The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-10-20
SIXTEENTH MICHIGAN.
A Reunion and Banquet That Showed
the Grand Fraternal Soldier Feeling.

Or men whose forms and faces SHOW
That they have stood the battles shocks,
and felt their share OF Times hard knocks'
Why does the music swelling nigh
Make these old veterans start and sghf
at means that on Owosso's streets,
Once more this band OF veterans meet,
Who, when the tide OF battle ran
Marched in the Sixteenth Michigan,
And rallied round the flag they loved
Ready to die or shed their blood.
II means that cen in times of peace,
The love of comrades does not cease"
That the love of comrades does not cease
was shown Wednesday in Owosso on the
occasion of the thirteenth reunion of the
18th Michigan Infantry. About 100 of the
comrades were present at the opening ses-
sion held in Quackenbush Post G. A. r.
hall in the forenoon. The afternoon saw a
much larger crowd present
The officers elected for 1914 were: Presi-
dent, Commissioner of the State Land Office
John G. Berry, of Lansing; vice president,
John Cameron, of Bay City; secretary, and
treasurer, A. M. Apted, of Grand Rapids;
executive committee, the officers and John
Weller, of Bay City; Sergeant Drakey, of
Ann Arbor. By unanimous vote Ann
Arbor was chosen as the next place of meet
ing, the time to be fixed by the executive
committee.
The banquet held in the evening
was served in the banquet room of the
Congregational church by the ladies of the
Woman's Relief Corps of this city. Over
REQ persons sat down to as well a prepared
meal as was ever given in Owosso. The
visiting veterans pronounced it the best
ever served at Sixteenth's reunion. The
menu cards were exceedingly pretty, but
were unnecessary for ordering as every
ching one could wish for was right at hand.
The literary program although consisting
of impromptu speeches would have done
justice to pre-arranged programme. Cap
tain Kent acted as POSTMASTER and in the
absence of the Mayor, called on Capt. NJ. G.
Dawes who welcomed the soldiers and hoped
they might many times again visit the city.
The people had done their best to entertain
them and hoped they had succeeded. Cap
tain Kent responded expressing the thanks
of the members for the entertainment.
Secretary A. M. Apted read letters from
number of the members who were unable to
attend. George P. Sidman, of Baltimore,
Md, wrote that he had enlisted in Owosso
in 1861. Had returned to Owosso on fur
lengh on crutches, with three rebel bullets
in his body, and in 1865 had again returned
10 this city. To again visit the beautiful
city was his great desire. For more than a
year he had been anticipating the meeting
and the renewal of ties of friendship which
could never be forgotten. But sickness had
prevented and he could only be ''with the
boys in spirit" Ellis Spear, of the goth
Maine, wrote that he had expected to meet
the members of the 10th Michigan at Owes
50 in the hope that he should find the ak
stolen by them from him in 1861 and find
out what became of the hot stove which
they had also carried away.
Col. z. B. Grahame, of Grand Rapids,
told of the work at Halls Hill. He stated
that many soldier had no other Alma
Mater than Halls Hill. There they
had gone to school and learned the fighting
methods which brought victory but had also
made the 10th Michigan rank eighth in the
grand Union army in the number of losses.
He liked the army reunions where the
ssboys" could ''pass the old chestnuts" and
'ttell whopper that was swallowed" The
Senngep generation did not care to hear 1t
and he wished that a book of the actions |
and deeds of the private soldier might be
written, that it could go down in history
He spoke of a visit from veteran who was |
on his way to the reunion at indianapolis |
Who called to return handkerchief and
aecltie, that were tied around his wounds In |
battle in 1858. The hour with the man had
been one, of more pleasure than any during
the year.
Mrs. John G. Berry, of Lansing, recited
IN very pathetic manner the story OF the
explanation of the talk of the one-legged
may to the one-armed Union soldier heard
hy the child.
Capt. l.. Hill spoke Of the ladies and no
man ever paid a finer tribute to their devo-
tion and duty during the war and since that |
time. He recited part Of Bayard Taylor's |
poem written about the wars Of England |
and Russia. He endorsed the sentiment |
Of Col. Grahame, that the deeds of the pri-
yate soldier should be told and written Of as |
. lesson for ages to come. The story of the
deeds of the private who shouldered the
musket. not for glory, but for the love of
duty, should be the history for the children.
He said that the name of president who |
would return the rebels flags would be In