from Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, 23 October 1882
Fifteenth Regiment.

The 16th annual reunion of the survivors of the 15th Mass. Regt. was held at Worcester, Saturday, and about 100 of the veterans were present. Gen. Devens, who presided, reminded his comrades that they met on the 21st anniversary of the battle of Ball's Bluff. While Secretary Rice was reading his report, he was interrupted by a sudden burst of applause, occasioned by the entrance of Gen. John W. Kimball of Fitchburg, who was obliged to take a seat on the platform. A committee to nominate officers for the coming year was appointed by the chair, and included representatives of each of the ten companies. Its report was accepted, and the following officers were elected: Gen. Charles Devens, president; Gen. John W. Kimball, vice-president; Edward A. Rice, secretary and treasurer; Leonard Wood, chaplain; T. J. Hastings, C. H. Benis, L. D. Goddard, D. W. Knight and C. W. Briggs, directors.

After the business meeting, the veterans visited the Fire Patrol establishment and witnessed the operation of "hitching up," and then sat down to a banquet prepared by Caterer Marrs. After dinner, interest in reminiscences of the regiment's history were given by
Gen. Devens,
Comrades A. S. Roe,
E. R. Hudson,
Whittemore [?],
L. D. Goddard,
T. J. Hastings,
Sergt. Eames,
Warden Earl of the State prison,
George W. Ward, son of the popular colonel who was killed at Gettysburg,
Capt. J. Evarts Greene,
Capt. Watson and others.
Gen. Kimball spoke eulogistically of Adjutant Baldwin, and called for three cheers in his honor, which were heartily given. Then the president called for Comrade Charles May of Leominster, who brought in his violin, and, with paino accompaniment by another comrade, played from memory a lively air that was the favorite march of the 5th Wisconsin regiment, played daily when in camp, at dress parade. Another tune was given as the only one ever played by the band of the 19th Maine, which together with the former, was in the brigade with the Massachusetts 15th. The tunes were familiar to the "boys," who involuntarily beat time with their feet, and in imagination they were back again in the field and once more the guardians of a nation that was threatened with disruption. Cosmrade May's contribution was so thoroughly appreciated that he was called upon later to repeat it.

Sergt. Henry A. Spooner of Fitchburg read an entertaining sketch relating to a Grand Army "camp fire." Sergt. Eames related further incidents of interest, and Mr. Roe read a patriotic selection.

Gen. Kimball said he could hardly overvalue the priviledge of attending this reunion, where he could once more look old comrades in the fac. As in memory he goes back to the days of the war and realizes the dreadful experience of the men who were contained in southern prisons, he felt like asserting that one mistake made by our government was in not hanging the miserable wretches who so deliverately tortured our brave boys. Like the old Quaker, he said, "I can forgive, but can never forget." May history never again record such terrible tales of persecution and suffering. May history never again record such terrible tales of persecution and suffering.

Gen. Kimball briefly referred to some of the eventful days in the history of the regiment, beginning with the battle of Ball's Bluff, where it lost more than 100 men, then through the valley of Shenandoah it passed into Maryland, and on the field of Antietam six officers and 22 men were killed and 279 were wounded, then at Fredericksburg the adjutant, Col. Philbrick, Hayden and others were slain, and there Comrade Lanon of Fitchburg lost his right arm while bearing the flag aloft, northward to Gettysburg mached the regiment, and on that great battlefield the colors of the 15th were borne to the front, and this regiment had a large share in turning the tide of battle, here Col. Ward was killed, the, once more facing southward, the old 15th marched down through Virginia with only a handful of men fit for service, it was substantially used up, and was afterward cosolidated with the 20th.

Gen. Kimball said he enjoyed the fun the expense of the 19th Maine, but he wished all to remember that no finer regiment ever left that State and no other met with severer losses. Gen. Kimball closed his address by acknowledging the expressions of sympathy offered at the last reunion in his absence, when mouring a death in his family.

A vote of thanks was passed for the free use of the hall, given by Post 10, G. A. R. and the reunion closed with singing "Auld Lang Syne," the comrades rising and joining heartily. The 16th annual reunion was the most enjoyable yet held, and few regiments can bring together a finer body of survivors than the old Massachusetts 15th.