Old soldiers, old times, Civil War reunions
By Sandy Vasko
At the turn of the 20th century there were still quite a few Civil War vets in the Will County area. Almost all of them belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans’ organization for Civil War vets only.
The veterans not only felt the need to be with those who truly understood what they had been through, but to see those who still remained. Reunions were almost the first thing that organization thought of.
But their ranks were quickly dwindling. Each week’s paper printed the obituary of another local veteran. From the 100th Voluntary Infantry from 1904 to 1906: Dennis Smith, Judge Charles Garnsey, General Thomas J. Wood, Patrick McHugh, Captain Lines, and Walter Benedict all passed away. The numbers from the 39th Infantry, another Will county regiment, were similar.
In 1897, the Channahon Post of the G. A. R. held a swearing-in ceremony in style. There were two speakers, Dan Higgins and J.C. Lang. Both were asked to speak before the meal was served. Lang complained about that state of affairs.
“If you want a first class, No. 1, extra choice speech – one that will make your mouths water and start the hair growing luxuriantly on bald heads, you ought to hear me talk after I have had a square meal instead of calling upon me when there is an aching void of unknown extent and boundless capacity in the region of my commissary department.
“It may be true that the old soldiers are getting old, are already old, in fact, so far as outward appearances and years are concerned, but their separate and individual appetites seem to be as youthful, as unimpaired and as unlimited as when the fat, festive and frolicsome oyster was merely an epicurean dream in place of a delicious reality and the boys were compelled to forage for their spring chickens, Christmas turkeys and fresh pork.
“And it has been noticed, also, that the veterans always have their appetites with them, together with their presence of mind, wherever they go, and especially on occasions of this character. Not one of them, under any circumstances, however fortuitous, or by any chance, however strange, was ever known to lose his appetite in the street car or postroom, or carelessly leave it on the piano or under his pillow during a temporary absence from home. The truth of these remarks will be made manifest before the visiting comrades depart.”
Each of the Will County regiments held an annual reunion, although getting smaller every year. In 1906, it was Wilmington’s turn to host the event for the 100th. We read on September 21: “The Old Hundredth – Gallant Remnant of the Brave Old Command meets here in annual gathering Thursday, where its first reunion was held September 18,1885 – The gallant Will County regiment – the One Hundredth Illinois – held its 22nd annual reunion in this city Thursday last.
“The day – though threatening rain during the forenoon – turned out to be a fine one and many of the genial hearts, cemented together long ago in the field and camp met again to clasp hands and commune together over the glories of the mighty past – The Civil War – which now seems but a dream. The passing years had left their mark on them with stooped shoulders or grizzled hair and beard. They were alike in one thing. Each lapel wore the little bronze button of the G. A. R.
“What passing years have done to their ranks is seen when one glances at the list of companions that composed the regiment when it was mustered in forty-four years ago, Sept. 1st, 1862. There were 961 of them then. They are almost 900 short of that number today.
“Captain M. N. M. Stewart president of the association directed the march of the association from the 10:27 a.m. train to Empire Hall where the business meeting was held.
“After the business meeting the soldier boys and their ladies repaired to the Presbyterian Church where the banquet was served. The tables were spread in the parlors of the church, and presented a very fine appearance. The banquet was served by the Ladies’ Guild of the church and that is equivalent to saying that it was a splendid spread. The whole affair was a grand success and every old soldier there in the 100th or out of it felt proud of the gathering.”
In 1907, Joliet was in charge of the reunion. They decided to include all regiments. We read: “Joliet’s resident soldiers of the 100th Illinois volunteer Infantry met Wednesday afternoon and made preliminary arrangements for the soldiers’ reunion, which is to be held in connection with the annual reunion of the 100th infantry. On the forty-fourth anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, Civil war veterans from all over Will county and vicinity will gather at Dellwood Park for a grand reunion. Invitations will be extended to all Grand Army Posts in the county as well as to those at Aurora, Ottawa, Morris and Gardner.”
One prominent Wesley veteran, William Johnston, was out of the country at the time. He was notified of the event and we read the results on Sept. 20, 1907: “William Johnston, of Wesley, arrived here from Scotland Thursday where he has spent the past four months visiting the scenes of his childhood. Mr. Johnston who is one of the brave boys in blue states that he is more than pleased that he arrived home in time to attend the reunion of the old Hundredth Regiment in Lockport.”
Dellwood Park at that time was a full-fledged amusement park with carnival rides, dance pavilions, camp grounds, a restaurant and romantic boat cruises on the lake. Needless to say, the 1907 reunion was one of the largest attended.
It was not attempted again, as many of the men who organized the event were dead one year later.
Sandy Vasko is Director of the Will County Historical Museum & Research Center and President of the Will County Historical Society.
J. C. Lang, who gave the speech in Channahon, in his Civil War uniform.
