The final chapter of my soon-to-be-published Volume II history of the 85th Pennsylvania regiment covers the annual reunions of the regiment from 1872 to 1928. Luckily, numerous online newspapers from western Pennsylvania helped me to track down the locations and dates of every reunion. Sometimes, a newspaper would simply publish a brief article about the activities and guest speakers at the affair. At other times, the newspaper would publish an extensive article prior to the reunion to discuss the preparations made by the hosting town or city in southwestern Pennsylvania. At other times, the newspaper would send a reporter to cover the one or two-day events, which usually included a parade, a dinner with speakers, and an evening campfire.
 |
| Union Veterans' Parade LOC |
The following article appeared in the Washington (PA) Weekly Reporter in 1887. The reporter, who is unnamed, attended the nightly campfire in "Little Washington" and summarized some of the speeches that were made at the event.
Among the speakers was Harvey J, Vankirk, a prominent lawyer and politician from Little Washington who had served in the 85th Pennsylvania. Another talk was delivered by Washingtonian Boyd Crumrine, also a former member of the regiment who went on to a career in law and local history.
This reunion was held jointly with another regiment with deeps roots in Washington County, the 100th Pennsylvania, also known as the "Roundheads." The 100th Pennsylvania lost 400 men to battle deaths and diseases during the war. Their highest loss was at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during Grant's Overland Campaign of 1864.
The 100th Pennsylvania was comprised of men from the following western Pennsylvania counties: Washington, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland.
Washington Weekly Reporter
September 2, 1887
THE CAMPFIRE
HELD BY THE VETERANS OF THE 85TH
AND 100TH
Pennsylvania Regiments, on Wednesday
Evening, in the Opera House
No
camp fire ever held in Washington has attracted attention equal to the one held
in the opera
house Wednesday evening. The building was crowded, many persons
having to stand. The exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Loyal Young,
Arnold’s orchestra furnished the music, which was of a very high order. A
quartette consisting of Robert Wright, Ben Wolf, Harry Stevenson and Blanchard Hughes rendered a number of very fine musical selections, among which were “The
Soldier’s Farewell,” “Marching Through Georgia,” and others. Comrade A. [Alexander] W.Pollock of the 85th acted as toast master. The first toast, “The 100th," was responded to by Chaplain Audley Browne. “The 85th” was responded
to by Captain H. [Harvey] J. Vankirk. He spoke of the services of the 85th at
the front and lamented that some of his old comrades persistently remained
unmarried and while he did not wish to be personal, he said that Robert
Caldwell and Tommy Griffith were two of them. “The Rank and File” was responded
to by Henry Dougan, Esq of the 100th, of this place. He asserted that
the real heroes of the war were the rank and file and that if Grant had not
been backed by a brave and loyal rank and file, he could not have been
successful. He expressed disbelief in the stories of some historians that Gen. Sherman
led the advance at Missionary Ridge, and while he believed that “Little Phil” [Sheridan] did his whole duty on this and every other occasion but he did not believe that
either Gen. Sherman, Grant, Sheridan or Thomas were in the line which swept over
the ‘ridge” on that memorable occasion.
 |
| The Fairmont West Virginian May 30, 1908 |
“Our Flag” was to
have been responded to by Comrade Mountain, but as he was not in the hall Boyd Crumrine, Esq., Washington, took his place. He pictured the dismal time the
last, old soldier will have in trying to hold a reunion with lively colors. He
said that he did not know who the Mr. Mountain was who had inflicted on him
this misery, but he supposed it was Billy Mountain.
“The Union
Soldier in History” was responded to by Congressman [Oscar L.] Jackson of New Castle, who
made the speech of the evening. He said that an attempt was being made to write
history in a different way from what it should be and that rebel flag order and
other things like character would not do. His speech was received with rounds
of applause.
The toast, “The
G.A.R.,” was responded to by Comrade [William] Pershing of Cincinnati. “Our
Country” was responded to by Captain [Anson B.] Campbell. The most touching toast of the
evening, “Those who went and came not,” was responded to by Major James P. Sayer in fitting terms. Comrade Hausman, of Pittsburgh, made the response to
the toast, “The Ladies of Washington,” W. [William] H. Underwood was called on to respond
to an impromptu toast, “The bummer;” he did it in great style, ending by saying
that the best bummer he ever knew was Henry Dougan, Est. Commander [Andrew S.] Eagleson of
Wm. F. Templeton Post returned thanks for a picture of General [Daniel] Leasure,
presented by J.C. Stevenson, through Congressman Jackson. The camp-fire went
out shortly before 11 p.m."
The reunion was also covered by the Pittsburgh Daily Post from September 1, 1887. The end of the article speaks of a controversial sign promoting president Grover Cleveland, who was generally unpopular with Civil War Union veterans. Cleveland was a Democrat, the first elected since before the Civil War. Cleveland had avoided Civil War service by hiring a substitute. Finally, Cleveland wanted to put limits on the pension program for Civil War veterans.
 |
| Wheeling, West Virginia Union vets cross the street rather than walk under Cleveland ban, substitutener |
The reunion was also covered by the Pittsburgh Daily Post from September 1, 1887. The end of the article speaks of a controversial sign promoting president Grover Cleveland, who was generally unpopular with Civil War Union veterans. Cleveland was a Democrat, the first elected since before the Civil War. Cleveland had avoided Civil War service by hiring a substitute. Finally, Cleveland wanted to put limits on the pension program for Civil War veterans.
