13th Annual Reunion - 21st Mo. Vet. Vol. Inf. Assoc

The 21st Missouri Regiment Infantry

Veteran Volunteer Association

Page 20

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL RE-UNION

MEMPHIS, Mo., Oct. 3,4, 1900. 10 a.m.

Oct. 3 - Meeting called to order by Captain J.P. Craig, 15th Iowa. Prayer by the Rev. William Lawrence. Address of welcome by the Hon. G.T. Collins. Comrade J. Johnson responded for the 21st. This being Old Settlers' Day the Veterans turned the meeting over to the Old Pioneers and adjourned until night.

CAMPFIRE AT THE OPERA HOUSE, 7 P.M.

The house was packed. On the stage were about forty of the 21st, with T.W. Holman in the chair. The exercises were opened with a song, "Shake Hands, " by Capt. J.P. Craig; then the following program was carried out: Speech, Jonathan Johnson; recitation, Miss Amy Cowell; speech, Major H.C. McArthur, 15th Iowa; song, Mrs. Franc Patterson; speech, Lair Deen; song, "The Blues are Turning Gray," Jo. Zumsteg; song, "Good Night, " Memphis Glee Club."

BUSINESS MEETING 9 A.M., THE 4th -
Meeting called to order by President Fred Wolter. Minutes of last re-union read and approved and committees apointed as follows: On officers for the ensuing year, M. Fulton, J. Beal, J.H. Cunningham. Place of holding next annual re-union, J. Johnson, N.E. Lane and J.K. Burner. Committees reported as follows:

Officers for the ensuing year: President, A.C. Roberts; Vice President, Lair Deen; Secretary and Treasurer, T.W. Holman. Place of holding next annual re-union, Brashear, Mo. Reports of committees adopted and committees discharged.

On motion Secretary and President were appointed a committee to fix date of next re-union.Page 21

FINANCIAL REPORT

Oct. 4, 1900
To balance ....................................................... $23.50
Secretary; postage and cards............................... 4.50
Cash received by Secretary, .......... $ 21.75
$ 28.00

Paid R.R. by Treasurer....................$ 17.25
Secretary's bill ................................... 4.50
$21.75
To balance due ................................................. $ 6.25

SECRETARY'S REPORT OF SHILOH VISIT BY MEMBERS OF THE 21ST MISSOURI

At a business meeting of the 21st Missouri Association while in session at Fort Madison in 1899, it was decided to visit Shiloh in 1900. The object of the visit to mark the various positions of the regiment in the field during the battle April 6th and 7th, 1862, and the Secretary was appointed a committee to secure transportation and to make all necessary arrangements to accomplish the object of the visit. To give a full account of all we saw on the trip would make this report too long, hence a brief summary of 1500 miles though and in seven states, on three rivers by boat, must suffice.

May the 24th, 6 p.m., the following comrades boarded the steamer Sidney at Fort Madison, Iowa: Major A.C. Roberts, T.W. Holman, N.E. Lane, J. McClure and J.H. Cunningham. At Keokuk we were joined by J. Johnson and Peter Conkle. At Quincy, Ill., by Michael Cashman. At St. Louis, Mo., by G.W. Sheeks of Moravia, Iowa, and Wm. O'Connor of Carrollton,Ill. At 7 p.m., the 26th, boarded steamer City of Memphis, bound for Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. Arrived at Paducah, Ky., 9 a.m., 28th. At 10 a.m. commenced steaming up the Tennessee river; passed Fort Henry late in the evening. We did not land at this historical spot and had to be content with viewing the walls of the fort from the steamer.

Arrived at Pittsburg Landing at 2 a.m. the 30th. Remained on boat until after breakfast; then disembarked and went to the office of Capt. Shaw, Superintendent of the National Cemetery, and registered. This was Memorial Day and people from the country were coming in.Page 22

Having previously made arrangements for board and conveyance while on the field, our party decided to spend the morning on the field, and our hacks being in waiting in charge of Mr. Winningham, field guide, we started to the front, taking the lower Corinth road, passing Blodd pond, then taking the Purdy road, crossing the field to the right. We then took the Corinth and Pittsburg road, via Shiloh church, following this road out to near Beauregard's headquarters during the battle. We then turned to the left, coming into the "Seay field" from the southwest and over the ground the enemy moved to the attack. We now alighted and were standing on the field where the 21st Missouri, at 6 a.m., April 6th, met Shaver's and Wood's brigade of Hardee's corps, and rang up the curtain of battle on this memorable field. We crossed over to the northeast of the field and located our second battle line. A heavy rain was now coming up and we could do but a little more than drive hurriedly over the ground and seek shelter, but not in time to prevent us from getting and old time Tennessee frenching. We then returned to the landing. We were to wet and limp to think about anything now but our miserable plight; but in this we were not alone. About 1500 people had gathered onthe field during our absence, to assist n decorating the 3608 graves of comrades buried in the National Cemetery. The memorial services were conducted by the G.A.R. Post of Adamsville, Tennessee, but most of the program had to be omitted on account of the rain.

The second day was spent in finishing marking our positions. We placed wooden markers at these places: Brigade Camp, northwest corner Seay Field, eat of Seay field, southeast corner Rhea field, in rear of camp and in the Hornet's Nest. Major D.W. Reed, secretary of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission, accompanied us over the field and pronounced our work correct. The Government will replace the wooden markers with iron tablets as soon as cast.Page 23

June 2d we took the steamer City of Clifton going up the river to Waterloo, Alabama, passing over our old camp at East Port, Mississippi. At this point we started our return trip, stopping again at Shiloh for a short time. June 8th reached St. Louis. June 9th 5 p.m., took Steamer Sidney for Keokuk. Our trip was a very enjoyable one. All reached home safely and well pleased with the pilgrimage to Shiloh. The following members of our party participated in the battle: J.H. Cunningham, Wm. O'Connor, T.W. Holman, J. Johnson, G.W. Sheeks, M. Cashman and N.E. Lane.

Since returning home I have arranged with Major D.W. Reed, Secretary Park Commission, for legend on iron tablets marking our positions, as follows:

Number one.

U.S.
21st MO. INFT., PEABODY'S (1ST) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6TH) DIVISION.
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
First position in line of battle April 6th, 1862, was near
the northwest corner of Seay field.

(To be erected at the center of front line of camp.)

Number two.

U.S.
21st MO. AND PICKETS OF PEABODY'S (1ST) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6TH) DIVISION.
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
The 21st Mo. reinforced the reconnoitering party of the
25th Mo., and the pickets of the 12th Mich., and four companies
of the 16th Wis., at this place and engaged the
Confederate advance 30 minutes soon after sunrise April 6, 1862.
Col. Moore was wounded and Capt. Saxe, 16th Wis.,
killed, being the first casualties to officers
at Shiloh.

(To be erected at the northwest corner of Seay field. See stake marked 21st Mo.)Page 24

Number three.

U.S.
21st MO. AND PICKETS OF PEABODY'S (1ST) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6TH) DIVISION.
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
The 21st Mo. and three companies of the 25th Mo.,
two companies of the 12th Mich., and four companies of the
16th Wis., were engaged here from 6:30 A.M.
to 7:30 A.M. April 6, 1862.

(To be erected at the northwest corner of Seay field. See stake marked 21st Mo.)

Number four.

U.S.
21st MO. AND PICKETS OF PEABODY'S (1ST) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6TH) DIVISION.
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
This Regiment was engaged here from 7:30 A.M.
to 8:30 A.M. April 6, 1862, when it retired to its camp..

(Tablet 400 feet east of southeast corner of Rhea field.)

Number five.

U.S.
21st MO. AND PICKETS OF PEABODY'S (1ST) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6TH) DIVISION.
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
The Regiment was engaged here from 8:30 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.
April 6, 1862, and then fell back to
Prentiss' third position.

(Tablet to be erected 300 feet in rear of Brigade Camp.)

Number six.

U.S.
21st MO. AND PICKETS OF PEABODY'S (1ST) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6TH) DIVISION.
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
About 200 of the Regiment re-formed here about 9:00 A.M.,
April 6th, 1862, and were engaged until afternoon.
Sixty attached themselves to the 14th Iowa, and fought with that
Regiment until 5:30 P.M., and were then captured with it at Camp of 32d Illinois.

(Tablet to be erected at left of 14th Iowa Monument in Hornet's Nest.)

On motion of Camrade Lair Deen, the President appointed the following named comrades a committee on resolutions of thanks to comrades who visited Shiloh for the purpose of marking the position of the 21st Mio. in line of battle on this historical field. Committee Lair Deen, A.P. Harbur, D.B.Cravens.Page 25

Report of Committee on Resolutions:
Resolved, That this Association highly appreciates the services of the Secretary, T.W. Holman, and Comrades Major A.C. Roberts, J.H. Cunningham, Wm. O'Connor, J. Johnson, M. Cashman, N.E. Lane, G.W. Sheeks and Peter Condle, who accompanied him to Shiloh and for their valuable service in perpetuating the record of the 21st Mo. on this memorable battle field by marking its positions our heartfelt thanks are tendered them.

Lair Deen, A.P. Harbur, D.B. Cravens

Report of committee unanimously adopted.

Fifty-seven comrades registered during the re-union, from Missouri, California, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois.

Major W.S. Henry, Department Commander, G.A.R. of Missouri, addressed the people at 2 p.m. Other comrades made short talks.

On motion the thanks of the Association were tendered the comrades and citizens of Memphis for their courteous treatment during our re-union..

Adjourned to meet in Brashear, Mo., in 1901.

T.W. HOLMAN, Sec'y.

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