The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-06-17
The Reunion.


one grand day-the second day. Quite a
number of old soldiers, however, arrived on
the first day, tents were pitched, headquarters
established, and avery pleasant campfire was
held in the evening.
Early on Friday morning the crowd began
literally to pour in, string of teams, their
course marked by vast cloud of dust, came
from all parts of the county until the woods
were full of them" The railroad was taxed
to its utmost capacity, extra trains being run
almost continuously, and all loaded to their
utmost capacity with the good people of our
county, bound to enjoy holiday and give
the old veterans cordial greeting. The
only lack about the railroad facilities was
want of coaches enough to accommodate the
people However, Supt. Ihling and his able
assistants managed to carry the great crowd
to and from their respective places of abode
without accident or serious delay.
Friday forenoon was occupied by the
"boys" in renewing old acquaintance, recount
ing tales of army life, ETC., while the crowd
amused itself in riding on the little streamer,
Florence L.. rowing, dancing in the spacious
hall, and in such other manner as its fancies
suggested.
After dinner-a most excellent one-at
the Peninsular House, Rev. DR. Hunting of
Kalamazoo, delivered a very fine address,
which only needed to be heard to be appre-
ciated. The Grafton was prefaced by the
singing of the following song written by the
DIR. for the occasion, the crowd joining in the
chorus.
Come Vets. OF old Van Buren,
Let us have little song,
With royal, ringing chorus
thousand voices strong,
And we'll sing the story
As we used to sing IL then
Some twenty years ago.
CHORUS:
Glory glory, hallelujah
Glory glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
God bless our native land.
Stir up the sleeping echoes
OF the forest and the lake,
With such peal of music
AS our voices used TO make,
And shout the chorus comrades,
As We used to shoutit then
Some twenty years ago.
Come Wolverines, assemble
You who fought with Custer, come,
just listen to the bugle
And the rattle of the drum
And rally for the roll call
As you used TO rally then
Some twenty years ago.
Just tell your boys the story
How We did il down below,
With Hudson and with Berridge,
How we battled with the foe.
Then sing the ringing pean
As We used to sing 1t then
Some twenty years ago.
In this our glad reunion
As wetake each others ha nd,
Well swear fresh allegiance
To our own our native land,
And sing the golden glory
AS we used to sing it then
Some twenty years ago.
And nowfor our battalion,
Here's rousing cheer my boys,
And tiger for our colonel,
May God multiply his joys.
Then sing as though you meant IL,
AS we used to sing 1t then
Some twenty years ago.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent
in much the same manner as the morning,
and in witnessing the fine dress-parade which
took place at four o'clock, in which nearly
, all the old soldiers who were present partici-
pated.
The following are the names of the officers
of the battalion elected to serve for the
ensuing year: X. w. Noyes of Paw Paw,
Col: Geo. Huff of Lawrence, Lieut.. Coll;
J. G. Heald of Hartford, Maj; j. Andrews of
Paw Paw. Surg; S. Smith of Bangor, Chap.
Among the many attractions on the
grounds, were the Hartford 5. q. V. Drum
Corps, under the management of Comrade
Murdick, good musicians and elegantly uni
formed the Lawrence Broom Brigade, a
company of young ladies from Lawrence, well
drilled and armed with that potent weapon,
the broom, and wearing neat and tasty
uniform of blue and white; company of
lads from the same place under command of
Comrade L. y. Sweet, dressed q la zouave;
the Lawrence Cornet Band which enlivened
the occasion by some good music, and
colored minstrel troupe which made its head
quarters on the steamer and added to the en-
ioyment of those who ventured upon the
broad bosom of the great deep by singing
their peculiarly melodious songs.
The arrangements made by Mr.. Scoville,
the proprietor of the grounds, for the comfort
of the great crowd were well nigh perfect.
Ample accommodations were afforded for
all, good meals were provided for those who
wanted them and at very reasonable price,
ice-cream, lemonade and peanut stands sup
piled out of door refreshments, and the shady
groves constituted O desirable place for those
who brought their own provisions to enjoy
family and neighborhood picnics. No wheels
of fortune or other gambling devices, and no
intoxicating liquors were allowed on the
grounds nor in the vicinity.
On Saturday morning, tents were struck
and the grounds vacated, the old "boys In
blue" returning to their homes well satisfied,
feeling that their ninth annual reunion had
been grand success and hoping that they
might be permitted to enjoy as good.a one
| in 1887.