The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-08

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The One Hundred and Fourth Regiment.
The third annual reunion Of the l04th
Regiment Illinois Infantry was held at the
Armory Rink on Wednesday. Although the
banquet was set for one clock, many of the
veterans were at the hall early in the day
and spent the morning in conversation and
story telling.
At one o'clock the banquet was spread, and
the old soldiers, with their families, after
giving an hours attention to the repast,
composed themselves to listen to the tales Of
long ago.
Col. Hapeman called the veterans TO order.
and, after few we'll chosen remarks of con.
graduation and well wishing, babe Joseph
Lewis, the old regim entail bugler, sound the
reveille.
The "big talk''-it Was scarcely speech
Of the day was made by Capt. Collins, Of
Quincy, Who traced the course Of the regi-
ment from its departure from this city,
through all of its marches and battles, to the
end Of the campaign at Chattanooga. Their
first sight of the enemy was taken at Hop
kinsville, Ky, when a detachment of rebe
cavalry rode by them They looked so queer
that the pickets forgot to shoot until distance
made shooting useless. The first fight was
at Hartsville, where the regiment was forced
to surrender after bravely contested fight.
He was glad to know now that historians and
the confederates gave the regiment the credit
Of having stood up in line of battle as any
regiment from this State. He well appre.
ciated the feelings Of that brave officer (Col.
Hapeman) who threw his sword into the
Cumberland river rather than hand it to
rebel officer.
He spoke of the terrible privation and
hardships at the siege of Chattanooga, and
said that a meal like the one before him
would have sold for So 900, had the officers
of the army had the means to purchase it. The
system became 80 worn and infested with
scurvy that cup of vinegar was like the
nectar Of kings. He thought that Soldiers
Homes were an injustice to the soldier. The
placing of lunatics, imbeciles or MANNED and
crippled men together tended to m Ike them
morose and melancholy. He thought that
the soldier who was eligible TO the Soldiers
Home should be allowed the option Of re-
ceiving an annuity from the State equal to
the amount expended for one individuals
support at tn Home, and be allowed to live
at home in his own city or town. He closed
his remarks with sublimsly eloquent SEN
timent, homely 1t is true in its army phrase.
ology, in substance, that those who wore the
blue and lay in unnumbered and unnamed
graves on the battlefelds had crossed over
to the heavenly shore on the pontoon bridge
of patriotism and love Of country, and were
waiting for their brothers living to join them
on the shore.
F. A. Kendall sang the grand old war
song, ave shall meet, but we shall miss him;
there will be one vacant chair" in a rich,
powerful baritone, the veterans joining in
the chorus
Lieut. Fsivere moved a. resolution endorse
ing the sentiments Of Capt. Collins on the
question of Soldiers Homes, as the senti-
ments of the assembled veterans. II WAS
was adopted by unanimous vote.
Short talks were given by Messrs. Shay,
Bane, Snow, Smaley and Canard. and
many interesting stories aud "reminiscences
were related,
The veterans Of the regiment present
we're: Col. Hapeman, Major Widme-, Dr.
Dyer, Capt. Collins, Capt Howe, Of Tonica
Capt. Dewey, of Msrseilles; Lieut. Faivsre,
Chicago; Lieut. Sapp; and Privates l. War
rem, Leland; W Hoon and W NJ Jones, Grand |
Ridge; s W Burgess and A G Robinson
Tonca; j E wilkins and Geo. Rsnserger,
Troy Grove; Ed. Phillips, Roberts; W s
Hall, Chicago; Hall, East Lynn; r G
Doane and Lynn, Earl; McSmith and }
Fircht, Granville; Geo Taylor, Jehn Ford,
L Green, Chas Mackey. Fl Shay, William
Cooper, H Campbell and J Richardson,
Streator; B W Makeever, J Rinker. r J
Gage, R s Brent, O D Wslbridge, J M Cat
chell and w J Porter, Marseilles; A Hurin,
Seneca; R smalley, NJ J Lane, W Fl Con- a.,
ard, Ransom; o NJ Skeel, Sand wich; Wal
lace, Pontiac; n B Smith, Deer Park; s A !
Kiner, Otter Creek; f Billiard, Millbrook;
] Gillian, Radcliffe, Ia; Kohr, Frank
Meurer, Jos Burkhart. NJ Meleck and Hen
ry A Markell, Peru; George Pitzel, Buckley;
and Geo Lewis, Bane, d A Rumple, b
Baumgardner, Pickens, w X Knapp, P
Talto OF, E A Nattinger, J Baker, s Leland
and NJ kirkpatrick, Ottawa.
The banquet WAS furnished BY the ladies
Of the Second NJ L Church.
Rum, manism and Rebellion,
Bigotry and intolerance are so deeply