South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-13
RE:UEI0N IS CLOSED
WITH BIG BANQUET
Nar Time Incidents ReC0unted
by Old Veterans Around
Campfire Wednesday Even
ing-EIkhart Next Place.

Gathered about the banquet table.
and later IN the evening assembled at
the campfire" the surviving veter-
ans OF the 18TH Indiana Volunteer In
fantry recounted Incidents OF their
war time days. 1t was on the Oc-
casiOn OF the thirty-first annual re-
union Of their regiment gathered in
Mishawaka today on the forty ninth
anniversary of the commencement Of
Sherman's historic march TO the sea.
Promptly at 8 o'clock, in response
10 the old bugle calls played ON the
chimes OF the Methodist Memorial
church. the veterans together with
.heir wives and friends marched into
the dining room and sat down at the
beautifully decorated banquet table.
COmrade J. A. Roper, one of the few
Mishawakans surviving of the regi-
ment acted as tOaStmaster and called
upon the Rev. DR.. Loren VI Edwards
who asked the Divine blessing upon
the banquet and those assembled. An
excellent dinner was served by the
Ladies' Aid society of the Methodist
church
Following the splendid banquet Mr.
Roper. as POSTMASTER. called on DR..
John Borough. OF this city, veteran
of the civil war who on behalf of the
q. A. X. OF Mishawaka and the citi-
zens of the city delivered an address
OF welcome Comrade A b. Cramp
ton of Delphi. Indiana, and editor of
the Carroll County Citizen-Times, re-
spOnded to DIT BorOugh's remarks
and further recalled numerous inter
esting and humorous "reminiscences OF
the days Of '61'65. Col Champion in
his humorous way told of several in
teresting anecdotes concerning mem
bers of his regiment during the war.
Sherman's famous march from
Atlanta TO the sea was the very in
fssr inc of lHd nf a
+. =. Stanfield Of South Bend. Many
interesting happenings of this his
tOric event were recOunted by the
speaker who traced the entire line of
march of his regiment from the COM
mencement of the march at Atlanta
on November L. 1864, to its compile
ton at Savannah.
Following Col. Stanfield, Toastmast
er Roper called upon different MEM
hers Of the regiment for short ad-
dresses and brief talks were also Civ
en- by some of AIishawaka 5 friends of
the Forty Eighth" who were present
at the banquet table During the
course of the evenings program sew
eral pleasing violin selections were
rendered by Mrs. Isaac Kane Parks.
In closing the evenings program the
entire assemblage united in singing
America
At the business meeting Of the sur
viving members Of the regiment held
Wednesday afternoon at 1870 in the
mayors office at the city hall routine
business was transacted. 1t was de-
cided by the soldiers at this meeting
10 hold their next reunion at Elkhart,
Indiana, sometime next fall Fol
lowing the business meeting the vet
Grams enjoyed an auto ride about
MishaWaka in automobiles provided
for the purpose by various citizens.
The veterans expressed themselves as
highly pleased with the entertain
nent provided by Mishawaka clti-
zens for them and many OF them
were heard to remark that this reun-
ion was one OF the most enjoyable
functions of the sort ever held by
their regiment.
During the morning, While the men
were gathering they formed in groups
about the city halt and grounds, talk
ing over the old days and the war of
'61-'65. The chief discussion OF the
day was probably "Sherman's march
of $4,000 men from Atlanta 10 the
sea-
The Indiana 4Sth participated in
this great military achievement by one
of the army's greatest chiefs. IN one
group the men were telling OF how
lust az years ago today. Nov. 18th,
their regiment started in on the de-
structiOn of all railroads and tele-
graph communications from their
ent on their own resources and sup
plies orders We're issued according
10 one man. 70 break up all railroads
enroute generally. To so damage the
country as TO make II untenable TO
the enemy. This. il seems, was a
necessary war measure. In the dew
astation of the railroads gangs of men
formed along the routes. tearing up
the rtaCks and running the rails from
the ties. one man gave vivid de-
scription of how at plSht the ties
would be all placed In a e eat pile and
rails stacked on top. These ties would
then be set atire and would burn all
night. In the early hours of the
morning. before the machine began
the men would take the hot rails
from the cinderS. with a clinching de-
wise twist them in the Centers like q
CorksCrew, making 10 utterly impos-
sible 10 ever use the rails again.
Another topic generally under dis