Reunion Preface

Web Author's Notes:
Below is the full text of the recorded proceedings of the 16th Ohio's initial, formative meeting. It was taken from the Proceedings of Eleven Reunions Held By the 16th Regiment, O.V.I, compiled by Enos Pierson, Secretary of 16th O.V.I. Reunion Association, in 1887. It is believed the letter, shown below, was sent to all the members of the regiment, inviting them to attend the first reunion to be held just six weeks later.

This document was provided by fellow 16th OVI descendant H. Arlan Heiser of Ohio.

Certain misspellings from the original document, believed to be accidental, were corrected, while others were transcribed as recorded.

Proceedings of Eleven Reunions Held By the 16th Regiment, O.V.I

PREFACE.

Pursuant to a call, a number of the surviving members of the Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, met at the office of Captain A. S. McClure, Wooster, Ohio, for the purpose of organizing a Reunion Association.

The result of the meeting was the election of Captain A. S. McClure, President, and G. W. Hummer, Secretary, and the promulgation of the following:

R E U N I O N

COMRADES :

The Sixteenth Ohio will celebrate its First Regimental Reunion, at Wooster, O., on the Fourth of July next.

Almost six years have elapsed since our discharge. The members of the Regiment have been dispersed all over the Great West. In Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nevada, they have planted their homes and are fighting the battle of life as manfully as they fought the battles of their country.

To reform our broken ranks; to revive the recollections of the camp, the bivouac, the battle-field, the march, the retreat and the prison; to light the old pipe; to crack the old joke; to tell the old story; to give the old welcome; to unfurl the old colors; to put on the old blouse; to take down the old sword; and to mourn the old comrade, is the purpose of our reunion.

The Fourth of July is the fittest day, and Camp Tiffin, the rendezvous of organization, the fittest spot for the first civic reassembling of our scattered ranks.

The citizens of Wooster, and of Wayne County, pledge the 16th boys, from whatever section, a whole-souled welcome.

Come one! come all! and let the first reunion be complete, perfect, joyful. Come with wives; come with babies; come with sweet-hearts; come in single blessedness, to commemorate a glorious day, and a glorious occasion. A. S. MCCLURE, Chairman.

GEORGE HUMMER, Secretary.

Wooster, O., May 20th, 1870.