The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-26
REUNIONS in A FAR.OFF LAND.
MAI. Watrous Found Members of the Iron
Brigade and Sons in the Philippines.

Maj. ]. A. Watrous, U. S. A., who is at
present in the States, on leave of abb
sence, says that he found the Iron Brig
ade in evidence in the Philippines during
his sojourn there. In speaking of the
old brigade and his observations abroad
Maj. Watrous said:
1.-THE Iron Brigade comes to the front
nearly everywhere. 1t has been in Con-
gress the various professions, in the rail
road world, manufacturing and political
life everywhere. OF those members who
have. been in Congress may be named
Gen. Edward S. Bragg, Col. Gabriel
Bouck, Adj't Gilbert NJ Woodward. Gen.
Rufus Il. Dawes. Col George q. Symes,
Can't. NJ. r. Baldwin. Capt. w. III. Har-
ris and Private John j. jenkins. But
about the old brigade in the far-off Phil
iprines: At one time there were two of
us on duty there-Maj. w. w. Robinson,
jr, who was a private in the 18th WIS,
and myself. He was Chief Quartermas-
ter of the Division of the Department of
the South Philippines.
I'VE had several very pleasant re-
unions at Manila last Summer. We had
not met since March 81, 1865. at the
battle of Gravelly Run. near Petersburg,
Va, where Robinson did so finely that
he was rewarded with an appointment to
West Point, and where l had horse
killed under me and was invited in
manner so emphatic to visit Libby. Prison
that l hadn't the heart to decline the
honor, and won a brevet. What pleas
ure to meet 4 member of the old brigade
in those far-away islands!
''While in the island / met three fine
young officers, sons of one of our cd
comrades, the late Col. Henry A. Nor
row, who joined us in command of the
9th Mich. right after Antietam. All
three of his soldier sons went to the Phil
ippines as Lieutenants. two in the Regu-
lars and one as Volunteer. Someone
suggested at one time to Col. Morrow,
who for years commanded the Dist Inf,
that he send his boys to West Point. His
prompt reply was: No, sir; if they want
to be soldiers they must begin as l DID.
in the ranks The boys were quick
enough to adopt his suggestion. The more
such officers the better for the army. a
daughter of Gel. Morrow was engaged to
Lieut.. J. J. BOniface, of the 4th Cav.
He went to the Philippines and when he
had been there year, Miss Morrow
joined him and the marriage was per-
formed at Manila early in 1901.
Il was at the town of Ballayan, Ba-
tangas Province. waiting for boat.
WHeH up.
and said: 4 beg your pardon, but that
badge on your watch chain is SO familiar
that l want to know in which regiment
of the Iron Brigade you served When
l told him he replied: My father was a
member of Co. b. 10Th Ind He went
away and returned shortly with three
more sons of men who had served in the
18th Ind. And we five Iron Brigade SOL
diers had splendid reunion right then
and there. One of them told me what his
father said when he enlisted: Go, my
boy: for that is what l would do if they
would take me- And my governor told
me l would not be his son if l did not
want to go to the Philippines said an
other. while third said: All my father
would say was, You will be glad you en-
listed" and l am
'That was happy and unfOrgetable
hour that / passed with those straplcss,
stripeless sons of men whom l had ac-
companied on mighty Interesting trip.
through Virginia. Maryland, and Pennsyl-
vania quite a spell back. l met several
| other sons Of men who served in the old
brigade and one grandson. A large per-
centaGe of the sons and grandSons of the
old soldiers of the COS, from both North
and South, found their way into the Vol
unteer and Regular Army during the
Stanish-American and Philippine wars.
think it safe to say that more than half
of the rank and file Of both Volunteers
and Regulars were the sons or grandsOns
of men who served in the Union and
Confederate armies"