The record-union., 1896-11-29
JOLLIFICATION MEETING.
The Army and Navy Republican League
Last Night
Comrades Meet Together and Fight
Their Battles Der Once
More.

A regular jollification meeting was
held by the members of the Army and
Navy League at Foresters' Hall last
might, partly to count noses, partly 10
rejoice over the result of the recent
election and partly to have a jolly
good time, smoke a few cigars, swal-
low little of the beverage that exhfl-
arates, and incidently talk over matters
that happened years ago when they
marched under "Old Glory" and helped
to win the battles of the nation.
Colonel George M. Mott, the Pres
ident, called the meeting to order, and
after explaining its purpose, introduced
Frank Miller as POSTMASTER for the oc-
casion.
Mr.. Miller was at his best, and In his
usually happy manner accepted the re-
sponsibility. He said that while the
boys We're getting a little old, yet they
were soldiers, still answered to rollcalls
and rustled for rations. During the
war it was not the usual thing to make
stump speeches after a battle, and
probably it should be SO yet. Then the
boys accepted what to-day held for
them, and thought little of the future.
The California soldier had a hard time
of it during the war-plenty of march
ing through Arizona, and he knew Of
no one better able to tell how it was
done than j. s. Jones.
Mr.. Jones responded with a couple OF
laughable experiences, showing how
practical politics was done in army cir
cles during the war. He was uproari-
ously applauded at the conclusion, af-
ter which Toastmaster Miller called
upon w. H. II. Wiley to tell something
about the army growler.'
Mr.. Wiley said he had heard consid-
erable about rushing the growler,"
but had not seen an army growler" for
years. In lieu of what he knew about
the chronic growler, he related an in
teresting incident showing how, during
ef<e struggle, he had been forced into
the enemy's country and under the en-
emy's flag. He closed with an allusion
to the Sacramento air ship, which
brought down the house.
Mr.. Miller next called upon Comrade
Bennett to give In his experience.
In the fall of 1861, Mr. Bennett said,
the First Michigan Regiment, of which
he was member, was put on the line
of the B. and o. Railroad. The men of
the regiment formed set of rules
making 1t death to any rooster that
crowed after midnight. The result was
that many roosters were brought in.
A good many of the old boys. Mr.. Ben
nett said, were like the ROSTERS
crowed too soon, but at this time they
had a right to crow-they crowed just
in time, and had a right to feel good
over the victory they had helped to win.
Mr.. Bennett here read wartime
poem, turning upon comic incident of
Missouri man who had lost leg at
the battle of Kenashaw Mountain, and
at the conclusion was applauded to the
echo
Captain E. L. Hawk warned his hear
ers with a tale of Major who unhap-
PLY took dinner with a Creole family,
at which the food made its appearance
in regular courses. The Major filled
up on soup under the impression that
there was nothing else, and then
bursted with the remaining dishes.
Captain Hawk recalled a speech
made by General Grant at the first bat
tie of Vicksburg. Grant rode before
the regiment after it had successfully
charged and captured gun, and when
called on for speech, said:
Boys, you've done we'll to-day, but
you'll have more of the same kind to-
morrow"
General Osterhaus. Commander Of the
division, was also present, and when
called on for a speech, said:
Veil, poys, you does so veil to-day
as tomorrow you licks dem rebels like
sauerkraut, ain'dt it?"
In response to the toast s'The Coun-
fersign," 0omrade 7. W. Sheehan said
the toast was one which in wartime
was really a question Of Importance,
though unlike the toastmaster he had
always kept straight enough to get in
at night without much difficulty.
Down in Maine, when the war broke
out, three regiments had been formed
of men from the lumber districts, who
had enlisted through pure patriotism,
and who wished to fight. They did
not Ike the irksomeness Of drill and
clamored to be sent to the front, threat
enlng to go home If their request was
refused. Explanations followed, and
they stayed on and growled But one