. The soldiers
hold the balance of power, and yet they allow
themselves to be pulled about by the politicians.
He wanted them TO vote their honest sentiments.
There were short addresses by Sergeant Miller
j. A Mccullough, j. S. Chittenden, J. B. Haugh
ID. w. Patty and number of others, each of
whom related interesting "reminiscences con-
nected with their prison experience
Miss Lille Butler daughter of Col. T. K But
ler who was at the last reunion made daughter
of the regiment was expected to have read
paper giving account of her fathers escape
from Andersonville, but she was unable to be
present
There will be business meeting of the regi-
ment this morning. when a vice president will
be reported from each company and the time
and place of next meeting will be agreed upon.