The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-29
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and 0hiu's
Defenders Of the Union Meet to
Shake Hands, and Revive the
Memories OF The War.
Twenty-Five Thousand People Crowded
IntO the Little City at the Foot
Of the Sun Kissed Hills
Of Ohio.
The Grand Procession Of Nearly Sever
Thousand Veterans, and a Wealth
Of 0ratOry at Stokely's Grove.
The Reunlun as a Back.action Political
Boom for Ewing and Rice Which
Helps Charley Foster,

puVW wv GWIHB uHu nIV6 WHIVH
Helps Charley Foster.
The big Reunion at tSteubenville is over
and by the time these words are in print
nothing will be left TO remind the good
people Of that city OF the fact but the mem
ory ofthe event, which certainly can new
er dim so long as one lives who witnessed
it. 1t was success. 1t was an immense
success, and the city may well feel proud
OF the achievement. 1t was q tri-State
affair, PennsylVania's gallant sons and
West Nirginia's noble boys mingling with
the sturdy and loyal veterans Of the Buck.
eye State in grand Reunion, renewing
the friendship Of the camp and revivinp
the memories Of the perils and carnage
through which they passed in the common
cause Of freedom, liberty and union. 1t
was a grand time for these brave
defenders Of the nations life, to meet
and shake the hand Of messmate, officer
and companions in the bl cody strife. Sol.
diers' reunions mean more to-day than
they did even few years ago. The re.
suits accomplished by the pefils they en-.
dured and the dangers they passed
through have been threatened to be wiped
out, and when they meet It is q frmer
Cementing OF their faith in the righteous
ness OF their cause with the old war cry,
A ~ srku aaF
And our glorious Union forever.
Such was the feeling you could see man
itested on all hands at Steubenville yester-
day.
Desisting, however, from any further in
diligence in the heart-feeling that was ey-
erywhere exhibited in the throng, we pro-
ceed to describe the outside, or the crust,
Of the affair.
THR DAY, THE WEATHER, THE CROWD.
Yesterday, at Steubenville, dawned bright
and beautiful. A cloudless sky met the
upturned gaze, while the green hills OF
West Virginia, ACROSS the river, stood like
mute sentinels guarding the portals OF
opening day. The city was astir early, and
soon the throngs began to pour in, the
crowds in the streets swelling in numbers
at the arrival OF every train. The deCora.
tons were protuse and were described in
the correspondence Of the INTELLIdENcER
OF yesterday, and We will only add that the
sight OF so much bunting and welcome
notices was enough TO enthuse the most
sluggish heart. OF the immense throug
gathered in the city, no correct compu.
tation can be arrived at, but the most
moderate estimate would make the num-
Der about $1,000 people. Trains arrived
hourly from sunrise until noon with every
coach filled with human freight The
boats arrivingu at the wharf were also
crowded with veterans and their friends,
and by the time the procession started the
city had the appearance OF being unable to
give foothold to another soul.
TIE PROCESSION.
AT ll:3O o'clock the veteran soldiers OF
Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to
the number OF six thousand two hundred
formed in line, and headed by Chief Mar
shal N. J. urquhart, marched through the
principal streets. Itwas glorious sight.
Over six thousand survivors OF the great
war for the Union passing in review be.
fore the admiring eyes OF over twenty
thousand spectators, carrying their bullet
rent and battle-scorched banners was
enough to cause the heart to throb and
the bosom to swell, and some, whose
memories OF war were sad by reason Of
having laid away a husband, brother or
son to sleep until the Great Reunion be-
yond, did not forbid the gathering tears
to well upin their eyes. Here were he-
roes, not like those who followed the i'm.
perious eagles Of Napoleon, vino fought
for the glory of conquering and the sat
ing Of one mans ambition, but men
who marched under the glorious stars and
stripes, battling for the grandest principles
and for the common good OF all. Here
were men who served their country in the
prime Of their life, and who now, with
weakened step and bent form, were in the
march to let all know that other things
might change, but that they still held
the same ideas OF righteous
cause as when on the tented field and
in roar OF battle. Their record was one
to be proud Of, and the cause they fought
for one to be glorihed by pageants and
festivals Of rejoicing. Their valor and
bravery had higher inspiration than
that which animated the martyr like de.
votion oil the "old Guard" at Waterloo,
and for such deeds as they performed, and
successes they gained were they cheered
as they passed in review before the crowd.
ed sidewalks. The West Virginia deIega.
ton showed up handsomely. Their tat
cred ensigns were proofs enough Of their
position in the hour OF danger without
our recording superauous words to add to
the evidence. So with all the flags dis
played.
All along the line OF march the side.
walks were packed with swaying human
ity, rushing and crowding one another to
catch sight Of the gallant "vets." Al
though the procession was large and made
fine display, yet 1t was only thirty min
utes passing the Court House-iust about
half as long as Artemus Wards Fourth OF
July Grafton was in passing given point.
The scene was grand one to behold,
and II 1t could have been described at the
moment the inspiration swelled up in the
writer, It would possibly have been moro
poetic than 1t is. But for all 1t was
Like April morning Clouds that pass
With varying shadow DER the graSs,
And initiate on field and fuTrov,
Ltte's Cheekered scene Of Joy and sorrow.
One feature OF the procession we cannot
pass without special notice, and We wish
our pencil was gifted enough to pay it the
Just tribute it deserves. We refer to Mrs.
Gen. Geo. W. McCook, the widow OF one
OF Ohio's bravest and truest soldiers. She
rode In carriage with her son, Gen. Alex.
MCCook, which was escorted by guard OF
honor. The sacrifices this noble lady has
endured are worthy OF being inscribed ON
the pages Of history. We were told that
she had nine sons in the Union army, OF
whom three were killed. Two are vet left
her. Besides knowing what It was TO
mourn her sons deaths, she weeps for q
husbands memory, who was Killed at