Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-09-14

The SOLDIERS DINNER ON CAPTINA. -
In our hurry last week with fair bills, mass
meeting, &C., %e neglected to speak of the
grand dinner prepared by their friends for
the soldiers of Washington and York Town
ships.
1t was given in the beautiful sugar grove
on the creek, near the line between the two
Townships. The people in their noble cause
were favored with a beautiful day, and early
in the morning the shrill notes of the fife
and the roll of the drum were reverberating
among the hills and valleys of glorious old
Captina. Wagons and carriages filledwith
men. women and children, bearing notices
and the banner of beauty "-and delepa-
tions on horseback and on foot came in from
all directions; and before clock he grove
was alive with busy men and patriotic wo-
men (God bless them y decorating aud fill.
ing the tables with all the substantials and
delicacies with which neighborhood SO rich
ly abounds. Two tables almost the entire
length of the grove were filled to eyerfow.
ing. Eatrons and maidens, old men and
young men, soldiers and citizens, We'd with
each other to make the occasion happy
reunion. There was joy for the joyous
comfort for the sorrowing-words and tears
of sympathy for the afflicted widow and
mether-ten thousand welcomes for the re-
turning soldier, and sacred memories for
the unreturning braves. Nothing was neg
iected that was calculated to administer to
the necessities of each person present.
At IL o'clock the people organized around
the stand by electing Hon. Isaac Welsh
Chairman. Under the excellent manage
ment Of Capt. Armstrong, Chief Marshal
for the occasion, about 200 of the soldiers
present, after forming and marching around
the grove, to excellent martial music by
James B. Gates sons, were drawn up in
two columns Immediately in front Of the
stand, and the people by hundreds gathered
around. After prayer by Rev. Mr.. Doolittle
Of the Disciples Church, Judge Cousn de.
livered the reception speech. He was so
affected by the varied emotions of joy and
sorrow which are always excited by such oc
sasions in the hearts of every friend of the
soldier and lover Of our country, that, a,
the start, he could scarcely give utteranct
to them but he delivered.a speech which
addressed itself to the judgment, feeling
and hesrty concentrations Of every hearer
Then followed the dinner, of which ever!
one partook heartily and cheerfully, and o
the fragments there "were many more thai
twelve baskets" full.
Dinner was followed by responsive ant
stirring speech from Capt. Danford, replet
with eloquence and happy hits. He re
counted the sufferings, trials, triumphs an,
glories Of the soldier, and drew picture O
the future, wheu the actors in this wa
would be questioned by their grapdchildre
how the one with triumph would relat
! his campaigns and yictories--and how th
ether, with shame, sorrow and modification
/, would, If be said anything, confess that b
a lived in these times and denounced the WI
! | q failure, the soldier murderer, and q
1 tempted to hasten the death Of the soldi,
and the nation. He was followed by asho
address by Dir. Doolittle and the singing
: several patriotic songs. -,----
o At about Z clock the people sdjourne,
! each one feeling glad spd the better Of ha
/ ing bss6 there. Too much credit cana
be- given 70 people ldisfs and all---f
2 the admirable order and hsrmopy whis
i prevailed Throughout II was estimated
|. careful observers that there were st lea
!, 1900 people prses!. q whom shout 8
7 were soldiefs All hail to Yaxk ard Was
n instoni and may other Towulhips folio
Il your example. .