Henry County Signal, August 2, 1928
HENRY COUNTY’S 68TH REGIMENT: To Hold Final Reunion at Napoleon Armory, August 17th and 8th.
(Re-printed from the Deshler Flag)
The 68th regiment of Ohio Volunteers will hold it’s last reunion at the Napoleon armory, August 17 and 18.
The “campfire” will be in the evening of the 17th and the regular reunion program will occur on the following day the 18th. The necessary business routine will be taken care of and as far as this organization is concerned, the book will close forever.
Mr. J. W. S. Parmer, the only surviving Civil war veteran of Deshler is president of this regimental reunion and he is doing his utmost to make the last reunion a memorable event. The remnant of the regiment is far advanced in years and the time has come when the weight of old age forbids the continuance of the regular reunion.
After tenting through the winter of 1860 and 1861 at Camp Ames at Napoleon where they drilled and prepared for military service, the 68th regiment of 1200 select stalwart young men marched from Camp Ames, through the streets of Napoleon to the depot where they entrained for the military activities of the sunny south. Mr. Parmer, the presiding officer was a lad of only 12 years, but was an eyewitness to that scene. Wives, mothers and sweethearts accompanied the regiment to the station. Mr. Parmer says that if Napoleon was ever bathed in tears it surely was then. Mr. Parmer did not enter the army at that time, but some time later, as his age would not permit it then. But when he did enlist, he was just a mere lad in his early teens and was one of the youngest soldiers that saw active service in the great Civil war. Now 67 years have flown into the mists of the ages. Of the regiment, 1200 strong, sturdy, young men, that left Napoleon in the early spring of 1861, — probably 16 or 18 men — bent in form, who instead of walking with a quick sprightly step to the shrill clarion sound of fife and thunderous peal of drums — they carefully trudge along with measured step and slow — only this little company of venerable and decrepit ex-soldiers who played their part thoroughly and well in preserving the significance of the Stars and Stripes and in maintaining the integrity of our great American union, is left to tell the tragic story. The little city of Napoleon that towers on its bluffs, o’erlooking the ever and onward flow of the majestic Maumee, will show its hand in doing honor to whom honor is due. This city has always been considered real home of the 68th Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, because it was here that the regiment was organized. Let the county as a whole contribute to the success of this event. Let Deshler, the proverbial “Corn City” not forget to honor the event and the president of the reunion, him being Deshler’s last survivor of the Civil war. Let the canopy of the eventide lower gently in memory of the patriotic soldiers of Henry county’s 68th regiment. Let the last page of its official history be written in letters of gold. Let the records close, shrouded with the sparkling incandescence of a hearty good-will. While the evening of life is here, and the sun is fast hastening to its western pillow let honor not fade with the passing twilight, for the gallant soldiery of the little commonwealth of Henry county.
There will be prominent speakers, good music and all the festivities that would be appropriate for such a pathetic scene and farewell occasion. A cordial invitation soldiers of other wars to attend this reunion. Come, you Spanish-American and World War veterans and help the old boys in blue make this gathering a memorable occasion.
