Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1908 — ATTENDANCE SMALL; ENTHUSIASM GREAT [ARTICLE]

ATTENDANCE SMALL; ENTHUSIASM GREAT

Eleven Survivors of the Fifteenth Indiana Hold Their Annual Reunion in Rensselaer.

On June 14th, 1861, the Fifteenth Indiana regiment of volunteer infantry was mustered into the service Of the United States at Lafayette. It was a great band of young patriots, who had harkened to the call of their country and were willing to face the dangers of war for the preservation of the union. Wednesday of this week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Powers eleven of that regiment gathered in reunion. The muster occurred more than 47 years ago, and only eleven of those who participated in the hardships the long campaign responded -to the call for this reunion. But what the grand old veterans of that gallant regiment lacked in numbers they made up in enthusiasm and the front yard of the Powers home on River street was the scene of a very happy gathering. A tent had been raised in the yard and across its front was a large flag, and printed banner reading “Headquarters Fifteenth Indiana Infantry." .; Mr. Powers was a member of the Fifteenth Indiana regiment and Mrs. Powers, who is one of Rensselaer’s most patriotic women, had called to her assistance several other good women and they had prepared a spread that received the highest praise from the old veterans. The afternoon was devoted to a business meeting at which the president of the association, Andrew Jackson, presided. An invitation was extended by R. H. Flinn, of Lebanon, to hold the next reunion of the regiment in that and the invitation was accepted. It was unanimously decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the rgeiment’s muster, which will be June 14th, 1911, and all of the participants in this reunion pledged themselves to try to be alive to take part in the semi-cen-tennial reunion. It is proposed to make a special effort to get the addesses of all members of the regiment now living, and try to encourage them to attend the 50th anniversary, which will probably be held at Lafayette. The afternoon meeting was a series of merriment and pathos, the members recounting occurrences that made sighs follow smiles, and then joy chase away the tears ha some happy incident of those dark days was recalled. Uncle John Sullivan occupied a seat on one side of the little circle, and A. M. Maxson sat across the circle from him. The former lost a leg at Stone River and the latter an arm at Mission Ridge. The secretary of the association, W. H., Dryden, of Martinsville, related that at the batt'e of Stone River the Fifteenth regiment had 42 per cent of the men that participated in the battle either killed or wounded, and that in the per cent of loss to both sides engaged in that battle it was the greatest battle of the 19th century. It was fought Dec. 31, 1862, and Jan. 1 and 2, 1863. Only two regiments participating in that conflict suffered a greater loss than did the Fifteenth. At Mission Ridge, on Nov. 25th, 1863, the regiment came m for a still greater loss, having a little over 59 per cent of its active strength either killed or wounded. Mrs. Frank Foltz appeared before I he association and read an interesting letter from her tihcle, L. C. Page, of Honey Grove, Tex., in which be expressed bis regret that be could not be with them, and asked that all ■vho attended the reunit n wri e him ! a letter. He told of bis having met ! several members of the regment at i various places in recent years, and j his missive was so tenderly worded as to bring tears to almost every eye. Those who were here to attend the reunion, besides W. F. Powers and j John Sullivan, the resident members, were: Andrew Jackson, 617 N. 6% street, I Terre Haute, Ind, j. Stephen Thra*b*r, Fr.ncesvlUe, i Ind.

A. M. Maxson, 3206 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, Waah. A. B. Cole, 1943 Vine St., Dei kcley, Calif. K. a. Black. 1129 N. 7th streefc- Lafayette. Ind. Richard M. Crete, Yeoman, Ind. R. H. Fllnn, Lebanon, Ind. W. H. Dryden, Martinsville, Ind. Pat Lally. Michigan City, Ind. Mr. Lally did not wait for the reunion. He came in the night before, saw a few of the early arrivals and joined the big crowd that went to the Taft rally at the Ade farm. Hla presence was greatly missed by lie old oomradafc A. B. Cole, now of Berkeley,

Cal., was the Ist sergeant of Co. I, of the Fifteenth, and he has had prepared a very interesting table show* ing the number of each company killed, wounded, dying from disease and accident, in all the battles and skirmishes and in the camps of the Fifteenth regiment. The total number killed was 106, died front disease and accidents 58, wounded 328, a total of 492 and who were either dead or had been wounded during the three years and 11 days that the regiment was 1m service. On the back of the table of casualties Mr. Cole has his picture as taken when mustered out of the service. He gave a copy of the table to each of the members present, . . Secretary Dryden read the poem that has become quite famous over the country, entitled “The Soldier. Tramp.’’ It tells of the defense mi up by a one-legged soldier who wan arretted on the charge of drunkenness He stated how he had lost bis leg while trying to save his Colonel and it developed that the judge that beard his plea was the very colonel he had saved. The story is a very, sympathetic one. And when the judge decided that bis sentence should be tha\ the soldier tramp be glveu a room in hts home the remainder of his life, the bond of true soldier comradeship was proven and all joined in commendation of the story’s outcome. In the evening a camp fire was held at the Powers home and another moat pleasant meeting was held; the pat* ticipsnts recalling the events of their srmy servke. It was indeed a remarkably pleasant reunion, marred only by the ever present" fact that there were so many who had passed away, and that tbn day is near at hand when all will be mustered out for evermoreThe Monticello Herald, in commenting on the recent senatorial election, says that White county was the only one in the district that was not caught napping, and that it refused to join in the election of a senator who goes to Indianapolis to line up with Tom Taggart And that is precisely what Mr. Law has dona He has taken his seat in the stats senate and has voted squarely with the brewers and the saloonists and with that mountain of pollution, Tom Taggart But republicans will refuss to continue s Taggart underling la office and the other counties of ths district will join with White in November in electing Abe Halleck, who is a practical temperance man, and who has pledged himself to tbs support of the republican plaftorm ant who possesses the vigilance necessary to be of great aid In routing Taggart and his henchmen from any legislative control. %