Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-03
FELL On HIS NECK
Affecting Scene at the Sixth
Cavalry Reunion.
VETERANS TOGETHER AGAIN
Annual Business Meeting, Reunion and
Banquet OF the Sixth Michlgzn-is
Was . Joyous Occasion.

The sixth annual reunion OF the
Sixth Mlchigsn cavalry vAs held yes-
terdzy 81 Elks' hall On Soatn loniA
street. The hall WAS we'll filed, about
100 veterans with about one-naif -
many women relatives being present.
Before the business session began. an
hour wAs spent renewing old scqualnt-
suces and rsfghting every battle from
the time the Sixth left Grand Rapids
in 1852. under Col. George Gray and
Lisut.-Col. X. A. Alger until II wss
mustered out in 1865, after having
served through the brilliant campaigns
that made "Custsrs Michigan Cavalry
Brigade renowned IN the history OF
the great conflict
Gen. j. Ii. Kidd called the business
meeting TO order. and after Regimental
Bugler Thomas shaw Tad blown drill
CALL" Col. George q. Briggs OF the
Seventh Michigan regiment Was recog-
nlzed aud suggested brigade reunion
20 DO held on October 10, 1898, At Ian
sing. After some Discussion the matter
Mas referred to . committee composed
Of Mai. {. L. Storrs Of Muskegon, Capt.
A. I. Gould. city. and Capt. George w.
Crawford Of Big Rapids
Many Were Absent
During roll call. which followed, the
word dead" WAS almost rs frequently
answered a. "nere," showing that the
ranks were fast being thinned out.
During the call General Kidd read
letter announcing the death OF Chap
LAIN Greely, winch took place IN GIL
mont. New Hampshire, October 20.
Col. IL. +. Thompson WAS called for,
and as he took the chair Tommy
shaw. ia q few we'll chosen words, told
the Story of . charge on the Gettys-
burg battle field, when Col. Thompson
was so severely wounded, and as be
laid on the field he called for his
bugIer to stay with him. As the rebels
had captured Tome hat he took an old
silk handkerchief from Colonel Thomp-
sons then cap,Ain) body, and bound It
around ms head. After telling In
graphic words the story Of Company
AS awful charge against the "Black
Horse" cavalry, commanded by Gen.
~rsl Wade Hampton, and Captain
Tnompson's part IN the historic event,
he presented Colonel Thompson with
the old handkerchief, which had been
perforated with bullets which had
lodged 10 Colonel Thompson's body.
An Affecting scene
Colonel Thompson vas completely
overcome, and could scarcely respond.
After he had made q brief speech, he
fell upon the neck Of his old friend
Tommy and the two old friends draw
ing their chairs together, lived over
again that awful night on the battle
field.
General Kidd then told his story of
the charge that has made Company A
and Colonel Thompson famous. He
sara that for the record and glory of
that charge he would give all the So
called honor and glory ne had achieved
during the war.
The election of officers resulted IN
each of the old officers being uuanl-
niOusly reelected by reclamation.
They are "a follows:
President, General Kidd, Ionia.
Secretary. J. II. Dennis, Hssting.
Treasurer. L. j. Barnard, Ionla.
The committee appointed by the
char reported IN favor of holding the
next annual reunion at Lansing. Octo-
Der Is. The report was adopted.
The session was ended by song
from Conrade Fields. General Kidd
then ordered Bugler Shaw to blow the
retreat, but Shaw said he never had to
blow q retreat for the Sixth and didn't
know the notes.
The time between the business SEES
son and the banquet was taken up
with general soc abilities at the Eagle
hotel. About 200 persons sat down a.
the banquet
Geu. Russell A. Alger, POSTMASTER
fo- tac evening. raped for order and
Or. campbell Far invoked the divine
blessing. after which the menu was dis
Cussed.
roasts and R-spoDss~
When justice had been done the
spread General Alger said that 1t was
with pleasure that he met them all
again. He called on Tom Shaw, who
sounded "Boots and Saddles" ant ''To
Horse" General Alger then intro
duced bis honor, Mayor stuart.
The mayor congratulated the Sixth
on their record as soldiers
srd their ability "a citizens, and wei
coined them. General Alger. IN reply.
-sid. The members of the Sixth and
lts friends return TO you their thanks
for your kind words. !: was here in
this beautiful city that the sixth was
born. Many years ago the men you
see about you, Mr.. Mayor. were boys
wandering about the streets in blue;
believing that ths picnic begun here
would Dc continued during the war.
From the t.fne the regiment left tnis
city until IL returned home in its shat
tered condition. no regiment had ac-
Quilted itself with more honor than the
sixth. II you could Hsce the graves
of the 100 men Ne took out from
here, you would see that the greater
majority bad been mustered To the
other side. To all the aienbers Of the
s.xtn extend my heartfelt wish FOR
Their future prosperity"
Music and Speeches.
The Weber quartet sang "Hsrk the
Merry Drum" General Alg-r then
called on Gen. J. n. Kidd OK Iona,
Who responded 20 the toast, THE
Michigan Cavalry Brigfds at Cedar
trssx,' after which the quartet saug
'oh Happy Day"
r Colonel Thompson spoke briefly Of
the history OF the sixth esvslry and
Miss Bessie George recltsd "lTow Rsu-
ben Plays" A. this point General
ger vas obligss TO leave the hail aud
return O. Detroit
Col. Henry r. Thompson acted r.
and Judge Chssnplln re-
spsnded 90 The ladies' aud J. NJ.