The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-10-23
TWENTY YEARS AFTER.

first Reunion OF the 33d Iowa lnfan-
try was held at Camp futile, Oska.
loosa, Iowa, September IL, IL and Ia,
1882, twenty years after the regiment
was organized and encamped there,
The roster showed 81 present at
this reunion Since then it has had
thirteen Reunions, the last one, the
fourteenth, being held al Oskaloosa
September 16-1S, 1913. fifty,one years
after the regiments organization.
This was presided over by Major John
F. Lacey, and there were 1870 Of the
comrades in attendance. In all,
there were 1912 officers and enlisted
lnen in the regiment.
At the first Reunion Judge william
Fl. Sewers, Chief Justice OF the Iowa
Supreme Court, gave a brief, but elo-
queat, address of welcome. Then
Colonel Cyrus II. Mackey the second
and last commander of the regiment,
Col. Samuel A. Rice, the hTst com
mander, having been promoted TO
Brigadier General, delivered the Re
union Address, most excellent one.
Among other things, he said: i am
glad TO meet so many of you here To-
day. ! know you are glad TO meet
one another. and have a good hearty
shake 1T is well; 1t will do us all
good and in time to come we will
look back on this reunion as some
of our best spent lime, and will treas
ure up our recollections of this meet
ing as long asI our lives may last, A
good look al these old flags under
which We fought and so many Of our
comrades died, is Well worth the
time spent in coming here" In
closing he said: o..
Comrades, soldiers. all: We are
all on our grand march-slngly by
companies, regiments and brigades-
We are all coming into the last camp
OF the march. This camp is on the
banks OF a wide river, over which
there is no bridge. and We have no
pOntOOnS' with us 10 effect a cross
inS-it is no less a stream Than the
one that divides time from eternity,
1t runs deep and quiet. There is a
current that starts from the shore we
are on directly to the other side.
There is but one way to crOss-your
step is on the shore of time and in
the twinkling OF an eye, the drawing
of a breath, and you are over. Nor
tai eye cannot see the other shore,
but with The eye OF Faith and Hope
we can see over. 1t is lit up with
the camp fires OF our comrades who
have gone beiOre.-we may hear the
it is the bugle notes of final
victory! The ground on which we
make this last camp is an uncertain
SOLVE do not have to plunge into
the stream; the sands under our feet
will soon be reached by the current
the taps of time viii sound; the
lights will go out--and our turn to
cross the stream will have come,
few years at most, and We will all
be over"
Col. Mackey was followed with ex-
cellent short addresses by Comrades
Daniel w. Haydock, and John +. La
cey. Major Lacey closed his brief
address with the following beautiful
poetic tribute:
TO THE THIRTY-THIRD IOWA:
Comrades, at first we met in days OF
darkness,
When death and peril filled the land
with tears.
And now again, in peace's brightest
sunshine,
We meet to muster after twenty
years.
A thousand men we we're, and full OF
yigor,
As on this ground we met with
hopes aud fears;
But death has thinned our ranks, un.
Ill at roll call,
A handful gathers after twenty
years.
The sun that rose upon our early
manhood,
Beheld the clouds of war upon the
sky; 49,. -.
The land was filed with blood and
desolation
We met TO save the country or to
die.
But now this land is filed with peace
and plenty.
May wars dread echoes wake it's
hills no more,
The right has won, the Union stands
triumphant;
Our banner floats in pride from
shore to shore.
Lies morning has gone by, and il Is
past midday,
Time, in his fight, has left his
mark upon US,
Our breasts once wore the blue. our
heads now wear the gray.
Hail and farewell, each comrade.
friend, and brother,
Our bonds OF friendship hold US as
OF yOre,
Though scattered far and vide, In
hearts united.
Brothers we are. and viii be ever.
90 more. 4