Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 189, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1915 — Reunion of 87th Proved a Success [ARTICLE]

Reunion of 87th Proved a Success

Fine Dinner Served in Basement of Courthouse and Several Interesting Talks Made

COLONEL HAMMOND HERE Thirty-Four Union Soldiers and One Veteran of the Southern Confederacy Gathered at Reunion of the 87th Indiana Volunteers—John E. Alter Helps Entertain Veterans By Display of Relics and By Reading Part of Address Colonel Hammond Made Forty-Six Years Ago—Ten Members of Company A, 87th Volunteer Infantry Present, Also the Lieutenant-Colonel and Surgeon.

tory of Company A, of the 87th. He recalled how they had marched out of Rensselaer on Aug. 11th, 1862, and gone to Francesville, where they entrained for South Bend, expecting to become a part of the 73rd Indiana regiment. But after their arrival at South Bend they found that the 73rd had been filled up. Colonel Hathaway had telegraphed Governor Morton for authority to organize a new regiment and that is how the Rensselaer company came to be Company A or the ranking company in the 87th. Colonel Hammond stated that he regarded the three years in the army the most important in his life. He said he once heard an old soldier say that he would not take $1OO,OOO for his army experiences and he would not go through it again for $1OO,OOO. He spoke of the trials and tribulations of the shortage of food, of the rain and the cold, but he said “we lived through it and it is wonderful how so many of us have been privileged to live so many years and to enjoy so long the fruits of our victories.” He said he believed that for the most part those who survive are those whose lives have been clean and that those who lived wrong lives have largely been taken away. He said: “We are now rapidly passing away, our lives are drawnig to a close. Let us be prepared to meet the last enemy, death, as we met our enemies of the war, with brave hearts and confident of another victory over the grave. If we have led upright and manly lives we have nothing to regret and nothing to fear.” He spoke of the appearance of Rensselaer in the early sixties when there were only 300 or 400 people here. He said there were no automobils or carriages to transport the boys to the nearest railway station, and that the people who gathered here to give hem a farewell came in the honest old farm wagons. He spoke of the beautiful girls, as pretty, he said, then as any of the girls of today, and he said they are beautiful still after all these long years. He paid tribute to the Rensselaer of that time, saying that literary societies, debating clubs and social affairs were actively indulged in by the populace and that many daily papers were received here. He said that this early mark of intelligence had its influence today when the present Rensselaer held an important place among the small cities of Indiana. He spoke of the fact that there was no railroad here during the war, and that mail reached here by stage from Bradford, now Monon. He said that although he has been away from here for many years Jasper county is still the dearest place to him on earth. He resided here from the time he was 18 years of age until 1892, and as lawyer and jurist learned to know the people well and to love them dearly. Colonel Hammond told or the Activities of his regiment. He said Company A was fortunate in not getting into the 73rd because that regiment was captured by John Morgan soon after it started out. He spoke of his election as captain and later his promotion to the position of Major and then as Lieutenant-Colonel. He said the 87th was always at the front, that it never filled some soft place in the rear. He told of the battle of Perryville, of the campaign about Nashville, Chattafiooga and Atlanta and said that for 100 days they were under fire much of the time. He told of the fight at Jonesboro, of following Hood’s army and of the march to the sea. Finally of the march to Savannah, Richmond and Washington, where they participated in the grand review at the close of the war. Then of the return home, where they were mustered out of service and again took up the activities of citizenship to do the best possible in the civil affairs of life. Colonel Hammond spoke feebly, but with a cigar voice and extemporaneously, showing a remarkable memory. He was roundly applauded when he had finished. Rev. J. P. Green followed. He is not a veteran of the civil war but belonged to the regular army for several years and is an interesting speaker. He told of some of the benefits of the war that cost so dearly in loss of life. In concluding hq read a letter from Erastus Peacock, A member <rf Co. A, 87th, who is now living at Tarpon Springs, Fla., who wished his old comrades a pleasant reunion and invited them to come to Florida to see him. The dinner followed, thanks being returned at the table by Rev. Titus.

1. Edwin P. Hammond, Lieut.Col. 87th Ind. Vol. 2. Charles E. Triplett, Surgeon 87th Ind. Vol. 3. Marshall D. Rhoades, Co. A, 87th Ind. Vol. 4. John Q. Alter, same. 5. John L. Nichols, same. 6. Wm. M. Hoover, same. 7. Whitsell Lewis, same. 8. John D. Timmons, same. 9. Geo. L. Morgan, same. 10. Shelby Grant, same. 11. John Casey, same. 12. D. H. Yeoman, same. 13. Thos. A. Crockett, same. 14. B. H. Dillon, Co. K, 20th Ind. Vol. 15. John Kresler, Co. F, 129th Pa. Vol. 16. Philip Blue, Co. G, 118th Ind. Vol. 17. N. S. Bates, Co. I, 124th Ind. Vol. 18. Burr H. Sheffer, Co. H, 49th Ohio Vol. 18. John Stively, Co. G, 135th Ohio Vol. 20. Joseph Smith, Co. G, 63rd Ind. Vol. 21. Wm. Warren, Co. K, 48th Ind. Vol. 22. T. F. Warne, Co. H, 151st Ind. Vol. 23. A. J. Abbott, Co. D, Bth Mo. Vol. 24. Henry Grow, Co. E, 29th Ind. Vol. 25. Allen Catt, Co. E, 99th Ind. Vol. 26. William H. Wood, Co. I, 11th Ind. Vol. r < 27. I. N. Hemphill, Co. K, 48th Ind. Vol. 28. John L. Hagins, Co. K, 8th Ind. Cav. Vol. 29. A. J. Bellows, Co. K, 4th Ill. Cav. Vol. 30. J. F. Mitchell, Co. B, 40th Ohio Vol. 31. John Sebring, Co. K, 48th Ind. Vol. 32. Jas. Kenrick, Co. A, 138th Ind. Vol., and 11th U. S. Inf. 33. Jacob R. Wilcox, Co. K, 48th Ind. Vol. 34. M. Gosnell, 2nd Georgia Inf., C. S.A.

One of the most enjoyable soldiers’ reunions ever held in Rensselaer was that of Company A, of the 87th Indiana volunteers, and all other veterans of the civil war who cared to gather with them, held in Rensselaer today, Wednesday, Aug. 11th, on the fifty-third anniversary of the departure of that company for the front. Rain Tuesday night and threatening weather today caused the dinner to be served in the basement of the court house, where a bounteous spread was provided by the ladies auxiliaries. The guests of honor were Lieuten-ant-Colonel Edwin P. Hammond, wife and daughter, Miss Nina, of Lafayette, and Dr. Charles E. Triplett, of Morocco, who was a surgeon in the 87th regiment. Colonel Hammond will be 80 years of age on Nov. 26th, and Dr. Triplett was 80 years of age some eight months ago. Most of the other soldiers were past the seventy mark, while John Stively, of the 135th Ohio, was the oldest, being 92 years of age on May 14th. George L. Morgan, who is the youngest veteran of the civil war in Rensselaer and vicinity, being only a little past 67 years of age, had a Junior at the reunion in the person of James Kenrick, of the 138th Ind., who was 67 years of age on July 17th. Mr. Kenrick is visiting here. In the court house yard was a conical tent and near it a modem shelter tent, being part of the equipment of Company M, of the Indiana National Guard. Several flags were planted near the tents, making it have the appearance of a miniature camp. Shortly before noon the boys band appeared and played several martial tunes, starting off with “Marching Through Georgia.” Then Colonel Hammond spoke, giving a brief his-