Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-06-22
THE EIGHTH MICHIGAN.
Nearly One Hundred Of the Regiment
Prcsent-Many Visitors-Large Atteh-
dance at Camp Fire,


sth Michigan infantry met at St. Louis
10 celebrate their 10th annual reunion
The weather was fine, though hot, anu
members of the wandering regiment
as the sth was usually called, to the
number of nearly 100, came together
to renew old acquaintance and revive
recollections of the events OF genera
ton 400. The business places were
appropriately decorated with hags anu
bunting. .the boys" were given the
freedom of the city and made at home
The banquet of Wednesday was
hardly reminder of army llfe' there
being too great a profusion OF goou
things prepared by the W. v H. I.
and too conspicuous an absence OF
tainted meat and wormy bareback
The regular day meetings were not
of general interest, being devoted 10
bpsiness and to social intercourse. But
at the "camp fire" in Holcomo'S opera
house Thursday evening there was
large audience and good interest mani
tested.
The welcome address was made by
Mavor A. b. Darragh. His address,
though short, was to the point ana ap.
propriate 10 the occasion. lie spoke Oh
the pleasure it gave him to welcome 10
our city the boys who stood between us
and the enemy when our country was
in peril: also of the deeds OF yalor OF
the Sth Michigan on the fields OF Fort
ROYAL. James Island, Bull Rum Ante
tam. Fredericksburg, Knoxville ana
Petersburg-they who never nom
Sumpter to AppomatoX' allowed theT
battle hag to be trailed in the dust
He also spoke of the large number oil
men sent to the front (90,OOO in pro-
portion to our population, and in clos
inc. TO the results achieved by those
who fought for the union.
The response was by Ralph Ely the
namesake and grandson Of Col. Ralph
E'v.r He said that no man had a rlght
to pride of ancestry; that the only
reason for his being before them was IN
the fact that he was the grandson OF
veteran, and that he was proud that
his name was Ely. With true orator.
cal fire he paid an eloquent tribute to
the old soldier, and thanked the people
of St. Louis for their hearty welcome
The boys and girls of 81" was dis
cussed by Captain Geo. Newell. he
told several amusing stories, and to
illustrate how strongly obedience TO
orders was impressed on the minds OF
new recruits, one of Gratiot ranger
when placed on picket duty.
A recitation, The Wandering Regi-
ment." was given by Miss Mary 5.
Chamberlain, which heartily applauded
and an encore responded to-
DIR. S. r. Wooster then gave paper
OF "army life as surgeon. de de-
scribed a storm on the Atlantic the de-
struction of fleet and the suffering
and death of many on board; also
several other incidents of the war which
came within his experience.
Judge Chas. d. Long then gave an IN
teresting talk on the "duties OF the
government to the soldier. de began
with some complimentary remarks on
the ROYAL manner in which the people
Of St. Louis had received the Sth Mich
igan, and especially to the ladies for
the good dinner, which every old soldier
knows how to appreciate.
He paid a compliment to the Eighth
Michigan by story. Two brothers
were talking over their experiences IN
the war. when a child of one OF them,
overhearing the talk, broke in with
Papa, who helped you and Uncle jim
put down the rebellionY" The judge
SAID III ne ndu Dccu t-ohVN hS "N"i"
have replied, The Eighth Michigan.
He illustrated the pride of regiment by
another story He believed the re-
unions should be attended both as a
means of enjoyment for old comrades
and ac means of preserving the spirit
of patriotism in the minds Of the rising
generation.
When he.deliyered the memorial adj
dress at Cairo, H., on the 30th of last
May, the southern soldiers expressed
themselves, that they were glad slavery
is wiped out. With them the love OF
state was greater than love of country.
War had been predicted by Daniel
WebsternHenry Clay had spoken for
his state of Kentucky; and Old Hickory
had givensSouth Carolina his ultima
hn