Survivors of Old Indiana Regiment Renew Acquaintance in Warsaw

Tell Tales of Camp and Battle

Local Committee of Arrangements Provides Fine Program for Campfire to Which all are Invited

Tuesday was an ideal day for the initial session of the reunion of the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in Warsaw. Survivors of the regiment began arriving as early as Monday evening. A large number were on hand Tuesday morning, others came by the Pennsylvania and Big Four railroads and the Winona Interurban railway. The survivors of the old regiment, after registering, spent the entire day in renewing old acquaintances and in looking about the city. In the afternoon and in squads, from 2:30 to 4:30 they attended an informal reception at the home of Mrs. Williams, widow of the late Gen. Reub Williams, who was colonel of the Twelfth Indiana. The business district was in gala attire Tuesday, bunting and flags being displayed in honor of the boys who distinguished themselves in 1861-65.

The Twelfth Indiana made a gallant record in the Civil War. The first organization was enlisted May 11, 1861, for state service, with John M. Wallace as colonel. In July following, it was transferred to the U. S. service and left Evansville for Baltimore and thence to Harpers Ferry, where it was assigned to Gen. Banks' Army of the Shenandoah. During the year marches were made to Darnestown, Nolan's Ferry, Seneca Creek, Tuscarora, Point of Rocks, Hyattstown, Urbana and Drederick. In October different companies of the regiment were stationed at Dam No. 4, Sharpsburg and other points on the Maryland side of the Potomac, where they were engaged in picket and outpost duty until March, 1862, during which time skirmishing and picket firing across the river were frequent.

The second organization of the Twelfth was effected May 17, 1862, for three years' service or during the war, with Col. W. H. Link as commander. It participated in the Battle of Richmond, Ky., losing 173 in killed and wounded, including Col. Link who died of loans, the greater portion of the regiment being captured and paroled. Lieut. Col. Reub Williams succeeded Col. Link, being promoted to the colonelcy. The regiment joined Grant's army surrounding Vicksburg in 1863 and upon reaching there was assigned to Gen. John A. Logan's Fifteenth Army Corps, in which it served until the close of the war, participating in all its marches, battles and skirmishes. The regiment took part in the famous Atlanta campaign and fought in the battles of Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, etc., losing 240 in killed and wounded during that memorable campaign. The Twelfth then took part in the chase of Hood's army. Returning to Atlanta it accompanied Sherman's army on its "March to the Sea." After the fall of Savannah the regiment proceeded to Beaufort, N. C., thence to Columbia, Goldsborough and Raleigh, participating in the battles at Columbia and Bentonville. It then went to Richmond, and on the surrender of Johnston's army was ordered to Washington, D. C., where it was mustered out of the service on June 8, 1865, the regiment returning to Indianapolis only 270 strong, having taken part in twenty-eight hard-fought battles and hundreds of skirmishes during its term of service.

Members of this gallant old command were given a cordial reception by the local committee of arrangements, which has planned a splendid campfire program to be given at the Opera House this evening into which all citizens of Warsaw are invited. The entertainment is free of charge.

Among the early arrivals Tuesday was J. N. Cliffton, Nineth Tennessee Cavalry, Company D of Middle Tenn., a Confederate veteran. Surrounded by a company of survivors of the Union army and wearing a visitor's badge, he reviewed the bright side of the conflict between the North and the South and early in the day, by request, agreed to address the veterans at the camp fire at the Warsaw opera house.

The members of the Twelfth Indiana who registered are: [note: same list as given in article below]

Warsaw Daily Times Tuesday September 29, 1908

Members of the Twelfth meet at the Warsaw Opera House
Comrades are Made Welcome
Excellent Program is given in Presence of large Audience which filled Hall to Overflowing.

The campfire held Wednesday evening at the Warsaw Opera House in connection with the annual reunion of the Twelfth Indiana regiment was largely attended. Long before the first number on the program was taken up every seat in the playhouse was occupied and many persons found it necessary to stand, the Warsaw Military Band playing a concert program before the campfire commenced. The program was opened with the singing of "America" by the audience, led by the Warsaw Male quartet. The invocation was given by E. S. Scott, of Winona Lake, a member of the Eighty-ninth Ohio regiment.

The address of welcome was given by Capt. John N. Runyan in his characteristic manner. He said among other things "Where now stands the pride of our city, the courthouse, in 1861 there stood a modest frame building, inside of which and about the steps of which in the fall of that year the people responded to the rattling roll of the drum and the shrill notes of the fife. In every northern city similar scenes were being enacted. Fort Sumter had been fired upon and the people were in danger and you of the Twelfth regiment placed your names on the list of the defenders of this nation and were among the very first to go to war, many being only fifteen to eighteen years of age, casting aside the home ties and donning the blue. There were older men, too, but none of them are with us today. They have passed the allotted three score and ten years. You sacrificed the home for the open attempts, hardships and danger. Comrades, on behalf of the city of Warsaw I most heartily welcome you and every resident of this city extends to you a hand of kindly greeting. It is the earnest desire of the people of Warsaw that your time should be filled with pleasure. We greet you with warm heart and open hand."

The response to the address of welcome was by Mrs. Houton C. Frazer, daughter of Marsh H. Parks, deceased, of Warsaw, known as the "Daughter of the Twelfth Regiment." She said among other things: "It gives me great pleasure to respond to this royal welcome by our captain, but I think that it is due you to know that Comrade George Steele, of this regiment, was to have given this response. I think that you know that you are welcome here, but I am glad that Captain Runyan has emphasized the fact. The first regimental reunion of the Twelfth Indiana regiment was held in Warsaw, in 1886. In looking over some old papers of my father I found a program of this first reunion and it contains the names of a great many comrades who have answered the last roll call. It was at this reunion that I first met the beloved chaplain of the Twelfth, Chaplain Gage. I remember hearing him tell his war stories."

Mrs. Frazer then read several extractions from a diary kept by her father during the war and which journal goes into the minutest particulars of the organization of the Twelfth regiment and the movements of the regiment.

The members of the Twelfth Indiana who registered are:
John R. Marshall Co. C, Warsaw
W. H. Bowen Co. F, Warsaw
F. M. Williams Co. F, Remus, Mich.
John N. Runyan Co. H, Warsaw
Nathan B. McConnell Co. E, Warsaw
W. H. Walton Co. E, Warsaw
George Inks Co. B Wolcottville
George H. Johnson Co. K Fort Wayne
James Snyder Co. C, Laura;
T. R. Boulton Co. F, Warsaw
George Dawson Co. E, Warsaw
John Willard Co. F, Syracuse
George W. Stoler Co. F, Pierceton
Samuel R. Hamlin Co. E, Warsaw
David Kile Co. F, North Webster
Oliver Sloane Co. E, Warsaw
W. M. Silver Co. F, Hoopeston, Ill.
B. W. Mankin Co. F, Huntington
J. A. Peterson Co. F, Warsaw
R. M. Cloud Co. D, Fort Wayne
M. Johnston Co. K, Fort Wayne
C. P. Nicely Co. H, Warsaw
William H. Jordan Co. A. Bourbon
John Montel Co. I, Atwood
Christian Widman Co. F, Inwood
W. H. Sparrow Co. I, Parsons
B. F. James Co. E, Leesburg
F. W. Malott Co. C, Marion
F. W. Kromm Co. D, Rockfield
Stansbury Little Co. A, Rockfield
John Whitezel Co. C, Peru
John Lengel Co. F, Huntington
Mrs. Maggie Lengel Co. F, Huntington
Charles Kohser Co. I, North Manchester
B. F. Price Co. D, Monticello
Monroe Kreider Co. I, Silver Lake
Mrs. Ellen Montel Co. I, Atwood
Mrs. Electra Snyder Co. I, Silver Lake
Franklin Miller Co. F, Huntington
J. E. Loughry Co. D, Monticello
T. W. Irelan Co. D, Delphi
G. W. Sherbundy Co. I, Silver Lake
John McKeehan Co. F, Leesburg
J. W. Groves Co. B, Warsaw
Thomas M. Rash Co. G, Greenville
Harry R. Todd Co. D, Young America
J. W. Mason Co. D, Brookston
Marion Jaques Co. F, Silver Lake
Henry A. Ferree Co. I, Silver Lake
Joseph Baker Co. E, Warsaw
A. C. McCarter Co. A, Warsaw

The visitors who registered are:
Elam Robbins 44th Ind., Co. A, Warsaw
James A. Smith 129th Ind., Co. G, Crawford County, Ill.
John P. Wogoman 75th Ind., Co. B, Warsaw
George Kimes 100th Ind., Co. G, Waraw
B. Q. Morris 118th Ind., Co. G, Warsaw
Henry Baughman 74th Ind., Co. K, North Manchester
B. W. Carr 74th Ind., Co. A, Warsaw
Joseph Hanson 75th Ind., Co. A, Pierceton
Balinda Hanson Pierceton
Barbara Manley Pierceton
J. M. Cliffton 9th Tenn. Cav. (Confederate) Co. D, Middle Tenn.
Tom J. Nye, Sr. 30th Ind., Co. B, Warsaw
Thomas B. Croft 74th Ind. Co. A, Warsaw
Amberson Jones 129th Ind., Co. H, Warsaw
Joseph Thorn 110th Ohio, Co. E, Warsaw
S. C. Funk 129th Ind., Co. K, Warsaw
A. F. Eschbach 129th, Co. G, Warsaw
John Pinkerton 74th, Ind., Co. K, Warsaw
Samuel Campbell 176th Ohio, Co. K, Warsaw
J. J. Babcock 87th Ind., Co. F, Warsaw
John C. Beagle 129th Ind., Co. H, Warsaw
A. P. Bass 151st Ind., Warsaw
T. F. Vanarsdale 38th Wisc., Co. C, Wisconsin
Miss Mary Brothers, Clinton, Wash.
John Minear 75th Ind., Co. K, Warsaw
W. H. Thomas 44th Ohio, Co. K, Warsaw
L. Sherburn 44th Ind., Co. B, Warsaw
Harvey Knickerbocker 13th Mich., Warsaw
J. P. Frush 129th Ind. Co. H, Warsaw
C. A. Zook 91st Ind., Co. K, Warsaw
Thos. McConnell 74th Ind., Co. A, Marion
H. W. Graham 138th, Co. F, Warsaw
James H. Miller 152nd Ind., Co. B, Warsaw
E. C. Doke 152nd Ind. Co. D. Pierceton

Warsaw Daily Times Wednesday September 30, 1908

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