from The Fitchburg Sentinel, Wednesday, 22 October 1884

The Old 15th Regt.

The association of th 15th regiment held its 18th annual reunion in Worcester, Tuesday, the day being the 23rd anniversary of the battle of Ball's Bluff, when the regiment reeived its baptism. Col. J. M. Studley of Providence presided. At the business meeting the following officers were elected:
President, Gen. Charles Devens;
vice-presidnt, P. F. Murray;
secretary and treasurer, E. A. Rice;
chaplain, Rev. Leonard Wood;
directors --
Capt. E. J. Russell of Co. F,
W. N. Andrews of Co. D,
Harlan Fairbanks of Co. H,
H. E. Smith of Co. F,
L. D. Goddard of Co. D.

Capt. T. J. Hastings of the Gettysburg committee reported that the committee visited the first position of the regiment on the Emmetsburg road, where Col. Ward fell. The exact position was finally made out, and the stake was driven, far in advance of the main line. Capt. Earle who said he saw Gen. Ward fall, identified the exact spot accurately. A wooden tablet was placed there, and it is hoped a more lasting monument will be erected. The spot where the regiment repelled the assault was found, and the position where the regiment lay in line will also be marked, and the 15th will thus have three positions. The field will probably be the only one of the rebellion that will be thus preserved. The committee went also to Antietam and Ball's Bluff, and found great difficulty in locating the positions there, so great have been the changes. On motion of Capt. E. J. Russell the Gettysburg committee, of which Capt. David Earle is chairman, was appointed a committee to take charge of the monument matter and receive the money appropriated by the state. Gen. Devens was added to the committee.

The action of the association on a former occasion, declining to perpetuate the organization beyond its active members, was read by the secretary, and the subject of honorary members was accordingly tabled. The meeting then adjourned, and the members forming in column, under Capt. E. J. Russell's lead, and headed by drums and fife, marched to Garnd Army hall, where dinner was served by D. P. Lord. A portion of the regimental band was in attendance and furnished music. The blessing was asked by Comrade A. S. Roe, and the dinner was then disposed of.

After dinner letters of regret were read from Gen. Devens, Major J. W. Kimball, Capt. H. S. Taft, Chaplain Leonard Wood, George G. Noyes and Comrade Plaisted of Co. D, whowrote from the Soldier's Home in Chelsea. The regimental song was sung by Comrade Cummings. Before the speaking began the customary act of homage to the dead was paid by all rising and standing in silence for a few moments.

Beginning with the left of the line responses for companies were made by
Comrades Welch and Pharnes of Co. K,
Major F. P. Stiles (?) of the 42d,
Comrade Remick of Co. I,
Comrade A. S. Roe read two sections which were heartily applauded.
Comrade Harlan Fairbanks of Co. H spoke briefly, and
Comrade Charlie May of Co. A played on the violin the only tunes the old 19th Maine and 5th Wisconsin bands could play in war times.
Capt. Dudley of Co. G related his visit to Antietam and showed a bit of rail fence form the field with two bullet holes in it, and a couple of times form the positions of the 15th. He had marked the position on the limestone ridge by carving "15th Mass. Vols." in the rock. He had located the old camp at Falmouth, too, in the past year.
Capt. E. J. Russel of Co. F endorsed the action in the business meeting relative to the honorary membership, for he thought the perpetuation beyond the active membership would prove a failure. When the last few, or the last one, should come to the last meeting, it would be time to say the record was complete and to seal the book.

Capt. C. H. WAtson of Co. E related some interesting remeniscences of Ball's Bluff,
Capt B. B. Vassall of Co. E, and orderly Sargeant P. F. Murray also made remarks.
Col. Studley spoke for Co. D, and after
Comrades L. H. Cummings and C. H. Bemis had favored the company with "Larboard Watch," a vote of thanks was extended to the old band for their presence.
Capt. T. J. Hastings continued his story of Gettysburg begun in the morning. He thought it might be possible to combine a monument to Col. Ward with one for the regiment. A number of prominent citizens of Worcester and the Grand ARmy Post would, he felt sure, be glad to join in the expense.
Sergeant L. D. Goddard also related interesting reminiscences of Ball's Bluff, how he was captured and the experiences of imprisonment at Richmond. The Richmond Whig of that time declared the best of a bad lot of prisoners were those of the 15th Massachusetts.
Mr. Roe read two more selections, and
Comrade Joseph Miner of Co. C and Comrade Simmons of the 21st made brief remarks, and the reunion closed with "Auld Lang Syne" by the united company.