The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-22
Y E'TERANS
Of Fifteenth
Regiment
AGAIN IN BATTLE.
Annual Reunion Held in
Grand Army Hall.


The 18th Massachusetts Regiment
Association held its annual reunion
yesterday.
The business meeting was held in the
Board of Trade rooms. at which the fol-
lowing officers were elected for the EN-,
suing year
President, Warner r. Miller: vice
prpesident, f. J. Russell; secretary ana
treasurer E. A. Rice; chaFain, John
E. Pharmes; directors, T. ]. Hastings,
D. Nd. Earle, P F.. Murray, George w.
Mirick and w. S. Beaman
After the business meeting. banquet
furnished by the Ladies' Relief Corps.
was held in G. A r. Han on Pearl
street. President w. f. Miller pre-
sided at the repast. and called on the
members by company for short al
dresses after the tables were cleared
Gen. John w. knnball made a few
remarks about the new history of the
18th, which has just been completed.
telling of the work in preparing ii,
and of its accuracy.
From Company Il Mr. Lowell eN-
pressed his pleasure at being able to at,
tend the reunion, of his trip to Gettys>
burg, Antietam and Harper's Ferry
with the members of the association,
who went on the excursion to those
places last June. He told how the
sight of those battlefelds had brought
back to him floods of recollections or
how he had fired his gun for the first
time at Balls Bluff, just too soon for
the enemy, and how he finally escaped
capture by swimming the river.
Capt. Hastings of Co. D spoke of the
newly published history of the regi-
ment and the impossibility of a printed
story to give the personal recollections
of the men who had fought at Ante
tam, Gettysburg and Balls Bluff. The
10Th had been sadly decimated and af
ter Petersburg not more than 100 were
left to rally around the flag. Though
the 18th had seen the most of its ser
vice in the later battles Of the war, vet
it is not to the discredit of the early
battles. The monument to Col Ward
Is placed on the spot which saw the
high tide of Gettysburg, far in the
front, where he fell History says that
at Spottsyvania the 18th lost FULLY rs
per cent dead and wounded.
Col. Studley of Co. D spoke of the un-
certainty which played havoc with the
regiment at Balls Bluff, and of the
blame which has been laid upon Gen
Stone. Co. D was under the command
of Col. Ward, who took his orders from
Gen. Stone. This command was order
ed to cross the river, but a messenger
came up with orders revoking this one
which resulted in exposing the regi
ment to a terrific fire. Since it was
supposed that this message had come
from Gen. Stone, he was made to beal
the blame for the blunder. Had Col
Ward lived, the general would hav,
been relieved of much adverse critic
ism. Gen. Stone had no drop Of disloya
blood in his veins; he had the respec
of every regiment in his command saw
one, and that one was not the 10Th Mas
sachusetts. Why Col. Ward Joined hi
command to that of Col. Devens instead
of to Gen. Stone, has never been ex
planned. Had Col. Ward lived h,
might have suffered as unjustly a:
did Gen. Stone. The general told Col
Ward personally that he was satisfied
with him. The fact of Gen. Banks o.
Massachusetts taking Gen. Stone upor
his staff is enough to show that there
was nothing disloyal in Gen. Stone.
Luther Goddard, also of Company d
told how the men Of the 18th, while
prisoners in Richmond, gained the re
spect Of their enemies and had it said
of them by the Richmond papers thai
the best men of a bad lot were the 18th
Mass. He has never seen member
of the regiment under the influence OF
intoxicants at a reunion.
OF Company F. "Parson" Chadworth
said that few of the men realize the
honor of being a member Of the 18th
Massachusetts, and that the history
will help them to realize it. The mill
tary record of a comrade must not be
lost sight Of because he has lost in the
moral battle.
Leonard camp said he enjoyed the
reunions because he could there shake
hands with the men who touched his
elbow in the battle line and drank with
him from the same canteen.
Comrade Woodbury. of Co. E told
how, when wounded at Antietam, he
suffered from the bullets of his own
men as he lay helpless, but finally was
able to get behind large tree, where
he lay for two days and a night.
Col. Russell of Co. F spoke of this
reunion marking red-letter day In
the history of the association, as II
marked the completion of the history.
He suggested that durable monument
be placed on the spot where the 18th
stood at Antietam.
Capt. D. M. Earle of Co F said he
thought the history would prove dis
appointment, as it could not give what
was dearest to the men. lHe real MS
tory of the 18th regiment is in the
memories of the ones who fought.
When the regiment went into the fight
at SpottsyIvania there were 400 men;
there it lost 20 per cent, leaving 300.
OF these, 60 per cent were killed and
wounded at Antietam, and of the 100
left, 60 per cent more remained on the
field at Gettysburg.
Col Taft of Co. H told of his duty as
commander of the signal corps of the
southern division, and said that the
New Englanders stationed from Morris
Island to st. Augustine bore the south
ern climate well.
There was no one Of Companies 1 or
K present.
Col. Russell moved that vote of
thanks be extended to the Ladies' Relief
Corps for the repast, and also to Post
10 for use of the hall.
Gen. Kimball moved to admit Ray
mond J. Parker of the 1st Minnesota as
an honorary member. Mr.. Parker is all
alone in New England, and Gen. KIM
ball thought he should be allowed the
privileges of the 18th Regiment Asso-
citation. The motion was carried unani-
mously, and after singing AUD Lang
Syne," the meeting was adjourned.
ADJOURNED FOR TEN DAYS.
nylxy o half day was Snent an the