The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-28
THEY HANDLED BIC Guns
Survivors of the Pennsylvania Second
Heavy Artillery Meet.
THEIR NINTH ANNUAL REUNION
Over 200 Ia Attendance Election OF
Officers Camp Fire Last Nisht-Nistt
OF Veterans 10 Mines ani Steel
MilIs-Tu loucsdals Today.

The ninth annual reunion OF the sur
vivors' association of the Second fehh
sylvania Heavy artillery, One Hundred
and Twelfth regiment, began yesterday
morning In the hall OF Lieutenant Ezra
:. Griffin post, No. lS9. Grand Army ot
the Republic. ON Lackawanna avenue.
The morning was spent enrolllhs the
visitors and their wives as they ar
rived, and the afternoon was devoted
TO business. In the evening camp
fire was held. After the meeting IN the
afternoon adjourned the members
boarded special cars at l.ackawahna
and Wyoming avenues ana had the
pleasure of trip over t3e lines OF tne
Traction company to points OF interest,"
in the city. Many of the veterans ana
their wives went down the Pine Brook
shaft and saw the mines, Others went
to the steel mills. Today will be spent
at Honesdale, the train leaving the
Delaware and Hudson station at $40
this morning.
The Survivors association has a
membership Of about 500. and large
majority of them are attending the
ninth reunion. 1t is by far the most
successful that has been held since the
organization. excepting the one held u
few years ago in Philadelphia. The
veterans are enthusiastically prepared
to grant that Scranton is busting
city and without superior and few
peers in the spirit OF hospitality.
The rallying cry sent out to all the
comrades prior to the present reunion
was: Boys. we are growing old: soon
all will be called to the eternal camp
ing ground. Many of us will not be
here when the next reunion call is
sounded. Don't neglect this oppor-
tunity to NEE, old comrades in arms at
Scranton. Possibly never again will
the chance be as favorable"
The Regiments brilliant Record.
The Second artillery was organized
at Philadelphia Dec. II. 1851 and after
camping at Camden, N. j., and garri-
soning Fort Delaware until the spring
of 1862. II was called to Washington, ID.
c.. where it built impregnable forts and
did garrison duty until 1864. 1t is
third in rank in the highest number of
its enlistment killed. wounded and
taken prisoners of any regiment of the
state in the civil war.
The number of men who enlisted
originally was about 400 in excess of
the number desired, and these mustered
themselves separately into Provision
al regiment that Joined the Army OF
the Potomac and took part in all en-
gagements, including Culpepper, the
wilderness, Spottsylvania. North An
ma. Bethesda Church. Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Mine Explosion at Peters
burg. and Weldon Railroad. In these
battles the Professionals lost 1000 men
and returned to the Old Second in Sep
tember.
The Provisional regiment. or the 400
that was left of II, united with the old
guard and they participated together in
the final battles in April. 1865. After
serving over nine months In the Freed
mans bureau they were ordered out for
bivonac at City Point Va, Jan. 20,
1866, receiving a final discharge at
Camp Cadwallader, Philadelphia, Feb.
s, following There were twelve bat
teries. A, 3, C, D. E, F, G, II, I, X, L.
and M.
Officers for Next Year.
In the afternoon short business ses-
sion relating TO the finances of the as
sociation was held and then the cleo
tion Of officers for the ensuing year
was proceeded with. 1t resulted as fol-
lows: President, l.. II. Wint, of Scran-
ton; first vice-president, Harry Cor
nish. of Philadelphia; second vice-presi-
dent, W. II. Gibson, Of Watsontown;
third vice-president, Richard j. Eg-
I.
w Ward, Of Philadelphia; correspond
ing secretaries. Lew G. Fosnot, of Wat
sontown: Seth Bower, Of Milton; G.
Wise, of Lancaster; treasurer, Samuel
s. Wint, Of Scranton.
The next reunion, the tenth, will be
held in Philadelphia: the date Of which
will be decided upon by the executive
committee, which consists OF two MEM
bers from each battery. The badge that
has heretofore been worn Is a red rib
bon, and that has been laid aside here
after the badge will be metal and can
be worn on the coat lapel at all times
the same as the Grand Army veterans
wear theirs. After giving n vote Of
thanks to Griffin Post, the reunion ad-
journed to take possession OF the troll
ley cars In waiting on the avenue.
The camp fire In the evening was
called to order by President Writ. He
introduced Captain Fred J. Amsden, of
Griffin post, and the speaker responded
with an address Of welcome on be-
half Of the veterans Of Scranton. He
testified to the bravery and heroism Of
the members Of the Second Artillery.
Retiring President IIonorcd.
Lieutenant Porterfeld. Of Philade1-
phia, was listened to with rapt atten-
ton for a short time. He treated his
hearers to an eloquent and most inter-
esting recital of the arduous duties OF
the artillerymen that were garrisoned
at the national capital during the try
Ing days Of the rebellion.
Lieutenant Gramlich. OF Philadelphia,
was next introduced. and ne led his re-
marks up to presentation speech on
behalf Of the members Of the Second
Artillery, who wished to show their es-
teen and regard for the retiring presl-
dent, william II. Berger. OF Philadel-
phia. Lieutenant Gramlich presented
q gold association badge to Mr. Berger,
and that gentleman accepted II with
words Of deep gratitude.
Letters Of regret were read from
prominent members OF the Artillery as
sociation. Fl. +. Paine, OF this city,
made a brief address and wound up by
reading an amusing poem, entitled
''The Copperhead." Comrade w. l..
Baker, of WatsontOwn, was the next
speaker. He is very humorous and kept
his audience In roars of laughter.
Others spoke and among the con-
Guiding numbers was the rendition of
the song "The Ship I Love-" by M. ].
C0yne. the well-knOwn Scranton vocal
list. His voice was charming and his
clear, sweet notes won long continued
applause.