The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-15
RECOGNIZING OLD TIMES
VETERANS OF '61-'65 CATTLE AGAIN
AROUND CAMP FIRES
Numerous Reunions of the Iaf7iann
Regiments Held Here Yesterday
Others Set for To-Day.

With the coming of state-fair week ap-
pear the old soldiers who take advantage
of the cheap railroad rates and the at
fractions here then TO hold their annual
regimental reunions. A number were held
yesterday and more will follow to-day.
The Seventh Regiment, Indiana Volun-
teers, held its twentieth annual reunion in
the College-avenue Baptist Church. BUSH
ness sessions being held morning and after
noon and the annual camp fire last night.
Yesterday was the thirty-sixth anniversary
of the day the regiment left Indianapolis
for its three years service and it was the
thirty-fifth anniversary of the battle of
South Mountain, in which the regiment was
engaged
The Seventh Regiment has a history of
which it may well be proud. 1t was the
first Indiana regiment to receive an order
to fire upon opposing troops. The order
was given by Colonel Ebenezer Dumont at
Phillip, w. Va. Colonel Dumont was the
ranking colonel Of three regiments, and as
such commanded the brigade which was
composed of the Seventh Indiana and the
Fourteenth and Sixth Ohio. The engage
ment was only a skirmish, but it was a
fight in which muskets were used 1t oc-
CURED June 8, 1861. In the three years
service the regiment was engaged in seven
teen battles up to Gettysburg. In this bat
tie there were many killed and wounded
in the Seventh After the battle of Gettys-
burg, from the battle of the Wilderness to
the fall of 1864 the regiment was in the
thickest Of the fighting all the time.
The only regimental officers who survive
are Major NJ. c. WEIGH, of Greensburg, and
Lieutenant Colonel w. C. Bentley, of Mar
tinsville. Major WEIGH was dubbed Thin
Rind'' during the war, and to this day
the members of the regiment call him by
that nickname 1t was given him on ac-
count of his spare figure and for the rea-
son that he was too good natured 10 resent
IT. 1t was said that he was too thin 10
stop bullet, and he was always well TO the
front in every engagement when the bullets
We're flying thickest Among other prom
inent persons who We're present yesterday
We're Colonel b. c. Shaw, who was one of
the first captains of the regiment when 1t
was mustered in for the three years; o.
Thomson. of Greensburg; Judge j. V. Had
ley, of Danville; Captain A. 3. Pattlson,
OF aurora; w. l.. Dunlap of Franklin;
Captain Benjamin Abrams, Of lndianapo-
lis, and Captain Il. A. Jeffery, of Franklin.
Company h, Captain JeffeTy, was organ
lied at Franklin, and many of the survi-
vors are still living in Johnson county.
They were well represented yesterday. This
company Was lookeu upon % lne mo- a
company or the regiment. 1t was known as
the singing, praying and lighting COM
pany. "A prominent character of the COM
pany who was in attendance yesterday is
John c. Henderson. He never missed a
battle from the time he was mustered in
until he was mustered out. He was in the
service over three years. He was quiet,
and his only comment. upon any battle or
engagement was made at SpottSylVania,
when the Seventh Regiment was dealing
death before it. He said: This looks like
nonsense, moving men down in this fash
ion.' He was serious in his opinion, but
he fired his musket just as often as any
other man.
At the opening of the reunion session
President II. c. Fisk presided. Colonel b.
G. Shaw was secretary, and his roll call
showed that about 100 veterans We're pres
ent. Il. H. Williams, of this city, delivered
sponded to by several of the visitors. At
the opening of the afternoon session John
A. Finch made short address. 1t was
decided to hold the next meeting in Au-
rora. A b. Pattison, of Aurora was elect
ed president for the ensuing year and
George {. Columbia was chosen secretary.
AT the camp fire last night addresses were
made by X. V. dinners, of Franklin; Cap
tain j. V. Hadley of Danville; Colonel
Major NJ c. WEIGH j. NJ Dunlap ID. r.
Lucas, Frank Gavin, John Robbins, w. r.
Jewell and r. A. Brown.
The reunion of the Fortieth Indiana, Col.
j. w. Blake, at the fair grounds, was fair
ly attended and was followed by a sumptu-
Gus dinner at fair grounds restaurant,
topped off with a load of Terre Haute
watermelons To-day the exercises will
close with q meeting in the Criminal Court
room, followed by campfire in the even
ing.