Norwich bulletin., 1913-08-21

About 100 survivors of the 18th reg 1 iment, Cennecticnt Volunteers, gath cred at the Buckingham Memorial | Wednesday for their 45th reunion to commemorate the day 51 years ago
 when the regiment. 1109 strong,
 marched away to the front. With the
 members of the odd 18th were their ] wives and 8 few comrades of other regiments so that the whole company i numbered nearly 200.
 1 The business meeting was opened at l 1045 o'clock by President William Ca- ruthers, who said that he was glad to be able to welcome so many of the
 comrades once more.
 1 In his opening words in calling the meeting to order, President Caruthers said that the meeting carried his thoughts back to June 13, when Gen eral Milroy, the Gray Eagle of the Shenandoah, as he was called. placed Company 4 of this regiment on the left flank and Company B on the right flank to guard the Front Royal road, and Companies F. l and H to support Spooner'S artillery at the opening of the battle of Winchester. in which the regiment took part. He said he was glad the honor was placed on the regl- ment The president said he was also glad of the part taken by other regi- ments from this state. All did nobly and General Milroy gave the Connectt- cut men a good name. At Winchester fl, 900 rebels and 84 pieces Of artillery were held in check by 5000 union forces and thus time was gained for the advancement of the Army or the Potomac toward the north. Generals Gorden, Early Walker and Johnson had informed the speaker at different times that plans had been made to attack Philadelphia, but the battle of Winchester made that plan impossible and the great battle took place at Gettysburg.
 General Milroy to the Eighteenth.
 One of the proudest moments in the history of the Eighteenth was at Mar tinsburg, when General Milroy spoke to them in words of highest praise of the conduct at Winchester The Gray Eagle of the Shenandoah Valley ad- dressed them as follows:
 Soldiers of the Eighteenth:
 am glad to see you once more; am happy to see you looking so hearty and well; happy to welcome you oach again beneath the folds of your own Stars and Stripes which you so nobly defended at the three days fight at Winchester. Since I last saw you, you have suffered captivity in rebel prls- ons We have been separated since then; but I have come to see you, ana praise you for your galiantry. saw you in the second days fight as you charged the enemy from your rifle pits and drove them back upon their re- serves, holding them in cneck until night: when you fell back, put With your faces to the foe. Again saw you the next morning facing as not fire as I ever witnessed. l looked Tn vain to see you Waver. Boys, 1t was a hot place-a hot place. l saw you go where none but brave men dare to go: saw you make three successIuI charges, preserving your line as well as if on dress parade. I witnessed it all. I saw you as you broke the hrst line of rebel infantry and charged up to their batteries, driving away thelr gunners, still pressing on, and DreaK- ing their reserves But third line was too strong for you. knew 1t was. Only then did you fall back, when your lines were broken, and many Connecticut men lay bleeding on the field. But you fell back only to reform and give them another taste or your steel 1 knew it was madness to order you forward again; 1t was order ing you to death and annihilation; for I well knew you would attempt any thing for your general. Boys, Watcn- ed you with pride as you charged the third time; but when l saw your ranks whitening and your comrades falling IL made my. heart grow sad within me. and I ordered you to fall back. You know the rest You were surrounded and there was no escape. But miss your noble commander. Colonel Ely; may he soon return to you. Boys. to y come from state whose soldiers never disgrace themselves nor their flag. am proud of you and ever ShaI De or such soldiers. And now accept my wishes for your safe return to your New England homes, when our flag shall wave in triumph over our whole country. Goodbye
 General Towards Opinion.
 What Milroy's army. in which was the Eighteenth Connecticut, did at Winchester is indicated in the follow ing account of the defense and capture at Winchester from Gen. o. o. How ards "Reminiscences of the War:
 General Milroy with his small com mand was able to hold the rebel col urnn in check during the three days Of desperate fighting, delay in the reDei advance that materially interfered with the complete success of their plans. This fact is Indeniably a splendid att testation of the military capabilities of Milroy as we'll as those of his brave and able lieutenants, General Elliot and Colonel Ely, in command of brigades. who contested every inch of ground as they fell back before an overwhelming enemy. This retarding of Ewell's corps of Lees army was of incalculable benefit to the union cause.
 It Is due to General Milroy to say that if he, with his little army, mum bering less than 1000 men, had not held in check the advance of Lees army at Winchester for three days, by which the Army of the Potomac gained time, the battle fought at Gettysburg would probably taken place nearer Philadelphia, and perhaps with differ ent results
 Deaths During the Year.
 MT. Caruthers gave a few interesting "reminiscences of the war times and spoke of the fine record of the regi- ment during the war Prayer was of fered by Comrade A. C. Greene Sec retary Henry Hovey read his report of the previous meeting and gave the again Thursday and fast game is orc