The National tribune., 1900-04-26
ILLINOIS EX=PRISONERS,
Over One Thousand Members of the State
Association.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: "The
Illinois Association of Union Ex-Prisoners
of War" was organized at Springfield. H.,
July 10, 1879. and has held n Reunion
every year since. The names of more than
1 900 Union eX-prisoncrS of war are on its
rolls of membership. Col. J. b. Reed, of
Greenville. was elected President at the
Reunion last September, at Springfield.
The Associations Secretary is j. Little,
Bloomington, Ill. Comrade Little has
served continuously for more than II
years.
The 21st Reunion of the Association
will be held at Normal, H.. OH the third
Wednesday and Thursday of next October.
The comrades Of ChaS. j.. HOvey Post,
Normal, and of VIM. II. Sherman Post,
Bloomington, will do all they can to make
the meeting u success.
The old soldiers. and especially the ex-
prisoners OF war. have Il warm place in
the affections Of the people of Illinois.
There is no community in Illinois, or any
other State, that will treat the old soldiers
more Hospitality. generously, and cordially
than Normal. The people will open their
houses TO the Old eX-prisoners OF war, and
to old soldiers from a distance, during the
Reunion, and every one will be entertained
without money and without price. | wish
every Union eX-prisoner in Illinois might
read this letter, aud attend the Reunion
next October. There ATE attractions at
STATE Normal University in Illinois, and in
the West. IS located at Normal. and many
will be glad TO have an opportunity to visit
il, and learn Of the great and good work
it is doing. The University was but four
years old when the war of the rebellion
began, and almost every male student and
teacher capable Of being a soldier volun-
teercd his services and went 10 the front in
the army of the Union. The great major
ity Of them went out in the 33d H., which
was called the Normal Regiment" be-
cause it had 50 many Normal students
and teachers in it, and because it was Of
ganiZed by the teachers and students of
the Normal University. 1t was also called
the "S;choolmast2rs' Regiment" because
there were so many schOOl-teachcrS in it,
and the professional Mems Regiment"
because there We're so many lawyers, doc
the Sunday School Regiment" by the
21st Ill. Gen. Grants old regiment, and
by the 1st Ind. Cav. Col. Bakers regi-
ment, and by the 3Sth IL, Col. Carlin's
regiment, with which it was brigaded at
Ironton and Arcadia, Mo, in the Fall and
Winter OF 1S6l-G2, because each company
of the 33d had a Sunday School class
every Sunday afternoon, unless otherwise
engaged.
Each company had small library, and
the regiment had two newspapers and
three or -four literary clubs. But early il
Tie Spring OF 1SbZ WllCn the regiment be-
gan its campaign south into Arkansas,
books, printing presses, and many other
useful. valuable and desira bic things were
left behind.
No institution Of learning in Illinois, or in
any other Stat" Ill The Union for its size. |
did more for liberty and Union than the |
Normal University, Mt Normal. 1t was !
school Of patriotism then and has been ever |
since. The old soldiers and the teachers OF |
or public schools are III close sympathy |
The old soldiers ana the teachers of our |
schools are and have i,cen engaged in the |
same patri1iic wo-I Of saving the Union |
preserving our free institutions. upholding |
the flag Cf liberty, and holding fast to the |
principles and doctrines a. the founders OF |
oar Rcpublic. For these AMI many other |
reasons the old Union ex-priSoners OF war; |
and all other old soldiers. are always glad |
Ia have an opportunity TO visit the State
Normal University, at Normal. and all |
other schools and institutions of learning. |
Then there il another institution at Nor |
NAL t:iat the old soldiers ike To visit-the |
Soldiers Orphans Home. and the children |
Ike 10 have the old soldiers visit them |
The ch ldfen Of the Home recognize the |
old soldiers as their warmest. trnest. and |
best friends. Tne sOlliers of Illinois do |
not visit this Home as often a; they
should. They do not take as deep an in
terest in the welfare of the children of the
Home as they should. Every Grand Army
man has taken :; solemn o ith or obligation
70 stand by. protect AMI assist the widows
and orphans OF his dead comtades. mol