Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-25
HEROES OF TWO WARS.
Veterans of Americas Great Cam
paigns Meet in Pittsburg.
THE DUQUESNE GREY'S JUBILEE.
Talking Over the Jolly Celebration Of Its
Semi-CentenniaL
RECoLLECTIoNs OF OLD CAMPAIGNERs

uniform of the g. A. R., and showing from
beneath his soft turban, the wiry features
of brave old soldier. encircled with locks
fair pen picture of old Jack Longstaf, of
Kansas, who served his country during the
Mexican War, fought for the flag of liberty
in dozen of the biggest battles, and mus
tered in q second time as loyal American
to serve the North in its late struggle with
the South.
1t was in ex-Alderman j. s. Kennedy's
Office, on Grant street, that the old man sat;
his kindly countenances lighted up with
side sat the late Squire, another relic of
the veterans day. Both faces were study
for the observer as one reminiscence after
another passed between them, ever brimful
of the tenderest thoughts of more than half
q century. A round of hearty laughter, as
young and happy in its ring as that of any
7-year-old boy, followed every story and
every joke. There they were, well ripened
in the sixties, blissfully unconscious for the
time being of every worldly care. or pres
enoe, and buried mentally in the memories
of their long-gone boyhood. 1t was, indeed,
refreshing toget glimpse of these warriors;
the earliest members of the famous Du-
quesne Greys
Can't Forget the Greys' Reunion.
'T could not forget it if were to try, Z"
observed old man Longstaff, as he revived a
few reflections of the "Greys'" reunion in
II. 1t was then they were thinking of,
and devising an appropriate way to cele-
brate the semi-centennial OF their organiza-
| tion.
"It was great old crowd" he continued,
"a happy jubilee. The boys were out in
sang, and eat and drank. But. ah me! how
Judge, it would take whole year to even
think of the days we had, much less to relate
the occurrences that took place"
'Indeed you are right" remarked the
Squire. "All our little experiences at the
front and in camp did not happen in day
or two"
Longstaff then broke in with a story of
| Brigadier General Richard Drum, ex-Adiu-
tant General of the United States army.
When the Greys were first organized on
September 8, 1881, Dick Drum was one of
the first to join. He was only a
private, with little idea of ever
reaching the commission of Brigadier
General. He is retired now and wandering
at his ease in dreamy climes of California
and Colorado Back to that golden wedding
Of the Greys, just II years ago next oc-
| tober, did the sturdy pair of veterans go
again. Back to the hour in which they
gathered round the board to toast the health
of Dick Drum, and Sam Black; George
Brady who became Lieutenant Colonel of
the United States army and died out West
a few years ago; Captain William Troville,
who lead the company in the hottest battles
it had seen; Colonel Bob Anderson private
in the early days of Mexican trouble;
General Negley, now retired from army
service, and Major B. E. Leiper who
dropped before his company in the second
Kentucky regulars.
Glad Of Their Comrades' Success.
'It would be hard to get them all to-
gether again wouldn't it?" broke in the
Squire.
"Indeed, it would, Judge" remarked old
Longstaf. "They were all privates in their
day, and good ones, too. don't believe
that the boys were ever happier than they
were at the big blow, nearly II years ago,
singing the praises of the fellows that rose
tional service. It took me back to the
times we spent at the front and made me
think of how uncertain was the life that
bore us through.
SIT drew before me picture of Gains
Mills where Black fell like a hero, of
Fair Oaks where the noble Rippey achieved
q splendid victory, of Charlottesville,
Malvern Hill, Wilderness and Gettysburg,
not to mind the bitterness of the days we
spent in suffering from Vera Cruz to Pueblo
among the rattlesnakes and rebels of Mex
leo.
'It was enough to fill the heart of anv
man who went through as mnch as we did
with pain and sorrow; and yet tinge of
pleasantly when one remembers the fun we
used to have. Going away back to 1916 and
AT amt SO easy as lots of other things tell
you, Judge. And when people talk of
things that happened but few years ago,
why feel like telling them what well re-
member of the old days
Brave Men Who Didn't Fear Death.
'Those fellows who fought with US as
privates and tramped the Mexican ranches,
and then turned in to help the cause of the
Union were no chickens. can easily re-
member the verse We sang for them at the
reunion:
In the blank silence OF the narrow tomb.
The clay may rest which wrapped their human
But all unconquered by that silent doom,
The spirits OF their thoughts will walk the EARTH
'Still we wear the good old blue. How
many changes have taken place since we
met then? How many families are broken
up? Old comrade, the old time is lost in
the new. You don't hear of many soldiers
nowadays having to work In the dykes and
bitches of the plains without thing to eat
for days at a stretch. They were tough
times and I hope they won't come again."
marked Mr. Kennedy. "On1y it is pity
time should separate the boys that
loved each other SO much, How I'd like to
see them all together once again. Talking
of that reunions, don't you remember when
Captain Kennedy took up that beautiful
basket of flowers at the gathering of so,
and read the note that was tied on top? 1t
was from Mrs David Campbell, who sent
the tribute rs a token of regard for the
boys that were then living, and of reverence
for the comrades that had brayely fallen"
81 remember it well" said, Mr.. Long
staff. And then the Squire took down his
own history of the Duquesne Greys, shak-
ing off the dust that gathered on its covers,
and handed it to his friend and comrade for
perusaL After skipping through the pages
of the old book hurriedly, Jack said goodby
to the 'Judge" and said he had to 20 and
see Comrade Petrie before he left town.
He intended going to the encampment ut
Washington, but got sick on his way from
Kansas. "I'll start for home tonight,
Judge" said the old vet, a. Che left the
doorstep, waving the end of campaign
handkerchief in what will possibly be the
last farewell he will have q chance to say
to Comrade Kennedy of the Greya
AT ONE-THIRD PRICE.