The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-19
A BIG DAY AT PLAINFIELD
The Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the
SEVENTEEN Regiment Held There.
President IIarrison's Regiment Hospitality Re-
ceiyed by he Residents Of Plainfeld-
Speeches and Resolutions.

Yesterday was the biggest day Plainfield
has seen for q long time. made so because it
was honorsd as the place for holding the
eighteenth anniversary of the SEVENTEEN
Indiana Regimental Association, which.
aside from being the regiment of President
Harrison. has q record for high courage In
battle, for high discipline and character In
camp and in routlne service. 1t Is regi-
ment which every man of it Was proud Of
before it became more widely known as
the regiment of which Benjamin Harrison
was colonel
Yesterdays reunion was one of the most
notable in its action and attendance that
the Sevcntioth has enjoyed, and that is
saying a great deal for q regiment whose
annual gatherings have been SO largely at
tended.
The Vandaiia train from this city was
crowded, standing room being we'll taken.
for not only did the veterans of the
Seventeen go, but their wives, their sons
and daughters. who constitute the larger
part of the organization to-day. The train
from the west brought q large number.
and more came in their own carriages The
Indianapolis train was met at the Plain
field station by the veterans of the town
and the Reform Soho oil band. headed by
youth clad In stars and stripes and carry
ing the flag of the Union. 1t was useless
to hurry the old Seventh eth into
line. They had come to sec each
other, and band-shaking and inquiries
about health and families was more i'm
portant than President Smock's requests to
get into two ranks Finally the line
was formed, 120 wearing the badge of the
SEVENTEEN, and many It's complimentary
badge. printed on yellow ribbon. The line
of march was taken to the beautiful Meth
odist Church. which was soon filled, while
enough to make fair sized audience could
not get in. The residences on the street
from the station TO the church were tasteful
~ decorated In honor Of the occasion. and
many of them had the portraits of Presl-
dent III arrison surrounded by national col
ors, but not one of Mr.. Cleveland appeared.
THE MEETING CALLED TO ORDER.
Vice.president Smock called the associa-
tion to order. and spoke a few appropriate
words of greeting. followed by prayer by
Rev, NJ M. Hammond, of PIainfield. After
the singing of medley of war songs by
the Piainfield Quartet Miss Jessie Marker,
daughter, of Captain Marker, of
Plainfeld. delivered an address of
welcome which was model She
briefly touched upon the service of
the Seventieth. Its brilliant charge at
Resaca. and TO the honor it had In having
the remark that 1.-The latch-strlng of every
home Is on the outside FOR you; for If we
are not large city We arc a large earted
people," A hearty rOund OF applause fol-
lowed the lady as she retired. wee pres,.
response. You have hung out every
where" he said, that grand old emblem
for which We periled our lives-the stars
aud stripes. In all this large gathering of
veterans there Is not man who does not
honor, respect and love the old flag or old
glory 1t was their guiding star in the
dark days of the rebellion. 1t was the
pride of their hearts as they followed 1t
through the thickest of the fight. unfair
nished save by rebel shot and shell. 1t was
emblazOned with q halo of victory as they
cheered il through the streets of the Ma
tion's capital in the grand review of 1S65.
1t was baptized with the blood of our COM
rades who do not anewer this 'roll-calP to-
day." -
After abiding to the excellent personnel
of the SEVENTEEN, perfec ted through drill
and discipline. he said:
1t is with a feeling of just pride that we point
to the personnel OF this regiment; Its members
have been honored as no other regiment of In
diana has been. Its first colonel is to-day the
hOnored President OF this. the greatest nation on
first officers is the distinguished minister to Cal
cutta. and one of the brayest and best men that
ever trod Gods green earth; Many Others have
that they have ever proved themselves worthy
Of the utmost confidence.
Those that have grown up since the war know
1t only from history, while these brave veterans
know it from sad and costly experience. Every
man has history. and if il were written would
tell
"Of brave deeds done
OfRlOriOus victories won."
The speaker was frequently interrupted
with applause. Capt. J. L. Clelland acting
secretary In the absence of NJ. u. McLain
read the report of the last meeting and
letters from q few members vino could not
attend. This tho second meeting that
Mr.. Nolan has missed. He sent all the
boys happy greeting. Mrs. Morgan,
wife of the Indian Commissioner wrote
that nothing but the duties of his Office In
Washington could keep him from the re-
union. A telegram was received from a
number of members in Kansas and q reply
was ordered. In July Captain Smock
received letter from the President say in z
that it was impossible for him Ito meet
with the boys In August" but that he
hoped Ito be able to meet some or you"
when he returned from the opening of the
read from the Grand Army post in North
Manchester which entertained the
SEVENTEEN last year. One or the cards an
nouncing tho date of the meeting sent to
Alexander Inuor. L6aVenWOrtn, haD., was
returned with the Endorsement: Died
June /, 1892"
The following committees were an
nounced by the acting president:
On ResolutioDs-A. j. johnson. Richard
Hendricks, w. A. Mars, b. <. Askern, u.
A. Farr.
To Nominate Officers-Capta,n Mitchell,
c. Mcfarland, George Adams, +. /. Hart
man. Shelby Ssxton.
To Name Orator-Judge G. w. Grubbs.
Rev. M. NJ. Lawson. NJ. 4. Alexander. Geo.
w. Potts, w. III. II. Shank.
THE ANNUAL GRAFTON.
Rev. Nj. NJ. Lawson, of Lima, then deliv-
cred the annual grafton. He took for his
subject 1.-The Privileges and Favors of the
Survivors of the War" He held that much
of the progress which the world has made
during the past twenty five years Is due to
the victory which saved the Union. We
saw more and could enjoy more as intel
lectual beings in these years than Me-
thusnleh saw in q thousand years watch
ing sheep eat grass. Speaking of specific
acts showing progress, he mentioned the
pension law OF 1880, which put the worn
out veteran on equal terms with the one
who bore the scars of battle. He referred
to the President and the high honor he
psid the $50 members who were in Wash
ingt0n at the time of the inaugural.
A. H. Graham. superintendent of the
Soldiers Orphan Asy ium, made speech
full of hum0r and path0s. Comrade
Devices said that the iiags In the State
al. n.A H.. - H..