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1st Annual Reunion at Chickamauga, Georgia

 Descendants at Chickamauga Monument

By: Larry Fryer

Rob Frederick and I arrived at Chickamauga, Ga. National Military Park at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 1999. Our first stop was at the monument to the 7th Penna. Cavalry, near Reed's Bridge. We then ventured to the Park Service museum.

After checking in at the Best Western Motel, we decided to take advantage of the perfect weather and go for a horseback ride at "Trails End" stables. We met Bill and Cindy Van Stone, of Pottsville, and Bill took us up on our offer to join us. Bill, a descendant of Llewellyn Llwellyn, Co. F, stated he had almost purchased a horse the previous week. The hour-long trail ride was the first time I was on a horse, providing a whole new appreciation for the cavalry. How fitting it was that my first horseback ride be experienced at Chickamauga battlefield during the weekend of the 1st reunion of the 7th Penna. Cavalry Descendants Association!

After dismounting our trusty steeds, we drove to the Wilder's Brigade monument, where we met brothers Erik and John Wagner of Baltimore, Laurence Schiller and his wife, Cathleen Weigley, of Deerfield, Illinois. Together we returned to the Best Western Motel and formed up ranks with Jim and Jan Denham, who had flown in from North Olmstead, Ohio. After Rob Frederick showed everyone his collection of 7th Penna. Cavalry material, we all went out to eat at Golden Corral.

Saturday morning brought perfect weather again, and we started the day with an 8 a.m. breakfast at the local Waffle House. Journeying to the park service museum, we were fortunate to get a back scenes look at the original painting depicting Minty's Brigade crossing Reed's Bridge during the first days action at the battle of Chickamauga.

Laurence Schiller, author of a North South article on the fighting at Reed's Bridge, then led us on a tour of the first days action, focusing on the 7th's engagement at Peavine Creek, Peavine Ridge, and Reed's Bridge. Three of the 100 skirmishers of the 7th Penna. and 4th Michigan were killed in this fighting. Rob Frederick noted that John Ward of Co. F was the first to be killed at Chickamauga, and the 7th had the distinction of also having the last fatality of the battle, when Captain David May was killed in the action at Rossville, GA on September 21, 1863
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The first of many group photos was taken at the monument to the 7th, where a solitary flag was planted at the base, in honor of our ancestors.

We then rode 55 miles south to Rome, GA where David Slay led a tour of the cemetery. and the fighting in and around the historic town. All enjoyed lunch at "Bubba's BBQ", as we once again savored the cuisine and hospitality that only the south can offer. During the tour of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, a beautiful gothic resting place, we were met by the local newspaper, who interviewed several of the descendants. It was interesting to see and photograph the Confederate graves, all of which were decorated with the Stars and Bars for the weekends Heritage Days in town.

Returning to Chickamauga, we had a dinner banquet at Ryan's Steakhouse, where we stayed till after 11 p.m. Each attendee memorialized their ancestor with the known background of their service, and a bounty of door prizes were given away. These included several GAR ribbons, Civil War bullets, a miniature monument to the 3rd Penna. Cavalry (Gettysburg), T-Shirts, 7th Penna. Cavalry photographs, North South Trader magazines, and a print of the Reed's Bridge action. Books were given to Laurence Schiller and David Slay in special recognition for the wonderful tours they provided. We then returned to our rooms, fatigued, but full of many memories the day provided.

Sunday morning brought the third consecutive day of perfect weather; sunny and in the high 70's. We began the day with an 8:30 a.m. visit to the Chattanooga National Cemetery, where we searched for the graves of 7th Penna. Cavalry-men, finding those of Captain David May, Henry Burns, and others. We also had the obligatory group photo, taken at the monument to the "General", and where the train raiders were buried.

After saying goodbye to Laurence Schiller and Cathleen Weigley, the group ventured up Lookout Mountain, where we enjoyed the spectacular vistas the clear weather and mountain overlook provided. Several group photos were taken ("Just one more," became our rallying cry), and we completed the visit with the taking in of the mural depicting the action, "Above the Clouds."

While Bill and Cindy Van Stone then needed to begin their return trip to Pennsylvania, the remaining six took in the Chattanooga Civil War museum. This newly opened museum featured the collection of several relic hunters and is highly recommended.

After bidding the Denhams a safe return trip, the Wagners, Rob Frederick, and I went back to the 7th Penna. Cavalry's monument, where we concluded the day by paying tribute to our ancestors by pinning a reunion ribbon to the trigger guard of the horseman's carbine. While that and the solitary flag at the base of the monument are only temporary physical reminders that we had been there, the memories of this first reunion of the Descendants Association will last forever!


The reunion attendees were: Larry Fryer, Columbia, MD; Rob Frederick, Peachtree City, GA; Erik Wagner, Baltimore, MD; John Wagner, Glen Burnie, MD; Bill and Cindy Van Stone, Pottsville, PA; Jim and Jan Denham, North Olmsted, OH; and Laurence Schiller and Cathleen Weigley of Deerfield, IL.

1999 Descendants Association Ribbon
Chickamauga, Georgia