A wonderful group to the boy Bugler of Merrill's Cavalry
and participant in the 1938 75th Gettysburg Reunion.

1938: Gettysburg Reunion
The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg was marked by the second and last joint reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic and the United Confederate Veterans, held June 29 to July 6, 1938, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  
25 years hence, at the 1913, 50th Anniversary the Governor of PA had proclaimed that the veterans would assemble again on the 75th Anniversary and few thought it possible.  The event was sponsored by both the State of Pennsylvania and the United States Government.  In it's opening days the veterans arrived and were set up in in tent cities assisted by the US Army, the Boy Scouts, and each Veteran's specially designated Attendee.  On July 1, the veterans visited the battle field and heard speeches by Governor Earle of Pennsylvania and U.S. Secretary of War Woodring.  July 2 featured by a parade of the veterans of all wars since 1865, accompanied by bands with the drum and bugle corps.  On July 3 the veterans and a a crowd of approximately 150,000 listened to a speech by President Roosevelt at the dedication of the Peace memorial unveiled by a Union and a Confederate veteran who lite the "eternal flame" on its fifty-one foot shaft.  That evening the U.S. Army Air Corps put on a fly over demonstration that must have been in sharp contrast to the memories of the assembled veterans.  The celebrations came to a head on July 4 with an massive display by the U.S. Army.

Among the veterans in attendance was William Caton, formerly bugler of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry known as Merrill's Horse.  This fine GAR / 75th Anniversary of Gettysburg group was originally obtained by another collector from his Granddaughter.  She related that when Col. Merrill's 2nd Missouri Cavalry went by his farm on a recruiting trip, he followed them. He was sent home several times, but he came back each time. When they were about 7 days from his home, they were afraid to send him home by himself.  He wanted to enlist. Merrill told him if he could learn to play the bugle, in 1 day, that he'd let him enlist as there bugler. He learned to play taps in one day & was signed on. He stayed with them thru the war. They also said that he was so small, that he could not saddle his own horse.

The group includes the two 1938 Gettysburg Reunion Medals issued by U. S.: 1) Named medal, for Veteran, to Wm. B. Caton, w/ box of issue; 2) Named medal, for Attendant, to Louis Merril Caton, w/ box of issue; (the Attendant was his son who he had named after Col. Merril.) 3) a well worn GAR medal/drop, engraved "W. S. Caton, Co. E, Merril's Horse"; 3 CDVs of Caton, 2 in uniform(1 full body with bugle & cav. sword, other is waist up w/ a corps badge) & 1 in civilian clothes (dated 1865), each is i.d.ed on back; 4) 1937 news paper photo of Caton at Gettysburg reunion; 5) 1880 photo taken in 7 Up Club of Caton playing cards with 4 others; 6) xerox copy of family history & how he enlisted in Union Army at age 13; 7) copy of poem written for his birthday in 1937; 8) 1937 family photo & 9) his obits....he enlisted at age 13 as a bugler, was so small that he could not saddle his own horse...sword is almost as tall as he is.

Caton's VETERAN medal, named an in it's original box,
Caton's son's ATTENDEE medal, named and in it's original box,
Original newpaper articles, CdV's, and family history.

Accompanying the group are these three original CdV images inscribed in Caton's own hand.




Caton's named GAR medal.

The naming on Caton's Federal 75th Reunion medal and his son's Attendee medal

This photo is on display at Gettysburg Visitors Center
and depicts Caton arriving at the 75th Reunion.

Civil War artist Don Trioni's rendition of a 2nd Merrill's Cavalry trooper

WHEN THE BOYS IN BLUE ARE GONE
By:  John Hendricks  Union Civil War Veteran

When the comrades have departed,
When the veterans are no more,
When the bugle call is sounded
On that everlasting shore.
When life's weary march is ended,
When campfires slumber long;
Who will tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone?

Who will tell about their marching,
From Atlanta to the Sea?
Who will halt, and wait, and listen,
When they hear the reveille?
Who will join to swell the chorus,
Of some old, Grand Army song?
Who will tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone?

Sons and daughters of this nation,
You must tell of triumphs won;
When on earth our work is ended,
And the Veteran claims his own.
You must all cherish Old Glory,
And its teachings pass along.
You must tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone.

To that flag, our country's emblem,
You must pledge allegiance, too.
To that flag, our nation's emblem,
May your hearts be ever true.
That the nation be protected,
'Gainst injustice, and all wrong;
You must tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone.

You must keep your country's honor,
From each stripe withhold all stain;
You must take the Veteran's places,
And repeat the roll of fame.
You must keep your country's honor,
And your flag above all wrong,
Then we'll trust you with the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone.