Smyrna times., 1900-01-10
GRAND ARMY POST CAMPFIRE
OLD SOLDIERS RECOUNT BATTLE FIELD
SCENES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Installation at the Opera House Thursday
Night, Followed By Banquet.--HOnOr-
ary Address by Rev. LayfieId

mousse laSG thursday evening at which
officers for the ensuing year were pub
licly Installed as follows: Commander,
W. B. Marshall; Senior Vice Com
mander, G. B. Archer; Junior Vice
Commander, }. T. Rhiems; Officer of
the Day, Sumner Ransom; Chaplain,
Il. f. Jones; Officer of the Guard, w.
Nj. Broadway; Quartermaster, John
Garner; Adjutant, Geo. w. Tilghmati;
Sergeant Major, W. 7. Tucker; Quar-
termaster Sergeant, Jacob Spicer; Sur
geon, VIM. Green.
The public installation took place on
the stage and the installing officer was
Comrade Stanger of Middletown,
Post No. %, Department of Del
aware. He was assisted by Com
rade Clinton Lynch of Warwick,
member of the same post The
stage was simply decorated with flags
and bunting.
Immediately after the installation
ceremonies were concluded, the "camp.
fire was re-kindled" and as all gathered
around it as it were, iudulging in
thoughts and scenes of those bloody
days of the rebellion, Alfred Tilgham
furnished some selections appropriate
to the occasion with his celebrated
Edison Phonograph, after which the
orator of the evening, the Rev. L. w.
Layheld, pastor of the Smyrna Circuit
Churches, advanced to the platform
and gave a splendid talk. He intro
duced his remarks by saying that he
was glad that we were living over the
stirring times of the sixties; he was
glad that time had healed the wounds.
he did not believe in exciting or en-
couraging the bitterness of the past,
though 1t was well enough to revive
the memories of those years from an
historical standpoint, that the genera
tions to come may know of the rich
heritage that became theirs through
costly and bitter strife. We as
nation are the fruits of thebloody tolls
and sacrifice of our fathers.
noticeable fact, says Rev. Layfeld,
is that we rarely hear the old comrades
tell of their awful experiences of the
war, so much as some joke or Incl
dent of the camp life. This thought
suggeste ted two phases of soldiers life
as the basis of his remarks, namely:
'The War Song" and ''The Spirit of
HumOr of the Camp" These elements
in a soldiers life meant a great thing.
and he spoke i'll eloquent terms of the
enthusiasm caused by such airs as
'Dixie, " Marching Through Geor-
gia, John Browns Body" and the
like and their effect upon the soldiers
while fighting under such an inspir-
alton. In speaking to the "spirit of
humOr of the camp" he said he was sorry
that there was not more of the hum
erous side of the soldiers life recorded.
Ii ali the incidents could be compiled
together it would make valuable book
and rich heritage to pospterlty. Rev.
Layfeld amused his hearers with
many anecdotes which he had gathered
togethered showing the good humor
that prevaded the camp life during
those times.
The Post showed their appreciation
of Rev. Layfelds address by present.
ings him with purse of money, which
was responded to quite happily.
AT this stage in the evenings pro-
gram ''the glowing embers of the
campfire" were burning with enthus-
iasm and inspired by the address of
Rev. Layfeld, the old soldiers, those
who had seen actual service, recounted
their experiences. Comrade Thomas
Davis was the first He said he had /
seen three years of service, had been /
In twenty-One engagements, and re-
ceived three wounds. The longest |
march he made in any one day was
thirty-two miles. He had suffered
much hardship, was frequently short
of rations, and in his thirst he had seen
the time when he relished mud puddle
water.
Comrade Thomas Tucker was the
most amusing of all the speakers, and
IN his characteristic style he told of his
enlistment at the age of II years, his
first regimental duty at "Hare's Cor
ner" and his movements from that
point. The worst thing about telling
anecdotes he said, was that when he
told them he could not get anyone to be-
lieve it, and he bemoaned the fact en-
phatically. Comrade Tucker gave our
soldiers rather black name, and said
there was nothing too "onory'' for
them to do,
Comrade L. L. Davis was the next
speaker and after making some apollo