The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-12
REUNION
OF Prisoners of
War.
VETERANS OF '61
Recount Old Times and
Hear Of Later Conflict.

/
Ihere have been larger gatherings,
but none more enjoyable or interest.
ing to those who attended than the goth
annual reunion Of the New England
survivors Of southern prisons, held az
the Lincoln House yesterday afternoon
and evening.
IN connection with the usual story,
telling. there were new features shis
year, including the recital by Lieut
Col. Subway, a, veteran of the OWL
ana Cuban wars, who talked Interest,"
ingly Of the recent campaign.
Other speakers We're Richard FL.
Mooney, F. A. Easton, who gave a de-
scription of a visit to the old battle-
nelds In the south, and John r. Thayer.
Although not a veteran nor a survivor
OF southern prisons, Mr.. Thayer ocou-
pies a warm place in the hearts OF the
boys of 81, as was testified TO by the
ovation given him on his entrance 4,
the banquet hall.
One of the most pleasing features in
connection with the evenings entet-
talnment was furnished by Miss Allie
May Holtt of Lynn. who sang THE
ould plaid shawl I'VE old bows -
written expressly for Post &, G. A. r..
Lynn, Mass, Fiddle and T." and THE
vacant chair" Miss Hoitt is a young
woman of decidedly attractive person.
atty, and sings as though she appre-
clated the words she utters. She has
a full rich contralto voice. which de-
lights all who hear her.
Miss Ina e. Lyons presided at the
piano.
The annual meeting and election Of
officers of the society was held in the
Lincoln House parlors at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon. resulting in the choice
of these officers for the ensuing year:
President. G. M. Smith, Worcester; first
vice president, John Dorr, Providence;
second vice president, Samuel Alming-
ton. Holden; secretary and treasurer,
William Jubb, Shirley; chaplain Rev,
FIR. Martin Athol; executive commit
tee, A 5. Grafton, Worcester; T. H.
Mann, Fitchburg; James Clifford, Wor-
i cester.
After routine business had been tran
sacted. the meeting was given up to
general discussion, adjourning until 8
o'clock in the evening, when the party
| enjoyed an excellent banquet for
which Landlord Trowbridge was given
a vote of thanks
G. M. Smith OBLIGATED as postmaster,
and in conformity with the usual Gus
tom, opened the after dinner discussion
by calling the roll. Survivors of %
prisons answered the call all of the
New England states with the exception
of Rhode Island, being represented.
At mention of the name of Lieut.. Col.
! Shumway, a survivor of both the civil
and Cuban wars, the veterans rose to
/ their feet as man and made the cell
ing ring with their cheers. Lieut.. Col.
Shumway said he was pleased to be
with the gathering, but there had been
times during the year past when he
| thought it would not be his privilege.
He considered his fortune in being a
veteran of the war of 81, accounted Tor
his returning from Cuba in as good
| shape as he did.
Col Shumway said he believed no
soldier in the civil war less perhaps
those who suffered Imprisonment, suf-
fered as much as the men VINO went
through the Cuban war. Throughout
the last war there was mismanage-
ment in issuing rations; there was
food enough, but it was not placed
where the men could get at it.
Many veterans asked him why the
losses were so small in action as COM
pared with the war of '61, the answer
being that in the civil war the men
formed in solid line Of battle. while in
the late war the line of battle was in
reality but line of skirmishers. The
bullets flew thick enough, he never saw
them come thicker at any time in the
civil war, but the men We're deployed
as skirmishers and thus afforded poor
targets. He spoke of the man in
charge of the expedition as follows;
My opinion is that he was not in fit
physical condition to command, weigh
ing as he did $40 pounds and with
equity limb, that made it well nigh i'm
possible for him to walk it made il
impossible for him to command an
army with success"
George w. Hubbard, who has been
in Cuba more recently than any of
those present said he was glad to get
home. He has proof that satisfies him
that the Second Massachusetts regi-
ment was distributed all along the line
from Siboney to the extreme right of
the American line in front of Santiago
He has a high opinion of the work
done by the United States troops.
Congressnan-elect John r. Thayer
said the Cuban war was not for con-
quest or annexation, but ito free a
people. The matter of which was the
greater deed. the war of the rebellion
or the late war, he would leave for the
soldiers and sailors to settle among
themselves. He considers the republic
can never do too much for these men
who have come home enfeebled and
wrecks Oh the men liley were Out a rev
months previous. He remarked that
he thought if one corpulent general had
lost a proportionate amount of flesh, he
could get about quite we'll now Mr.
Thayer saidi IF there are any nor
responsible for the condition of affairs
they should be called upon to bear tina
responsibility. Our great government
is amply able to feed and clothe this
handful of men, but it. is hard to place
the fault. 1t was bungling job
Those present We're George w. Hub
bard. H. A. Johnson, James Clifford.
H. f. Hobart. S. L. Cole. p. ]. Court
ney. Martin MeCue. w. S. Bugbee,
Thomas J. Hastings, A. E. Stearns.
William Jubb, L. J. Goodell G. H.
Wilson, H. A. Rawson, p. w. Pew, G..
W. Mcclure. f. D. Mcclure, Isaac
Roath. Simon Blakelin. E. I. Dudley,
Alfred S. Roe, Charles NJ smith, A. $.
Grafton. r. H. Mooney. w. w. Scott.
James M. Odie Lieut.. Col. e. r.
Shumway. Mrs. E. r. Subway Mr..
and Mrs. Bert r. Livermore. Mrs. L. 7.
French, Mrs. Flora B. Boyd. John w.
Adams. Mr.. and Mrs. c. r. Henry,
Mrs Charles NJ Smith. Mrs. Lydia
Bigelow, C. f. Wood. A. W. Fairbanks,