The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-15


IL, 900 People In Attendnnce-A
Gathering without DiStlnc.
GiOn Of 'PRrIy-An Unusual Ar
ray OF Valiant Men.
Fremont, o., September 14.-Since the
reception that was rendered to the Presi.
dent after his election, the people OF Ere.
mont have enjoyed no such gala day as
the celebration OF the Re Union Of the
Twenty-third Regiment, which is being
held here to-day. From $4,000 to &C, 1000
people are already in attendance from
The country around Fremont, while ex.
cursion trains will bring many more for
the afternoon exercises. The demonstra.
ton is in no wise political, but it is par.
ticipated in by all, irrespective Of party.
The formal exercises began this morning
at sunrise with the firing OF the National
salute. For thispurpose the one piece Of
artillery, used by Col. Croghan in his de-.
feat OF the English at this place in 1913,
was used. .
AT 10 o'clock the ceremony Of laying
the corner stone Of the new City Hall in
Fort Stephenson Park was performed by
the Masonic fraternity, at which C. A.
Woodward, Grand Master Of Ohio, pre-.
sided. The President was pre.ent, but
took no part in the exercises
At II o'clock an informal meeting OF
the Twenty.third Regiment was held at
BurChard Hall. This was one OF the
most pleasant occurrences Of the day.
About 800 veterans we're present, includ.
Gen. Hayes, Gen. Rosecrans, Gen. Scam.
mon and Senator Stanley Matthews.
Secretary MCCrary, Gen. Phil. Sheridan,
Gen. j. D. Cox, and Judge Forse, Of Gin.
ctnnati, were also present. President
Hayes, as President OF the Society, called
the meeting to order and stated that they
would proceed to elect officers for the
coming year, when he was at once placed
In nomination, and Notwithstanding his
81 am 4 one term man, you
know" which ELECTED hearty applause,
was reelected, as were all the old officers.
After the election OF officers Gen. Rose.
Grams addressed few words to those pres.
eut.
Captain Allen, with few fitting words,
presented the escutcheon Of the Nation to
The President.
The President, in accepting it, said: l
shall prize this token Of your regard rs one
Of the most precious moments OF my day.
No period Of my lie was 80 dear as the
four years we spent together in the war
for the Union. The regret, the one Of sad.
ness on an occasion like this, is that for
msny Of those who did the most to give TO
our regiment that name we prize 30 can
not be with us to-day, but we will hold
their names and memory forever sacred.
| thank you. [Cheers.
The members Of the regiment then pro-
reeded TO the Opera House, where they
partOok OF an elegant dinner provided for
Them by the ladies Of Fremont.
At p. NJ. the Twenty.third Regiment,
preceded by the Light Guard Band OF
Toledo, were conducted to the City Park
by the Committee OF Arrangements,
Mayor and City Council. A vast con-
cOurEe Of people lover $4,000 were pres
ent. 1t is seldom that 80 many whose
names are familiar to the people are
gathered on one platform rs seen on the
speakers stand at Fremont to-day. The
President and Mrs. Hayes, Secretary
and wife, Chief Justice Waite,
Generals Phil. Sheridan, W. S. Rosecrans,
]. D. Cox, 5. S. Carols, |. II. Duval,
+. Il. Duyal, S. Cameron, Barnett, Ken
nedy, Buckland, Colonel Gibson, Senator
Stanley Matthews and Major Mckinley.
The vast audience was called to order by
General Buckland, Chairman Of the Com
mittee Of Arrangements, and an earnest
prayer was offered by Chaplain Collier.
The Hon. Homer Everett was then in
who delivered a reception
speech, which consisted chiefly OF brief
Of some noted battles fought by
the regiment and the offer Of hearty
welcome on behalf Of the citizens OF FIRE.
mont to the President, who, IA Chairman,
then introduced General K. G. Kennedy,
Of Bellefontaine, who replied to the ad.
dress OF welcome in the most earnest and
eloquent manner. Speaking OF their old
President Hayes, he said il
was his fortune to know him when he
could know him well, both as to his good
and bad qualities, and he desired TO
bear testimony Us to the purity Of his
every purpose, and that braver and bet
Ter soldier never went to battle. He was
ever ready to divide his last blanket and
last piece OF hard tack with his soldiers.
Some one desiring to be witty had asked
who it isO 1t would have been enough
to have said he was the commander Of
the old Twenty-third Regiment and ia the
President of the United STATES. ICheers1.
There is no need to forget the past. The
memories dear OF fathers, husbands, sons,
and brothers that came not home again
can only make US kinder and better.
The war taught us that liberty means
universal liberty not liberty OF class and
kind, and at what a fearful price it must
always be purchased.
At the close OF General Kennedy's ad-
dress President Hayes proposed three
cheers, which were given with will.
The President then read q letter from
General Crook, who was absent and who
stated that it had been his intention TO be
present, but that he had been ordered to
70 alter Joseph. Three cheers were given
for the absent General.
Major McKennedy, Of Kenton, the ora.
tor Of the occasion, was then introduced,
who proceeded in 4 most happy manner
10 give history Of the regiment from
the time It entered the service in June,
1861, till twas mustered out at the close
oI the war, The success OF the regiment
was largely due to its fortunate selection
Of field officers. Gen. Rosecrans, Gen.
Scammon, Senator Mathews, President
Hayes, were in the order named Colonies
OF the regiment. Then there were Con-
ley and Hastings, Thompson and Nell
ralh. The TWenty-third also had some
private soldiers. Laughter.l Just fit.
teen years ago to-day the battle Of South
Mountain was fought, battle with few
parallels in history. Two hundred Of
their number there lost their lives; then
followed Antietam, where Cox was made
a Major.General and eagles gave place
to stars on the shoulders OF Gen. Crook;
Scammon was promoted and their our
wounded Hayes was made Colonel Of the
regiment he had so long commanded.
They did not want to lose Matthews, but
they did want Hayes after Matthews left,
. fha haNtIa ~ LNIsuI NE..-... ~