The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-22
RENEWING OLD TIES.
Reunions of Veterans Who Stood
Shoulder to Shoulder in the Dark
DAYS.

Adj't Allen II. Dougall, Fort Wayne.
Ind, writes: Eve see frequent mention OF
Reunions of regiments of the civil war in
your columns, and of the numbers OF the
survivors present. j desire to write you
about the Reunion OF the SSth Ind. which
was held at ST. Joe, Ind, Sept. 81, and to
say OF it that we had the largest attend
ance OF any regiment which has been re-
ported in your Columns. There were AZ
OF the old regiment present, and about 15C
visiting comrades. Many of the survivors
had their wives and families with them
and many had grandchildren also. About
dozen soldiers of the Spanish American
war also were present, most Of them being
sons of survivors of the regiment.
THE door of every house was open for the
veterans, and the ladies of the village
secured the use of the only vacant dwell
ing. where they served dinner and supper
to the veterans and their friends. The
entire lower floor was set with tables
which fairly groaned with good things.
st. Joe is the home of Lieut. Coll j.
Blair, Who was the first Captain of Co. II,
which were raised in the neighborhood
Co. a was also from Dekalb County.
There was so survivors of these two COM
panies present, and right royalty did
they receive the survivors when the Head
quarters train arrived with their oil Col
onel, c. +. Briant, of Huntington, Ind.
and their old Adiutant, Allan III. Dougall,
ment. A well-arranged program was car
ried out. In the daytime the meeting
was held in a grove around the house OF
Oliver II. Widney, OF Co. II, but when
night came not over one-haf could be
accommodated in the largest church in
town. but a glorious Campfire furnished a
fitting close to one OF the pleasantest and
most satisfactory Reunions OF the regi-
ment.
THE regiment is organized under the
old regimental organization; the ranking
officers present take charge, with the
officer OF each company present takes
charge. Time is always given in the pro-
gram for company Reunions. This ar
rangement has proved very satisfactory SO
Tar, and is one reason for the large attend
ance at Reunions. Survivors OF the regi-
ment are requested to address Adj't Allan
II. Dougall, Fort Wayne, Ind"
At the recent meeting OF the 26th Ill.
Association at Homer, VIM. II, Costly OF
Weldon was chosen Commander: James
Smith, OF Lexington, Vice Commander;
S. n. King, OF bloomington, Quarter
master, and w. z. Surrells, Chaplain:
S. b. Sag, r, of Homer, was appointed
Secretary OF the Association.
The 26th annual Reunion of the Associ-
alton of the 18th Pa. Cav. was held re-
Gently at Philadelphia. The following
officers were elected: Pres, Col. Charles
NJ. bettSt v. r.. oHlltH u SoZeHS, treas.
r. III. Smith; Sec, John F. Conway, and
Asst Sec, Charles II. Kirk. Col. Belts
acted as POSTMASTER. TOasts were re-
sponded to by Maj. Walter G. Wilson, II.
K. Weand, of Morristown; b. r. Shinn
Mayor of Greenleaf, Kan; Lieut.. William
NJ. Field, OF Wilmington; Smith ID. Cozens
and John F. Conway.
The 38th anniversary of the battle OIL
Fredericksburg was observed at Phila-
delpf1ia by the survivors of the Hath Pa.
list Pa. and the Pennsylvania Reserve
Association.
The members of the Hath Pa, who met
at Maennerchor Hall, also celebrated the
the speakers were Gen. G. II. T. Coils, Of
New York, who organized the regiment
and Gen. Huidekoper. These officers
were elected: Pres, Henry G. Kelly; First
V. p, Samuel n. Naylor; Adit, William
+. Hoffman; Cor. Sec, B. L. Myers; Treas,
A. c. Brown; Chap, Alexander W. Givin.
The Junior Association elected: Pres.
H. l.. Craven; V. p, II. X. Ward; Sec. and
Treas, w. w. HartZel; Chap, A. W.
Givin.
Among the speakers at the Reunion OF
the Reserves were COmrade Ashbridge
Capt. James Mccormick, Secretary of the
State Association; John c. Sayre, VIM.
Rowan Geo. b. Hawkes. and others.
The 121st Pa. held its Reunion at Ma
sonic Hall. There was good attendance
and number OF speeches were made by
the comrades.
very enjoyable evening was passed
by large number of old comrades at the
home OF Capt. Charles W. Wage in Brook
lyn, n. Y. at the commemoration of the
Saith anniversary OF his release from An
dersonviile Prison. Capt. Wage, who il
Andersonville held the position of Fifth
Sergeant of the Five Thousand, was g
member of Co. A, 47th n. Y, and was
shot through the right thigh at the dis
astrous battle of Olustee, Fla, Feb. 20
1864 He was sent from Tallahassee tc
Andersonville, and not exchanged Until
Dec. 10 of that year; he considers this
day one of the most important in his life,
and celebrates it every year. The large
attendance, and especially the speeches
made by Mai. II. A. Phillips, Serg't Phillip
Schaudt and Comrade George REM gave
ample proof OF the high regard in which
the Captain is held. Later in the evening
the comrades partook of sumptuOus
repast prepared by Mrs. Wage, and the
two grown-up sons were kept busy supply
ing the wants at the table. At the
Smoker after supper Capt. Wage gave a
vivid description of his life in Anderson