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48TH ANNUAL REUNION 74TH OHIO VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY By Julia R. Galloway September 28th, 1917 As we looked at the 74th boys when their Association met here in their 48th annual reunion, last Thursday, it seemed that Time and enmeshed them in a travesty on their former heroic lives. Time is doing this all the while, as well with other things as with humanity itself. Old things have passed away, and behold! all things have become new. It holds good right along. We saw those same boys more than fifty years ago. And how different they were then! Flushed with youth, strong, vigorous and active, when war's alarm sounded, and they knew their Country's life was in jeopardy, and the call for help came, without hesitation they rushed to her rescue. History has recorded what, with others of like purpose, they did. They vanquished the enemies of their country and preserved the Union of States as they are today. It is an old, old story. It has been told and retold. We think sometimes that it has been repeated so often that it fails of its purpose on later generations. The story cannot be grasped in its entirety in the hurly-burly of our strenuous American life. It is a theme for quiet, thoughtful meditation and one to arouse inspiration and impart the appreciation that all of us should have for the glorious achievements of the "Boys of 61". Let us con it over, "lest we forget". And now comes a second alarm calling the boys of today to the tented field, and later to the bomb-scarred trenches of a foreign land. Shall we divide our affection for the old with the new soldiers of today? It need not be. The one holds our veneration, the other our admiration. There is enough of each to go entirely around without divided love, for both, tried and untried, are heroes, and as such we shall regard them. The Masonic Hall was the place chosen for the reunion. It was appropriately decorated with flags and flowers. There were only 26 of the regiment present. Would you ask why there were not more? This can be answered by the showing of Co. A in 61 and the present number of its members residing here, and it will hold good with all the companies. With Co. A went out in October of that year 100 men, from Jamestown, Ohio and vicinity. Today just two of the company reside in town and one is the country, and only one of these could be at the reunion. This is what a half century has done in decimating the ranks of the "Boys in Blue". Jamestown is the birthplace of the regiment, as around Co. A from Jamestown, as a nucleus, the other companies formed until at Camp Lowe, Xenia, it became the 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In battles it has to credit of Stone River, Tenn., Hoover's Gap, Tenn., Dug Gap., Ga., Chickamauga, Ga., Lookout Mountain, Tenn, Missionary Ridge, Tenn., Buzzards's Roost, Ga., Resaca, Ga., Dallas, Ga., Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., Chattahooche River, Ga., Peach Tree Creek, Ga., Atlanta, Ga., (Hood's First Soirtie) Siege of Atlanta, Ga., Jonesboro, Ga., Averyboro, N.C., Bentonville, N.C., including "Sherman's March to the Sea". Evidently the boys were going some in those old days, but alas! not any faster than they are going now. The only field officer that remains is Major Matthew H. Peters, of Watseka, Ill, who ever makes a successful effort to be present at these annual reunions. he always has something interesting to tell the boys, and they listen to him with rapt attention, a habit that abides with them after an interval of more than fifty years, when in the rough camp, on parade, and in the storm of battle they yielded prompt obedience to his commands. But, aside from this long time habit, the Major has a reminiscent way that commands their attention without the exercise of authority. Major Peters is an able writer and the author of "That Little Bronze Button," a war poem that has a prominent niche in the open archives of civil war poetry, and it is so fraught with truth, sentiment and the realism of war, and so suggestively and vividly portrays the memories of conflict, that it is not the kind of production written to decay within the silent corridors of oblivion. Mr. Peters was Major of the 74th O.V.I., but he is now a Major General in the realm of "That Little Bronze Button," where the sentiments of precious clinging memory hold their unyielding sway. The dinner provided by the ladies of the Church of Christ was the kind to brag about. It was all that and more. The boys said so themselves, and they ought to know. Hard tack and "sow belly" and all that kind of truck which in old war days were the very best things to die on, had no access to this grand feast that the ladies had provided. It was the very thing to live on, and, with that end in view, it received full justice and then some. And it didn't cost the gallant veterans a penny, which has not been invariably the case at some of their reunions. The people of Jamestown, and especially the business men, who are herewith thanked for their generosity, saw to it that there was no lack. At the meeting of the "Camp Fire" in the afternoon, Mrs. C. C. Moon gave two recitations which were well received by the boys, and delivered so dramatically as to arouse the enthusiasm of the old soldiers. One of them was the history of the regiment in verse, which glowingly touched on its achievements. A recitation and song by Miss Lucy Smith, daughter of a veteran, were highly pleasing to the warriors. Then Major Peters addressed the boys and Captain Philip W. Strumm, of Co. K and Paulding, Co. O. The talk went still further around and included remarks by Comrade I. T. Cummins and a number of others of the boys, each one being reminded of something that had not been touched upon. The Memorial Service was a sad feature of the occasion, which was introduced by Comrade T. J. North, chairman of the Memorial Committee. Since the last reunion the following comrades have taken their places on the "bivouac of the dead:" Co A - Laurence Sanders, Frank St. John, Co B - P. O. Benbam, Joseph Blair, Company C - E. H. Wright, Robert Gossard, Company E - John Jones, K. Davis. The names of the 74th attending the reunion are: Company A - C.N. Smith, Laban Glass, Henry Hopping, Frank M. Bayless, Company B - Amor D. Lindsey, Cole Heaton, C. E. Harrison, Company C - John Bremer, E. S. Barnett, John Seidomridge, J.W. Hedges, J. N. McPherson, Mathew Hutchison, Creighton Erwin, Company E - John Kirby, Ed J. Snider, David McConnell, Henry Sellers, Company F - Major M. H Peters, T. J. North, H. H. Cassel, Michael Bernert, Daniel Bernert, Company H - John W. DeVoe, Company K - Captain Philip W. Strumm. No order or class of citizen has the same feeling toward its members as that of a gathering of soldiers. Their experience was one of grappling with death, and facing it constantly during their service. It is no wonder they love to come together to talk over the dangers that they have passed and tell of the heroism of those who fell When battle gave its supreme call and some went down while others remained unscathed. Animated by this mutual feeling, members of other regiments were guests at this reunion, as follows: Company D, 110th OVI - A.M. Miller, W. H. Streets, Company I, 168th OVI - J. F. Zimmerman, Company C, 60th OVI - H. S. Browder, Company K, 44th OVI - Jerome Black, Company H, 94th OVI - Cyrus Brown, Company C, 168th OVI - H. F. Duff, Company F, 154th - W. S. Galvin, Company F, 168th - E. H. Baughn, Company H, 154th - H. H. Conklin, Lewis Powers, Company B, 154th OVI - Charles Ledbetter. In the business meeting J. R. Hale, a former Greene County boy, and now connected with the State Library, was made an honorary member of the 74th Association by unanimous vote for looking after the old 74th Flag in behalf of his old friend, Addison Tolbert, of Company C. of the regiment. The citizens of Jamestown were unanimously and rousingly thanked for the splendid, delicious and bountiful dinner served. A beautiful letter was read from the poetess and writer, Miss Julia R. Galloway, now an attaché on the editorial staff of the Western Christian Advocate. Her father was an officer in the 74th. The letter is full of tender sentiment, patriotism and appreciation. Dear Friend, It is a very great disappointment to me not to be able to attend the reunion of my father's regiment this year, as I had hoped to do, but my duties in the office are such that I cannot leave. I want to thank you for your kind invitation. It is a great thing to me to know that father's comrades still hold his children in friendly regard, even though he has gone to the Camp on the other side of the River, and there he and Mother are awaiting us. In my weak way I have been trying to do my bit for the soldier boys of today because I know if he were living his whole heart and soul would go out in sympathy for them. And I know something of the heart ache it has caused you men of the Sixties not to be able to shoulder your guns and march away with them in and support of the flag which you all hold dearer than life itself. I had a very vivid illustration of this feeling not long since. I was hurrying down Fourth street when suddenly I saw across the street an old Grand Army man in full uniform, spick and span as he could be, leaning heavily on his wife's arm, with a cane in one hand. The dear old lady was also dressed very neatly but they both looked hopelessly puzzled and confused. The sight of them arm in arm, in that Grand Army uniform, and she with her W.R.C. Badge on her breast, brought so forcibly to mind the sight of father and mother going off to some Grand Army affair that I just stood and shook, unable to keep back the tears. Finally I got hold of myself and crossed the street to them and held out my hand. "Comrade", I said, "my blessed father wore the bronze badge and the blue uniform. What can I do for you?" Then the dear old lady with the bronze badge said: "Why, he was a drummer boy in the war and he wants to buy a drum to help recruiting and he can't seem to find the place where he used to buy his drums, and nobody seems to know. He can't go himself, but he thought maybe he could help drum up recruits if he just had a drum!" They had come from some little town way down in Kentucky just for that purpose. I sent them happily on their way, but I think the whole surge of what you men must feel in this crisis came over me, and I realized more fully than ever before the mighty urge of patriotism that led you in the past, as it is leading our boys of today, to offer up your lives in defense of a great humanitarian principle. God bless you, each and every one, "The Old Boys," the dear wives and mothers, sons and daughters. I hope you have a happy, happy, sunshiny day, and that some other time I may be privileged to be with you, my friends, my father's comrades Sincerely yours, Julia R. Galloway |