Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-12-25

LCEM bEh 20, lSOS.
R. on it's front. The Woman's Relief
Corps was organized auxiliary to the
Post. Capt. A. N. Russell was elected
the next commander, and for time
everything was lovely. New men,
bers were mustered at almost every
meeting. Camp fires and other ec-
tertainments were held monthly and
largely attended The old members
will remember the crowds and en-
thusiasm of those days and the cash
receipts at one entertainment netted
$1l5, others $40, $50 and $50 were
common. Then cloud appeared;
there was trouble in the Relief Corps
and they soon went down almost
dragging the Post with them. The
Post split into two factions. J. w.
Taylor was elected commander and a
number of the comrades Of the oppos-
sing faction withdrew and many 9TH
ers ceased to attend: finances ran low
and in the midst Of the trouble
w dlCCI <AALolN Voo SASSCSu SSAA
mander, and to him, more than any
other member, is due the credit that
we did not fail altogether. For one
whole year, although meetings were
held regularly, the attendance was
never more than half a dozen and
usually the attendance consisted OF
the commander, adjutant and quar-
termaster. Commander Arnold would
say: "Boys we will not desert the
colors, we will hold the fort, in time
the boys will come back" and they
did. AT first by ones and twos, and
finally in squads. l mustn't forget to
say that at our lowest ebb, when we
were unable to pay rent, Comrade N.
us the use of the hall over his office,
rent free. A Relief Corps was again
organized on a sound basis and Of
sound material. They put their
shoulders to the wheel and again
things were moving as they should.
Both Post and Corps were thriving
and we were again able to not only
stand alone, but do a great deal OF re-
lief work, and as Comrade Nash had
use for his hall we moved into the
Pattee block.
The subsequent history Of the Post
and Corps is familiar to all of you, but
what of that band of the Pioneer
Post?
J. B. Patuee, colonel of the famous
Pennsylvania Bucktails, an officer Of
distinction, who commanded his
brigade skirmish line at Lees sur
render, Capt. o. N. Russell who suf-
fered to the day Of his death from a
fearful wound received in battle, J.
w. Taylor who died and was buried
by comrades at Baltimore, Md, Wal
ter Arnold, leaving wife and family
of small children, served in the ranks
faithfully to the close of the war, G..
w. Naylor a lieutenant in the End
Illinois cavalry served during the
entire war, N. G. Nash a veteran of
over four years, G. H. Wiggin whom
to know was to respect. jolly Warren
Dick, Stanley Bushnell, Geo. Gage,
Frank York, Albert Davie, w. M.
Pattee, Geo. Rae, Henry Tshudy,
Matt DeLong, and others, comrades
loyal and true, have gone to their
final reward. Others of that old
company are still on this side but
scattered. Only three are still men,
bers of this Post; none present at this
meeting except one.
| Comrades. Twice factional trouble
has almost wrecked this post. Let
there be no more factions. We are
too few, so let us all unite as one to
sustain the great objects of our asso-
ciat1ons.
In addition to the post history,
Mrs. Carl Wiggin read a letter writ
ten in 1865 by A. F. Abbott from
Springfield, Mo-, where his regiment
was expecting to be mustered out.
This letter was full Of interest and
detailed events Of army life and con-
tanned an excellent bit of poetry de-
scribing how soldier bold went forth
one night and killed a hog which was
known in camp as turkey after being
L 49,