DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - MILITARY - Mexican-American War Veterans Reunion, 1890 ----¤¤¤¤---- This file is part of the DCGenWeb Archives Project: http://www.usgwarchives.net/dc/dcfiles.htm ********************************************* http://www.usgwarchives.net/dc/dcfiles.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************* Contributed to The USGenWeb Archives Project by: Bonnie McDonald bonniemcd@sbcglobal.net ----------------------------------------------- The Washington Post, February 23, 1890 Page 3 A Remnant of an Army Veterans of the Mexican War Hold Their Annual Reunion. Two score or more of grizzled warriors sat in Edel’s Hall yesterday afternoon and recalled memories of Buena Vista, Monterey, and Cerro Gordo. It was the seventeenth annual reunion of the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican war. Gen. James W. Denver, who has presided over the destines of the organization throughout its existence, was in the chair. Editor Kenaday, of the Vedette, sat at the secretary’s desk. Scattered about the room were many familiar figures. There was General Oakes, Capt. Samuel C. Reid, Col. W.P. Wood, Colonel Mancossos, Major Gary, Colonel Klotz, Major Melbourne, and any number of others. President Denver, in his annual address, spoke of the dwindling numbers of the association and congratulated all on their ability to be present. He briefly reviewed the condition of the association and spoke hopefully of the future. On the conclusion of his remarks General Oakes and Major Melbourne were appointed a committee to ascertain from the President when he could receive the veterans. The following committees were then appointed: On organization—Colonel Klotz, Capt. William Fletcher, and Col. William P. Wood. On resolutions—Capt. John Kritsir, William C. Haines, James S. Dawson, Capt. F.B. Schaefer, Daniel Smith, George S. Fisher, and Charles C. Smith. While the committees were engaged in consultation the secretary’s report was read and adopted. It showed that the membership of the association was 4,875. Secretary Kenaday also read letters of regret from Admiral Jouett and several others, expressing their ability to be present. The expediency of holding all the meetings of the association in this city was discussed, the general feeling appearing to be strongly in favor of making Washington the regular gathering place. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the association here, at any rate, on February 23. The committee on organization reported in favor of retaining all the old officers. In the places of those who had died since the last meeting the following vice presidents were elected: Capt. David Scannel, California; John B. Grover, Indiana; Francis D. Clark, New Jersey; John Carnock, New York; Charles Ufferhusto, South Carolina. The report was adopted without question. The committee on resolutions submitted the following: Whereas the report of the commissioners of the National Soldiers’ Home of February 9, 1869 (Senate Ex. Doc. No. 34, Forty-first Cong., 2d session), shows that the army which served in Mexico and disbanded at the close of the war in great part was dispossessed by act of Congress of March 3, 1851, of the sum of $182,047.78, said amount being appropriated by the act aforesaid to the National Military Asylum, now known as the “National Soldiers’ Home;” and whereas the great mass of the survivors, volunteers as well as regulars, of the Army of Mexico do not now nor have they ever derived any material benefits from said institution: Therefore, Resolved, That the president of the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican War is hereby authorized and requested to appoint a committee of the surviving comrades to memorialize Congress on the subject of appropriating the sum of $182,047.78 (with interest from the date of the act of Congress diverting it to other uses) to the erection and adornment of a memorial hall at the Capital of the nation as a depository of relics and works of art commemorating the achievements of the Army and Navy, regulars and volunteers, employed in the war of 1846-’48, illustrating the marvelous results growing out of said war in developing the energy of our people and the material prosperity of the nation, to the end that our heroic brethren, who passed off the stage of life prior to the passage of the pension act of January 29, 1887, may not be forgotten by a grateful Republic. Resolved, That the sincere thanks of the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican War are hereby tendered to our president, Gen. James W. Denver, and our secretary, A.M. Kenaday, in consideration of their untiring energy in our behalf during the past seventeen years. Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that the widows of deceased veterans of the Mexican war should be placed by the Congress of the country on the same plane as that of the surviving widows of the soldiers of the war of 1812. Col. Sam C. Reid offered a resolution which was adopted with the others, requesting the joint Committee on Library of Congress to renew the bill for an equestrian statue of ex-President Taylor. Colonel Reid spoke briefly in support of his resolution. The question of future meetings recurring, Colonel Klotz said that he hoped they would be held here. If the Washington comrades felt unable to bear the burden of entertainment he would gladly contribute what they thought he could stand that they might assemble in this beautiful place. Major Gary assured all of a hearty welcome, not only from the Washington comrades, but from the people of Washington. At this point the committee appointed to see the President returned and announced that he would receive them at 4 o’clock. Arrangements were made with Photographer Brady to take a picture of the association, and the assembly took a recess. The following were present: Thomas C. Evans, Fred A. Klopper, William Fletcher, George Fisher, William C. Wheeler, Gen. James Oaks, R.M.A. Fenwick, Samuel McCurdy, J.R. Howard, Joseph Mollere, Benjamin Ogle, George Fastnaught, Daniel Smith, George W. Conn, Joshua Clark, William J. Gary, Andrew J. Hurdle, Alfred Fairall, William H. Sibley, S.N. Hoyt, John T. Lynch, Charles Vermillion, William F. Thomas, Jesse L. Garrett, James H. Stewart, Henry Zell, Dr. C. De Montreville, Thomas Shackelford, William F. Melbourne, Gen. E. Carrington, Lieut. Robert Klotz, Sam C. Reid, James S. Dawson, F.B. Schaeffer, Charles C. Smith, A.J. Williams, Patrick McDonald, John Kritser, Francis J. Keffer, William C. Haines, George H. Wistacott, James B. Witner, Robert C. Weer, Casper Ottewaller, Jos. McCauley, Anton Lehman, John H. Merrill, J.T. Turner, Col. William P. Wood, Col. P.F. Mancossos, Samuel S. Barbour, John H. Thompson. At the White House Colonel Reid presented the veterans to the President. The entire reception did not take over fifteen minutes. The Veteran’s Gather and Tell of Their War Experiences. Happy veterans sat around the festal board at Edel’s Hall last night and partook of the sumptuous and elegant collation, which was the closing event of the seventeenth annual reunion of the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican War of 1846-’48. There were present about 200 persons, while arrangements had been made for more than double that number. (Transcriber’s Note: Toasts were made by many of those previously mentioned. Following are some not previously noted.) …was responded to by Mr. Harvey Watterson. Representative Hare. of Texas,… “The Army of the United States” was responded to by Gen. Steward Van Vliet, who reviewed the struggle of 1846-’47 and the later war between the States. To the gray-haired veterans he paid handsome tributes. Capt. Frank Barr, of the Revenue Marine,… The veterans arose, and in silence drank the toast, “Our Dead Commanders and Comrades.” …on motion of Secretary Kenaday, three cheers and a tiger were given for the Scott Legion, of Philadelphia, a large number of whom had attended the reunion. To the strains of the orchestra the “Star Spangled Banner” was sung, and the assemblage dispersed.