SOCIETY OF THE
“4S NINTH ©

MICHIGAN

INFANTRY
of g\ead Quar, len,

sD)
REUNION

Caanicnn:' Mich:
Oct. 6°87"
1897


ams Twenty Eighth Reuniony>

OF THE SOCIETY oF THE

Ninth Michigan Infantry

Coldwater, October 6 and 7, 1897.

t28Wras

OFFICERS.

President, Gen’! JobnG. Parkhurst
Vice-President, Col. Henry M. Duffield.
Sec’y and Treas’r, A. M. Dobbelaere.

ty
SHE MEMBERS of the 9th Michigan Infantry resid-
ing in Coldwater, having received notice from the
secretary that the society of the 9th Michigan In-
fantry would hold a reunion in Coldwater on the 6th and 7th
days of October, met together to make arrangements for the

reunion.
At this meeting the following committees were appointed

to whom were entrusted the making of all necessary arrange-
ments for the coming reunion:

ans COMMITTEES

RECEPTION.

Gen. F. D. Newberry, Maj. G. H. Turner, :
BS Tibbits D G Parker W A Coombs C H Dickinson KE D Luedders
H Bidelman N A Reynolds S$ B Kitchel

Hon Al Milnes ER Clarke C H Bovee HJ Drake
L Sloman T A Hilton

}. H. Brown, Henry Firth,

LM Wing G M White
L H Warren

333 2 ee¢

MUSIC.
Thos Rhodes W L Andrews H A Grube

ENTERTAINMENT.
4 J Hanna O G Noyes J G@ Parkhurst M M Dickinson Dp 4 Bolete
P ss o oe i
Thos Rhodes D G@ Parker C H Brown F Hiliar “OC w Bennet,
T J Nixon H A King George Gillen o

HALLS AND DECORATIONS.
CH Brown Homer Benson Chas Babbitt Thos Fegles W
C J Stulting
FINANCE.
Dan G Parker OG Noyes DA Bolster C W Bennett © W Brown
A J Hanna

PRINTING AND PUBLICATION.
Maj G H Turner H A Bates S B Kitchel

TRANSPORTATION.

J W Fales Detroit Mark VanAken E A Bidelman S G Ray
E R Root Fred Corless

At a meeting of the several committees the following
program was announced for the reunion:
PROGRAMME.
OCTOBER 6.
2 o'clock p. M.—Registering names and payment of dues at
headquarters, Southern Michigan Hotel.
4 to 6 p. M.—Reception at residence of J. G. Parkhurst, 55
North Clay St. Comrades will form in front of hotel and
march in a body to the residence of General Parkhurst.

8 o’clock p. M.—Banquet at G. A. R. Hall, followed by an
ADDRESS OF WELCOME—A. A. Sherman.

RErsponsE—Col. H. M. Duffield.
REMINISCENCE OF SECRET SERVICE IN THE ARMy—Captain

kK. MM. Boyd.

BATTLES OF CHICKAMAUGA AND Missionary RipGE—Capt.
C. E. Belknap.

SNAP SHotTs—Comrades and Guests.

OCTOBER 7.
9 o-clock a. M—Business meeting at G. A. R. Hall.
10 o'clock a. Mm —Carriages and Visiting.
At 2:00 o'clock P, M., October 6th, a business meeting
was held at headquarters in the Southern Michigan hotel

F Lum bard


223 3 Eee

obbelaere, registe

é egistered
u : oe

es re members of the society
: ter the transaction of the

the home of General : :

where they were ee orth Clay street,
the street in front of the house ae ise ing at attention in
at ease with the residence as a back eae and standing

General Parkhurst gave one — a ; .
coming his old comrades to partake of hi = eee! talks wel-
good cheer offered. He held in his eas Hs and the
colors, which he said many of the regiment pee - be spee gio
captured at Murfreesburo, Tenn. The amet ite apreets
tion is quite romantic, and was related by the tet The
spacious doors ot Gen. Parkhurst’s elegant residence were then
— open, se through the portals swarmed the soldiers of

is old command.

The reception at Gen. Parkhurst’s was most complete,
not alone because of the elegant repast and social cheer, but
from the score or more of handsome women and pretty girls
who graced the occasion with their presence, among whom
were the following in evening dress:

Mesdames—E. R. Root, Maj. G. H. Turner, Maj. L.
M. Wing, Henry Dennis, N. O. Thompson, Gen. F. D. New-
berry, Dr. Powers, Rey. H. H. Hughes, Hon. Alfred Milnes,
Helen Mansfield, Capt. Mortimer Mansfield, Col. Henry M.
Duffield, Capt. R. M. Boyd, Henry S. Hubbard.

Misses—-Grace Dennis, Mabel Milnes, Irene Root, Belle
Brown, Flora Root, Rolene Root, Elizabeth Coombs, Helene
Moe, Julia Hulburt, Kate A. Starr, Grace Newberry.

The formalities over, talk and social intercourse were in
order, and with the good cheer furnished by the genial host
the time passed most pleasantly. From above, the sweet strains
of music floated and no one could mistake it. The Coldwater
Mandolin club are all finished musicians and their presence

adds to the pleasure of anv gathering: eS
Gradually the company dispersed to meet again in the

evening at G A. BR. halk


333 4 Set

At 8:00 the society and a number of guests assembleg
the G. A. R. hall for their banquet, and as they gathered °,,
the festal board, the rains of Heaven, so long deferred, Came
down as in a gentle benediction upon these scarred veterans
the preservers of our glorious union. — Rev. Henry Hughes in
eloquent language evoked the blessing of the Divine Being
upon the assembled company, and the feast begun. One
hundred and fifty covers were laid and the dainties provideg
by the W. R. C. were brought on, gracefully served by the
younger ladies of the order. When all had eaten their fil],
adjournment was made to the spacious reception hall where
the mental feast was opened by Gen. Parkhurst who intro-
duced Mayor Sherman. Mr. Sherman briefly welcomed the
visitors and gave them the freedom of the city. Col. H. Mw
Duffield responded to the mayor’s welcome. He expressed
the sentiment of the visitors and said they were more than
grateful for the treatment received and generous hospitality
extended by the citizens of Coldwater. From this he drifted
to other subjects and held the attention of his hearers through-
out his eloquent discourse. paying the highest tribute to his old
colonel, Gen. Parkhurst, and General George H. Thomas,
whom he esteemed the greatest soldier of the war of the re-
bellion. |

Brief addresses were made by Comrades M. A. Merri-
field, H. C. Rankin, Capt. E. Marble and S. B. Kitchel. Pa-
triotic songs were interspersed between speeches. Then the
society listened to R. M. Boyd of Racine, Wisconsin, who de-
livered the following

ADDRESS:

Mr. PresipEnT, Mempers or THE NintH MicuigaN INFANTRY, COMRADES
oF THE GRAND ARMY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I esteem it a very great honor to be introduced to my first audience by
so distinguished a gentleman as presides at this banquet to-night Some
tour weeks ago when I accepted an invitation to contribute a paper on this
occasion, I hadn’t the remotest idea that I should be obliged to spring on
you that old chestnut, ‘a bad cold’, and if I pronounce certain words as
though I had a hot potato in my mouth, you will please accredit the defect
where it probably belongs, a defect of the head, not of the heart.

Two or three weeks since I received a letter from your honored Presi-
dent, in which was enclosed a circular announcing the reunion of the Ninth
Michigan Infantry at this time and place The circular stated that Captain
R. M. Boyd, of Racine, Wisconsin, would read a paper giving reminiscences
of “Army Secret Service.’ I desire to say that there is an error so far as
the Captain part of it is concerned. During the late war, I had the honor
of being a High Private, I am very much afraid that those of you who

333 5

have read the circular in question will }
paper which I may prevent to y
of fiction and fine-spun_ theorie
If such is the fact. you will cert
ces of Army Secret Service tha

38. ppoi

Ppolnted in the

eater the o Nay possibly expect a lot
le of literature,

: | | Ver reminiscen-
being facts which came directly under my personal bser eee
told in a straightforward business way. ee

In the paper which follows. ] SI
é “5 Ss dal] en Gi ‘
methods and sources from which Secret oe to show the different
and the ee of men who furnished it. onmation was obtained,
The Scouts—men of great endurance das
aaa 77 Aas 1
= inen of the neon me courage and tireless energy,
eS oo per of oe and po caine Coe
could be all things to all men, and possessed of a re ea ey
Sele advantage of ees aiine cect ady, quick perception so

But few soldiers or citizens, unless immediatel ie
Secret Service, are aware of its extent, or the iiporinnipata, ee ne
success of any army. It is the aim of every General commanding an army
to find out and know just what his opponent intends to do, and the availa-
ble force at his command to accomplish it; these propositions being known
_ it then remains with him to take prompt and effective measures to counter-

~ act such plans.

The duties of the Secret Service are extremely hazardous and dangerous
at tim:s. Those who engage in that service should possess a cool head, the
cunning of the fox. the courage of the lion, and the good judgment to use
both to the very best advantage. The Secret Service may properly be
divided into three parts, the Guides, Scouts and Spies. Each had an im-
portant duty assigned to it, and each performed that duty well. —

When I first went into the Service, I often wondered how it was that
our commanders became so familiar with all the by-ways, highways, and
mountain paths in so briefa time; I knew as a matter of course, pee
relied somewhat on the maps of the country through which we passe on
such information, but I had been in the Secret ae eis ee aa
time before I became aware of the fact that they see eee see
maps for such information; the information In regarc bo lghways, ges,

. z ~ * rel
; ; ; , as mostly derived from Guides, an
ferries, rivers, timber, water, etc. was y

ss ae ‘ amiliar with the country through
trom citizens who were old corset ht to headquarters and

which we passed. These people would be broug

- . . try that we were about to pass
questioned as to the characte! of the coun blake aa diene

through, where the different roa'ls led to, ve number and name of roads
: : ; ing purposes, the nun oe cane
water and timber for camping ight travel in the sam

‘my m i :

her, so that an army oe ance

oe ae ee cores and division within supporting distance
direction, and ye

} h other In case of an atta k i is 1 F 101 ¢ statement was the n
3 ok ¢ -epar d b them 18) 1e

5 : ss. : coe oe is oe
sh we were to pas x he Secret Service ws
aay Se rior to the Atlanta lace ee She Nea
r four mo : roferenc he ¢ y
very pay in obtaining information 1” Laan Chattanooga, Dalton and

vially ‘e directed to
Chattanvoga and Atlanta, and Aer outlined, when we were directec

. ‘dly : : ; of Dalton
Rome. The campaign had hat el e monntain range Line re a as
ascertain if there was any ane ugh which the pina Pe Seka after this
farther south than the one t ; think it was some 31” ave one of our spies
end ot Rocky Face Ridge. eceived the information as Snake Creek Gap,
zaureat was mace, a on close Oo Sagar known erat Resaca. This
that there was a ga week ran and emptl

through which a little cree

© 323 6 Eee

the first intimation that we had that General Sherman intended g flank
was >| ou 4 and ”

sment around Dalton. : ania sve famili :
ead around Resaca we picked up people who were familiar With th,

roads for miles in our advance; the statements Ot ee in taken

by the topographical engineers and sao ot P on higrs 0! ania ; sebidls: that w

were to pass through, and in the same way af brid a ie axed — the in.
formation was obtained of all the roads, rivers, re ey ie oe eligible
camping grounds clear through to Atlanta ant ' ones oug ly reorgia

One of our most valuable guides was an Ol ee hai < name of Joneg,
a Johnny Reb that we captured near Adarisville. Jones pee an eye for 4
fine horse, a handsome mule and a beautiful whee we ani to the latter he
Fd his good oF bad fortune of being captured; having lingered behind
his command to chat with a couple of comely ee he was surprised and
captured by our cavalry and turned over fo ne hen we questioned him,
we found him to be a well educated fellow, full of fan and as odd as the day
was long. When asked if he was acquainted in Atlanta, he said "Yes, very
well indeed. In fact, I am the best known man in that city. Every busi-
ness man and. many other people hold one of my notes for a greater or legs
amount, and they will always have something coming to them. as long ag
thev keep them.”’ He had been a stage driver In the city of Atlanta for
over thirty years and was thoroughly familiar with every foot of country
within a radius of sixty miles of Atlanta. He said that he was tired of the
war and would stay with us willingly and give us all the information we
desired. Jones was very useful to us in getting information from rebel
prisoners; when information of such character was wanted, he was placed
under guard and put in with the Johnnies over night, or for two or three
hours as the case might be Then a guard would be sent after him with an
order to report at headquarters. On such occasions Jones parted with his
comrades in great sorrow, expressing the belief to them that his days were
numbered and that before the rising of another sun he would be swinging
from the limb of the nearest tree.

His family lived at Decatur, about eight miles east of Atlanta, and after
we captured that city, he and two or three of the scouts went out to see
his family. In passing up a lane, the Johnnies closed in at both ends of it
and in the skirmish that followed, Jones was killed.

Under the head of Scouts, we will mention a few from your own state
of Michigan. They were men of the highest courage, and performed their
duties faithfully and well. They usually traveled in groups of four and
five, made swift raids into the enemy’s country. did all the damage they
could, obtained all the information possible ahd reported back to camp; and
as soon as their report was made, they were usually sent out on some other
ie as hazardous, and in this way their services continued
A ped ve peek re in that service from this state. I may mention
ie on, ink from Monroe County, Billy Iddings, Will Long (John
etd the, bs whee
scouts departed from Ch , e present time. On one occasion thes

attanooga, passed down through Lookout Valley to

ana see ao oe cater cover until night, when they made 4
ce, captured four large sacks of letters, and among other
things, a rebel Major's commie ge sacks of letters, and a g

: ’ ssion and uniform. These Will Lawton 4P
propriated for hisown use. After i 1 yg just
mentioned, made several exp fe Fem, he and the other bovig

g editions into Alabam: Georgia. th Major
g ; ; : a and Georgia, the -
representing Gimself as being in the quarter master’s sprvice of the Me

cat aati ale a for the purpose of securing forage In this way 0°
: 40 travel at will unmolested, admired by the southern belles he

233 7 €c< “4

ced : : the best thei
_ e was not slow to encourage their advan st their homes afford -
eC

sei ces a ee
their beauty and fidelity to the lost cause, and in retut, (Praise them for

— : nN retur des ace:
he was rewarded by them with the latest Beldhborks such generoug

od gossip and
lies possessed. In this way

home of this young woman was of the usual Georg}
and

ward the high.

way x : He was charmed with
her heauty, grace and winsome manners, and in a fatal moment confessed to

r the secret of his being a Yankee Scout and emplo Ini
hehe setae this confession by Lawton, she vn tesa ey, the Union
vited him to call again on Taursdas evening of the following week when
she would have some very important information to impart to him It
seems that she had for some time suspected that Lawton was a Yankee
Scout, and had encouraged his attentions until he confessed his real charac-
ter; she hated a Yankee with all the intense hatred of a southern girl, and
took prompt measures to betray him. She sent word to her rebel lover
(Captain White) who was a captain of a guerrilla band that was in the
habit of making yisits in that neighborhood, to be at her home on the
evening that she had invited Lawton to come and see her. Distinctly do
I remember the morning that the boys started from Chattanooga, - well
mounted and equipped for a scout of a week or ten days duration, Lawton
was dressed in his rebel uniform, the other boys knowing that they were
handicapped by the major’s good looks and new uniform, tried to make
amends for it as well as they could by brushing up their old hats, blacking
their boots, and putting on the best butternut clothes they could obtain;
they started out at a brisk galop, and with a wave of the hand and a
good-bye; we little thought at that time the significance of the word ‘‘good-
bye.” In two or three days, the boys returned without Lawton, haggard and
weary with their long ride, sore in body and distressed in mind, their com-
rade and leader had been betrayed, led into a trap and foully murdered. A
moment previous to Lawton’s arrival, the young lady’s rebel lover was
placed behind the door, and when Lawton opened it to enter, the muzzle
of a pistol was thrust against his neck, the trigger pulled, and all that was
mortal of Will Lawton had taken its flight to the great beyond, me
whence no report ever comes; betrayed, stricken down, brutally re eae
The remains of Lawton were brought back within some fourteen or fifteen
miles of Chattanooga, and there buried. The instant the fatal shot he
fired, the assassin dashed out through the hack door into the woods -
under cover of night and the thick under-growth made his escape. €
other boys above mentioned remained with us and rendered the ao
ment very efficient service as scouts through the Atlanta campaign, returne

to Chattanooga, and were mustered out at the expiration of their term of
Service,

One of the oldest spies that we had in length of wees pists Me
vent by the name of Jack Kennedy, his real name was a ‘ ee the Se-
elieve that he belonged to an Ohio regiment. Jack be h i h with the
cret Service, commencing at Nashville, Tenn.. going throws :

A e-
‘osecrans campaign which ended in our capturing ae O88 athville
mained with us through the entire Atlanta campaien ant

ing Irishman
Where he was mustered out Jack was a shrewd, sey ited it Directly
who could look as innocent as a dove when occasion req :

233 8 Eee

after the battle of Mission Ridge, Jack commenced his excursion down
through Lookout Valley. He also became acquainted with a young Woman
in that valley; he courted her successfully, and they Were engaged to be
married. Jack was thrifty, took care of all the money he could get both
confederate and greenbacks. He had any quantity of confederate Money,
and in anticipation of his approaching Marrlage, he purchased & farm with
it, and gave his intended bride a deed of the property, and in order ta Make
himself still more solid with the rebels in that vicinity, he bought a conple
of darkies and presented them to her also, As springa pproached and it wag
known that a campaign would soon begin, Jack hunted around until he
found a pair of nice mules that could be purchased with confederate money,
These he bought and presented to his intended bride, so. that while he was
away on the campaign, the farm might be cultivated, and his bride tobe
taken care of. Reports in regard to Jack soon. spread far and wide, and hy
some of the rebel soldiers who lived in that vicinity, was carried to Dalton
and to the ears of Gen Hill, who was Provost Marshall General of the rebel
army. Gen. Hill expressed a desire to see the gent!eman who was so gener.
ous. He sent Jack word that he would like to have him come to Dalton
and see him Jack sent back this outs S “that he expected that he would
like to see him, and that he supposed that in ten minutes after he got his
eyes on him he would be swinging from the limb of some neighboring oak,”
but Jack added to this message, “that he heard that the word ofa southern
gentleman was absolutely good wherever and whenever it was given, and
if Gen. Hill would guarantee to return him safely outside of his lines, he
would come and see him’? Jack was a good judge of human nature, and
knew that when he appealed to his honor as a southerner, that he touched
him ina tender spot. Gen. Hill sent him a pass within and through his
lines and guaranteed him a safe return.

Jack went to Dalton, had a consultation with Gen, Hill and told him
the very plausible story that when he enlisted he bad been promised a
commission, and that through the intrigue of several officers of the regiment
he bad been cheated out of it, and in consequence of such treatment he had
determined to remain away from the regiment as much as possible; when
the war was over he intended to marry the young lady in Lookout Valley
and make the sunny South his future home. At this interview Gen, Hill
asked him whether he could not get him some information. Jack replied
that he thought he could if there was anything in it for him, to which Gen.
Hill replied that he would give him a fifty dollar gold piece if he would get
him the correct answer to three questions and bring him a new Union hat
such as was worn by our officers at that time. This would be proof positive
to him that Jack had been within our lines,

Comrades, I suppose you never suspected that your honored President
would be guilty of aiding and abetting the rebellion, but such is
the fact, for he furnished the money, and with it I bought the hat,
and Jack delivered it to Gen, Hill One of the three questions was
“Where did Gen. Butterfield’s division go when it left the base of
Lookout Mountain, and went in an easterly direction?’ This is the omy
question of the three that I recall at this time, but all three questions were
submitted to General Thomas, who dictated the answers, and they were
absolutely truthful. I have no doubt but Gen. Hill bad perhaps half a
dozen spies in our camp getting-precisely the same information for him. At
any rate he was perfectly satisfied with Jack’s report, paid him the fifty
dollars and made an agreement with Jack for his further services, and gave
him a pass within and through his lines at will, and requested him to make
a trip for him down through Alabamaand report to him the location and
amount of forage which there was ia a certain district, This was as good 4

2323 9 Eee

profited by it.

; purpose of look-
prol sibl :
fe ® g41n information for us, He

ing UF q the confidence of Gen. Hill th roughout the whole campaign, visit-
ae

retain headquarters regularly once in two weeks until afte
his Ne&

( r the capvure of
6 j our return to Nashville. At the battle of Resaca, Jack was in a
Atlan tee near Resaca station holding a conte

frame

ht the dispatch entrusted to him by Gen. Johnson to our
on Jn ee battle field at Resaca. The dispatch was opened and
heaaqu

read by

RE he concluded
his best girl, such as combs, brushes, hair p nae tegen bers to his regi-
that he would go down and give them to her Ss oe his possession by the
ment. If such articles as that had been _ ncn: Morn de
boys, the probabilities are that there would have ne would certainly have
Valley the next time he went home, for eC that the Colonel had
reported the fact to his wife. His best girl = that he had found out that
been down there the night before, and sai eturned to his regiment he

endricks was a Yankee spy, and as soon as he hig Hendricks said that
wou'd have him arrested, court-marshalled re richt up to his regiment,
revrat ordeal was awaiting bim that he wou e nowever, he made a sneak
report and be shot at once. Instead of doing So, ’

233 10 €€e€

back through our ]i
remained lp Aes oe ha oe and reported there. THe
td ices i He came to Ghatananecene pe Wea ache bo
rifle which I had at that ti d sai vo DOrrOwsd
throats were 44 ime, and said that Gatewoodl’s gang of ¢
so be Te oheld ac et ee eee ans
pout a week afterwards, surr come is they did
2 Be a a dooryard and lied bins oun Oui ee a es ere
rin ‘
quired Ns eee. ~ Pip lid siento ite with the army were re-
transmission, and if anything objectio sab Tes gales Bg aealalaecanlone
2 te stricken out. You PLC faunee bie ei a vies
ation upon the top of Lookout Mountai i ee ee
Hii. © Our seca! car ountain, while we had one on Cam
; ps soon discovered the key to the ciph me
signals. A correspondent, if I remember ri y to the cipher of the rebel
Paani headed 1d eck ae aad oo He on Ak by the name of Dr. Doris’
good to be submitted for rere ti ee oe this out. The news was too
the snap away.”’ His Le 10N. 80 he sneaked it through and gave
they knew of our fectie Whee SHES Thai pe wee ee “rst
fact, and a copy of that paper was brought ion ae paper published the
the honor of arresting that correspondent he ee ee ee eee
his case submitted to General Thomas, wh a under suand, abd
he be sent north of the Ohio river to mad an oe
One of the most efficient spies that we Hadar oe
hah pee ee Thornton, who lived in the ay or Oilion seo
winter o 34. He wa i a : uring the
iW boned, lank aad oe ee a very tall, probably 6 ft. 6 in.,
Pea) He wits His Hale che dew ba oe good deal on the plan of a
ternut coat was extremely short in the waist ne ae) epee bee
and a pair of saddle bags that had seen years Sf very long in the skirt,
Oe ci Th wae te GA Ae Was athiced oe oe were carried over
and inquired for the “Colonel Provost.’? We ie Pp auauariers
the Provost Marshal General. He replied cy eae pete sired, 00 eee
to see’’ He had a brother in the rebel Cee ak es eae
frequently to see him; sometimes staying there ‘te a eee
Thornton was an intense Union man; after bein vi ee eer lone
to see his brother, he came to Chattanooga ade Be sene Ocrasies
statement in regard to the rebel army. He Leen e us a very valuable
the first opportunity He did so and made us a a te ae ieee reat a
and vicinity, showing the location of every earth ed i map of the city
lines of rifle pits, the number of guns contained ia ee cS Late Evie
caliber, the number of rounds of ammunition fhe oe ene
army stationed in Dalton, the number of days LA a . ective force of the
the number of sick and wounded, and in fact a complet ee See poets
dition and effective force of the rebel army. One of th lee oe
spector General’s office furnished him with this inf ee ee
: s information. Ishould have
very much liked to have kept that map as : : :
p a reminder of war times; did
keep it for about three months, but got into a tight place myself ae
danger of being captured, and knew fuil well that if ca oan bigatts
in my possession that my lease of life would be an se npecie!
: very short indeed, conse-
quently I destroyed it. This man was afterward arrested as aspy. convicted
and sentenced to be shot. He was confined in jail at i car Ga
gia, during the battle near that place. The jailer became frightened and
ran away, and his wife took the keys and unlocked the jail and allowed all

the prisoners to escape.
I met this gentleman on the street in Atlanta after we returned to that


233 11 €e<

city from Jonesborough, and if you ever saw a man in your life that was
crazy with Joy, 1t was he. _ He returned to his home near Dalton, and I
have never heard of him since.

Just before Hood’s movement from Atlanta back to Nashville, we em-
ployed a Spy who resided in or near Atlanta. Perhaps for a week before
that movement was commenced, this man made daily visits to Gen. Hood’s
headquarters, reported to us the progress that they were making in expecta-
tion of that movement. The day on which they actually did start, he ate
dinner with Gen. Hood, and in less than two hours was back at our head-
quarters making his report.

The evening of the day on which we reached Burnt Hickory, a rebel
courier was captured, brought to Gen. Thomas’ headquarters, his dispatches
opened and read, one of the General’s orderlies was dressed in the Jonnie’s
clothes, given his horse, and the dispatches, sealed in another envelope; he
took them and delivered them to the rebel general to whom they were ad-
dressed, and was back safely in our lines again next morning.

In speaking of Burnt Hickory, I am reminded of a little incident that
happened at that time; 1t was usual for the topographical engineers depart-
ment during the early part of the evening to prepare a map showing the
roads upon which the troops were expected to march the following day and
the location of the camp for that night. About nine o’clock on the night
that we arrived at Burnt Hickory, such a map was brought around
showing the roads leading to Dallas, and showing Dallas as being the point
to which we were expected to march on the following day, and that we were
to camp there that night. Shortly after daylight the next morning Iddings,
Will Long and myself concluded that we would take a short cut across the
country, and go to Dallas and be there in advance of the army. According-
ly we took the directions and started out About nine o’clock in the morn-
ing we came to Pumpkinvine Creek or a branch of that stream at a place
where there was an old tumble down saw mill and two or three houses.
The banks on each side of the creek were boggy, while the bottom of the
creek was covered with white sand. There was no ford, and the boys
thought they could run and jump their horses across. To. this suggestion I
objected for the reason that I thought it could not be done successfully, and
I was quite sure the creek had a quick sand bottom. A fence rail was pro-
cured and upon trying, we found that it could be pushed down in the sand
nearly its whole length. At that time we could hear that indescribable
num which betoken a large body of troops in the immediate vicinity. Just
east of the creek was a high ridge or hogs-back, the creek running on the
west side of it in a southerly direction. I was well satisfied from the noise
which I heard that we were in very close proximity to the rebel army. I
directed one of the boys to go up to the house and tell the inmates that they
had captured a Yankee and to get all the information which they could in
regard to the army, while the other man remained to guard me. This ruse
was very successful. The women and children in the house came out to see
the Yankee prisoner. They said that General Jobnson had been there not
over thirty minutes before and eaten breakfast with them: That the whole
army was in line of battle just on the east side of the ridge, and not to ex-
ceed halfa mile from their house We then inquired very. carefully in re-
gard to the picket post, supposing that we must be inside of their lines, and
we were informed that there was a picket post abouta quarter ofa mile up the
creek ina northerly direction at a point where a big elm tree was torn up by its
rootsand that about a quarter of a mile farther up the creek and on the east
side of it near the top of the ridge, there was another picket post with three
men on it. We concluded that we did not want to go east any farther, con-
sequently turned off at an angle going vortheast. When near the first

333 12 €e¢

kes ‘e tied our horses in the brush and moved cautiously along the
et vs caine within sight of the point designated. [The camp fire
was burning brightly, but the Jon nnies had gone. We then got our horses
and took them near the point where the second picket post was said to be;
there we hitched them under cover of the undergrowth, and followed the
directions given us and found that that picket post had also been with.
drawn. When at that point, from the noise, we were positive that we were
very close to their line of battle, which was obscured from us by the thick
underbrush. From there we continued in a northerly direction until we
struck the road on which our troops were marching. Just when we came
to the road, Generals Thomas and staff, Sherman and staff, and Scofield and
staff, and many other officers had_ just reached that point and came to a
halt. The information that I had obtained was communicated to General
Whipple, General Thomas’ chief of staff. He directed me to go and tel]
General Hooker who, he said, was about forty rods farther along on the
road. General Hooker was facing toward the reb+l lines I rode up by hig
side, saluted, and commenced to give him the information which I had,
when he turned around sharply and said, ‘‘Good God, young man, get be-
hind that tree, or you won’t live a minute.” When safely behind the tree
designated I noticed that a very large oak tree wus growing just in front of
the General himself. I then gave him the information as directed by Gen-
eral Whipple Well, he remarked, the only troops that I have here is my
body guard, and I guess I can’t lick the whole rebel army with them.”
And sure enough in less than two minutes after I had taken position behind
the tree there was a volley of musketry from the rebel lines that cut the
underbrush almost as clean as you would cut wheat with a cradle. If you
recollect the battle of Pumpkinvine Creek or New Hope Church began
about 11 o’clock that day, and 1t was ten days before we got out of there,
and allow me to say right here, that at that particular time there was less
than one brigade within two or three miles of the place when General
Hooker’s body guard was skirmishing with the Johnnies.

If you will permit me at this time, I will relate another incident in~
which the same boys and myself were concerned. The army was resting a
day at Big Shanty. The boys were in camp and nothing to do. I had not-
iced several cavalry men going past our headquarters with fine ceder pails.
I inquired where they got them, and they gave me the following directions:
That we were to take the hi hway, go northeast about four miles, then fol-
low a bridle path leading to the right, follow that about three quarters of a
mile down into the woods, and we would find a camp where they had been
making cedar pails; that there were probably two or three thousand of them
piled up there. Iddings, Long and a young fellow that we used to call
““Granny”’ (I never knew his real name) and myself started out to get a
supply of water pails. We followed the directions given us, took the high-
way, found as we supposed the bridle path, and followed it for perhaps a
mile through a dense piece of timber, but instead of coming to the camp
where the pails were manufactured, we ended up at a farm house. There
was perhaps sixty or eighty acres cleared out of the heavy timber. A lane
ran down through the centre of this farm from the north to the south, the
south end of it ending up in heavy timber and under brush. Perhaps
twenty-five or thirty rods from the north end of the farm on the west side
of the lane stood a farm house built very much the same style as many of
the log barns in this section of the country were built many years ago, con-
sisting of a log bin on each end with the threshing floor in the center. In
this case the space between these two log houses was boarded up and two
doors were cut opposite each other, one on the north and the other on the
south side. Opposite the house on the east side of the lane were two or

three old sheds ‘anata = ctraw. When we arrived at this place, the
hoys became very hungry, as_ usual, when a house was in sight. They
‘nsisted on stopping and getting some dinner To this I objected for the
reason that I knew that we were some five or six miles from headquarters
and from the direction that we had taken I knew that we must be near the
right flank of the rebel aimy and that it was an exceedingly dangerous
lace However the boys insisted on having some dinner. Aceordingly
we dismounted, hitched our horses to the fence in the lane, and went tikes
the house The woman commenced to prepare something to eat from such
ecanty provisions as she possessed. We had not been in the house perhaps
more than ten or fifteen minutes, when a Johnny put in an appearance and
claimed to be the woman’s husband He and the boys entered into an
animated conversation in reference to the war, and to tell the truth just as
it was, 1 was very uneasy at the situation, consequently was keeping a
sharp lookout for any emergency that might arise. While standing in the
north door and locking south, I saw distinctly eight horsemen jump their
horses out of the brush on one side, cut across the road and disappear in the
prush on the other. While I stood there watching this movement, four
horsemen jumped out of the brush and galloped tneir horses up the lane. I
snatched up a rifle which belonged to cone of the boys, and told Granny to
follow me. Weran out to the lane, and under cover of the high rail fence,
ran down about ten rods south of the house, and crouched down in the
fence corner. I had just time to tell Granny that when the Johnnies got
opposite to me so that they could not run past or whirl around and turn
back, I would give the command, ‘‘Halt, throw up your hands.” If they
did not obey instantly, I was to shoot the first one and he the second, and
then we would take care of the other two. When the Johnnies got just
where I wanted them, I gave the command, ‘‘Halt, throw up your hands,”
and it is needless to say that the order was obeyed instantly. I was then
standing on my feet, my rifle cocked, my finger on the trigger, and a bead
drawn on the Johnny nearest to me and not over ten or fifteen feet from
me. I informed them that if any one of them attempted to take down their
hands, that I would shoot the man nearest to me. and that I had fifteen
shots left for the other three, besides ten rounds that my comrade had in
store for them. Granny then went round through the gate and relieved
them of their arms. They were heavily armed, each one having a carbine
across the pummel of his saddle and a brace of revolvers in their holsters
and a pair in their belts.

They pretended not to care anything about being captured, but from
their looks and the manner in which they were armed, we made up our
rainds that they were no ordinary Johnnies.

As the boys had lost their appetites by this time. we concluded not to re-
main for dinner, but mounted our horses and returned to camp, taking our
prisoners along with us. They were placed under guard, and old man
Jones, of whom I spoke some time ago, was placed under guard and
taken down to the guard house and put in with them for the purpose of
finding out who they were and what they knew. In about an hour a guard
was sent down with instructions to bring Jones to headquarters. Being
brought, he reported that these four men belonged to one of the worst cut-
throat gangs in that section of the couatry; that they, being familiar with
all the bridle paths and roads in that locality, were stationed there for the
purpose of picking up any Union scouts in that vicinity, They were kept
securely guarded and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, to remain during the war.

In the report of prisoners captured, they were reported as being cap-
tured by the scouts from headquarters.

Comrades, I suppose there is not one among you who for a moment

sident was disloyal to the Union cause

at your ored pre
would suspect that your hon p Be ge onl

orarebel sympathizer. I regret tosay t I ”)
prove it; Paeriape more properly speaking Ui hoces nage celal . Ppa:
and he dare not deny it During the battle of | In coe yas
oners were taken, soldiers and officers, among the one a becca - Sid
The prisoners were turned over to the tender mercies 0 the Provost | Tar-
shal General at Nashville, Tennessee, (whose name was General John G.
Parkhurst), who paroled the officers. They were required to report to him
daily. On such occasions they would sometimes stay and chat a few mo-
ments. After reporting one day, a bright, manly looking fellow who wore
a general’s uniform, lingered until his companions had all gone’ He then
approached your worthy president and said: “General, you have treated
me most courteously and much better than I had ever hoped for. You
have given me many privileges that us a prisoner of war I had no right to
expect. The friendly and courteous manner in which you have treated me
almost tempts me to ask a very great favor. I hardly dare ask it. I am
afraid you cannot grant it.’’ The General replied, “Spit it out and I will
see. I certainly cannot grant it until I know what it is.” The rebel Gen-
eral then confided to him the fact that he was engaged to be married to a
young lady in Mobile, Alabama, the following week and wanted to keep his
engagement, which he could not do unless permission was given him to go
there. General Parkhurst assumed a very grave look to conceal the deep
sympathy he felt for his petitioner and said, “By Gad, I do not know about
that; I generally assume all the responsibilities of my office, but I guess I
will bave to consult General Thomas in regard to this matter. Come
around tomorrow and I will see what I can do for you.”” His case was pre-
sented to General Thomas in as favorable a light as possible, consis‘ent with
the rules and regulations governing prisoners of war. When that grim oid
warrior heard the request, he smiled and said 1t would be too bad to disap-
point the young lady; that the war was nearly over; Hood’s army had been
crushed out in the west; Sherman had swept the confederacy from Atlanta
to the sea, and that Gen Grant was then knocking at the door of Rich-
mond for admi tance, and that even if this young rebel did break his parole
and run away he could not do any harm. He said, ‘‘Give him a pass and
let him keep his engagement.’’- So General Parkhurst gave him a pass to
Mobile and one for himself and bride to return. The General returned and
reported as a prisoner of war, and the young lady in question returned and
reported as his bride, radiant and happy. She was very profuse in her
thanks to your honored president for his sympathy for and his assistance to
her husband by which great happiness had been conferred upon her. The
rebel was General Quarles, who has since served a number of terms in Con-
gress and now lives near Clarksville, Tenn.

Boys, I presume you all know that by profession Colonel Parkhurst, of
the Ninth Michigan Infantry Vols. was a lawyer, and that when advocating
his own cause and pleading for the Union, he was a great success. It is said,
and I presume it is true, that near Murfreesboro, Tenn., he met a
charming young woman who was inclined to secession, but the Colonel ad-
vocated his cause so earnestly and portrayed the joys and pleasures of those
who joined the Union in such glowing terms that the young lady finally ad-
mitted that she might possibly be mistaken; in fact had been convinced,
ard was now in favor of the Union. About this time the Colonel and many
of you boys were made prisoners of war. I am of the opinion that this had
much to do with his sympathy for Gen. Quarles for he “knew just how it
was himself’’ to be engaged to be married and a prisoner of war at the same
time. I presume I am not betraying anysecret when I tell you that after
your exchange as prisoners of war and you had returned to active duty in

233 15 €e¢

the feld, that Miss Josie Reeves, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., became Mrs

General “eet ‘lal coe es
oys we will always ;

Boys; for | por rere? ee to each other, for, though old Father

mime has TO pbed t e bloom of youth, stolen from us the elastic step

warped and twisted our once erect forms, and we have been maimed and

; nied by the hardships we have passed through, yet
Bcc reunions, we are BOYS still. Ey 7 Wheh We meet a

Under the leadership of your gallant Colonel, you, on that historic Sun-
day, September 20, 1863, when the God of War held the destiny of this
nation in the hollow of His hand, made fer yourselves such a glorious record
that the flight of vears cannot o’ershadow, dim or destroy it. Your battle

on the famous ‘carved line at Chickamauga” on that day is without’a parallel
in the history of the world.

The Army of the Cumberland under General Rosecrans had been dis-
persed and defeated and two corps of it had left the field and gone to Chat-
tanooga fifteen miles away; the broken and scattered fragments of what re-
mained were gathered together by General Thomas (the Rock of Chickamau-
ga), reorganized and rallied under the Battle Flag of the 14th Corps, when
fhe victorious rebel army, under the leadership of Generals Bragg, Long-
street and Hardie were hurled against your undaunted line of blue; they
were met by such a fierce storm of shot and shell that their lines were
shattered, like the mighty billow of old ocean when dashed against some
rock-bound coast.

Comrades of the 9th Michigan Infantry, you have conferred a very
great honor upon General Parkhurst in electing him your president for life,
and you have conferred a much greater honor upon yourselves by doing so.
You have conferred upon him the greatest honor conferred upon any living
general who participated in the late war; you have erected upon the bloody
battle field of Chickamauga, scarred, rent and torn by the ravages of war, a
testimonial to his worth as a valiant soldier and an honored citizen. That
mute statue and the graven tablet on the granite base upon which it is
erected, speak more eloquently of deeds done and duties performed than
could be done by the most distinguished orator of to-day. They tell the story,
not only to the present generation, but will tell it to generations yet unborn.

After the address of Captain Boyd and a patriotic song
by the glee club the meeting adjourned to meet at the G. A.

R. hall at 9:00 o’clock October 7th.

OCTOBER 7.

At 9:00 o’clock the society met at G. A. R. hall and the
meeting was called to order by the president, who announced
an invitation from Prof. Briggs to visit the public schools of
Coldwater, and from Mr. Gorman to visit the State Public
school. These invitations were accepted with thanks.

On motion of Henry C. Rankin Captain A. M. Dobbel-
was made secretary and treasurer of the society during
ife,

Invitations were received from Mt. Clemens and from
Marshall to hold the next reunion at those places, and upon a
vote being taken Marshall was chosen as the place for hold-

333 16 €<*

i | eetin e
ing the next meeting of the society, the date of m g to be

f the society. :
Foe ae Marble was ie chairman of the loca]

executive committee. ,
: Short addresses were made by comrades. Comrade H,
C. Rankin said in part: |

“The years = passing rapidly by. A few more reun. _
ions and most of us shall be translated to the silent shore.

We are taking leave of our dear old colonel this time
with more than usual expressions of regret that our reunion
was so soon over.

One thing we are all united in, that continued usefulness
may be granted General Parkhurst and with unbroken ranks
we may meet once more to revive the memories of those days
when history was made more rapidly than at any time before
or since in the history of our republic. Perhaps a half score
of the comrades brought their wives with them. This adds
much to the dignity and worth of the occasion. Would it not
be well if all of us would bring our wives or sons and daugh-
ters to the next reunion in Marshall?”

The following resolution was offered by Colonel Henry
M. Duffield, which was unanimously passed by a rising vote:

fresolved, That the thanks of this association are due and
hereby tendered to the mayor, to the ladies, to the press, to
the G. A. R., to the proprietors of this hall; to the several
commutiecs of arrangements, and to the citizens generally for
their gracious and courteous treatment of the members of our
association while in the beautiful city of Coldwater.

The meeting was then adjourned sine de
went a body to visit the High School. They were gfa-
“ee Aine by Supt. Briggs and introduced by him to the

igh School. Gen. Parkhurst, Cok Duffield, Capt. Marble

and the society

a pe c. Rankin made short speeches. -The pupils and
eachers gave heartiest applause. In turn the “old boys” gave
Supt. Briggs and the city ee

A lesson in patriotism — Nabe o'd-fashioned cheers.

bn oo eh en wall uot soon he forgot-
The visi s Se

bea He olen ee school and the ride ’round

i es ated. XC Copies

ing superintendent of the S ~ourtesy of Mr. Gorman, act-

tate schoc :
will ba pleasantly Pathe. school and that of the teachers

PCS TE