The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-15
The Persimmon Bri~ade.


The famous Persimmon Brigade by which
title the acknowledgements fifteenth, One
hundred -huLdred-and-
Seventeenth and Observation-Disclosures
eenth Indiana Regiments are known, held
its reunion, or series of reunions, yesterday
in and about the courthouse. over nun
bred members of the brigade participated
in the various meetings. The several regi-
ments held separate meetings ard the bril-
gade a business session in the afternoon.
Supper was served at Mansur Hall by the
resident ladies and in the evening a grand
campfire was held in Room Of the SUI
perior Court.
The Persimmon Brigade was recruited by
Governor Morton as the result of an appeal
made by the President to the Governors of
the States in 1868, Indiana being the only
State that responded to the CALL OF the
four regiments, the Northumberland
teenth was the only force that was sent
South for duty during the war, being sta
toned for a time at Fort Dearborn Mich.
The brigade saw its hardest service in Ken
lucky and Tennessee and was the chief in
strument in raising the siege of Knoxville
late in the fall Of 1863 While stationed in
eastern Tennessee the brigade lived princi-
pally on persimmons for nearly three
months, whence it's name. Some effort has
been made to change this name, but Com
rade Harrison hit upon a popular vein in
the evening at the campfire when he said
that If q mans name was Smith until after
he was fifty years old he was likely to be
called Smith until the end of the road. The
ladies recognized the name of persimmon
by presenting the boys with little punches
OF green perSlmmonS, and at the SumptuouS
supper they served at Mansur Hall they
gave the brigade a banner in the shape of
Ghipin which ApQnrq or he
fruit.
AT the business meeting of the brigade
the following officers were elected: Presi-
and-eighteenth, of Indianapolis; secretary
and treasurer (for the seventh consecutive
term), j. G. Cassel, of the One-hundred-
and-seventeenth, of Indianapolis; chaplain.
Rev. j. A. Nugent, of the One-hundred-
and-sixteenth, of Danville, Ind; historian,
II. 5. Denny, of Westfield, reelected. 1t
was decided to hold the next meeting on
Wednesday of fair week at Indianapolis
a year hence, and renewed endeavors were
decided upon to celebrate the history of
the brigade. The list of the dead reported
for the past year included John M. Farris,
of Bloomington, ILL.,; Joseph Winston, of IN
dianapolis and William A. Demos, of Ken
The dred~and-ffteenth regiment
elected Z. c. Clark, of Marshall, Ill, pres
ident; w. d. Edgemond, of Jeffersonville,
vice president, and r. E. Hawley, of Ac-
ton, secretary. The One-hundred- and-siX-
tenth Regiment elected e. A. Booman, of
Newport, president and j. NJ Cassel, of
Indianapolis secretary and treasurer. The
One observation-disclosures elected Alon-
70 Murphy, of Greensburg, president, and
j. G. Rea, of Eminence, secretary and
treasurer. The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Eighteenth
elected j. w Giltner, of Mount Aetna, pres
dent, and w. w. Robbins, of Indianapo-
lis, secretary and treasurer. This regiment
had only twelve members present out of
over three hundred survivors, who are
scattered all over the world.
The campfire in the evening was a nota-
BILE one. The courtroom was crowded, and,
though the tpmDpTature not the
audience remained and listened to a per-
Torrance of unusual excellence. The mu-
sic was elaborate, there being a piano
and other musical instruments and a num-
Der of lady vocalists. Addresses were made
by ]. W. Writ, the retiring president of
the brigade: Rev. r. E. Hawley, Comrade
Harrison. Captain Robert s; Denny. Major
| II. B. Sayler and others. w. w. Robbins
gave recitation that was much enjoyed,
and among those who sang were Mrs.
! Freijs and Comrade Nuby. "A letter from
| General Wilcox. the old brigade command
er, who now lives in Fall River, Mass, was
read. The general regretted his inability to
attend.