Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-06-21
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 81, 1905.
Reunion of the 21st Iowa in Man
chester.


Iowa Veterans Association held on
Tuesday and Wednesday of last
week in this city, was all things
considered, probably the best re-
union the regiment has ever had.
There were hundred and nine
members Of the old regiment in at
tendance and twenty-five members
Of other regiments signed the roster.
The weather was all that could be
desired and the people of Manches-
ter opened their homes and royalty
entertained the survivors of the
regiment that rendered such gallant
service at Vicksburg and the many
other battle fields which decreed
the unity of this nation. The ex-
ercises were held in the city hall
which was packed at every session
with an enthusiastic audience.
Tuesday forenoon was spent in
registering, the assigning Of places
Of entertainment and the renewing
of old friendships.
The first session was opened Tues
day afternoon with the singing Of
America by the audience, Miss
Ina Chamberlain presiding at the
piano. The invocation was by Rev.
w. Fl. Ensign and was followed by
Co. DIS GLORY Song
Capt. Merry then introduced
Mayor L. Matthews, who delivered
the following eloquent address OF
welcome on behalf of the citizens Of
Manchester:
"Mr. Chairman, Veterans of the
2lst Iowa and Visiting Comrades OF
the Grand Army of the Republic,
we bid you one and all hearty
welcome to our city.
In 1861, when the first shot was
fired on TT. Sumpter, it awoke the
slumbering quietness Of the people
Of the north and the echo of that
shot was waited on the morning
breezes, over hills and dales, to the
houses on our hill tops, to the cities
and towns in our wales, to the we'll
settled districts of the East. to the
sparsely settled districts Of the Mid.
die West, and along our great
Western frontiers, announcing to-
them the threatening danger to GU,
homes, our liberty and our union
When President Lincoln issued {
call for $4,000 volunteers for ninety
days, the quota was promptly filled
and the people Of the North though
they would quell the turbulen
spirits of the South in short spac,
of time. But it was not so easil,
done.
"And again, when he issued ;
call of 100000 men, the noble re
spouse came from the farms, from
the manufactures, from our mer
chants, from our schools and col
leges, from the pulpits, from the
lawyers and doctors offices, from al
walks in professional life, from the
hamlets on the hill sides, from the
towns and cities and from the cabir
homes on our frontiers-all offering
their services for our country. Anc
you, comrades Of the 2lst Iowa
were among that number.
with what pride and spirit o
young manhood you left your home'
and fire sides, ('and many thousand
with you that never returned'), ant
marched forth in the sixties to yiel,
up your lives, if need be, to protec
and preserve our union, our homes
our future prosperity and Happiness!
In those years warfare was mete
out to you in all its phases. 70
endured its hardships, you fougl
the battles, you saw your comrade
fall around you, some never to ris
again, others, badly wounded, to
carried to a bed Of suffering in til
hospitals, there to exc out their live
with fever and disease. You sa
your comrades captured land SON
Of you may have been among til;
number) and hurried away to
Southern prison to starve and suffe
under the scorching rays Of til
southern sun. Your beds wei
made of mother earth, many time
wet and cold, and cushioned wit
the soft, downy mud of the souther
soil. Your covering was the clouo
ed canopy or starry decked HEAVIER
with the suffering and hare
ships that you endured during tn:
mighty struggle Of nearly half
century ago, it is remarkable that {
many Of you are with us today. B,
your youth and manhood, you
spirit and endurance and the han
Of the good, kind Providence ha,
given you health and strength to |
here. Your once quickly step
young manhood has become mo,
and more slackened and wear
The once bright and keen eye hi
become DINNER, the golden locks
youth are DOW silvered over wit
gray and age.
you, and all comrades of IL
Grand Army of the Republic, ca
look back with pride and hon'
over your pathway of life, in Il
records Of the past, with the hapI
reflection Of a we'll spent life, an
die with the hope of a glorious il
mortality.
I'm behalf of the citizens of I'll
city of Manchester, we greet yc
and extend to you all the rights an
privileges of our beautiful lit
city, and may your stay among ,
be SO pleasant and agreeable. tn
it may gladden. your hearts al
Tighten your burdens, and tt
remiscences around your camp fir
renew to you many instances fl
which you SO nobly served. Aga
we extend to you, one and all,
z..Jso1 IN -,