Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 2: To River Raisin, Kentucky and Ohio

5."The Brave Men Who Perished In The Massacre at the River Raisin in 1813"    They still live in our hearts.  Let us erect a monument to their memory, that they may live in the hearts of our children's children.  They made the city of Monroe memorable in history by their devotion to their country.  --Response by Hon. C.C. Trowbridge of Detroit.

6.  "Old Kentucky"  Once the dark and bloody battle ground, whose heroes fell alike at Tippecanoe,  the River Raisin, Fort Meigs,  the Thames and at New Orleans; always the same and good and brave . Kentucky.   --Response by Hon. W.P.  Thomason of Kentucky.

7.  "Ohio"  The eldest of the galaxy of the Northwest; bright as ever; may her luster never  die.  --Response by Mayor Jones of Toledo.

There are two monuments to the battle and massacre.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 1: To Washington, 1776 and Veterans

After all the speeches, most very flowery and after the huge banquet, the wine was passed around at the 1872 War of 1812 Reunion in Monroe, Michigan, and toasts were made.

Every toast also featured a response.

1.  "The Day We Celebrate"  --Response  by J.J. Adams of Lenawee,

2.   "Washington"  --  The  world honors the man who conquered his own  ambition to give freedom to the continent.  --Response by Judge Patchin of Detroit.

3.  The Statesmen and Heroes of 1776"  The founders of a system of government that makes ours a powerful continental Republic for the good of the world, if in our political advice we imitate their integrity.   --Response by B.G. Morton of Monroe.

4.  "The Veterans of 1812"  Their march to victory was not by Pullman palace cars, but through the dense forests, dragging their cannons with weary marches; yet they conquered at Tippecanoe, Fort Meigs, and the Thames, and said to the world at Lake Erie, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."    --Response by General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky.

And, They Aren't Through Yet With the Toasts.  --Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 19: Banquet and Toasts

After the orations were given and "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sun  "The veterans and the guests were escorted to the tables, which were bountifully loaded with all the substantials and delicacies which heart could wish, provided by the ladies of this city, and guests were waited upon with every attention by the young ladies,  until the wants of the inner man were fully supplied.

After the  substantials of the feast had been partaken of by about 1,500 people, the tables were liberally supplied with pure native wines of Monroe manufacture, supplied by the Point de  Pean Wine Co., and the regular toasts were offered and responded as follows:  ...."

Next Post.  --Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 18: Still Honoring the River Raisin Dead

The mayor continued talking to the men of Kentucky:

"Beside you  are the noble band of pioneers whose strong will and sturdy hands have caused this wilderness to blossom  into such rich profusion, and they from their hearts do welcome you.  And so as they and all of us in our daily round of life-cares, duties and memories, think of the past and  and of you we remember that the battle cry of Kentucky and Ohio, under Green Clay at Fort Meigs, the gallant Croghan at Sanduskey. Harrison at the Thames, Jackson at New Orleans and in every field was Remember the River Raisin.

"We, of Monroe,  all honor to him whose patriotic heart and liberal hand gave impulse, have caught up the slogan of your youth and day: we will remember the River Raisin and have resolved in your presence, over the graves of  fallen braves,  to pledge that veneration for your toils and sacrifices still lives with us,  that gratitude to you and all the fathers of the Republic is as strong, quick and deep a sentiment with us as with our fathers.

"And so remembering the River Raisin, and you and your dead in our care and keeping, we will build a monument."

Quite the Flowery Speech.  --Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 17: Welcome Kentuckians!!

"Welcome to you of Kentucky, who in our day and youth, baptized as the 'dark and bloody ground,' from savage cruelty....  Welcome and thank God that you are permitted to pass over the river of the Ohio no longer a vexed and fettered  boundary of the institutions social, domestic, or municipal antagonistic to Christianity, and that where you encountered in your early march the wild forest and still wilder savage, flourishing towns and cities and fruitful fields delight to meet and welcome you.

"The lonely line of the Hull Road is to-day a great highway of travel and one succession of fertile farms.  The seat of Winchester's camp is there before you; behold its spires, its towers, its broad fields and busy life.All around you in earnest devotion behold its generous people."

The mayor was talking about slavery, Indians and Winchester's camp was Monroe, Michigan.

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 16: "Those 300 Victims of Slaughter

The mayor continued:

"And this celebration and this welcome and these facts  are due to the memory of those brave men who fought, and to the memory of their brave comrades who left their bones on the Miami, Raisin and the Thames [rivers].

"From these graves and fields and from the graves of those 300  victims of the slaughter come a sad and solemn welcome to  those old  companions and comrades."

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 15: The Mayor Welcomes the Assemblage

Monroe's Mayor Redfield gave a welcoming speech:

"The uncompleted history of that scene and of those days welcomes you to this place and demands its vindication through you today in this, that the war was carried on and the Federal Government supported by volunteers alone, from June 1812, to October 1814; and that in all that time  the only assistance we had upon this frontier was from Ohio, Kentucky and other Southern States, while Northern and Eastern states held back from the contest, even until after this and the New York frontier had been desolated and laid waste, and the capital of the Nation was sacked and burned."

A real shot at the northern and eastern states.

He received a lot of applause and cheering after these words.

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 14: Hayes to Jameson

These were added on at the end of the list and out of order.

Hayes, D.S., 72
Helwig, Daniel, 82
Hixson,W.D., 91

Holly, Jesse, 72
Hudnut, B.P., 78
Ivor, Charles, 72

Jacobs, Louis, 97
Jameson, John, 70

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 13: Whelpley to Younglove

Whelpley, Thos., 97
Williams, Elisha, 86
Williams, Sam, L., 91

Younglove, Geo., 79
Younglove, Jas., 74

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 12: Shearer to Webster

Shearer, Jona., 70
Suane, Lewis, 89
Talbot, Oliver, 79

Thomasson, J.P., 74
Van Aiken, Simon, 82
Vance, Joseph, 84

Vanderwalker, Jas., 82
Van Pelt, David, 91
Verkies, Joseph, 82

Walters, W., 78
Warren, Edward, 79
Webster, Larkon, 80

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 11: Penwick to Shapine

Penwick, James, 78
Postwood, John, 84
Puller, B.J., 81

Quinsberry, Roger, 79
Reid, J.C., 75
Ressenet, R.C., 79

Rogers, J.R., 80
Root, John, 78
Rowell, O., 77

Santour, Francis, 76
Shafer, William, 89
Shapine, George, 84

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 10: Mevay to Pendleton

Mevay, Solomon, 70
Martin, John, 75
Mason, Henry, 80

Mount, Thos., 78
Moyer, N., 77
Mulhollen, John, 75

Nadeau, J.B., 77
Navarre, Alex, 82
Nedmore, Perry, 82

Parker, J.C., 77
Pasko, A.A., 78
Pendleton, Edward, 84

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 9: Jones to McLean

Jones, Thomas, 80
Kitk, James, 83
Kolfuus, J.W., 77

Laforge, John B., 76
Lewis, Shubool, 70
Lindsley, Thos, 83

Locke, W.R., 79
Love, James Y., 74
McChesney, David, 79

McDowell, J.C., 78
McGoodwin, J.C., 80
McLean, John B., 77

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 8: Attendees: Gebhart to Johnson

The war had been over for 58 or 59 years, depending upon if you mark its end with the Treaty of Ghent or after the Battle of New Orleans or later actions in 1815.

These are War of 1812 veterans attending the 1872 reunion in Monroe, Michigan and their ages in 1872.

Gebhart, John, 78
Gibson, Matthew, 83
Gofttney, Robert S., 82

Goodright, Michael, 78
Goodwin, J.K., 80
Grant, L.V., 77

Guyor, Joseph, 85
Hall, C., 77
Hall, Joseph, 88

Hamilton, William, 80
Harvey, James, 80
Johnson, Moore, 77

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 7: Attendees Davis to Garnarke

Davis, W.B., 81
Deland Hall, 71
Dowese, Samuel, 80

Drayor, W.L., 82
Duncan, Jere., 80
Eddlerman, Aaron, 81

Ewalt, Joseph,81
Foulke, Joseph, 83
French, Brown, 83

Fultzan, Isaac C., 74
Gaither, Henry, 82
Garnarke, Simeon, 82

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 6: More Attendees Burns to Davis

Burns, Andrew, 77
Carrick, Eobert, 77
Clapper, John, 77

Clusin, Jas., 85
Conseign, A.O., 82
Combs, Leslie, 78

Correy, Jas., 75
Craddock, J.G., 84
Crawford, Alex, 81

Crawford, A.B., 82
Curtis, Alva, 71
Curtis, Dr., 78

Davis, Henry, 82
Davis, H.M., 79
Davis, Thos. A., 83

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion--Part 5: War of 1812 Veterans Attending, Armstrong to Bortine

Veteran and Age:

Armstrong, Jas. R., 85
Armstrong, S.J., 84
Ball, Lewis, 79

Barrett, Jos. C., 78
Baute, Peter, 81
Beat, Leonard, 95

Beach, Lewis, 79
Benson, B.W., 75
Beseau, Jphn B., 81

Bisnett, Joseph, 79
Bittinger, Henry, 78
Blnchard, S., 77

Bolivar, Thos., 76
Boroff, Fred, 101
Bortine, Benson L., 79

--Brock-Perry

1872 War of 1812 Reunion-- Part 4: A Shower of Bouquets Fell Everywhere

As the procession reached the Monroe street cemetery, where the Kentuckians who fell at the battle of the River Raisin are buried, it halted, the bands played a dirge, the flags were drooped, the military came to "shoulder arms,"  the Knights Templar made the "salute" of their order, and the veterans and civilians generally uncovered.

The grandstand was erected with the timbers, planks and boards from the recent residence of Dr. A.I. Sawyer, which was the building that General Winchester had his headquarters at the time of the celebrated battle and massacre of the Raisin, January 1813.

The Hon. Warner Wing, President of the Day, opened the ceremonies with a welcome.

General Custer called the roll of veterans and each rose from his sear as his name was called  When the name of Frederick Boroff was called, who resided in Bedford, Monroe County, and his age announced, (101 years and 6 months) calls were made from all parts of the crowd that he should show himself; and as the old veteran, comparatively smart, climbed upon his seat, three hearty cheers were given him, and a shower of bouquets began to fall around and among the veterans, and on the speakers platform, from the ladies of the orchestra, until it seemed that the veteran soldiers were fairly covered in flowers.

--Brock-Perry

1872 War of 1812 Reunion-- Part 3: A Fine Proceeding

This took place in Monroe, Michigan.

The weather July 4, 1872 was perfect for the proceedings.  There was a 38-gun salute at sunrise and a gun fired every five minutes during the procession.

A large stand with sears had been erected, suitable to hold 1000 persons.

Arches had been made.  One read:  "Welcome Brave Defenders" and another "Welcome, Veterans."  All streets along the precession were also heavily decorated.  National flags were everywhere.

Trains from the north (Detroit" brought dignitaries including the National Guards of Detroit and the state governor.

The procession began after 11:00 a.m..

1872 River Raisin Reunion-- Part 2: 121 War of 1812 Veterans Attended

The 1871 reunion of the River Raisin survivors went so well, it was determined to have one on July 4, 1872.  On July 4, 1872, 121 survivors of Harrison's Army, serving at Fort Meigs and elsewhere responded in person to the invitation to come to Monroe, Michigan.

A grand review of the survivors of the War of 1812 was planned.  A large crows was expected.  A large delegation of Tennessee and Ohio survivors, 75 in number, arrived July 3.

They were accompanied by general George A. Armstrong, one of the Committee of Invitation and they first went to Toledo.

They were met at the station by the Monroe Band

Among them was General Leslie Coombs of Kentucky, 78, General Samuel Williams of Kentucky who played a huge role in the War of 1812, age 91, and Henry Gaither, of Cincinnati, age 82.

--Brock-Perry