Saturday Morning
June 9, 1900
(Part 1)
Where Adjt. Gen.
Baker Drilled Camp McClellan.
Its Story is Tersely Told.
The
G.A.R. Will Read With Pleasure the Records of Iowa's Forty-eighth
Infantry, Her Ninth Cavalry and Fourth Artillery Regiments.
By F.J.
B. Huot.
When Abraham Lincoln called for troops Iowa responded
with 57,000 men all told. These were divided into 48 infantry, 9
cavalry, 4 artillery and 1 colored regiment. In all the important events
which transpired from 1861 to 1865 by which the southern confederacy was
routed the Iowa troops took part. Their drum beat was heard everywhere
from the Potomac and the river which flashes down the Shenandoah valley,
as Phil Sheridan did on his 23 mules neck-or-nothing ride to Wichester,
to the Rio Grande, or the Brazos, and everywhere they rendered the same
faithful and devoted service. There were two Iowa regiments actively
engaged in policing the state against Indian out-breaks during the time
of the prosecution of the war. These regiments, too, are deserving of
the highest praise.
Davenport Did Proudly.
Davenport did
her share. She gave her offerings in the heart's blood of Lieutenant
Colonel August Wentz who fell at Belmont, Mo., on Nov. 7, 1861, during
the first year of the war and also Captain Jonathan Slaymaker, who
perished at Fort Donelson, Feb. 16, 1862. Together with Scott county she
helped to recruit in all about 22 companies, and has in sacred memory
enshrined the names of 277 heroes who died to save the Union.
Davenport Furnished Four Camps.
When the shot fired upon Major
Anderson at Fort Sumter was hear in Davenport on Dec. 26, 1860,
Davenport anxiously awaited the call for volunteers. She threw open to
the United States her fair grounds which were then located north of
Thirteenth street and extending to Locust street, and lying between
Perry street and Farnam street to be used as drill grounds for the raw
recruits, or rookies. This first camp was christened Camp Lincoln in
honor of the great war president and emancipator and later re-christened
Camp Joe Holt. So it was popularly known. This tract was made use of for
drill purposes, being an entirely level piece of grounds and capable of
easily mobilizing a regiment. At Camp Joe Holt the cavalry were drilled.
The second camp furnished was called Kinsman's Camp, or Camp
Kinsman, and was located northeast of the city where the Soldiers
Orphans Home now is.
It was at Camp McClellan, however, that the
chief army rendezvous in Scott county was situated.
Camp Hendershot.
Another camp of some importance was that of Camp Hendershot, located
adjacent to the present Orphans Home. Camp Roberts, a fourth camp was
located upon the present site of the pumping plant of the Davenport
Water company west of Harrison street and north of Thirteenth street.
This camp was named after a general.
At Camp Joe Holt (Camp
Lincoln) the cavalry uniformly drilled, although the rendezvous properly
was at Camp McClellan.
Camp McClellan Tract.
The tract of
level and rolling land situated east of East Davenport and at that time
east of the present Mound street, was an ideal place for a place of
encampment. On the high ground was excellent drilling grounds and
furthermore the site was directly across from the Rock Island arsenal
and commanded a view of the wide sweep of the rapids.
The tract
was owned by a certain Thomas Russel Allen, who was a resident of St.
Louis, where the Jefferson Barracks were situated. It consisted of over
300 acres, and permission was readily obtained to convert it into a
place of encampment of the recruits awaiting orders to go to the front.
Accordingly the site was taken into temporary possession during the
summer of 1861 by the United States government and retained until the
last mustering out ceremony had been accomplished five years later.
Adjutant General Baker of the regular army was commissioned to take
charge of the camp, which was named Camp McClellan in honor of Little
Mac, General George B. McClellan, who then was one of the foremost
militarists in the federal ranks.
The Barracks are Built.
The first thing to be done was to construct the barracks Contractors T.
W. McClelland and Hornby, the latter long since dead, was given the
contract. They erected a dozen frame and battended (sic) structures with
suitable bunks, together with a mess room, a commissary building, a
canteen and officers quarters. Traces of these old barracks still remain
and less than a dozen years ago there were two of these still cumbering
the tract at the Davenport and LeClaire road, otherwise called the Lost
Grove Road.
As many as a thousand recruits have been at Camp
McClellan at one time, and when in drill the sight was interesting. The
merchants did a thriving business during those days, and the folks who
resided in the LeClaire commons then called the Patch, situated where
the Un. N. Roberts warehouse now is had ready sales for the bread, pies,
cakes and chickens which they baked and reared. A Mrs. Miley, who came
to the Patch to live with only the mite spoken of in scripture, reaped a
modest fortune from the sale of pies to the soldier boys. Of course,
there were foraging parties at times, abut such depredations, when
discovered, were promptly punished.
The Camp As It Is Today.
At the present day the veterans who will visit Davenport upon the
occasion of the G.A.R. functions of next week will find the camp greatly
changed. The western portion of it is occupied by a lumber yard and
kindling wood racks, while a modern trolley car runs alongside almost
the site of the company's streets. The hill, however is yet
topographically intact, although towards the north of the old drilling
grounds are several farm houses with well tilled acres adjoining all
achieved in the space of 35 years. Quarries have been opened upon the
southeastern portion of the tract and the Lindsay & Phelps saw mill has
gnawed its way through millions and millions of feet of logs since last
the picket and the sentry halted the wayfarer where now the hum of the
saws are heard. Modern brick paving has also encroached upon the
southern or river side of the tract.
The camp has not changed
ownership. A life estate was left by the owner in 1861-1865 to his widow
Ann R. Allen, who died several years age and bequeathed the remaining
214 acres to her heirs, who are scattered from St. Louis to Philadelphia
and Paris. The tract even now is in litigation for alleged paving
indebtedness to the city of Davenport.
Saturday Morning
June 9, 1900
(Part 2)
A Word to the Veterans.
Next week
the G.A.R. will celebrated in this city. Its record in Iowa is a proud
one, and many of its regiments in the Hawkeye state were drilled, and
mustered in, and mustered out upon this self-same Camp McClellan tract.
The record at this particular time is a proud one to rehearse, and the
writer begs the indulgence to submit the following which is a glorious
roster, indeed.
A Glorious Roster.
First Iowa Infantry-959
officers and men. Killed 43. Died from wounds, etc., 13. Fought at
Wilson's Creek. Served three months. Captain August Wentz fought at
Wilson's Creek with the command. Later he joined the Seventh Infantry.
Second Iowa Infantry1,247 officers and men. Killed 64. Died from
wounds, etc. 134. Fought at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Atlanta and
15 other battles. Marched with Sherman to sea. The first three-years
regiment. Chief of Police Frank Kessler served in the regiment.
Third Iowa Infantry 1,074 officers and men. Killed 57. Died from wounds,
etc., 133. Fought at blue Mills, Mo., Shiloh, Hatchie River, Vicksburg,
Atlanta, and in Sherman's march to the sea.
Fourth Iowa Infantry
1,184 officers and men. Killed 61. Died of wounds, etc. 205. Fought at
Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Lookout
Mountain, Mississippi Ridge, etc. Three years regiment.
Fifth
Iowa Infantry 1,037 officers and men. Killed 65. Died of wounds, etc.
126. Fought at Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, etc. Three years
regiment.
Sixth Iowa Infantry 1,013 officers and men. Killed 109.
Died of wounds, etc. 157. Fought at Shiloh, Missionary Ridge, Dallas,
Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, etc., and was with Sherman in his march to the
sea.
The Gallant Seventh.
The Seventh Iowa Infantry was
mustered into service at Burlington, Ia., July 24, 1861, before Camp
McClellan had been organized. The officers of the regiment were:
J.
G. Lauman of Burlington, colonel.
August Wentz of Davenport,
lieutenant colonel.
E. M. Rice, of Oskaloosa, major.
The
regiment consisted of 1, 138 officers and men. There were 98 killed and
178 died from wounds, etc. the regiment fought at Belmont, Mo., where
Lieutenant colonel August Wentz, after whom the local G.A.R. post is
named, was killed in action on Nov. 7, 1861. His funeral occurred with
civic and military honors in Davenport, and he was buried with great
demonstration at Oakdale cemetery several days later. Other battles
participated in by the gallant Seventh are Fort Henry, siege of Corinth,
Corinth, Shiloh, Rome Cross roads, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty,
Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, siege of Atlanta, July 22 in front of
Atlanta, with Sherman on his march to the sea, thence through the
Carolinas to Louisville, Ky, where it was mustered out after four years
of active service. The Seventh was one of the proudest regiments in the
history of the civil war.
Was Mustered at Camp McClellan
The Eight Iowa Infantry was the first regiment to be mustered into
service of the United States at Camp McClellan. Frederick Steele of the
United States regulars organized the regiment which took the oath of
allegiance on Sept. 12, 1861. It remained in service until 1866.
Officers and men, 1,027. Killed in battle 53. Died of wounds, etc. 187.
The regiment fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson and Spanish
Forth. This regiment first tasted of the horrors of the prison pens of
the south.
The Ninth Iowa 1,090 officers and men. Eighty-four
killed and 275 wounded and dying later. Fought at Pea Ridge, Vicksburg,
Chickasaw Bayou, Ring-gold, Dallas, and Lookout Mountain. It marched
over 4,000 miles and brought home confederate flags one of which is
still in possession of the State Historical society. Mustered at
Dubuque.
The Tenth Iowa Fought at siege of Corinth, Iuka,
Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion Hills and Missionary Ridge. At Vicksburg
also. Officers and men, 1027. Killed in action, 93. Died form wounds
170. Mustered at Iowa City.
The Eleventh Iowa Infantry was
mustered into service at Camp McClellan by General Baker of the regular
army in two sections in September and October, 1861. No regiment did
better service during the war and none met with a heartier welcome upon
its return home. It participated in action at Shiloh, siege of Corinth,
Vicksburg, in the Atlanta campaign and at Atlanta. Officer and men 1022,
Killed in battle 58. Died from wounds 178.
The Twelfth Iowa
Officers and men 981. Killed in action 33. Died from wounds, etc., 285.
participated in action at Shiloh Fort, Donelson, siege of Vicksburg,
Tupelo, White river, Mississippi and Spanish Fort. Regiment was
recruited after the federal defeat at Bull Run, upon Lincoln's second
call for volunteers.
Saturday Morning
June 9, 1900
(Part 3)
Crocker's Persistent Drills
Colonel M. M. Crocker the
organizer of the justly celebrated Iowa Brigade or Crocker's Brigade,
commanded the Thirteenth Iowa, which was mustered into service Nov. 1,
1861. M. M. Price of Davenport was lieutenant colonel of the regiment.
Company F of the regiment was recruited from Scott and Linn counties and
drilled insistently, and incessantly at Camp McClellan at Camp McClellan
in this city, then in the beginning of its prestige. The regiment was at
once ordered to the front. During its honorable career it participated
in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of
Vicksburg, campaign against Atlanta, with Sherman on his famous march to
the sea and through the Carolinas to Louisville, Ky., where it was
mustered out. Officers and men 988 killed, in battle 68. Died from
wounds etc., 224.
The Thirteenth had the honor to be the first to
enter Columbus, S. C., where the secession movement first began. The
regiment was fortunate in having Colonel Crocker as a commander. At
first the men objected to drilling for five or six hours a day, but at
the battle of Shiloh the tedious discipline served them in excellent
stead.
At Shiloh colonel Crocker's command was under fire of the
enemy for 10 hours, and suffered a loss in the regiment of 23 killed and
130 wounded. It was the worst engagement of all in which five regiments
participated, but thanks to excellent drilling there was no great
confusion.
The Fourteenth Mustered Here.
The Fourteenth
Iowa was mustered at Camp McClellan, drilled at Camp Lincoln, and sent
to Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Ft. de Russey, Tupelo, Pilot Knob,
Town Creek, Old Town, Tallahatchie (Tallahassie) and several other
places. The regiment was organized and mustered under the call of Oct. 3
in the fall of 1861, and was mustered out of service at Davenport, Nov.
16, 1864. Nearly the entire regiment was captured at Shiloh, but after a
few months was exchanged and reorganized. It is credited with some of
the hardest fighting of the war. Officers and men 840. Killed in action
31. Died from wounds 148. Company G of the regiment was recruited form
Scott and Tama counties. Hugo Hoffbauer of Buffalo and W. T. Dittoe of
this city were lieutenants in Co. A. which was entirely recruited from
Scott county. Joseph H. Clark and William Davenport were also privates
in Co. A.
A residuary battalion of the Fourteenth Iowa was later
reorganized with two companies which was mustered into and on May 13,
1865, mustered out of the army of the United States. This battalion was
formed of veterans and recruits.
The Fifteenth Iowa served in the
heart of the rebellion. Officers and men 1,196. Killed in action 58.
Died of wounds etc., 277. Fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta
and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.
The Record of the
Sixteenth
The Sixteenth Iowa was organized under the first call
of the president for troops, and it was thought to be the last which the
state of Iowa would furnish. Add. H. Sanders of Davenport was its
lieutenant colonel. The regiment was mustered into service at Camp
McClellan, Dec. 10, 1861, with 919 officers and men. The companies
composing it were as follows.
Company A, from Clinton county.
Company B, from Scott county.
Company C and E, from
Muscatine county.
Company D, from Boone county.
Company F, from
Muscatine, Clinton and Scott counties.
Company H, from Clayton and
Dubuque counties.
Company I, from Blackhawk county.
Company K,
from Lee and Muscatine counties.
The Sixteenth participated in
the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Corinth, Kenesaw
Mountain, Kickajack Creek and the battles around Atlanta as also in
Sherman's campaign. Killed in battle 62. Died of wounds, etc., 255.
It might be noticed here that after the battle of Shiloh the Iowa
Brigade was organized by Colonel Crocker, and in this brigade the 16th
Iowa always afterwards formed a part.
The greater part of the
16th regiment was captured in the battle before Atlanta and remained in
prison pens for two months before there was any exchange or liberation.
Tuesday Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 1)
HAIL TO THE
VETS.
Davenport's Portals Open Wide to Receive the Boys who Wore
the Blue.
The Town is Theirs.
Flags and Bunting Everywhere Greet
the Defenders.
War Time's Spirit Extant.
All Roads Lead to
Davenport, Where Grand Army and Auxiliaries Are Welcome Guests.
All day long on Brady street
Re-echoes the tread of marching feet.
All day long the free flags toss
Over the heads of a royal host.
Brothers in arms in peaceful array,
Fighting men of a stirring
day,
The old town opens its portals wide
To welcome you in its
loving pride.
~~With apologies to Barbara Frietchie.
Beginning to-day the streets of Davenport will be alive for three days
with the military figures of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the
department of Iowa. Sixteen years ago this city welcomed the veterans of
many battles and since that time the people of Davenport have been
looking forward to this time, when they again would be privileged to
welcome the old soldiers.
To many of the men in blue who come
here today, the coming to Davenport is like visiting an old home, for it
was here that Camp McClellan was located that rendezvous so important in
the days of the massing of troops during the war. The city welcomes
their return. The city welcomes their friends, their wives, their sons
and their daughters. It is here that many of the incidents of lighter
vein occurred that have gone down in veteran history; it is fitting that
here also, these pleasing memories should be recalled.
With one
accord, therefore, the people of Davenport who saw the bright colored
flags of the new regiments march off to war from Camp McClellan, and who
saw the tattered regiments return to Iowa through this city, welcome the
actors in the greatest of dramas in the national history. The mayor, the
city officials, the press, the people of the city welcome the men in
blue, the delegates, the auxiliary organizations and all who have come
here to attend the twenty sixth encampment of the G.A.R. of the
department of Iowa.
Glad Hand to the Visitors.
Strangers
Within the Gate Given Cordial Welcome.
The delegates and visitors
to the twenty-sixth encampment were met at the trains and the boats by a
large delegation of local G.A.R. men and Sons of Veterans. The Davenport
Drum Corps led each of the delegations back to the he city and to the
bureau of information. At the bureau of information, which was in a tent
opposite the postoffice on Perry street, the delegates were directed to
the boarding houses and the hotels which they had selected. Those who
desired to visit the G.A.R. headquarters were sent to the Kimball house,
where National Commander Albert D. Shaw, Department Commander C. F.
Bailey, Assistant Adjutant General L. M. Black, M. H. Byers, Assistant
Quartermaster General George Shanley and others are registered. Those
who wished to visit the headquarters of the W.R.C. were directed to the
armory of Company B. Others who were younger and were looking for the
headquarters of the Sons of Veterans were sent to the G.A.R. hall. The
Ladies of the G.A.R. were directed to Columbian Hall, over the Davenport
national bank. Around the tent on Perry street this morning there was a
merry crowd, and the hand-shaking, with the exchange of reminiscences
consumed much of the morning.
Sketch of the Iowa G.A.R.
Something of the Growth of the Organization as it is Today.
The
Grand Army of the Republic has had a marvelous growth in Iowa. Beginning
with a few struggling posts in 1874, at a time when the old soldiers
seemed not to feel the need of an organization, struggling for two
years, then almost becoming extinct, it took new life and today there
are in the state 434 posts, with a membership of 14,730. The zenith of
the organization was reached in 1890. At that time the number of posts
was the largest in its history. Since that time the numbers have slowly
from year to year.
The first organization was in 1872. Burt later
a number of posts withdrew. Two provisional commanders were elected,
they being J. C. Parrot, of Keokuk, and A. A. Perkins of Des Moines, who
is now in Denver. The first encampment was in eastern Iowa and the
second encampment 130 posts were reported. The organization then grew
rapidly until 1890, and since then there has been a decline. During the
years of its existence, the department of Iowa has been in charge of the
following commanders:
1879. H. E. Criswold, Atlantic.
1880. W. F.
Conrad, Des Moines.
1881. Peter V. Carey, Des Moines.
1882. B. G.
Hogin, Newton (deceased).
1883. John B. Cook, Carroll (deceased).
1884. E. G. Miller, Waterloo.
1885, W. R. Manning, Newton.
1886.
W. A. McHenry, Denison.
1887. J. M. Tuttle, Des Moines.
1888. E.
A. Consigny, Avoca.
1889. C. H. Smith, Aurora.
1890. Mason P.
Mills, Cedar Rapids.
1891. C. L. Davidson, Hull.
1892. J. J.
Steadman, Council Bluffs.
1893. Phil Schaller, Sac City.
1894.
George A. Newman, Cedar Falls.
1895. J. K. P. Thompson, Rock Rapids.
1896. Josiah Given, DesMoines.
1897. A. H. Evans. Keokuk.
1898. R.
W. Tirrill, DesMoines.
1899. c. F. Bailey, Ireton.
The Iowa
G.A.R. has held an encampment each year and has been entertained in many
of the cities of the state. The organization is all the more remarkable
when it is considered that there is no other tie than the memories born
of the battlefield, memories of common dangers and of equal hardships
endured. A past war lives in the present.
Tuesday Morning
June
12, 1900
(Part 2)
How the Eighth Fought Shiloh.
The
engagement, according to Colonel Geddes, began at 8 o'clock in the
morning of Sunday, April 6, and was continued until the hour of 6 o
clock in the afternoon. Those who distinguished themselves for
conspicuous gallantry were Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Fergeson and Major
J. A. News, both of this city, the latter being one of the best known of
the deceased residents of Davenport. Colonel Geddes says that the battle
was one of the most desperately fought of any in the civil war. His
regiment, the Eighteenth (sic) Iowa, lost 100 men killed, and the
colonel himself was wounded in the leg, while Major Andrews received
some injuries to his head. At about 6 o clock in the afternoon, Colonel
Geddes says, that he found himself hemmed in, and seeing no way to
escape, of course, felt compelled to surrender.
Colonel Geddes
claims that his command was the last to leave the advance line on that
ill favored Sunday, April 6, 1862.
Present Officers.
Among
the visitors in the city today there are none who are more interested in
the successful carrying out of the program of this encampment than the
present officers of the department of Iowa. These officers are:
Commander C. F. Bailey, of Ireton.
Senior vice Commander P. H. Lenon,
of Guthrie county.
Junior Vice commander William Goodin, of
Farmington.
Medical Director H. C. McCoy, of Algona.
Chaplain W.
W. Gist, Osage.
Assistant Adjutant General L. M. Black, of Ireton.
Assistant Quartermaster L. C. Blanchard, Oskaloosa.
Chief Mustering
Officer J. E. Winder, of DesMoines.
The Hornets Nest Brigade.
Historic Name Had Its Origin on Shiloh Battlefield
The Hornets
Nest brigade, which holds its meeting here today at 9 o'clock, takes its
name from the rebel regiments opposing this brigade.
The Hornets
Nest brigade was composed of the Second, Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth and
Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, and the name was attached to it after the
battle of Shiloh, in which General Albert Sidney Johnson was killed.
The rebs thought after they made five futile attempts to charge the
solid phalanx of the five Iowa regiments on that bloody Sunday on April
6, and on Monday, April 7, 1862, that they had gotten themselves into a
veritable hornets nest.
Hence the name.
Companies B and C
of the gallant Second, which participated in the battle of Shiloh, were
form Davenport, the major portion of them having been recruited here.
The brigade was in command of colonel J. M. Tuttle.
On Shiloh's
Fateful Field.
Shiloh is not the only battlefield on which
the Second, Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth, and Fourteenth Iowa s
distinguished themselves, but there were 100 more. More where the blood
of Iowa's brave and fearless boys flowed the ground and incoridined
(sic) it with the crimson of the lifetide. Iowa's sent to the he front
76,309 of her best beloved sons, of which number fully 50,000 are dead.
On fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread.
The Hornets Nest brigade fought at Shiloh, where Wallace fell and
Littler left his arm. There were forty-two officers and men killed at
Shiloh; 104 wounded and eighteen missing. There were 352 taken
prisoners. Colonel J. M. Tuttle, of the Second Iowa, commanded the
brigade in this battle. Colonel W. T. Shaw, of Anamosa, and a member of
the Fourteenth, is president of the association.
At the
Headquarters.
At 7:30 o'clock this morning the Hornets Nest
brigade began to assemble in the upper dining room at the Turner hall. A
large blue print map of the battlefield of Shiloh hung upon an easel in
the room and the comrades eagerly inspected it. The calm Tennessee river
along the south of that bloody field, and the location of the different
regiments and companies are given exactly as they were on that fatal
April 6, which saved the north from being invaded by the hosts of Buell.
Alongside the map of the historic battlefield, is an immense
hornets nest, which at tonight's campfire will adorn the stage.
Tuesday Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 3)
Handshaking and
Registration
At 9 o'clock this morning the registration began. At
11:30 o'clock the Second Iowa had registered over thirty veterans who
fought at the Hornets Nest, while the Seventh registered twelve, the
Eighth twenty-five, the Twelfth eight and the Fourteenth some twenty.
West Liberty, Newton, Buffalo, N.Y., Caledonia, Ohio, Brighton,
Farmington, Hedrick, Corydon, New Albany, Ind., and DesMoines and a
score of other places are represented. R. L. Turner, of Oskaloosa, the
secretary of the brigade, did the registration bay companies, assisted
by Ross Wheatly, of Wilsonville, Iowa. Badges were distributed to all of
the comrades as they came into the hall.
At 10:30 o'clock this
morning the executive committee session of the brigade was held at
Turner hall, but no information was given out concerning the business it
transacted.
The Business Meeting
At 1:30 o'clock this
afternoon the business meeting of the brigade was held in the Turner
Grand opera house and was very largely attended. The hall was very
delightfully decorated in honor of the occasion. The portraits of
Abraham Lincoln, Grant, McKinley, etc., and Old Glory were in evidence.
G. L. Godfrey, in the stead of Colonel Shaw, called the meeting to
order at 2 o'clock today. Vice Presidents Mahon, Campbell, and three
others were upon the stage.
The first report of officers was that
of the secretary, R. L. Turner, of Oskaloosa, who reported that the last
meeting or reunion of the Hornets Nest brigade was held at Newton, Iowa,
on August 27, 1900.
The secretary stated that the organization
was in good shape.
The treasurer, Comrade Twombly, of DesMoines,
reported total assets at $187.67. The balance now on hand is $73.70.
The committee on badges was continued in office until the next
meeting or reunion, at which time it will be expected to report.
A motion was made by Secretary Turner to have a recess of 10 minutes,
during which each of the five regiments in the brigade should select the
member upon a committee of nomination and one upon a committee on
resolutions. Carried.
Chairman Godfrey stated that the resolutions
drafted by the committee on resolutions would be presented at the
campfire which will be held this evening for adoption.
After the
meeting was again called to order the following gentlemen were appointed
upon the following committees:
On Nominations Second Iowa, Wade
Kirkpatrick: Seventh Iowa, Alexander Fields: Eighth Iowa, E. S. Palmer:
twelfth Iowa, Dr. J. B. Morgan, Fourteenth Iowa, Milton Rhodes.
On Resolutions Second Iowa, Captain Twombly; Seventh Iowa, J. H. Lewis;
Eighth Iowa, J. N. Currier; Twelfth Iowa, D. W. Reed; Fourteenth Iowa,
Ross Wheatly.
Alexander Fields, chairman of the nominating
committee, moved that the old officers be retained in office for the
ensuing year. These officers are as follows.
President Colonel W.
T. Shaw, Anamosa, Iowa.
Vice Presidents G. L. Godfrey, Second
Iowa, DesMoines; Samuel Mahon, Seventh Iowa, Ottumwa; J. C. Kennon,
Eighth Iowa, Van Horn, Iowa; R. P. Clarkson, Twelfth Iowa, Des Moines;
S. M. Chapman, Fourteenth Iowa, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Secretary R. L.
Turner, Eighth Iowa, Oskaloosa.
Treasurer V. P. Twombly, Second Iowa,
DesMoines.
The question of Hornets Nest badges came up again
after the old officers were re-elected. Alex Fields suggested that a
collection be taken up and the money devoted to the manufacture of a die
for making metal badges. The motion prevailed.
There was much
discussion concerning the character of the badge, it was, however,
decided to have it in the shape of either a button hole emblem embossed
with a hornet's nest, or of a stick pin with the hornet s nest rampant.
The same will be made from metal, gold, silver, copper, bronze or
aluminum, according to the amount of money at hand.
Secretary
Turner was allowed the sum of $50 for services during the year.
Tuesday Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 4)
The Hornets Nest
Brigade
Campfire This Evening at the Turner Grand Opera House.
Tonight there will be a campfire at the Turner Grand opera house,
given by the Hornets Nest brigade. This campfire will be open to the
public without tickets, and will be held tonight. It was erroneously
announced by another evening paper and a morning paper that the campfire
would be tomorrow night. The members of the brigade are particularly
anxious that it be understood that the campfire is tonight. The program
for the evening follows:
Music by the Band.
Invocation.
Music,
by Apollo Glee Quartette.
Address of Welcome .Mayor Heinz.
Response.Col. D. Ryan, 8th Iowa.
Music, Apollo Quartette.
The Men
of 61.
Captain Samuel Chapman, 14th Iowa.
Shiloh Major D. b. Reed,
12th Iowa
Music
The U.S. Volunteer Soldier.
.Col. W. B. Bell,
8th Iowa
The Loyalty and Devotion of our Mothers, Wives and Daughters
Never Be Forgotten.
.Captain R. G. Reniger, 7th Iowa Shiloh s Field
by Night.
.Miss Mabel Metzger, Music.
The influence of the Civil
War on the Progress of the Nation.
Major Samuel Mahon, 7th Iowa.
Gen. J. B. Weaver, Colonel G. L. Godfrey, of 2d Iowa, and Captain J.
Stibbs, 12th Iowa, and have gone foraging. Should they get back to camp
in time, they will be given ten minutes each to explain how they did it.
Music.
Our Comrades who have gone before their memory we will
ever cherish.
Captain J. W. Morgan, 14th Iowa.
Music.
Reception At the Armory.
Was Largely Attended by Distinguished
Visitors and Delegates.
There was a large attendance at the
reception which was tendered this afternoon to National Commander Albert
D. Shaw, of Watertown, N.Y.:C. F. Bailey, department commander and his
staff; Woman s Relief Corps, Ladies of the G.A.R.: Sons of Veterans and
other kindred organizations. The reception was held in Armory hall from
2 to 4 o'clock.
The hall was pettily decorated. On the walls were
festoons of bunting and the ceiling was decorated artistically with the
national colors. The platform was also decorated with the stars and
stripes and potted plants added to the beauty of the interior.
The people who assisted National Commander Albert D. Shaw in receiving
were C. F. Bailey, commander of department of Iowa; Mrs. Lizzie
Hutchison, president of the W.R.C.; Mrs. Florence McClelland, department
president of Illinois; P. H. Lenon, senior vice president W. R. C.: M.
H. Byers, member council of administration: Mrs. Georgia McClellan,
secretary W. R. C.: L. M. Black, assistant adjutant general: M. J.
Eagal, commander August Wentz Post, Davenport: Mrs. Belle T. Roedell,
department inspector: Mrs. E. E. Plopper, chairman executive committee
W. R. C.: Mrs. Georgia B. Worker, of auditing committee, and Mrs. Moatt,
of Chicago.
After the reception the visitors were taken to the
Orphans Home and there viewed the institution.
At the W. R. C.
Headquarters.
Outline of Meetings to Be Held To-night and
Tomorrow.
At the headquarters of the W. R. C. in the parlors of
the St. James hotel there are many of the delegates who are registering
and getting acquainted with the officers and other delegates. There were
at noon about 150 names registered more than half being the names of
delegates. Among the officers of the organization who are here may be
mentioned the president, Mrs. Lizzie S. Hutchison of Lake City, Ia. She
has been the president of only one term and there is a strong sentiment
among the delegates that she should be re-elected. If she can be
persuaded to permit her name to be used, she will be the next president
also. The senior vice-president, who is Mrs. Christine C. Snyder of
Creston, is here. She will be a candidate for the office if Mrs.
Hutchison refuses to be a candidate. The secretary is Mrs. Georgia
McClellan, of Denison, Ia. She is here and is busy at work looking after
the duties of her office. She has been the past department president.
One little incident in her life to which she seldom refers but which her
friends never fail to tell is that she with her mother and two sisters
were living on the hill at Gettysburg at the time of the battle. Wounded
soldiers were brought to their home. Her sister who was making bread for
the wounded was shot through the head by a stray bullet during the
course of the battle. Mrs. McClellan, therefore, knows truly of the
actualities of war.
The treasurer is Mrs. Myra J. Parker of
DesMoines.
W.R.C. Program
The program as mapped out by the
officers of the W.R.C. includes the attendance at the armory tonight
where at 7:30 o'clock the ladies of the local G.A.R. will exemplify the
secret work of the order.
At 9 o 'clock tomorrow morning there
will be a business meeting of the W.R.C.
There will be an
adjournment of the order to attend the parade, and after the parade, the
W.R.C. will elect officers.
Tuesday Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 5)
Sons of Veterans Program
Will Hold Several Important
Sessions Here.
The following area the present officers of the
Iowa department S. of V.
Commander Wm. A. Brown, Marshalltown.
Adjutant H. C. Lounsberry, Marshalltown.
Quartermaster Geo. Brock,
Marshalltown.
Judge Advocate C. J. Cash, Anamosa.
Surgeon Chas. F.
Fowler, DesMoines.
Division Inspector S. E. Day, Sabula.
Chaplain
E. E. Niday, Corydon.
Nearly all of the officers are present and
there are about twenty-five delegates present and a total of 100 in the
city. This afternoon at G.A.R. hall the division council if to be held
to audit books of encampment.
Arrangements For Parade
Line of
March and Marshals That Have Been Selected.
Tomorrow afternoon at
2 o'clock is the great parade. The parade will be one of the largest
that has been seen in this part of Iowa for a long time. Colonel P. W.
McManus, of Davenport, will have charge of the movement of the parade
and his aides are as follows: C. W. Neal, D. B. Morehouse, R. P. Scott,
L. A. Dilley, and Daniel Evers, the latter of Company B.
How
Parade Will Move
Platoon of Police
Marshal and Aides
Grand Army
Officers, Women's Relief Corps and Ladies of the G.A.R. in Carriages.
Strasser's Band
Company B, 50th Reg., I.N.G.
Uniform Rank K. of
P., Davenport.
Buford Post, Rock Island.
Graham Post, Moline
District 1, 3, 4 and 5, G.A.R.
Otto's Band
District 6,7,8,9,10 ad
11, G.A.R.
Medical Staff
Ambulance
Petersen's Band
Orphan's
Home Cadets
District No. 2, G.A.R.
Service Men of the Spanish War
Sons of Veterans.
Ambulance.
Formation of Parade.
The
parade will form at 1:30 p.m. as follows:
Platoon of police officers
of G.A.R., Women s Relief Corps, Ladies of the G.A.R., Strasser s band,
Co. B, 50th Reg., I.N.G., Uniform Rank, K. of P., Moline, Buford Post,
Rock Island, Graham Post, Moline.
District 1, 3, 4, 5, in order named
will form on Fourth street east with right resting on Brady.
Otto s
band, Districts 6, 7 and 8 in the order named will form on Rock Island
street, south right resting on Fourth.
Petersen's band. Orphan's Home
Cadets, 2d District G.A.R., Service Men of the Spanish War and Sons of
Veterans will form on Fourth street west, right resting on Brady.
Line of March
The parade will move at 2 p.m. the line of
march will be south on Brady to Second, west on Second to Warren, north
to Third, east to Scott, north to Fourth, east to City Hall, where the
parade will be reviewed and dispersed.
Marshal's Note.
By
districts is meant congressional districts. This program is subject to
changes as to bands and drum corps.
Tuesday Morning
June 12,
1900
(Part 6)
Wednesday's Program.
Morning
The
delegates will convene at the Grand Opera House (Turner Hall), at 9
o'clock sharp.
Delegates are requested to meet at the headquarters
(Kimball House), at 8:30 o'clock a.m., sharp and march in a body to
Grand Opera House.
Address of Welcome Henry Thuenen.
Response
Comrade T. D. McCurdy, of Hazelton.
Invocation Department chaplain.
Report of committee on credentials.
Annual address by the department
commander.
Report of the assistant adjutant general, followed by
reports of the Assistant quartermaster general and other department
officers.
Report of committee on Soldiers Home
Report of Vicksburg
committee.
Appointment of the committee on different reports by the
commander.
Appointment of committees to carry greeting to other
orders by the department commander.
Grand Parade.
Parade
at 2 o'clock p.m., sharp. The parade will form on Brady and Fourth
streets with right resting on neighboring streets and will pass down
Brady to Second, west on Second to Warren, north on Warren to Third,
east on Third to Scott street, and thence along the city hall, were the
reviewing stand will be erected. The governor and his staff, with the
national and state commanders will review the parade.
Evening
Concert.
Grand patriotic vocal and instrumental concert at
Schuetzen park from 8 to 10 p.m. During the concert short addresses will
be delivered by National Commander Albert D. Shaw, of New York, and to
others, to which the public is cordially invited. Admittance free. Third
street cars run direct to the park. In case of rain this entertainment
will be transferred to Grand Opera House.
Caught on the Sentry
Line.
Stray Shots Heard by the Times Comrades on Picket Duty.
Captain E. Weingartner, of Nebraska, an old Davenporter, is in the city
to attend the meeting of the Iowa brigade.
Seth B. Twombly, of
Chicago, is in the city. Seth used to carry a gun in the ranks of the
Second.
Chief of Police Frank Kessler said that he never endured
a more galling fire than when he lay in the Hornets Nest at Shiloh, or
when the Second and Seventh Iowas passed the enfilading fire on retreat
to escape capture. We received our first baptism of fire then I can
assure you, said he, and we were taken unawares. We had left Davenport
proud of our guns and our uniforms, and on Sunday morning, April 6, we
met the enemy. It was early in the morning and some of us had only our
undergarments on. Captain Wallace was killed at Shiloh.
Chief
Kessler said, in discussing Shiloh: I remember seeing Colonel Bob
Littler, the organizer of the volunteer fire department here, whirl
around on the field and then I knew he was hit. I caught him as he fell,
and he said: Frank, there goes my arm. When Bob came home he had an
empty sleeve.
Iowa had the famous Crocker, or Iowa brigade, which
held its meeting at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Turner hall. She
also had the Union brigade, the Hornets Nest brigade. The Union brigade
was composed of the Eighth and Twelfth infantries, and the Hornet's Nest
of the Second Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth and Fourteenth infantries. Then
we had the Greybeard regiment, and the Iowa Temperance regiment. All
made enviable records.
There was good foraging through Georgia,
but it was tough through the Carolinas. Old Bill McCrellias once tried
to tackle a bee hive, looking for honey. When Bill got back to camp, we
didn't know him. He had gotten into a veritable hornets nest. So said
Chief Kessler.
C. F. Bailey, the present commander, was born in
Ohio, and came to Iowa in 1850. He has lived in Iowa since that time,
having devoted his energies to the business of farming and stock
raising. Mr. Bailey enlisted in 1861 in the Fifth Iowa volunteer
infantry. He served four years and four months. He went with his
regiment from Missouri to the sea, and was with Sherman in his memorable
march. His regiment was almost annihilated at Missouri Ridge, and the
remnant was ordered to join the Fifth Iowa cavalry. Mr. Bailey has
served two terms in the state legislature. At the present he is ending
his administration as commander of the department.
Tuesday
Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 7)
Caught on the Sentry Line
(continued)
P. H. Lenon is in the city. He is the senior vice
commander. He was born near Logansport, Ind., and came to Iowa in 1859,
locating in Guthrie county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I,
Twenty-ninth infantry and served till the close of the war. Last year he
was junior vice commander and he is now a member of the executive
committee of the council of administration of the national organization.
Mr. Lenon spent three months at Camp McClellan. He was mustered out with
commission of captain.
William Goodin is in the city and is the
junior vice commander. He was born in Perry county, Oh., in 1828, and
came to Iowa in 1844. He enlisted in Company A. First Iowa cavalry, June
13, 1861. The company was encamped at Burlington with the other
companies of the battalion and that fall the command went to St. Louis.
The regiment was in service in Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory and
Texas. It was a part of the Seventh Army Corps, known as the army of the
frontier.
The medical director is H. C. McCoy, M. D., and he is
also here attending the encampment. He enlisted in Greene county, Wis.,
and served with the thirty-first Wisconsin for two years. A part of that
time he was acting assistant surgeon. Then he went before the examining
board at Nashville, where he took an examination and was found
sufficiently proficient to be commissioned assistant surgeon. He was
assigned to the Third Tennessee cavalry and was brevet surgeon at the
close of the war. He with many others was captured by General Forrest.
Sept. 24, 1864, and was a prisoner for three months. He was taken to
Meridan and Enterprise, Ala. He came to Iowa in 1870 and has resided at
Algona since that time. He has been medical director four terms.
L. M. Black, the assistant adjutant general, was born in Henry county,
Ind., Jan. 15, 1842. He came to Iowa January, 1871. He was a member of
the Fifty-seventh Indiana regiment and was enlisted Oct. 25, 1861. After
three years of service he was discharge at Corinth, Miss. His home is at
Ireton and he has an office at Des Moines.
J. E. Winder, who is
the chief mustering officer, was born in Champaign county, Oh., in 1842,
and came to Iowa in 1854. He was enlisted in the Seventeenth Iowa, March
12, 1862. He served until June 21, 1865. . He was mustered out of the
service at Camp McClellan. When I was captured, said Mr. Winder, I
weighted 165 pounds and when I had been in Andersonville three months I
weighted only 80 pounds. I there lost my health and have never recovered
from the effects. When asked if Andersonville has been painted
sufficiently black, he said:
No. The histories of Andersonville are
not overdrawn. They do not paint the picture of prison life with too
much blackness. They paint them with scarcely enough realism. I was
there six and one-half months and I know.
The general
entertainment committee of the local G. A. R. last evening secured four
copies of The Times Twentieth Century directory for use during the
encampment, in order that the visitors may be directed quickly and
accurately to the several places where they will be entertained. The
committee appreciates the fact that The Times directory is the only
accurate directory of the city.
Chief of Police, Kessler was a
member of the Hornets Nest brigade, and says the brigade repulsed five
separate attacks of the rebels.
M. Smallenberg, of Company B, of
the Second Iowa, now a resident of New York, is in the city to look
after the meeting of the Hornets Nest brigade. Mr. Smallenberg says that
Sergeant Ed Coughlin, of Buffalo, N. Y., also a member of the brigade,
would have been here had he not met with an accident on the Lehigh
Valley road while preparing to embark for the encampment here, on last
Friday. He was so injured that he could not come to the city, although
he much desired to do so. Mr. Smallenberg is an uncle of H. J. Tober, of
the local board of trade.
L. P. Sicer, of New Albany, Ind., is in
the city attending the encampment. He was a member of Company C, of the
Hornets Nest brigade a member of the Second Iowa regiment. He says that
the Eighth and Twelfth and Fourteenth regiments were captured at Shiloh,
the Second and Seveneth alone escaping. Comrade Sicer says that he is an
engineer on the Monon Route. Mr. Sicer told a Times reporter that he can
never forget how he was compelled to shoot down a boy in the presence of
his mother, while on the way to the front. That mother, said he, threw
herself on the boy and when she arose, her white gown was bespattered
with blood. I had to do it, lad, but I'll never cease to regret it.
Tuesday Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 8)
(continued)
Chief Piening stated this morning that so far as the arrangements had
been made this morning, the plans for the display of the work of the
Davenport fire department contemplated a run to the Masonic Temple at
the corner of Third and Main streets at 2:30 o'clock. To the call the
hooks, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and perhaps 5 will respond. The hose companies will
show the power of the Davenport water pumping station while the aerial
truck will be elevated and the roof of the temple will be scaled by the
afternoon.
Robert Highly, 39 years ago, was a member of the
Hornets Nest brigade, and was in Brewster's column at Shiloh. He is here
from Caldonia, Ohio, and says that he knows McKinley. He proposes to
become acquainted with Governor Shaw during the encampment.
National commander Albert D. Shaw is in the city to attend the
encampment. He expressed himself as well pleased with the arrangements
that had been made by the local committee for the entertainment of the
G.A.R.
Major Samuel Mahon, of the Seventh Iowa, is in the city.
He is a veteran of the noted Hornets Nest Brigade and one of Ottumwa's
most prominent citizens.
Captain Twombly, of Des Moines, who
married the girl he left behind him, and has her yet, is in attendance
upon the fourth reunion of the Hornets Nest Brigade.
Captain
Campbell, of Oakville, Ia., of the Fourteenth, is visiting with old time
comrades.
Major D. B. Reed, of the twelfth Iowa, and General John
B. Weaver, Colonel G. L. Godfrey, of the Second Iowa, and Captain J.
Stibbs, of the Twelfth, are here. Colonel Godfrey presided at the
business meeting of the brigade this afternoon. General Weaver was a
prime favorite with the boys during the handshaking session.
Dr.
R. N. Hall, of Chicago, who participated in the battle at Shiloh, is
here. He came here from his duties as the head of a medical college to
attend the fourth reunion.
Quite a few of the veterans brought
their wives with them to the reunion.
The Ladies of the Relief
Corps have their headquarters at the St. James hotel. They did the
honors well this forenoon.
L. M. Black said today that the local
committee had things arranged the best that he had ever experienced in
all his visits to many encampments.
C. D. Rickey, of Ottumwa, a
member of the Hornets Nest brigade has a genuine hornets nest mounted on
a pole, which he will carry in the parade tomorrow.
J. L.
Tinkham, of Vinton, Iowa, of the Eight Iowa (Hornets Nest brigade) is
here. He called upon A. L. Mossman.
S. C. James, of Post No. 122, B.
First Regular Berdan's Sharpshooters, of Centerville, Ia., is in the
city attending the G. A. R. 26th annual encampment, which will begin
tomorrow. He is quartered at the St. James, and came to the city at 11
o'clock last night. He states that his regiment was the first
sharpshooting regiment in the service.
M. Smallenburg and wife,
of Buffalo, N. Y., are the guests of Mrs. Harry Toher, of Eighth and
Hennepin streets, during the encampment.
Mrs. Georgiana
McClelland, of Denison, Ia., is in the city attending W. R. C. meeting.
Mrs. Hutchinson, of Lake City, the department treasurer of the W. R.
C., is at the St. James.
Mrs. Hayber, the senior vice, of
Waterloo, and Mrs. Christina Snyder, junior vice of Creston, are also in
the city for the encampment.
Mrs. Florence McClelland, of
Illinois, department president of the state W. R. C., is here from
Chicago to attend the events of the week.
Tuesday Morning
June
12, 1900
(Part 9)
Iowa's Boys in Blue
[The following is
a continuation of the story of the mustering of the Iowa regiments which
opened in Saturday's Times and is concluded in this issue. Frank J. B.
Huot is the historian.Editor.]
The Iowa Cavalry
Iowa also
furnished nine regiments of cavalry, as follows:
First Iowa Cavalry
Organized in 1861. Veteranized in 1864. Mustered out in 1866. Officers
and men, 1, 478. Killed in action, 43. Died of wounds. Etc. 224. Fought
at Corinth, Iuka, Clear Creek, Elkins Ford and Antwineville.
Second
Iowa Cavalry Mustered in at Camp Joe Holt, Davenport, September, 1861.
Officers and men, 1,349. Killed in action, 41. Died of wounds, etc.,
224. Fought at Corinth, Iuka, Palo Alto, Coffeeville, Tupelo, Oxford,
Nashville and other places.
Third Iowa Cavalry Mustered in at Keokuk.
Officers and men, 1, 360. Killed in action, 65. Died of wounds, etc.,
__. Fought at Pea Ridge, LeGrange, Sycamore, Coldwater, Pine Bluff,
White's Station and other places. Mustered out at Atlanta.
Fourth
Iowa Cavalry Mustered in at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Officers and men, 1,
227. Killed in action, 44. Died of wounds, etc., 227. Fought at Geere
Town, Miss. White River, Tupelo, Osage, Little Blue River, St. Frances
River and other places. Mustered out at Atlanta.
Fifth Iowa Cavalry
Officers and men, 1, 245. Killed in action, 47. Died of wounds, etc.,
141. This regiment was only in part an Iowa product, being organized at
Omaha. Companies E, F, and H only being from Iowa. Fought at second
battle at Fort Donelson, Duck River Ridge, Sugar Creek, Camp Creek,
Cumberland Works, Lockridge's Mills and other places. Mustered out at
Nashville, Tenn. in August, 1865.
Sixth Iowa Cavalry Organized and
mustered in at Camp Joe Holt, Davenport early in 1863. E. P. Ten Broeck,
of Clinton, was major. Company A was recruited from Scott county. The
regiment was employed upon the frontier against the Indians and did
excellent service. Fought in the battle of White Stone Hill. Officers
and men, 1, 125. Killed in action, 19. Died of wounds, etc., 72.
Mustered out at Sioux City, October 17, 1865.
Eight Iowa Cavalry
Recruited from Twelfth Iowa infantry. Some 2,000 men were enlisted, some
450 of which were turned over to the Ninth cavalry, and seventy-five to
the Fourth battery. Mustered into service at Camp McClellan. Davenport,
September 30, 1863. Participated in Stoneman's cavalry raid through
Alabama. Also in the battles at Lost Mountain and Nashville. Mustered
out at Macon, Georgia, August 13, 1865. Officers and men, 1,234. Killed
in action, 30. Died of wounds, etc., 106.
Ninth Iowa Cavalry
Recruited at Davenport and mustered into the service at Camp Joe Holt,
otherwise Camp Lincoln, November 30, 1863. The last three-years regiment
organized in Iowa. Performing heavy scouting in Arkansas. Mustered out
at Little Rock, February 28, 1866. Officers and men, 1,178. Killed in
action, 6. Died of wounds, etc., 178.
The Four Iowa Batteries.
There were four batteries of light artillery organized in Iowa,
every one of which was mustered out of service at Camp Joe Holt, in
Davenport.
The First battery was mustered into service at
Burlington, August 17, 1861, and mustered out July 5, 1865, at Camp
McClellan. Was in action at Pea Ridge, Port Gibson, in the Atlanta
campaign, and at Lookout Mountain, in the battle above the clouds.
Officers and men, 149. Killed in action, 7. Died of wounds, etc., 55.
The second battery was mustered in at Council Bluffs, on August 8
and 31, 1861, and was mustered out at Camp McClellan, August 7, 1865.
Participated in the battles at Farmington, Corinth and other places.
Officers and men, 123. Killed in action, 1. Died of wounds, etc., 30.
The third battery was mustered into service at Dubuque in September
1861, and was mustered out of service at Camp McClellan on October 23,
1865. Was engaged at Pea Ridge and other places. Officers and men 142.
Killed in action 3. Died from wounds thirty-four.
The fourth
battery was mustered into service at Camp McClellan in Davenport on
November 23, 1863 and was mustered out at the same place, July 14, 1865.
Operated in Louisiana. Officers and men 152; killed in action 0 (none);
Died of wounds, etc., 6.
Tuesday Morning
June 12, 1900
(Part 10)
(continued)
Iowas Colored Troops.
There was
an Iowa Regiment of colored troop organized in 1863, which was known as
the First African Infantry. However it saw no active service, being
stationed on garrison duty at Jefferson Barracks and other places in
Missouri. The regiment afterwards became the Sixtieth United States
Regiment of colored troops.
The Northern Border brigade was
organized to defend the northwestern frontier. There were five companies
in the brigade, all enlisted from the northwestern counties.
The
Southern Border brigade was organized for a similar object. There were
seven companies in three battalions recruited from the counties on the
Missouri border.
The Iowa Brigade.
Colonel Crocker was at
the head of the Thirteenth Iowa infantry. He was a great and a stern
drill master and was past master in the science of army discipline.
After Shiloh had been fought he formed the Iowa Brigade, now the Crocker
Brigade commonly so called. This was composed of the thirteenth,
eleventh, sixteenth, fifteenth Iowa's together with the gallant seventh.
At Atlanta, when on June 22 General Hood made his famous charge
which opened the battle, the Sixteenth Iowa flanked on the right by the
Eleventh Iowa, and on the Eleventh Iowa, and on the left by the
Fifteenth Iowa, with the Thirteenth Iowa in the rear, all forming the
invincible Iowa Brigade, was at the main point of the charge. The
Sixteenth captured a regiment on that day but later was taken prisoner
itself, after which came the weary months at Andersonville.
The Dead
at Camp McClellan
Those brave soldiers who passed from earth upon
pallets of pain at historic Camp McClellan, are noticed as follows. The
writer will not, nor cannot, vouch for the completeness of the list:
Warner Behrens Died March 11, 1863.
Clinton Clark Died Jan. 2, 1863.
William Oscar Hunter Died Oct. 2, 1862.
Peter C. Frame Died March 11,
1863.
Henry R. Moore Died Feb. 11, 1863.
August Schultz Died May
25, 1862.
Denis Sullivan Died __ __.
Iowa's Honored Dead.
From Scott county alone there were 277 brave heroes offered up as a
holocaust of war upon the altar of peace. Out of 57,060 troops from Iowa
which responded to the president s call at least 3,400 perished on the
battlefields or at least from wounds before the smoke of conflict
cleared away. Those who perished from disease, starvation and unattended
and gangrenous wounds must be counted by the thousands on the ten
fingers, and that number representative only of the mortality from 1861
to 1866, during the five years of the unhappy strife between brother and
brother.
Un Mot l aru Revoir.
A word before closing. Camp
McClellan is a sacred spot. It is historic. For thirty five years the
Allen's have not disturbed its topography. It's site would make an ideal
city park. The suggestion might be considered by those interested in
large and worthy enterprises.
Wednesday, June 13, 1900
All is
Now Ready
G.A.R. Encampment Will be Large
Much Enthusiasm Shown
Preparations for the Meeting of Old Soldiers Moving Along Nicely
Program Reviewed.
Tell the people that the preparations for the
G.A.R. encampment, which will be held here next week beginning Tuesday
are being completed with amazing quickness and thoroughness, said George
Metzger this morning. As Mr. Metzger is the chairman of the committee of
arrangements for the encampment he is in a position to know. All the
preparations as outlined in the general program are about complete.
Mr. Metzger stated that the committee was making arrangements for
rooms for as many people as possible and that he committee would
consider it a great favor if the people having suitable rooms would let
the committee know their address.
Decorations
Davenport
entertained the G.A.R. encampment 16 years ago and at that time the city
did itself proud in the matter of decorations. Afterward for years there
was no city that had equaled Davenport in the matter of decorations. The
G.A.R. men often mentioned it to me at the encampments, continued Mr.
Metzger. For that reason I am especially anxious to have the people of
the city decorate in the best way that they know how. The decorations
should be flags and colors with designs and pictures of a military
order.
Financial
The committee in charge of the financial
end of the encampment reports that it is making rapid progress in the
matter of the collection of the money that has been subscribed for the
encampment. The committee has arranged for the entertainment of the
visitors in a royal manner. There will be no debts at the close of the
encampment.
The Program.
As officially announced, the first
day will include a meeting of the council of administration, a reception
by the national commander, Albert d. Shaw, of Watertown, N.Y., a meeting
of the credentials committee and the reunion of the Hornet's Nest
Brigade.
The second day, Wednesday, June 13, will include a
meeting at the Turner Grand Opera House at 9 o clock where the mayor
will welcome the guests, the commander will give his annual address, and
committees will report. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon will occur the
parade.
The Line of March.
Colonel P.W. McManus is in
charge of the parade arrangements. He has asked a number of
representatives from each of the organizations that will take part to
have an officer on his staff for the day. These names will be made
public after the invitations have been issued. The line of march has
been given out by colonel McManus as follows.
The parade will
form on Brady street with right resting on neighboring streets and will
pass down Brady to Second, west on Second to Warren, north on Warren on
Third, east on Third to Scott street, north on Scott to Fourth street,
and thence along the city hall, where the reviewing stand will be
erected. The governor and his staff, with the national and state
commanders will review the parade.
On the same day, after the
parade, officers for the ensuing year will be elected, the place for the
next encampment will be named. In the evening there will be a camp fire
at Schuetzen park.
On the last day there will be miscellaneous
business transacted, the city fire department will give an exhibition
drill and a river excursion has been arranged. There will be a camp fire
at the opera house at night.
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
Down To Business
Twenty-sixth Annual Encampment of the Iowa Grand
Army in Session.
Opening Ceremonies
City Attorney Thuenen Does
Honors for Town.
Summary of Proceedings.
Department Commander
Bailey in Annual Address Discusses Matters of Interest.
The
twenty-sixth annual encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the
department of Iowa, was formally opened this morning at 9 o'clock, at
the Turner Grand opera house. At 8:30 in the morning the delegate met at
the headquarters at the Kimball house and marched to the Turner hall,
headed by Strasser's band. At the opera house precedence was given to
the delegates and they were allowed to file in and take their seats
before the others. Then a few visitors were allowed to pass in. The
session was called to order by George Metzger, chairman of the social
committee, and he introduced City Attorney Henry Thuenen, who made the
address of welcome, speaking in part as follows:
Address of
Welcome.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the G. A. R. of the Department
of Iowa: It is true that the mayor is unavoidable prevented from being
here on account of business, and those who have seen him know that I
could not fill his shoes nor his place. The city welcomes you because of
what you have done. By their deeds you shall know them. it is written,
and certainly we know what the soldiers of the civil war For that reason
we welcome you. There were times in the past when father fought against
son, brother against brother, and it was for such a purpose that the
president of the United States called for 150,000 volunteers. At that
time an illustration of patriotism was given which the world cannot
equal anywhere else.
At that time we were not at war with foreign
nations. No foe had assailed our border. There was a war with self. One
part of the country opposed another. As there is no duty of a father so
difficult to fulfill as that which requires him to punish a child, so
there was no task so ardent to perform as that of fighting people of
your own country. They were the bravest of foes that man ever fought but
you carried the flag on to victory. Those who should have supported you,
opposed. The task was difficult, when such deserted you. But to the
soldier who stood for the Union let us give all honor. You have given to
the world an object lesson, for you have proved that you are kind,
gentle and forgiving as a woman, while at the same time having the
courage of a lion.
But now the North and the South are linked
together as one. Only recently we have had an illustration of how the
animosities of the 60s have passed away forever.
You have taken
cities by siege while in the service, you have taken them quickly by
assault, but we surrender to you without the firing of a gun. I was
about to say that we presented the keys of the city to you. But we have
no keys. They were lost long ago, and since that time the gates of
Davenport have stood ajar to welcome you all who come. Therefore, to you
today we extend the heartiest of greeting and bid you thrice welcome.
Response.
T. D. McCurdy of Hazelton, was introduced to
make the response an did so in a very entertaining address. Among other
things, he said:
Mr. Attorney, comrades, and friends: Permit me
to return thanks to you for the good will that you have shown not only
to us, but also to the shadowy presence of those who have gone before.
We recall the immensity of the war of the rebellion, the massive army
mustered into service and the 2, 685 battles which were fought. That
army that has followed the flag that has never known defeat has left
thousands upon thousands on the battlefields and large business
enterprises and its pleasing memories. We are indeed glad to be here.
The pleasure of this gathering can only be marred by the sadness
engendered by the view of the aged faces of those who are here as
delegates, for they remind us that these gatherings cannot be carried on
much longer. We accept the hospitality of this city with pleasure. We
rejoice to be here. May the success and the future of Davenport be as
bright as a morning sun in a cloudless sky.
(Continued)
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
(Continued)
Chaplain's
Invocation.
Commander Bailey then took charge of the meeting and
stated that as in the days of old on the battlefield they were
accustomed to follow the leaders. Therefore he would ask Chaplain W. W.
Gist, of Osage, to lead in prayer. The delegates arose and Chaplain Gist
prayed for the guidance of the meeting.
O Lord, our Heavenly
Father in Heaven at all times, in all places and under all circumstances
we would acknowledge you as our guide. We return unto thee our thanks,
our gratitude for the mercy that thou hast bestowed on us. We pray thee
to bless the comrades over all the state. Some of them are not here,
some are unable to be present on account of ill health and some of them
are too poor to be here. Bless those in authority. We pray for the
soldier boys in distant islands. Make them strong to resist and overcome
temptation. Bless us and guide us through life and may we all join in
that great reunion which will take place above.
Executive
Session.
Following the prayer, the encampment went into secret
session during which various reports were presented, the annual address
of the department given and the working committees appointed.
Department Commander's Address.
C. F. Bailey, the department
commander thus addressed his assembled comrades:
To the members
of the Twenty-sixth Annual Encampment, Department of Iowa, Grand Army of
the Republic.Comrades: The Twenty-fifth annual encampment having
selected and elected me to the very honorable and responsible position
of commander, I feel it fitting and proper that I should at this time
sincerely thank the members of the G. A. R. for this expression of their
confidence in me. I feel that there is no other organization in this
great commonwealth of ours that that can confer greater honor upon one
of it's members than can be conferred by this encampment by electing one
of its comrades to the very high position of department commander. It
has always given me great pleasure to meet with the comrades and
participate in their campfires and I shall ever hold a pleasant
remembrance on account of the expressions of good feeling which I have
received from the comrades at all times. It has been the greatest desire
of my heart to do all that I could to make the lives of the boys happier
by my presence among them.
Universal Harmony.
When I took
charge of the office to which I was elected, I found universal harmony
and good order prevailing among the members of the different posts of
the state: thus showing conclusively that those having charge of the
work before me had done their work faithfully. I, therefore, felt it my
duty to try to maintain if possible, this same harmonious spirit that I
might, at the close of my term, transfer the trust to my successor with
the assurance that this same good feeling should still permeate the
entire department. In the work of keeping up the same good feeling, I
feel that I have succeeded very well.
The differences that have
arisen that called for a decision from myself have been so few that they
are hardly worthy of mention. You will see by the Judge Advocate s
report that but very little business has been transacted in that line.
There have been a few cases in which different comrades have disagreed
in their several posts, but being aided by my able assistant adjutant
general, we at all times have been able to bring about peace and
harmony, so that during the year there has been no post disbanded where
there have been enough members to constitute a quorum.
Soldiers
in Good Condition.
In traveling over the state. I have been much
pleased to find the old soldier in good condition generally, so far as
finance and citizenship. Neither have they been forgotten by the
citizens of the state, many of them holding positions of honor in the
different counties as well as in the state.
I find that the
teachings of the different organizations, auxiliary to the G. A. R. have
a great strengthening power in the way of advancing and building up the
character of the young an the development of noble manhood. I have also
been pleased to note that in general, there is a good feeling prevalent
among our kindred organizations. All have been doing a grand work in
looking after, and administering to the wants of the boys of 61-65, as
also to those of the late Spanish-American soldiers.
(Continued)
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
(Continued)
Question
of Precedence
But, though there has been general harmony, yet
some dissatisfaction has arisen between the Woman s Relief Corps and the
Ladies of the G. A. R. in regard to which should have precedence at
their various gatherings. Here should be no preference, but both
organizations should go together at such times, if for no other purpose
than to carry out the principles of fraternity, charity and loyalty. I
hope that such will be the case in the future.
The W. R. C.,
through its efficient department president has shown itself to be, in
reality, the auxiliary to the G. A. R., so far as carrying forward the
charitable and social duties of the organization; also in looking after
the wants and furnishing the material needed to make it pleasant for the
comrades in the soldiers home at Marshalltown.
We feel under
great obligations to the press of the state for the kindness and
courtesies which they extended.
We are very grateful to the
various railroads of the state for the generous treatment received at
their hands.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day has been
universally observed throughout the department with an increased
interest. Through these solemn services the youth of our land are being
taught lessons of patriotism and loyalty that they will never forget.
I would still emphasize the recommendation of past department
commanders that all posts and comrades use their influence to interest
our schools in the observance of Memorial day, and that the children be
urged to take part in the different exercises.
The death roll of
the past year teaches us that our organization is fast diminishing in
numbers, and that the few remaining years of our existence should be
improved in trying more earnestly to advance the idea of patriotism
among the your, so that when our grand organization shall have passed
into history, we shall be remembered on account of the lessons taught by
us.
Sons of Veterans
In remembering the Sons of Veterans
they having inherited from, the G. A. R. the principles of fraternity,
charity and loyalty, let us notice how many of their number took part in
the late Spanish-American war. About 47 per cent of the soldiers of the
late war were Sons of Veterans.
Your department commander was
greatly pleased with the goodly number in attendance at the 33rd
national encampment at Philadelphia, also the large number in line of
march in the parade, and the perfect order that was maintained during
the march, these good qualities calling forth great applause from the
many thousands of people along the line. The fine appearance of the Iowa
Department was especially commented upon by the other departments as
well as by the citizens and visitors.
As To Pensions.
It
seems unnecessary to say anything more than has been said in regard to
our pension laws. I notice I the report of the commander preceding me
that he states that no government on earth has passed more liberal
pension laws than has ours. But I somewhat disagree with him in regard
to their liberality. It seems to me that if the boys of 61-65 examined
as they were by physicians and pronounced able-bodied in every respect
before enlistment, that there is something wrong in the present as has
been in the past, which causes the claims of some of the most worthy to
be rejected because they cannot furnish sufficient affidavit to prove
that their disabilities were received during their time of service. Dr.
R. Luces, Past Chaplain-in-Chief, G. A. R., has written a poem entitled
Rejected. He says, In the report of the commissioner of pensions for the
year we find 107,910 claims have been returned with the word Rejected.
When I think of all the sorrow, disappointment and want that this brings
upon 100,000 of my comrades and their families, my very soul was stirred
within me.
I wish to say that my recommendation would be that
this department encampment pass suitable resolutions, requesting, if not
demanding that the pension laws be made so, if they are not at the
present time, that it will not be necessary for the old soldier to be
deprived of his pension because he cannot furnish a sufficient hospital
record and an extra proof of his having been an able-bodied man at the
time of peril and gave the best of his life for her service: No! Money
will not pay for their lives.
It seems that our state could
scarcely do more than it is doing for us, unless the legislature should,
as a body, join with us, the G. A. R., in passing resolutions giving our
Representatives in congress, and those in the pension department to
understand that we demand that the pension laws be so adjusted that the
boys of 61-65 will get that which actually belongs to them.
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
(Continued)
Soldiers Home.
We feel proud of what had been done for us by the State
appropriation in various ways; the legislature granting the boys in the
Home at Marshalltown their full pension, instead of taking part of it
from them. In visiting the Home I was glad to learn that there was not
the least grumbling or dissatisfaction on account of the management of
the Home; the Board of Control having granted all of our requests as
requested by the committee appointed to inspect and report in regard to
the management of the same.
We believe that those in control
should be retained as long as they do their duty as well as they have in
the past. As the committee appointed will report in regard to the
institution, it will not be necessary for me to go into details.
Conclusion.
At the close of this encampment my official relations
will cease. While I feel glad to be relieved from duty, I can only say I
assure you that there will be a felling of loneliness when I realize
that our general meetings will be, to a certain extent, limited to
yearly gatherings.
In thinking over the past year and summing up
what has been done and the success of the administration, I can only say
that I shall always feel under lasting obligations to the Comrades and
especially those who have been closely connected with me in carrying out
the order of the administration.
Especially do I feel grateful to
my able assistant Adjutant General L. M. Black, for the faithful
performance of his duties and being always at his post. He never failed
to meet the full requirements of his responsible position.
In
conclusion, I heartily thank each and every Comrade in this department
and especially my staff to whom is largely due the credit for the
present satisfactory condition of the organization.
Assistant
Adjutant's Report.
There were 518 posts reported by the adjutant
to the encampment at the business meeting held today. C. F. Bailey the
commander of the Twenty-sixth Annual encampment of the G. A. R.
department of Iowa presided. He is from Ireton, as is also L. M. Block,
the assistant adjutant general, who submitted a report of which the
following is a summary:
Members in good standing, 15, 171; Total
gain since last encampment, 533: total membership, 15, 704.
During the year 136 succumbed to the inevitable, while by honorable
discharge 22, by transfer 87, by suspension 357, and by delinquent
reports 150, a total of 751 were lost to the encampment, thus leaving
14, 953 members in the encampment today with 439 posts still remaining
in good standing. However, as noticed above 518 posts were represented,
or were supposed to be represented at the encampment.
Department
Finances.
The assistant adjutant general reported a balance from
the Twenty-fifth encampment of $2, 177.91, which together with other
resources swells the budget to $6,122.86. The total disbursements were
$5,287.78, leaving a balance of $835.08. This is considered to be quite
a flattering report.
The losses by death, as reported from May
17, 1889 to May 17, 1900 amounted to 273.
The number of deaths
reported by the different posts for the past fourteen years is 3, 299,
or an annual average of 235. The smallest number reported was in 1887,
when it was 122, and the greatest in 1897, when it was 299.
During the year ending Dec. 31, 1899, one new post was duly mustered in
by Comrade J. E. Winder, chief mustering officer of the department, on
July 10, 1899 to be known as the Henry C. Leighton Post NO. 199 of New
Sharon, Ia. The same is a re-organization.
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
(Continued)
To National Encampment.
The
assistant adjutant general reports that based upon the membership
reported Dec. 31, 1899, the department is entitled to twenty-one
delegates to the Thirty-fourth National Encampment, which will be held
at Chicago on August 27 to Sept. 1, 1900.
The headquarters for
the department during the Thirty-fourth National Encampment will be held
on the second floor in the Tremont hotel on Lake and Dearborn streets.
George Metzger's Report.
George Metzger of August Wentz Post
No. 1, who is a member of the council of administration reported as
follows:
To the Department commander and comrades of the Twenty-sixth
Annual Encampment, Department of Iowa, G. A. R.
We, the
undersigned committee, appointed by the department commander to audit
the books and accounts of L. M. Black, assistant adjutant general, and
John Shanley, assistant quartermaster general, beg to report that we
have carefully examined the books, vouchers, receipts, etc. and find on
hand, $835. 08, with everything paid to this date, June 5, 1900. That
while the expense accounts show that it cost more this year than the
preceding year, which is accounted for by the long distance to the
national encampment last year, the shortage of supplies at department
headquarters at the commencement of the year and other items that could
not be dispensed with.
We find that the office expenses have
diminished and that we congratulate Adjutant General Black for his
accuracy, honesty, promptness and the neat appearance of his clerical
work.
Also to congratulate John Shanley for the accuracy and
business-like manner in which he has conducted the business of his
office.
Dated Des Moines, Iowa, June 5, 1900.
P. H. Lenon,
George Metzger,
M. H. Byers,
Committee.
Sons of Veterans
Convene.
Interesting Reports noting Growth of the Auxiliary.
At 9 o'clock today the opening of the encampment of the Iowa Division of
the sons of Veterans took place at the Grand Army hall. The session was
continued after the parade this afternoon and during this afternoon and
during that session the election of officers for the ensuing year was
scheduled to take place.
Nearly One Hundred Members..
At the
Downs hotel are the headquarters of the organization. The order,
according to Will A. Brown of Marshalltown, the commander of the Iowa
Division, was found by him upon his election at Waterloo, Ia., June 13,
14 and 15, 1899 on June 15. He made an examination and based his report
upon 449 members in good standing, however, and at that time the
organization was $20 in debt and had no money. Now all but $5 has been
liquidated. He noticed that five camps had been mustered into the S. of
V. order at Peoria, Mac Gregor, Keota, Prairie City and a state
camp-at-large with 306 members altogether, thus making a membership of
757. Since these five camps had been mustered, another 184 members
reported, thus making a total of 941 in good standing.
The
commander makes three recommendations as follows:
First hat the
per capita tax be raised form 15 to 20 cents per quarter, or 20 cents
more per year.
Second That the muster fee for new camps be $3.
Third That arrangements be made for thorough keeping of accounts, and a
systematic book-keeping in the order.
Wednesday Morning
June
13, 1900
(Continued)
Adjutant General's Report
H. C.
Lounsberry, of Marshalltown, the adjutant and mustering officer reported
15 camps mustered in this past year with 308 members. For the past four
years he submits the following table:
1896 27 camps 449 members.
1897 23 camps 421 members.
1898 26 camps 438 members.
1899 42
camps 577 members.
During the past several months the camps
numbered 290, 291, 292 and 293 have been mustered.
Cash received
during the year, $369.75.
Both the commander's and the adjutant's
reports were adopted.
Old Officers of Division.
The
present officers of the division are as follows: Commander, Will A.
Brown, Marshalltown; Adjutant and mustering officer, H. C. Lounsberry,
Marshalltown; Quartermaster, Geo. Brock, Marshalltown, Chaplain, E. E.
Niday, Corydon; Surgeon, Dr. J. J. Metzinger, Iowa city; Inspector, S.
E. Day, Sabula; Judge Advocate, C. J. Cash, Anamosa; Sergeant Major, W.
H. Miller, Straban, Ia.; Senior vice commander, H. J. Green, Decorah;
Junior, vice commanders, A. L. Sorter, mason City, H. M. Hanson, Mt.
Pleasant, J. H. Pickett, Oskaloosa.
These latter are members of
the Division council.
Notes on Sons of Veterans.
A. L.
Sorter, the senior vice commander-in-chief of the national officers, and
junior vice commander of the Iowa Division is an old newspaper man of
much experience, seven years, in fact. He is young in years, but stated
that in his regiment he was captain of company A, 52d Iowa of Mason City
during the Spanish-American war. There were 90 out of 100 who were sons
of Veterans, although not affiliated with the Iowa Division. Mr. Sorter
said also that he was chairman of the national military college
committee, and concerning this proposition he had this to say:
What Sorter Says:
The most important thing that will come before
the S. V. encampment during its present session will be action relative
to Iowa s candidacy for the national military college, which will be
located by vote of the national encampment, at Syracuse, N. Y., in
September next. This is a memorial university founded by the order and
dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of the civil war and ht noble
women of war times. Already about two million dollars are in sight as an
endowment fund and a big fight on location is looked for at Syracuse.
Iowa, however, is going in to win.
The western states are all for
Mason City, Iowa, and it is highly probable that Iowa will win.
Gather at the Campfire.
Hornets Nest Brigade Recalls Memories of War
Times. Stirring Days.
At least 1,200 people, veterans and others,
attended the campfire which was held last night at the Turner Grand
opera house. Colonel Godfrey presided in the stead of Colonel W. T.
Shaw, who could not attend the reunion. Strasser's orchestra rendered a
patriotic melody, after which Rev. George E. Rollins, congregational
pastor, pronounced the following invocation:
O, God, we rejoice
to acknowledge that in all our ways Thou hast watched over us. Thou hast
been with us in our campaign from the lakes to the gulf, and we are one
flag and one people.
We praise thee, O God, for our citizen
soldiery, which is the safeguard of our nation. Bless this gathering.
May these brethren and comrades whose hairs are grey, tarry long with
us, loyal as they ever were to and for the flag for which they suffered.
Amen.
The Apollo Quartette, composed of Dr. J. R. Kulp, Wallace
E. Moody, Ed Mueller and G. A. Hanssen, sang America, and responded in
an encore with Rally Round the Flag, boys, to the delight of the
audience.
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
(Continued)
Resolutions are Adopted.
Colonel Twombly presented the
following resolutions, which were adopted:
Resolved, That the
thanks of the Hornets Nest Brigade, here assembled, be extended to the
legislature of Iowa for the generous appropriation of $50,000 for the
purpose of erecting suitable monuments in the Shiloh National park, to
commemorate the valor of the eleven Iowa regiments which took a signal
part upon that bloody battlefield, April 6 and 7, 1862.
Resolved,
That we, the representatives of the Second, Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth and
Fourteenth Iowa infantries, who took such prominent part in the battle
of Shiloh, recommend to the he commission charged with erection of these
monuments that a generous amount be set aside for the erection of a
central monument that will be accredit to our grand commonwealth of
Iowa.
Resolved, That the Hornets Nest brigade, being regularly
assembled at Davenport, Iowa, on the 15th day of June, 1900, do hereby
recommend to the general government the construction of a gravel pike
from Shiloh park to connect with the railroads, which converge at
Corinth, Miss., as well as with the national cemetery which is located
there.
Resolved, That the chair appoint a standing committee of
five members of this organization to co-operate in pushing the
enterprise, and recommend our comrade of the Twelfth Iowa, Colonel D. B.
Henderson, as the chairman of said committee.
Resolved, That this
association extends in hearty thanks to the citizens of Davenport and
the local committee of arrangements and comrades, and especially to
Comrade George Metzger for the hospitable manner in which we have been
treated, an the ample arrangements made fort the meetings of our
association.
V. P. Twombly, 2d Ia.,
J. H. Lewis, 7th Ia.,
J. N. Currier, 8th Ia.,
D. W. Reed, 12th Ia.,
Ross Wheatly, 14th
Ia.
Committee on Resolutions.
Mayor's Address of Welcome.
Mayor Heinz was greeted with cheers when he approached the
footlights. He made a splendid address which was warmly applauded. He
was not able to be present at the G.A.R. encampment this morning, and
therefore couched in the widest and most catholic verbiage his
expressions of welcome to the soldiery of the past, who did so much to
preserve the union intact. He left immediately after the camp fire for
Des Moines where he will attend the banker's convention.
The mayor
welcomed the veterans and visitors as follows:
Mr.
Chairman:--When the forefathers of this Republic were fighting the
battles in the cause of Liberty, commencing with that of Lexington,
Concord and Bunker Hill, and ending with the surrender of Lord
Cornwallis and his army, there were no union soldiers.
But this
brave lot of men who fought, bled and died for liberty, are to be
forever cherished in the hearts of every true American patriot, for by
their noble acts they made it possible to have our union and with it the
union soldier.
It was the union soldier who has repulsed the
various Indian tribes in many battles, extending from the Everglades of
Florida to the Mississippi river and beyond on the plains and across the
mountains to the Pacific ocean.
It was the union soldier who
fought our cause at Palo Alto, Cerro Gordo and Buena Vista and
triumphantly carried the stars and stripes to the City of Mexico.
It was the union soldier, who when the very foundation of the
structure of our government was reeling and trembling as if stricken by
an earthquake, went forth to do battle to maintain the union, engaging
in as great a conflict as the world has ever seen; and resulting in the
foundation of the union being established more solid than before.
It was the union soldier who in 1898 went to Cuba to show the
Spaniards how to do it and they did it.
It is the union soldier
who is now fighting for his country in the far off Philippines and
giving the Filipinos an object lesson in good behavior; no doubt the war
will soon end with only good Filipinos under our domain, some of them
alive and some of them dead.
Many changes have taken place since
you went forth to do battle to maintain the Union.
The sons of
those days are now the fathers and the fathers of those days are the
grandfathers. The remains of many of your comrades lie buried in the
cemeteries near the southern battlefields where the fierce conflict
raged in all its fury, while others of your comrades are buried under
the sod of the prairies of our own peaceful state of Iowa.
Before
many years have passed, the army of the union of 1861 to 1865 had
occasion to pass through our city on your march to the front. Since then
many changes have taken place in our city.
(Continued)
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
(Mayor's Address of Welcome
Continued)
Our city has increased in population more than
three-fold. It leads all the cities in the state in many lines of
manufacturing and in its banking business, and is a close second in the
amount of general business transacted; has the best water-works in the
world; a fine street car system, many miles of brick paving, railroads
in all directions, two bridges across the Mississippi carrying three
railroad tracks, and educational facilities equal, and in some respects
superior to that of any other city in the state.
Added to all
this we are a modest people, who do not blow our horns as much as we
ought to. Our society, we consider of the best and we hope you will
enjoy yourselves during the time you are with us.
We would like
to give you the keys of the city, but the fact is that according to our
traditions it was early in 1861 given to one of the union soldiers who
went east and inadvertently took it with him and lost it in the first
battle of Bull Run.
We have a court house, city hall and government
building, which are worth looking at; also several parks, and not far
away is the State Orphans Home, the Rock Island Arsenal and Moline and
considerable adjacent territory consisting of land and the Mississippi
river, so that then our city gets to be too small for you, you have
ample opportunity to expand your observations and investigations.
I might add in conclusion that we are well supplied with watering
stations and our police have special instructions not to enforce too
rigidly several ordinances of the city regarding the making of noise
during the stay with us. Again I bid you a cordial welcome.
The
Program.
Colonel D. Ryan, of the Eighth Iowa, made a happy
response to the mayor's welcome address and at the end called for three
cheers for Davenport and for the mayor.
The Apollo Quartette then
rendered a plantation song.
The sentiment, The Men of 61, was
responded to by Comrade Cramer, of the Fourteenth Iowa, instead of
Samuel Chapman, who was not present. He praised the steadfastness of the
boys in blue, and said that 400,000 of those who went out to battle came
not back again and that less than 2 per cent bought their freedom from
prison pens by forswearing allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, and
acknowledge fealty to the Stars and Bars.
Shiloh was told about
by Major d. B. Reed, of the Twelfth Iowa. His throat was too much
clogged to be heard readily, and Mayor Heinz very generously read his
paper for him. The paper was a splendid one. He blamed a Cincinnati
Gazette reporter for misstatements concerning the battle, and
illustrated the field with a huge map, showing the various positions of
the regiments and brigades on that frightful field on Easter Sunday.
Miss Nell G. Beyer, of the W.C.T.U. of St. Louis, Mo., varied the
program with a delightful recitation, entitled, The Whistling Regiment.
She was accorded great applause.
Colonel W. B. Bell, of the
Eighth Iowa, responded to the sentiment Our Volunteer soldier. Captain
R. G. Reiniger, of the Seventh Iowa, spoke for some minutes upon the
Standing Army.
Comrade Ginger, of St. Louis, injected
considerable fun into the campfire with two recitations of an
excruciatingly funny character. Comrade Cramer sang Marching Thro
Georgia and compelled the audience to join in the chorus.
Major
Samuel Mahon, of Ottumwa, spoke on The Influence of the Civil War on the
Progress of the Nation, and in an eloquent address traced the thread of
memory back to the first days of soldiering and through the hard
fighting on Belmont's fruitless fields: at Donelson, and at Shiloh,
where the Hornets Nest brigade got its name. The results of the war,
Major Mahon showed, have been accumulating ever since Appomattox.
Briefly and quickly he sketched the rise of the new south with slavery
abolished in the 60's in the states of the north. The Phillippine
problem was also touched, the keynote of which was that we waged no war
of conquest, but if our system of republican self-government is worth
having, it is worth the giving. We sought no quarrel but only answered
to the cry of oppressed humanity, and what the result has thrown upon us
let us not shrink from, but with courage and patriotism work out its
consummation.
Four stages mark the progress of the western
civilization:
First Magna Charter, in 1215, when the barons
wrested from King John the first concessions from the crown prerogative.
Second the American Revolution, which gave liberty and
self-government to the people.
Third The civil war, when the
nation elaborated the principle of union with liberty and vindicated its
consistency by liberating from slavery four millions of black men within
its own borders.
Fourth The Spanish-American war, when again the
sword was drawn at the call of the whole people and flashing across the
sea east and west smote for liberty and victory.
Problems yet to
solve: yes, when has it been otherwise? And the American people have
always been equal to the occasion. The intelligence and righteousness of
the public conscience will always solve the problems yet to come, and
will solve them right.
Captain J. W. Morgan, of the Fourteenth,
Iowa, feelingly bespoke eulogium for the comrades passed before. Colonel
Moore briefly bade the boys good night, after which the campfire was
extinguished and the boys of 1861-1865, who fought at the Hornets Nest,
retired to their homes.
Wednesday Morning
June 13, 1900
The Ladies of the G. A. R.
More Than One Hundred Delegates are
Registered Today.
There was a meeting of the ladies of the G. A.
R. this morning at Columbia hall,, and the reports and addresses were
all very interesting. The reports of the officers shows that the
organization has made good progress during the year that has closed. The
organization will elect officers at the meeting which is to be held at
the close of the parade.
The present officers in charge are:
President Mrs. C. J. Hunting of Clinton.
Secretary Mrs. May Nickel
Adams, Clinton.
Treasurer Mrs. M. J. Toms, of Clinton.
Secret
Session of the G. A. R.
Was Held at the Turner Opera House
Following the Opening Exercises.
The encampment of the G. A. R.
of the department of Iowa went into secret session today at the close of
the opening exercises, which were concluded at 9:45 o clock. The meeting
was held in the Turner opera house. After Commander Bailey's address,
which is given in another column, the committee on credentials reported
that the list so far reports was correct. The commander then appointed
committees to report on the reports of the several officers. National
Commander Albert D. Shaw was introduced and spoke to some length, some
of the pungent remarks being as follows:
Comrades: It gratifies
me greatly to be present at your annual department encampment of Iowa;
that great commonwealth so wonderful in all material resources, and so
rich in the birth and grains of its manhood and womanhood. The
volunteers from this state were stalwart defenders of liberty and they
shed their blood upon numerous battlefields of the great war, with a
heroism as lofty as ever has been displayed in any former wars of the
world. Our noble order stands for reminiscent comradeship and is based
upon Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty.
Commander Shaw then
referred to the matter of pensions, stating that the G. A. R. was in
favor of just pension laws and nothing else. The members are as anxious
as anyone to hunt down frauds. Whenever bad laws are enacted the
department hears from the G. A. R. men.
He called the pension
roll of honor. But the commander believes that it is the first duty of
the government to take care of those who preserved it in time of danger.
Commander Shaw opposed the return of the confederate flags, saying:
We are too near the great war period to try and quickly remove all
the irritations of that stupendous struggle. The captured flags may well
rest where they now are on both sides until the veterans of the north
and of the south have passed away.
When the Sons of Veterans of
the south and of the north can take any action in this regard they see
fit without arousing any bitterness or causing any heart-aches, over an
issue settled by the sword, in the closing years of veterans on either
side. I cannot understand how it is possible for honorable former foes,
whose cause was surrendered at Appomattox, and their flag there furled,
should tolerate any display of that banner after the judgment had been
finally passed against it. I believe the southern sentiment in this
regard should be speedily changed by the inspirations of the flag the
stars and stripes, and one immitable (sic) basis of American
citizenship. In this view, which I know dominates a great multitude of
ex-confederate hearts, I plead for a full reconciliation so that we
shall hear no more of the Stars and Bars as a sentiment to be taught
American children henceforth. Why should the surrendered flag be brought
into view? It represents nothing but a dead past, and it has no place in
present public observances.
Commander Shaw closed by referring to
the necessity of teaching patriotism to the rising generation. He was
glad to see the work of the public schools and he hoped that the good
work will continue. God grant his richest blessing to one and all, said
he in closing.
At the conclusion of the address by the national
commander, committees from the Sons of Veterans and W. R. C. came to the
hall and presented the greetings of their organizations. Mrs.
McClelland, state president of Illinois, made an address, which was well
applauded. The session was then adjourned until this afternoon after the
parade.