The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-22
REGIMENT VETERANS
7hsy Hold Their Annual Reunion at
AnnaWoms,utt
PiRqCOK OF A SPLENDID DINNER
Then They Indusged In "Reminiscences OF
the Time when They Wore the Bius
and Marched Under Old Glory Incl
dents Of a Day OF Great Pleasure.


dents Of Day OF Great Pleasure.
Little need Is there to tell Of Pres ident
IA coln's famous call for $4,000 men.
when. In 1851. the land was rent in two
BY the first shock OF war;
Fsom out he length and breadth OF
thin fair land came the response OF as
many men aud more--ready TO lay down
their life Cor their country to conquer
and crush the dragon Of sedition.
Little Rhode Island responded her note
with the full answering chord, and in
that mouth OF April Thousands of her
best men left their Deacsful homes and
ocoupations for the scene of war.
The First regiment ana FIRST battery.
Rhode Island detached militia. number
ina 1900 men all told. were of the famous
Yesterday less than 200 men, all of
them gray with years mHrchou along
the little road from Drawnviile to An
naWomscutt Not to war, no, but TO
Roaiment aud First Battery Rhode Island
detachsd militia-Veteran association.
a Tby zen hundred ia '6l-less than 4OO
todA land the story OF he noble First
Regiment aud First Battery 10 told.
Then, uniformed anu equipped for bat
Gle, with the firm, springy step OF youth
they marchea ecross Exchange place TO
the train for Washington.
Yesterday the remnant OF that gallant
band Of 1900, clad Ia civilian dress. look
she cars FROM Exchange place to the Fall
River station.
Year by year." a. Gen. Walker said.
Has We meet at our reunion our num-
- liar aud Amall0r- and
always can we meet together" but
there u precious little that can dampen
the enthusiasm or W weigh down the spirits
OF the veterans OF the First regiment:
and although out OF tho dim chAnxeiul
mist Of tue past there came at times =
painful memory, or the Thought flashed
across them with startling vividness Of
hho depleted ranks OF the present, telling
IL own pathetic story, you could scarce
aand . more jolly and cougeuial set OF
men In the country than these l75 gath
orsd 1t Anuxw omscuGt yesterday.
They pokod fun AZ one anothers ana
carried on In way that made hours
seem like minutes. Heavy dignity and
convention were laid aside, and title and
position forgotten In the hearty pleasure
of old comrades united ouce more. Did
Shey tell sroricsf Well, II some mystic
Stes OF thirty years standing were not
explained mid rosrs Of laughter. aud old
hundreds, then you never had the
pleasure Of seeing several hundred such
men together
The Trip Down.
The members met at $50 n m. on Ex-
change place. at the Burnside monu-
,nent, the bronze figure OF him who
eomnanded them in 81. and took the
ears to the Fall River station. Here
several special coaches were ready fol
Them, anu at $50 the train started FOL
Drownville. The way down WAS soon
+ .ilel away, the veterans greeting ca,
other aud at once stsrting In for . jolly
Hello there, Ricel Going by without
epeaki r to Z mess mate? You weren't
70 nll-flrsd proud the night You brouaht
: nat sqlcaling pig tnto camp" And the
ma addressed loses his dignity and
Rrasps the hands of his comrades
A.,u iriends, who all enjoy hugely this
Hliusiou to some escapaae OF yore. only
known to them.
The March 10 the Rendezvous.
On arriving at DrownvilIe the regiment
was met by General William X. Walker
Adjutant-G General Charles II. Merrima n
formed the Hue, and headed by the Ma
tionAl baud of this city the march was
mile distant. Carriages conveyed those
not able or caring to walk. Captain Ben
Hall on his pretty mustang came Rallop-
lng MP to the train, after riding over from
the 6oldicrs' Home at Bristol.
Along the march the summer residents
had decorated their houses and lawns
with bunting aId nags In honor OF the
xeyiment's visit.
T.en With banners and flags flying and
20 the music of the same tunes they
marched to IN 81 the veterans swung in-
70 the park at AnnAwo nscutt. Here
they were received by General Walker,
General Olney Arnold ahd Hon. Henry
h 0etcAlf, whose guests they were, and
Gold TO make themselves at home. The
residences of these gentlemen were
thrown open 10 the veterans and the
freedom Of the place extended to them.
Il was delightful place for such an
outing. A cluster Of pretty homes
among a profusion OF shade trees; and
situafed on n slight bluff overlooking
the bay, aud you have an idea OF Anna
Womscutt. The houses all face the water
and along the shore extends high sea
wall. Here, In under the trees. the vete-
Yans rested aud enjoyed the cool. refresh
ing breeze from the bay uutil the dinner
was ready.
Almoss az SION as arriving the annual
business meeting WAS he'd on the broad
piazza of General Arnold's house, meath
thc shade of trees and adorned with pro-
fusion Of buntin g:draped about portrait
VI General A. X. Burnside.
The Business Meeting.
Gen. Walker as president OF the as
sociation callei the meeting to order.
Secretary George Edward Allen read the
records o; last years meeting at Westerly.
The report OF the executive commitie (,
aud that OF the treasurer were made. the
latter showing balance OF $l37 80 on
hand. The esection or officers Tor th- IN
suing year resulted as follows: Presiden !,
Captain Henry &. Card. Co. ! Of Bristol:
frst vice president, General Nelson Wall
Co. b: second vice president. Colonel j.
N. Potter. Co. e.; ~ ri vlcs president,
General Charles q. ID nai'. Co ID; fourth
v1cs pr sid~.t. j. B r.. Smith, Co. r;
9th Vice pres ident, Randa,. II. kicr, On. Il;
sixth vice preside &. B Il. Worsley, Bat
terry; Secretary, George Il sard Allen.
20. y: asSls ant secretary, Waldo L Slo
comb. o. X; treasurer, James :. iIud-
ron. Co ID; sur.eon, Charles III. BogmAn
n. d., Co. ID; rdjutsnt, Charles "A. Mer-
li,nan; chaplain, Rev. Augustus Wood
l.ur: ID. ID. Tue executive com