The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-09-14

The command marched from the hall TO
the Windsor Hotel and passing through the
spacious doors Of the dining room, were
seated at table, the white cloth Of which
extended from the doors TO the rear Of the
long room.
When the reveille had been sounded by
Capt. Fuchs, Maj. Gibson said (among other
things:
at has been said that friendships formed
on the march and in the camp and field grow
stronger and closer with the years. 1t 10
those memories which do not fade which
bring about the reunions Of the old soldiers.
The scenes and circumstances which sur
rounded US, when we first met, have grown
dim during the lapse of a quarter Of centu-
ry, but they will never fade from our minds.
The OLD Fifty Third had its days Of glory
and triumph, but they cost the lives of ma
ny Of our comrades. BY their memory /
greet you today and welcome you as a sold
iers friend and fellow soldier"
When the association re-assembled at five
O'Clock, the committee on badges reported n
silver arrow-the arrow was the badge OF
the 18th Corps-and recommended that the
company letter, number Of regiment and
state be either stamped or engraved upon
the shaft. The recommendation was accept
ed and the secretary instructed to procure
the badges, using his best judgment.
On motion Of someone vote Of thanks was
rendered the Seth G Earl Post, G. A. r., for
the use of their hall and for the kindness 4
its members in decorating it, flags and bunt-
ing having been draped about the room in u
tasteful manner.
ta;n Nnrtnn IN rafarrinU m tha Iox,
took advantage of the chairs privilege OF
addressing the association without speaking
to question, to roast Maj. Gibson in o
most astonishing manner, laying the
blame Of the small attendance and the I'M
successful banquet entirely upon his should
ers. In his usual language he abused the
Major roundly, making the most disparag-
ing remarks at his command in speaking of
the arrangements and other matters over
which the Major exercised general supervis-
ion. lie then told, with his well known
usual modesty, how he would run things and
what an organizer he was when he felt so in
clined
Major Gibson answered Norton's TRADE
with few calm, sensible words, stat.
ing that he had not had the time to attend
to each detail himself and in consequence
some things had been overlooked. Those
who had promised to assist him had failed
him in the eleventh hour and he was not
seriously to blame for the mistakes Of the
day. His time belonged to La Sale county
and the county was exacting in its require
ments.
Then followed talk on the fight at Jack
son. Miss. when the regiment was so terri
bly, cut to pieces and where so many were
captured in that fatal charge up the bank Of
the Pearl river, between the river and the
high bluff, where the brigade vas left to the
mercy of the rebel bullets with retreat all
but cut off and no means at hand Of harm
ing hair on rebels head The fight was
graphically described by two Of the gentle.
men present, whose emotions, excited by the
memories of that terrible day, at times gave
their words a thrilling chord that seem
ed to carry the listener back to the trenches
and the grape and canister Of the days of
the camp and field.
The association then adjourned to train
of str eet cars, waiting on the track at the
corner of Main and Court streets, and were
taken over the route of the electric road +,