The
veterans of the Civil War and earlier hostilities looked
forward to getting together on every possible occasion to
share with their old comrades common experiences. Local and
county reunions were common; however, they recognized that
the personnel of the regiments and companies in which they
had served usually come from a number of counties. In
addition, the influence of a regional association would be
greater than that of a single county. Thus in 1883 the
Southern Illinois Veterans Association was organized. Gene
James S. Martin of Salem was elected president and served in
that capacity throughout most of the organization's
existence. He was assisted by Gen. C.W. Pavey of Mt.
Vernon, Gen. J.B. Turchin of Radom, Col. Ike Clements of
Carbondale and others. The first of the annual reunion- was
held at Beach Bluff in Wayne County, the second at Carmi and
the third in the autumn of 1885 at Centralia. This group of
veterans returned to Centralia in 1894 and in 1898.
These
gatherings required a great deal of effort on the part of
the local citizens. “It was the intention of the people of
Centralia,” stated the Centralia Democrat of. Sept. 12,
1885, “to give the men who made great sacrifices that
their country might be free, united and prosperous such a
reception as would prove to them that their services were
remembered and appreciated.” This account continued, “On
Tuesday morning the town presented its most attractive
appearance, and exclamations of delight were heard on all
sides in regard to the beauty and ornamentation of both
business houses and residences ... Every train was loaded
with veterans and their friends; wagon loads of old soldiers
with their families came in on every highway leading into
the city ... The fairgrounds (now Fairview Park) were fitted
up in the most convenient and attractive style for an event
of this kind. The grandstand was elegantly decorated and
fitted up for the comfort of the veterans, and the seats in
front were nicely shaded with arbors made of green branches.”
Other buildings on the fairgrounds were furnished for the
comfort of the ladies.
Bands,
parades, music, speeches, and a carnival atmosphere
pervaded the reunions. Musical groups from neighboring
towns assisted John McNeil's band in providing music
throughout. Visiting celebrities took turns speaking―there
were military heroes, statesmen and entertainers. U.S.
senators from Illinois, Cullom and Mason, appeared in
Centralia at one or more of the reunions, as did governors
Oglesby, Fifer, Tanner and Hamilton of Illinois and Chase of
Indiana. Generals Logan, Black, Fairchild, Palmer and
Renaker made appearances, as did state and national officers
of the GAR.
The
Midway at the grounds in 1898, according to the Sentinel of
Sept. 14, included four “hooche cooche” shows, a fortune
teller, a swing and stands without number - entertainment
for all. Different church groups provided food and
beverages, from full meals to pie and coffee. While no
alcohol was sold on the grounds, the “fakirs” and their
shell games which follow carnivals were evident.
Individual
reunions within the overall framework were held. The Mexican
War Veterans, the Prisoners of War, the 22nd, 40th, 48th,
49th, 80th and 111th Ill. Vol. Rgts. of Infantry and the
13th Ill. Cavalry all had., get-togethers at the park or at
other locations in the city. Benjamin Smith of Central City
was one of two Blackhawk War Veterans at the 1885 reunion.
In
addition to making the city attractive―their crowning
achievements were the erection of arches over Broadway―the
locals had to set up the tents as sleeping quarters and see
to water, wood and straw. The tents were shipped by rail
from the adjutant general's supply.
The
exercises of the day were no doubt necessary, but it was the
gathering about the campfires at night that had the greatest
attraction for the old vets. A description was found in the
Oct. 5, 1894, Sentinel. “The campfire last night was
largely attended with hundreds of Centralians going out to
see and hear. The campfires glistened here and there in the
streets of the tented villages. Men, women and children were
grouped around the fires, spending an evening with comrades
and their families, whom they had not seen for years. The
fathers would relate war stories and reminiscences of the
Southern battlefields and the rebel hell holes called
prisons. The mothers and children who never saw the horrors
of war sat for hours listening to these most interesting
stories... We noticed several large groups of our city
folks crowded in front of a tent listening to some old
soldier who would he telling of Libb
...............................
missing text
last
night a love feast was the program. Ten-minute speeches,
interspersed with songs was the order ... These campfires
are like an ‘experience’ meeting at church.”
The
farewells were described by the Sentinel of Oct. 6, 1894:
“Many a hearty handshake has been shared today, and as
they bid each other goodbye, the tears rolled down their
furrowed cheeks like children. The death roll is rapidly
increasing as the G.A.R. boys grow elder and, like going
into battle, they know not who will be called during the
year hence.”
While
total attendance seemed to remain constant at 20,000 during
these reunions, the number of veterans dropped from nearly
5,000 in 1885 to 1,500 in 1898. Soon these reunions would
cease to exist.
NOTE:
Reader Frances Oliver of the Iuka area wrote recently
concerning Mr. McKown's description of meat preservation in
a recent column. She correctly pointed out that the term “shoat”
should not be used for a porker old enough to butcher. She
also felt that McKown's account of the meat-preserving
process was too simple―use of salt only and the
beginning of the smoking on the second day after butchering.
Can other readers help?