The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-02
HALE, HEARTY :
BOYS OF 69TH
SHAKE HANDS
Veterans Renew Old Ac-
qualntances at Annual Re-
union of Famous Organiza-
ton Held In Court House.
MANY FROM DISTANCE

Registration of veterans early today,
indicated that the annual reunion c.
the 69th Indiana Volunteers, at the
g. A. R. rooms in the court house,
would be an event long to be remem-
bered.
Several veterans attended the ma
tional G. A. R. convention in Indian.
apolis, and came here from there.
Many of those from a distance stayed
near here purposely to attend
Among them was S. J. Johnson. Of
Kansas. Mr.. Johnson was a member
Of Company H when the Goth was
formed here, and after the war he
went west. where he has been living
since. only returning to attend reun-
ions at intervals of a few years He
has been a resident of Kansas for So
years.
Don't Like to Talk.
Il want you to say few words to-
day. jack said Colonel Oran Perry.
forer commander of the organization,
as he shook hands with one erect vet
eran Jack" showed signs of panic, ana
the colonel commenced a reassuring
series of comments.
Tell you what Ill do, colonel" said
Jack, suddenly, Frightening "I'n leave
Clutches and canes were noticeably
absent among this lot of ex-service
men. Despite the half century or more
since they shouldered a gun many Of
them looked hale and hearty, and
young enough to do service in another
war, should necessity arise.
Memories of the old days when they
| slept on the ground under the stars,
marched under the blazing sun. or
| perhaps were exposed to the rheu-
! matte atmosphere of a camp in a
swamp or in pouring rain, consti-
tuted no small part of the converse
| ton.
Politics took a back seat Foreign
affairs took a back seat. The phrase
before the war" means something
different to these veterans than sug-
| gestion of the soft days prior to 1914.
1t meant a period back in the far dis
tant past when hominy and corn cakes,
corn bread and sometimes parched
corn coffee were staple articles Of
diet.
Memories of Sherman's "Yazoo" ex-
pedition, which sailed from Memphis
Dec. 20, 1862, on the steamer Sam
Gaty' a vessel whose condition was
such that it's passengers were more
1
ing battles; memories of long days
spent on the march and nights spent
on guard or scouting expeditions. all
were lived over again at the reunion
of the survivors of the 69th Saturday.
| Dig a Passage
One of the most interesting exper-
! fences OF the veterans was one they
underwent at Young's Point on the
Mississippi where General Grant. in
an effort to get his army past Vicks-
! burg in safety, set the 69th and other
regiments to digging a passage for the
Mississippi through a bend in the
river in the hope that the channel so
formed would widen enough to allow
the troops to get by on their boats.
Living conditions that would have dis
couraged a less stout-hearted group
of men were encountered by them
here. Swampy ground and a damp at
mosphere took their toll, the regiment
! finally abandoned.
That the great war was not the
only one in which seemingly insur-
mountable obstacles were overcome
could be attested by the "reminiscences
of these veterans, some of whom had
still fresh in their minds the capture
of Vicksburg following a special expe-
dition in which their regiment took a
prominent part, and which opened the
way eventually for Grants main force
| to get in it's work.
Receive Orders.
Orders for the regiment to proceed
On this expedition were received by
Colonel Bennett, commanding. March
80, 1868 Besides the 69th "a detach.
ment of pioneers and one of cavalry
also took part in the expedition, the
purpose of which was, as stated in the
order. to open means of communica.
tion between the present camp of the
army and New Carthage. by way OF
Richmond, La, with view to getting
the army in shape to attack.
The expedition arrived at Rounda-
way Bayou, near Richmond at p. Il.
March 81, and the regiment crossed
the water in boats under fire OF the
Continued on Page Nine)