Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-06-28
The Reunion at PIatteyille.

The Reunion at PIatteyille.
The citizens of Platteville were
aroused from their slumber on Thurs
day, the 21 inst, by heavy cannonading,
which Reminded them that the Soldiers
and Sailors of the Southwestern Wis
consin Veteran Association were to
meet in their city for the ninth annual
reunion. Every one was up and doing
in very short time and by nine o'clock
the streets were beginning to be filled
up with the soldiers and citizens of the
surrounding country and neighboring
towns, and they kept coming by the
carload and wagon load until noon the
next day, when there were at least
fifteen thousand people present. The
number of old veterans who had reg
istered at headquarters up TO two
o'clock p. m. of the second day, were
five hundred and sixty-five.
At o'clock p. M, of the first day. the
"Boys in Blue held their camp fire,
which was participated in by quite
number who gave their experience Of
army life, and sang the old army songs.
Among the principal speakers at the
campfire are, John Lane, of Lancas-
ter; j. r Smoker, of Dodgeville, and
A. l.. Brown, of Platteville, The song
of 1.-The Army Bean" by one of the
boys, was rendered in an eXcellant
manner and "'Tcnting Tonight on the
Old Camp Ground" by Hon. B. W.
Beebe, Of Broadhcad, was sauG il such
manner that il seemingly took the
boys back to The dark days Of Rebellion
and BushwhacLing.
Mrs. Craig, president of the
Womens' Relief Corps, Of Wisconsin,
being present, was called upon and
gave US a history Of what the Relief
Corps was doing in this and other
states. Ii is grand object and every
wife, daughter and mother of the old
veterans should unite with the Women's
Relief Corps, and assist in taking care,
in their declining years, of those who
wore the tblue, and are not able financi-
ally now to take care of themselves.
Music was furnished by the Dodge
vile Cornet Band, which was to say
the least ''just splendid" The Martial
Z
Music was also good, but it could not
be otherwise when Burt Sumner of
Hurricane, had the fife and Billy Will
son, of Harrison, was beating the drum.
The address OF welcome. by Prof.
Hutton, of the Normal School, was fine
as was also the response by Capt. A. r.
Bushnell,
The Grafton by Rev b. E. Wheeler
was tina best that it has ever been our
fortune to hear on such an occasion. Mr..
Wheeler held that vast audience spell
bound for thirty minutes, and when he
was through we heard more than one
say, 1T was the best we ever heard;
would not have missed hearing HIM for
all the world, ETC.
There was quite number disap-
pointed in not seeing the face of Gov.
Rusk, but while he was absent in body
we feel confident that he was with us in
thought and spirit.
Atty. General Estabrook and Insur.
ance Commissioner Phillip Cheek, were
present and each favored the boys with
a speech, which was well received. A
reunion of the old boys is not complete
unless Phil. Cheek can be present and
take hand and help it along
The Sons of Veterans Military Com
pany, composed of small boys from
Shullsburg, was one of the mort pleas
ant features of the reunion. Their
drilling exercises on the stand was
splendid and it would be very hard for
the ''old boys to beat them in keeping
step to the music. They are certainly
an honor to the village Of Shulsburg,
and every inhabtant in The place ought
to feel proud of that company.
At 4. p. m. on Friday the boys adj
journed from the Park to the City Hall
and held a meeting for the transaction
of business, but not being present we
are unable to give any of the proceed
ings except that they voted to have the
next reunion at Boscobel, sometime in
June, 1889.
The city was beautifully decorated.
A large flag, reaching nearly to the
ground, was suspended across the main
street, while numerous other flags. ban
ners, rolls of bunting, and the portraits
of all the leading generals We're dis
played from the business houses aud