Reunion in Mt. Vernon, Ohio

REUNION


Of The 60th Regiment Held
In this City


Camp Fire A Feature Of
Tuesday Evening


Business Session Held Wed-
nesday Morning


A Brief History Of This Well-
Known Regiment


And Some Of The Battles In
Which Members Fought

The camp fire, held by the surviving members of the 60th O. V. I. veterans of the Civil war in the G. A. R. hall Tuesday evening was a great success, over four hundred members and friends being present. The evening was one of the greatest interest and pleasure to all present, patriotic songs being sung, addresses being made and stories of the war being exchanged among the battle scarred veterans who fought valiantly before Richmond in the army of the Potomac. Preceding the camp fire, a banquet as held, over thirty-five members of the 60th Ohio regiment being seated. A few more arrived Wednesday morning to attend the business meeting which was begun at 8:30 o'clock.

The story of the 60th regiment is a very interesting one and one that will show that the men who served in it had no easy time, but on the contrary, met with many misfortunes and hard knocks. The 60th was mustered in 1,800 men strong. The enlistment was for a period of one year, and after a short time, the march was begun to the scenes of the struggle between the blue and the gray. Actual field service was not long waited for by the members of the regiment. Several engagements with the enemy marked the first few weeks' service and at Harper's Ferry the entire regiment, in company with 2,700 other Union men, was captured and taken prisoners by the Confederates. After having been held for a time, the captured men were sent to Chicago, Ill., under parole but, on arriving at Chicago, they were not cared for and had no place to sleep. The 4,500 men sought shelter in a lumber yard and made away with a large amount of lumber which the company missed immediately. Complaints were made by the lumber company to the government and the men were severely scored by their officers for having stolen the lumber. This caused discontent and orders were obeyed with a great deal of reluctance. Because of this fact the men were mustered out a short time later.

This did not end the troubles of the 60th Ohio, which was reorganized and was called the New 60th Ohio regiment. The New 60th was sent immediately to Virginia where they were placed in the army of the Potomac under General Grant. Because of their low number it was understood by the officers that the regiment was an old one and that it had seen long service. For this reason the regiment was placed in the front ranks and, as a result, the loss of men was great under the Confederate fire. Many of the men were raw recruits, not having been members of the old 60th and were unable to stand the dint of the battle. Considering everything the regiment is deserving of much credit and the present reunion is the for the purpose of reviving and encouraging the spirit that must have inspired the men of the 60th Ohio while in the front ranks before Richmond.

The Reunion In Detail
The reunion opened with President Jacob Briggs in the chair. America was sung and prayer was offered by the president.

Next came the calling of the roll and 52 comrades responded as follows:

Field and Staff — Major W. S. Stearns.
Co. A — George J. Elhran [George J. Ehni], M. Fickell [Marcellus Fickel], P. P. Ingalls [Pearl P. Ingalls], T. T. Armstrong [Thomas T. Armstrong], T. W. Case [Thomas W. Case], Asa Borton, Jacob Briggs, Henry Ledman [possibly Charles H. Ledman], John McIntire [John McIntyre], S. P. Moore [Simon P. Moore], A. F. McKee [possibly Archibald McKee], George Blener
Co. D — H. T. Barnes, E. R. Dickerson, G. W. Haute
Co. E — J. M. Reed [James Reed], Henry Brown
Co. G — H. Haymes, A. M. Herold [Alfred Herold], E. M. Renblin [Edgar M. Renblin], Ira W. Wallace, R. H. Cooper [possibly Henry Cooper], G. H. Walbery [George H. Walberry]
Co. H — A. J. Alberson [Albert Albertson], W. T. Truax, Charles Rhodes [Charles Rhoda]
Co. K — C. W. Koons [possible Colon Koonts], Wm. Wright
Color Bearer — Rev. W. G. Hopkins [William G. Hopkins], chaplain of the regiment

Letters of regret were read from Comrade Earl Cranston, Bishop of the M. E. church, who attendance was prevented owing to the conference in session in Newark.

Reminiscences were read by the president and remarks were made by Comrades Armstrong, Ingalls, Haymes, Cooper, Rueblin [possibly Renblin], McKee and George S. Harter, commander of Joe Hooker Post, No. 21, G. A. R.

The banquet was held at 6 o'clock and at 7 o'clock the following program was given:

Selection — Orchestra.
Song — America.
Prayer — Chaplain W. S. Hopkins.
Solo — George Spearman.
Recitation — Eleanor Montis.
Piano Duet — Miss Thompson, Mrs. Montis.
Remarks — Rev. Ira J. Houston.
Solo — Mrs. Taylor.
Remarks — Col. Ira D. Hunt.
Selection — Orchestra.
Address — George S. Hariet.
Solo — Mrs. Tilton.
War Songs and Stories.
Selection — Orchestra

Wednesday morning's session was opened with the singing of the Doxology, followed by prayer by the chaplain.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The reports of the secretary and treasurer were also given.

Reading of letter of regret from absent comrades.

The report showed the following deceased comrades since the last reunion:

Co. B — Capt. E. Eddy [possibly Robert Eddy], J. D. Snyder [possibly Joseph B. Snyder], Wm. Essicks [William Essex], David Wiley, Wm. Byers [William G. Byers].
Co. D — J. W. Hayes [John W. Hayes], L. Echles [possibly Marquis De L. Eckels].
Co. E — W. S. Rogers [William S. Rogers]
Co. F — G. H. Nease
Co. H — J. Gregory [James Gregory], A. J. Taylor [Andrew J. Taylor].

The following resolutions were adopted:

The Great Commander having called from our ranks eleven comrades, we, the surviving members to hereby express our sympathy to their relatives and know and feel our loss. At the same time we feel they have gone to a home where we hope to meet them when war will be no more.

E. M. RENBLIN
R. H. COOPER
A. T. M'KEE

Geneva was selected as the place for holding the next reunion, in September, 1912, the date to be arranged by the president.

The following officers were elected:

President — C. W. Koons, Mt. Vernon.
Vice President — W. L. Traux, Geneva.
Secretary — T. T. Armstrong, Hicksville.
Assistant Secretary — Mrs. T. T. Armstrong, Hicksville.
Chaplain — W. G. Hopkins, Carpenter.
Assistant Chaplain — Jacob Briggs, Shelby.
Color Bearer — A. J. Alberson, Medina, O.

Secretary Armstrong offered the following, which was adopted by a rising vote:

The thanks to the 60th Ohio are gratefully extended to Joe Hooker Post, G. A. R., the W. R. C., The Sons of Veterans, Ladies Auxiliary and Daughters of Veterans of Mt. Vernon, for the generous welcome given us at our 24th annual reunion. We leave the city with a fond remembrance of their kindness and generosity, assuring them that their kindness will never be forgotten. Especially do we give Comrade C. W. Koons our thanks for his untiring efforts in making our reunion so grand a success.

An experience meeting was held at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and the reunion was then brought to a close.

*The names in brackets are how the name appears on the roster on this website.

"Reunion". The Democratic Banner: Mt. Vernon, Ohio; September 29, 1911, Friday, Page 3. (Original Article)

Article contributed by Lyle Borton.