The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-07-13
The Celebration.

There is much to attract the attention
OF one who travels through the noun
famous country of Vest Vir0i,,jn. And
one OF the most pleasing things that has
u.tiASteu ,....;t;l me aItehtlon OF your humble
writer Is the celebration of the nnniyer-
sary OF our Independence at Weston.
Lewis county, West Virginia, AS il
our custom, we rose early, and were
about to take our accustomed stroll
and TO our great astonishment-ns we
stepped forth to enjoy the cool morning
brecZe-We found Williams BnttprT
planted in front of the Bailey Hotel
with men sufficient to work it. Others
had been sont to the different churches
and to the Court House, so that the fir
ing Vi LIie INST gun SHOULD lao - s,;e,...>l
for the ringing of all the bells, and when
light was dnwning beautifully upon the
scenery which surrounds the town.
boom went the battery, and Zim, Zum
zing, went the bells, making Il delight
full chime, arousing the citizens from
their dreamy slumbers, long before their
accustomed hour. And even the little
teathery tribe seemed to come forth
with songs of praise to welcome the
return of the GLORIOUS old Fourth''
which has, for four long and gloomy
/ years, been shrouded i'll the sable garb
/ OF mourning. Loudly and rapidly
| doomed the battery and merrily chimed
/ the bells, until all nature seemed filled
Q
to God who has guided the glorious old
ship ofStHte through the last four years.
terrific storm, and has given her safe
conduct into the haven of peace and
tranquility. Thus the morning of the
Fourth" opened upon us, until the
sun, in all his splendor bright, lifted the
light of his countennnce upon the lofty
mountain SUBMITS, which seemed
/ brighter for having been shrOuded in
gloom for season. Thus he carcered
through cloudless sky until his Dene-
trating properties drove us to the shade.
Soon the roatls, i'll every direction,
were lined with men, women and chill
dren, all anxious to avail themselves
of the privilege of celebrating, in the
birth.
Now came the wagons, running in
all directions, gathering the provisions
furnished by all, irrespective of party
feeling, and bearing it to the grove.
where n dinner was preparing for the
1 returned soldiers of Lewis and aflioin-
ing counties, and to the soldiers
Mt this post, co. a ID w. Va. Veteran
Infantry, Capt. j. w. Dale and Lieut..
J. V. Davis; co. B of the same, Capt. b.
w. Curtiss and LieutS. ]. N. Dean and
r. B. Greenlee. Every man, woman
and child seemed busy preparing for
the occasion. And one very beautiful
feature must not be omitted here Viz
that the returned cOnfederates con-
tributed freely for the occasion, and
many of them participated in the fes-
tivities of the day, thereby aclSnowlcdg-
ing the supremacy of the Federal gov
ernment and their Willingness to utn
themselves under the lnws of thcpdd
I government HS useful and law abb Olgi
citizens. About 10 o'clock u. IN. Mr., +.
NJ. ChMtant, the very able and efficient
Chief Marshal of the day, proceeded to
frNSst
House, in the following order.
l. Brig. Gen. j. Lightburn, Clergy
men and Speakers, mounted
.. Veteran soldiers of Capt. j. w.
Dale's command.
3. Veteran discharged soldiers of the
10Th w: Va. Infantry, under Capt. Mi
chael EagHn and Capt. VIM. Nicholas.
4. a detachment of the 10th w. Va.
Infantry, recently discharged, under
Major II. H. Withers.
5. Capt. r. G. ArbuclIle's school.
8. Citizens.
The procession then proceeded to a
very beautiful grove northeast of the
town, where had been erected stand
for the speakers, in front and over
ing us follows: "WelcOme HOme.H
, and the whole stand was beautifully
wreathed in evergreen, signifying that
G our soldiers and our country are al
: ways fresh in our memories. The
p whole procession presented sublime
y spectacle; for first came Brig. Gen.
A Lightburn, n resident of Lewis County,
OF whom she is proud. Next. the We.
terans OF Capt. Dale'S command, who
are not inferior in point of discipline
ana appearance to any command. Mex
the veterans of the 18th and 10th regi
I ments, under CaptS. Eagan and Nicho-
las and Maj. II. H. Withers, bearing
Il themselves with the grace and dignity
: whom not only Lewis COUNTY shoulC
: be proud, but of whom our ,ofoEe arm,
may well be proud. .
} Next came Capt. Arbuckle's school
: Headed by two little boys neatly dressed
: : in the colors, bearing large wreath
on wnlch was very " nicely printed