St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-28
A Guest Of George A. Bracket
at Orono Point, at Min
netonka.
Talks and Reminiscences--At
the Banquet--Croffut
Heard From.
Testimonial to Braekett--This
Years Officeps---Those
Who Attended.

tiiCI 1IICuuS, DIS Gllt guests VI O6OTS6e "A.
Bracket, yesterday, was most pleas
ant affair and was attended by some 400
people. The special train which carried
the party to the lake was made up of
seven coaches, and left the union depot
at 9:25 with every coach full. Arriving
at Wayzata the party boarded the
steamer City of st. Louis, furnished by
Gen. w. D. Washburn, and were taken
to Mr.. Brackets place at Orono Point.
The trip on the boat was very pleas
ant one, despite the chilly weather.
The Plummer post drum corps fur
nished music and there was some good
singing. Mrs. Charles Ames, (nee
Jessie!Bryant), ''the daughter of the regi-
ment," was present with her charming
little baby and her husband, and re-
ceived good deal of attention from
the old veterans. Gus. Plummer- and
Ed A. Stevens officiated as the badge
committee and supplied every one on
the boat with handsome silk badges.
Each of the veterans wore small silver
clover leaf, the Second corps badge,
suitably inscribed. on his breast.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
Reaching OrOno Point, the residence
of George A. Bracket. the party left
the boat. and the veterans went at once
to large tent which had been erected
a short distance from the house, where
the business session was held. Just be-
fore the meeting was called to order
photographer took a picture of the as
sembly. President Judge Lochren
called the meeting to order at noon with
a few chosen words. in which he thanked
Mr.. Bracket, on behalf of the associa
tion.- The report of the treasurer of the
organization showed that there was now
cash on hand amounting to S266.47. The
secretary read letters from various per-
sons who had been invited to attend the
meeting, but who had found it impos-
sible to be present. The following self
explanatory letter was read from
Charles Carlton Coffin, the Well-known
writer, who is now engaged in his
tory of the war, in which the position of
the First regiment of Bull Run will be
defined: 81 regret that l cannot be
present. as it would be especially en-
joyable because it was my privilege to
make the acquaintance of the officers of
your regiment early in the war, and be-
cause of the part it performed on the
field of Gettysburg. Possibly there
are other regiments just as brave.
but Providence which orders
human affairs so brought about
events that on the evening of the I'd of
July, 1868, you were able to render i'm
mortal service to your country. His
torians have generally regarded the re-
pulse of Pickett as the turning point
the high water mark of the Rebellion:
but careful study of the battle. espe-
al faI cSl
brought me to a different conclusion:
that the decisive moment was when the
First Minnesota went down the slope of
the ridge, and, by terrible sacrifice of
Understanding there like wall of ada
mant-rolled back Longstreet's troops
on their last assault, holding the ground
till the troops of the Sixth and Twelfth
corps arrived. In volume entitled
Marching to Victory, soon to be pub
lished. have endeavOred to set forth
the service rendered by the First Min
nesOta. and have regarded the repulse
of Pickett as the beginning of the ebb
tide of the Rebellion. The charge of
Pickett could have but one ending. 1t
was a foregone conclusion that it would
result in disaster to him. Not so the
attack of Longstreet the second day.
He hurled his brigadeS forward with
the utmost impetuosity, intending to
sweep all before him. He threw in every
regiment of his command. and had no
troops in reserve. He welded his heav-
lest blow at shutdown the evening of the
second day. His last aggressive stroke
fell on the First Minnesota, and when
his line came to standstill under YOUR
bullets. to my mind it was the high tide
of the RebelliOn-a great turning point
!, in human affairs.
A letter was read from W. A. Croft
fut. the well-known newspaper man,
and was received with applause.
FIGHTING OLD BATTLES.
Ex-Gov. Ramsey, in proposing that a
vote of thanks be rendered w. A. Croft
fut. for his highly interesting letter. was
treated with three rousing cheers and
and then called on for speech He
made very humorous address, in
which he paid high compliment to the
bravery of the old First regiment. He
referred in a jOcular way to the red
shirts which the men wore when they
started out. During the governors adj
dress he was frequently interrupted by
applause. which stopped the speaker for
the time being. Gov. Ramsey gave a
detailed history of the regiment and
cracked many joke at the expense of
the members.
Ia.
George A Bracket was here called in
and presented with set of resolutions.
These resolutions of thanks are printed
upon white satin and handsomely
mounted with plush mat of Nile
green, and bronze frame. The reso-
lutions read that thanks are returned.
not only because of the present splendid
entertainment, but because of his close
relations to the organization in the dark
est days of its history and the continued
love and friendship he has extended to
each and all of us since the war"
Signed: r. A. Plummer. Ed A. Stew
ems. F. ]. Meade. Appreciated the
compliment. He thanked the s'boys"
was always glad to be of service to the
organization as body or the individual
member.
A letter was read from Dogget post,
ofLitchfield. asking that the next meet
ing be held at that post, but action was
deferred.
AT DULUTH NEXT.
Red Wing was proposed as the place
next for the meeting by Mrs. Capt.
Messett. Col. ColviIle. the old colonel
of the regiment, put in plea for Du-
luth, the ''coming greatest city in the
Union," as he termed it. This invita-
UlOI WAS accepted WIFI applause. Inc
following officers were elected for the
ensuing year:
President-Cof. Colville Duluth
Vice President-Thomas Pressnell. Duluth
Secretary-H. Clay Whitney, Minneapolis.
Treasurer-James Canon, Mankato.
An adjournment was taken for din
ner. Tables had been laid in the small
grove adjoining the residence. and the
tent in which they were was made much
more pleasant by having had floor laid
in it. The dinner itself was good one,
consisting of beans cooked in army
stvle. coffee, brown bread, tongue,
sliced ham. lemonade. ice creamsand
cake. Everyone did full justice to the
meal the keen air having sharnened