The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-17
FIRST ANNUAL REUNION
MEMBERS OF THE ONE-HUNDRED-
AND-sIxTY-FIRsT MEET HERE.
Gen. J.. Warren Keifer, of Ohio, "a
Guest of Governor Durbin and the
Regfment-Th Officers.

With hearty hand clasp and the fraternal
spirit which helped them to win honor
under the colors OF Governor Durbin's old
regiment, the Observation-Disclosures,
nearly one hundred of it's members met
yesterday morning in the Criminal Court
room TO form a permanent regimental or
ganization and TO tell over the tales, funny
and serious, OF their fighting days. The
morning session Of the regimen was
given over to addresses by the Governor,
Chaplain Biederwolf. Surgeons Gerrish and
Wilson. Adjutant Ticknor and Lieutenant
Colonel V. NJ. Backus.
Governor Durbin delivered the address of
welcome and in a speech half humorous.
half serious. brought forcibly to the minds
If his men the trials and triumphs Of the
days of their comradeship. Lieutenant
Colonel Backus presided and called upon
the regimental surgeons, Gerrish. Of Sey-
mour. and Wilson, OF Wabash, pills" and
''sawbones,' as the boys call them in army
parlance, for short talks.
In the afternoon at ? o'clock the MEM
bers OF the regiment met again in the State
house. Major General ]. Warren Keifer, of
Springfield, o., who commanded the first
division of the Seventh Army Corps dur
lhS lAlS opdtAlSh NdS Nv BGCSN -
honor and delivered the principal address
Of the afternoon. General Keifer, during
his remarks. took occasion to pay a higr
compliment TO the boys of the One-hun-
Observation-Disclosures. No regiment under
his m he said, excelled in discipline,
constant fitness for duty and clean cut
service the One-hundred-and-sixty-frst. 1t
was foremost in the performance of what
I,,tI1- n-o.o. - ~ - ---.- -
marked. had the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
first been given an opportunity to follow
the flag on battle fields. its record would
have been one OF pride to every men,
Der.
General Keifer concluded his address with
an interesting comparison OF the fighting
and OF the difficulties which arose in the
civil war and in the one recently ended.
Several Of his humorous anecdotes were
greeted with howls of merriment and on the
conclusion of his speech the distinguished
veteran was warmly applauded.
Colonel Russell b. Harrison was present
at the afternoon meeting and answered an
enthusiastic call for a speech by recalling
Incidents of camp life at Jacksonville and
savannah. Colonel Harrison remarked that
during MS experience as provost marshal
no soldiers had given him less trouble than
the boys of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
LETTERS FROM GENERAL LEE.
Governor Durbin and Mrs. Durbin &C.
SNPACN VI HOllO at the meeting ana
the Governor read two letters from Major
General Fitzhugh Lee, the corps com
mander. who had been invited to the re-
union. but who was unable TO be present.
General Lee recalled how near a chance
the regiment had TO fight actively against
the Dons. and said that had the feet of
Cervera entered the harbor of Havana, as
it was expected to do at one time. the
Seventh Army Corps, and with j, the One
Observation-Disclosures. would have been
given a chance for distinction.
me organization OF the regiment and the
election of officers occupied Iittls Iime.
everything being done with unanimity good
to see. Lieutenant Colonel victor NJ. Back
US, or this city, was elected president; Capt.
Comstock,, of Company G. of Richmond,
vice president; Sergeant Eugene Wynegar,
of Columbus, Company X, secretary, and
Sergeant Parkinson, of Shelbyville. Com
pany G, treasurer. 1t was decided to CON
stitute the officers elected the executive
Michigan City. Richmond and Indian
| apolis each made a request for the reunion
OF 1902. Richmond, however. gained the
will meet in the Quaker city of the State at
a time 10 be announced later by the execu-
tive committee. probably sometime in Oc-
tober, 1902.
In the evening a pleasant smoker was
| held in the rooms Of the State Agricultural
Board for the members of the regiment
ana their 1rlends. Whlle the ~One-hundred-
and-siXty-first saw no service on the firing
line, 1t gained the enconiums and repeated
| compliments OF division and corps of
icers by faithful performance of duty and
excellence of soldierly development. The
| regiment was mustered into the service of
the United States in July, 1898. and left
for Its first camp, at Jacksonville, Fla.
on Aug. IL. On Sept. 81 the regiment was
ordered into camp at Savannah. Ga, and
stayed at that point until Dec. 13, when or
ders for Cuba arrived. Until March % il
A n0d OarrfGnn Infx- $500
| The One-hundred-and-sixty-frst was mus
| tered out of service on Anril 90 1Soq