The National tribune., 1886-09-23
KEYSTONE VETERANS.
Reunion OF the Northwestern Pennsylvania AssocI-
alton, GAR.

| NE y lON T. VETERANS.
Reunion OF the Northwestern Pennsylvania Assocl.
alton, GAR.
The second annual Reunion OF the North
western Pennsylvania Association, GAR, was
held in Meadville, Crawford Co, Sept. 10. 1886
This association is composed of the Ill Posts
located in the Is Counties making up the mort h.
western section Of the State. Over 30 of these
Posts were represented in the parade. which
occurred in the afternoon. These, with the
five Camps of Sons of Veterans and bands OF
music, made a grand procession of over zoo
men. Peitier Post, 33l, of Meadville. turned
out over 100 men. The largest visiting dele
cation was from Erie. This consisted of Post
%. $50 men aud fine brass band. and Post
| 4O4. az men and drum corps. These Posts were
accompanied by number of the Woman's Re-
lief Corps aud citizens. making up an excursion
train OF nine cars. gaily decorated with the
| National c0lOrs.
The exercises Of the dav began by the annual
business meeting of the Northwestern Associa-
ton at 1880 a. m. and called to order by Presi-
dent }. l.. Dunn, of Titusville. Prayer was
offered by Comrade &. T. Jack, of Sinesville.
Reports Of the various officers were read. After
protracted discussion, Oil City was selected
for the place of holding the meeting next year.
| Officers were then selected, as follows: Pres,
| Charles Miller. of franklin; S.V.-P, L. Rogers,
of Smethport; J. V.-P., John ID. Compton, of
Meadyiile; Treas. Geo. S. Shattuck. of Mead
vile; Chap, l. q. Pollard. OF Eyensburg
Surg, s. +. Chaplin, of Wattsburg. Executive
Committee, j. Bollard. of CoBneautville; J. x.
Caldwell, Daniel Fisher. John Il. Stevenson
and L. 0Flaherty, of Oil City.
| A communication was received from the Sons
OF Veterans. and il was resolved 10 invite this
organization aud also the Woman's Relief Corps
| 10 participate in future Reunions.
The parade took place at p. m. The resi-
| dences and business houses along the line of
march were handsomely decorated. In car
riage in the procession rode Maj. A. w. Green.
| formerly Medical Director of the Pennsylvania
Reserves. under Gen. Meade, and afterward As
sistant Surgeon General. dressed i'm the same
uniform that he wore in the Army of the Po-
| tomac. The parade was considerably inter-
| fered with just before its close by heavy
shower of rain, which caused general STAN
| pede for shelter. This also had the effect of
interfering with the outdoor speaking which
had been arranged for the afternoon; but as
neither Gen. Goblin, Department Commander.
or ex-Gov. Curtin, who had been announced to
speak, were present, the disappointment caused
by their absence was less felt. As IL was, the
day WAS spent in pleasant renewal Of old asso-
Citations In camp aud on battlefield.
Two large meetings were held in the even
| iRg. At the large Casino rink Mrs Mary A.
/ Wallace Of Bradford. ably presented the cause
OF the Womans Relief Corps, followed by other
speakers. The exercises We're varied with
brass aud field music, war songs, etc. A large
Campfire was being held at the same time at
Library Hall, where several hundred veterans
had gathered. This WAS sort of impromptu
affair. in charge of Mays Post 220 Of Franklin,
and WAS conducted in such way that every
body had good time. The old songs were
sung old jokes cracked and old stories told,
and so tho evening passed.
In addition to the Reunion of the North
western Association, r., there were several
regimental Reunions. The largest of these was
the 18th annual Reunion of the SD Pa This
was held in PeifIer Post Hall Sept 10 at 10 a. M.
and was largely attended. In the hall on
either side Of the chair stood the first and third
regimental flags, both of which were presented
10 the regiment at Halls Hill, Va. in 1871,
aud carried throughout the war. Such service
| did these honored relies Of war do that they
cannot now be unfurled from their stats for
fear Of their falling 10 pieces and it is said the
second flag of the regiment is not allowed to
be taken from the Adjuiant- Generals Office
In remembrance of departed comrades the flags
| were drRped in mourning
After an address Of welcome by the Mayor
| of the city, aud response by Capt. NJ V. Clifford
general discussion took place as 10 the project
| OF erecting monument To mark the position
| occupied by the SD at Gettysburg The
| old Colonel of the regiment ID. C. McCoy re-
ferring TO this, said: "The place occupied by
| the Third Brigade since the time of the battle
| has been claimed by other people | think
| you know the reason-because some people got
| down there about shutdown. where we had
| been from the first. ] think there need be no
dispute about the ground We occupied. We
| ought 10 raise a monument to mark the place.
and l believe we ought TO go there next year
| have our Reunion. and put the monument up
| ourselves. / think il is due the SD for
our own yindication, and for our own good
name. When we went out, and after we were
at Halls Hill, some pretty hard things We're
said in the newspapers. They were answered.
| i myself answered one, and / claimed then
what we ask now-we ask no record for the
regiment except what it would and did make
j think we ought 20 90 10 Gettysburg. have the
| Reunion. and put the monument on the ground
we occupied. will be glad 10 go To Gettys-
burg with you and have our Reunion"
Capt. M. V. Clifford, Of Co. A, spoke as fol-
lows:
Comrades: most heartily second the suvyes-
ton of our venerable Colonel. We do not claim
more than In due AS. and ! believe we have the
strength TO maintain rights. and that Is all we
want We did occupy the front line at Gettysburg
/ and we shall maintain that the line aud mark
ii Rs the line ON which fought and died.
Capt Brunette, of Co. b. asked 10 bc per-
mitted TO add word, aud said: "You who
read THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, / suppose by
this time are of the opinion that the SD
! L
A comradc-" So says Sickels"
Capt Bardette-' Yes, but Meade did not
say so. am ia favor of erecting q monument
in the center, and marking il AZ each corner
with a stone. What money We spend should
be spent on a good monument placed at the
center"
Gettysburg was selected as the place for
holding the next Reunion, aud July 2. Iss7.
the time. Col. ID. e. Mccoy was chosen Pres
ident. AT the evening meeting reference was
made in a touching manner TO the three com
rades who have died during the past year.
These were; Capt. n. l.. Terrill. of North
East; i. w. Bettes. OF Titusviile. aud John
Lillehridge. Similar Reunions were held by
members Of the l45th Pa, and Second u. s.
Cav.
w. r. Carter. Knoxville: The 9th Tenn. held
their first Reunion on the 18th inst at Turner's
Vile. aud the LIST Tenn. Cav will held their