The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-14
An Immense Crowd Gathers to DO Honor to
Brave Soldiers Who Went with Sher-
man from Atlanta TO the Sea.
Decorations, Procession and Exercises
That Stirred the Hearts of Veterans.
An Eloquent Address by Miss Mitchell aud
the Response of Gen. Harrison Thereto
Other Features ofan Enjoyable Reunion.
GREETINGS AT CLAYTON.
A Large Throng Gathered Within the VIII
lsge Precincts.

day for an outdoor celebration the best and
most inviting conditions. The men vho
marched ip southern campaigns, and courage
ousy fought on Southern fields under the COM
mand Of Gen. Bepj Harrison, had such keen
appreciation Of them that they claimed Prov!-
dencs had favored them In their reunion, the
most important in sense they had held since
the reglmeDtal association was formed. They
were to meet their old commander with the
highest national distinction surrounding him;
when heretofore he had been with them in re-
newing the ties of eomrsdeship the probabilities
only Of his attaining the greatest place in the
Nation were present But while poll
tics was eschewed on this occasion,
the comrades felt that much Of
the honor their beloved leader had gained was
reflected upon the association which be in turn
loved so we'll. 1t was this feeling that for weeks
has been drawing anticipation closer and closer
around the reunion Clayton. The good peo-
pie of that attractive little village twenty miles
from the city the vAndAlia route to the West,
have looked forward to this svent with the live
lest sense Of pleasure. They have pre-
tentious homes and imposing halls into
which to take visitors, but within the
village are beautiful groves the evidence OF
thrift, the charm Of country life, and, above
all, the warmth Of hospitality to make stay
there delightful. Clayton does not put airs,
nor IL she burdensome 10 her cordiality. What
her people do fer strangers is with free hand
aud kindly welcome with the latch-strinR out.
and il was in this spirit that they prepared to
receive yesterday, the survivors Of the Seventh
eth Indiana Regiment
This has become one OF the most distinguished
regiments that went from Indiana, Is its record
is one of the best and its
yearly reunions have been rigidly
| observed. Interest In thsm has never
bees allowed to lapse, as its comradeship has q
firm place IN the heart of every one whose name
| largely from the farms OF Hendricks, Johnson
and Marioh counties, with q considerable repre-
| feotation from this city. Benz. Harrison, with
only the com mission Of a second lieutenant, re-
erIited the regiment In less than month,
and during this time he was elected captain of
COMPANY A, his eomrnisson,Ani muster as suco
| bearing date of July %, 1862, but on Aug. z,
when the regiment Was completed and ready
ton, he became its colonel. Six
days later. on the 18th OF August it was ordered
South, and on the evening Of that day 10 reached
| Louisville. The next night Colonel Harrison
| and his men their way TO Bowling
| Green, and reaching that place he reported TO
| Colonel Bruce, thus giving the regiment the die.
tinction OF being the first In the field under the
call Of President Liueen of July, 1862 The
Irst engagement the regiment had with the
enemy, cavalry force. was the Both Of
| August, at Russellviile, when the rebels lost
many in killed and wounded, besides giving over
| 70 the Seventieth, by capture, forty horsee and
| large LOT Of small arms, saddles and ether
| property. IL remained 10 Kentucky and Ten
nessee until 1t hsesms part OF First Brigade.
| Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and then
| after leaving Wauhatchis, tt joined the army
engaged in the Atlanta campaign. and.from that
on the history of that event down TO the close
of the war is the history of
the REGIMENT; 1t bears npOp its
Cassville, New Hope Church. Lost Mountain,
/ KenesAw, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta,
Savannah and Bentonvils. The regiments
service extended through thirty.four months:
and, returning to indianapolis at the end of
| that time, the full number Of the regiment, in
| cludipg recruits, was reduced from ,34e by 43
| killed IN action, the same number OF deaths
from wounds, l94 wounded 10 action wounded
accidentally, five, and deaths from disease, l02;
total, 367. Fourteen years ago the regimental
association was formed and at the annual re-
| unions no one has been more prompt in attend
ance than General Harrison. He has been alb
| sent from only two three, and around
| him at each has centered much of the
| kindliness and good feeling that has kept
| alive the memorIes of the tine when they shared
together the fatigues, sufferings and dangers Of
| war Thus yesterday. IL was no unusual thing
| TO see the survivors of the Seyentieth In this
| city and vicinity gathering at the depot to take
the special train for Clayton. But 1t was un-
usual TO have so large o crowd OF friends joining
them there with like purpose. While a spe-
cial train TO convey the veterans and others TO
| the little village down the road had been
| cured, a crowd equally as large took an earlier
| train, but the special, Notwithstanding this had
twelve coaches filled. Among the carly arrivals
| were General and Mrs Harrison. their daughter,
Mrs. Mckee, and niece, Mrs. Dimmick. of Wash
ington, d. c., who has been guest of General
| and Mrs. Harrison for some weeks. The Gen.
erals appearance at the depot attracted the at
| tention of the peopls, many of whom personally
| greeted him. Shortly after o'clock the train
| was whirne away to CLAYTON, and In less than
| an hours ride that place was reached. Awaiting
At the station, and continuing far down
| the railroad track. was a throng of people who
| had come from all partsof Hendricks and John-
| son counties Their number had been increased
! by excursioDists coming from Terre Haute and
intervening points-that city Brazil, and Green
| castle being particularly represented. Thou
| sands bad driven across the country, and along
fences running up the cross streets were long
! lines Of vehicles, from the handsome family car
risge to the useful farm wagon. Up the main
| street a glance brought IN view groups swelling
| into crowds, and crowds increasing to masses OF
| people, from the aged to the babe In arms.
| AS the train stopped a cheer was given, and
the General stepping from the train,
| was greeted by 300 OF the old Ssventieth. drawn
UP in open order, waiting his arrival. carriaes'
| was In waiting for him, but he preferred, as he
| and escorted by Capt. w. G. Mitchell. OF Com
pany c. Democrat but an ardent admirer OK
| the General. he marched down the line. receiv-
inc the most cordial welcome from his comrades.
With Captain Mitchell, the General took his
| place at the head of the procession, which at
| once moved into the main street, with the South
port, Danvile and Clayton bands playing at in-
tervals. Up the long stretch Of the main village
| thoroughfare, wherever the eye turned 1t rested
| upon handsome decorations. The most humble
residence or modest shop had its red white and
blue emblems displayed in muslins. Litho-
| graphs of the General were in many windows,
| and around them were entwined wreaths
| or the national colors In this street the NOV
| ing crowds became denser as it packed the side
walks and went into the roadway. There was no
| walking with comfort. every step would bring
onto the heels of those in front or jostle him
| against the twos, threes or fours hurrying on to
keep in view of the head Of the line. Again,
every step seemed to reveal some new decora-
| tion In home or store. square away. at the
intersection of streets. we're two tall flag poles
opposite corners one Democratic mark and
the other Republican, the latter occupying the
| right eide as the procession approached it. On
each pole was q handsome flag, and hanging be-
tween them was one larger than either answer
ing 70 tho sharp September breeze. Here