The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-20
ARMY OF WEST VIRGINIA.
Reunion Yesterday,
The Profession to the PaIr Ground
The Addresses Of WelcOme...Ol hel
Exercises.
ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

above society commenced in this city Ye:
terday. For the benefit Of those Of on
readers who have forgotten 1t, we wi
give few facts in regard to the first RI
union oGthe Society which took place o.
the 22d and ED OF September, 1870, o
Moundsville, West Va, That being tn
first meeting, Of course but little or moth
ing could be done toward efectlng pei
manent organization, that being left 70
the present meeting. AT that time CON
mittee ofthree, consisting of Captain G. j
Rawling, Maj. N. W. Burt and Capt. Il. II
Cochran, were appointed to report con
sutution and bylaws at the present meet
ing. 1t will therefore be seen that al
though this Is the second meeting, tn
Society was never completely organized
Yesterdays meeting was not so large In
numbers as perhaps some Of our citizens
expected; but when they remember tn
great distance that some OF the parties
Travelled tOreaCh here, the low stage Of wa
Ter in tho river, preventing many residents
of our lower counties from coming, ant
the fact that to day Is really the reunion
) yesterday being merely a day for trans
acting formal business; we think they
will agree with us in saying that the at
tendance WAS large. 1t was hoped by
the committee that several prominent
and distinguished Generals, including
Generals Mcclellan, Grant, Cox, and
others, would be present BY letters re.
ceived from all Of these an d many others
which will be read to day, 1t will be seen
that 1t was impossible for them to attend.
The column was TO form on Fourth
Street, with the right resting on Monroe,
at twelve o'clock, but 1t was two hours
later before the column took up
the line Of march, headed by
carriage containing General Hay,
Col. Lawrence, Judge Melvin and others,
after which came General Duval aud stat,
followed by Was and the Moundsville
brass bands and drum corps In charge
Of drum major Dick Nelson. The nCamc
the procession, numbering perhaps two
hundred and fifty, followed by large
crowd Of people intent on being present
at the opening ceremonies. Arriving at
the grounds, the main column was march.
ed into the grand stand, while the speak.
ers Of the day and others took possession
Of the speakers stand Immediately across
the race track. This ii was found would
not do, as the wind was blowing 50 hard
that their voices could not be heard by
the audience. A plank was thereupon
erected on one end Of the grand stand for
the use Of the speakers. The bands here.
upon struck up lively air, Immediately
after which cheers were called for, and
loudly responded to, for Generals Kelly,
Duval, Hay and Colonel Lawrence.
Rev. T. NJ. Hudson then led in very
Eervent and impressive prayer, which
touched the heart Of every nearer.
After more music, Gen. Duval intro.
duCed Gov. Stanton, who spoke substnn.
TALLY as follows:
Fsl!o,s. Citizens and Soldiers:
am the only representative of the city
government in condition to welcome
you to our city to-day. The City Council,
headed by otF Mayor, being absent from
home pattNklng Of the inequalities Of
the city Of Baltimore, | appear on behalf
OF our city TO welcome you ] will
not attempt 10 make speech 10 you,
l consider this fit place to meet, wei.
come and congratulate each other, rs the
State In which We now meet owes It's ex.
istence to the war in which you battled
II will always give our citizens pleasure
to welcome you TO these reunions, which
are happy and yet important affairs. 1t l.
one Oi the melancholy thoughts that year
by year some places are vacant; one by
one they arc passing away; "many a lad
Is dead aud many lass grown old" as
from year to year these occurrences greet
you Again welcome YOU"
Capt r. II Cochran was then intrndu.
ced, who made the address on behalf Of
the society. After abiding In fitting
and eloG'tcnt terms to the fitness Of the
day md the hour for holding q reunion,
owing to tho fact that seven years ago
tina. very day and hour, Sheridan was
milking his famous ride, and the battle Of
Cedar Greek was being fought. lie said
Comrades /!
In the name oithc Society Of the Army
Of West Virginia, l bid YOU welcome 10.
day. congratulate you that lie whose
loving kindness followed YOU on tho
weary march and through the appalling
storms Of battle, has kept you In the wear
past, and now permits so many Of us Ia
meet again. Soldier, who ten years ago
leil the furrow and shouldered the muske,
to conquer an honorable peace, welcome
Soldier, who len the workshop, the fac
tory, the mill, and gave an unoffending
nation In the hour Of need muscle Of
steel, a lion heart an intelligent will and
a ready obedience, welcomo Soldier
who babe adieu TO wife, children and
home TO incur hardships, endure priva.
lions, and in a thousand ways learn the
sad realities Of war, welcome Welcome
all, We bid you soldiers welcome. We
bid you the welcome Of love. We bid
you the welcome ofhope, and we bid YOU
that broad traternal welcome of charity,
(Which shines to-day 80 grand and high
Under the dome Of the Union sky"