Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-21
CLASPING HANDS
OVER A LAPSE OF EIGHTEEN YEARS.
The Scenes and Incidents Of the First Re-
union Of Battery D, First West VIr.
ginia Light Artillery, at the
Mcclure Last Night.

On the 10Th day OF August, 1852, just
eighteen years ago, yesterday. among
the men who went out from Wheeling
and vicinity to place themselves IN the
front ranks OF their country's defenders,
were those composing Battery D.. OF the
First West Virginia Artillery. Over nj
teen wears have drifted by since their
last guard mount, during which the
"bloody chasm" has been bridged over
with clasped hands, AMI the members Il
the battery have been scattered in their
various pursuits. And now, when the
war is over, when the pillow succeedst Q
shot in tearing the furrow and harvest
OF plenty is scattered over reunited
land, they meet once more TO celebrate
the anniversary OF that eventiul day
For some time the matter has been
under contemplation and busy brains
and willing hands have been working II
no. So that when the time arrived,
everything was in readiness. 1t was
a jovial crowd which began to fill Vet.
eron Hall, at the McLure House, about
7:3O o'clock last evening. 1t was an as,
sembly that plainly told ''grim-visaged
war had smoothed his wrinkled front"
II was a gathering brimful and overflow
inv with merriment, good fellowship
and pleasant recollections
At about a quarter past eight o'clock,
the hall being pretty comfortably filled,
the old bugler OF the battery, Theodore
Roller, was ordered to sound the rereitie.
The old familiar sounds OF the bugle
brought the tagging members ulckly
into the hall, and by the flash OF their
eyes and the steady swinging step they
assumed, it was plain to be seen
that each and every mind
was recalling the tine when that sharp
call had reused them from sweet SUM
bers and happy dreams OF home, wife,
children, sweetheart, mother and sister,
to the stern realities Of war. But now
il was different, and instead Of being
reused out to face the lannon's mouth
they came together in Veteran Hall and
hands grasped hands in a close, warm
clasp. Old acquaintance, some that
had not seen each other for years, met
and laughed oyer some old reminisen'e
o. joke. =.
However it was now tune for bus'-
ness, and the ensemble was sounded. This
was followed by cries OF "De'
twhment, No. ], fall in here; "Where's
No. A.? sect in here old fellow; "Is
this all there is left OF u.s.? etc, etc.
At last all were in line and
Lieutenant Thomas Harris, who
was in command mounted chair
and delivered a bri,f address Of
welcome to the nonresident members
OF the Battery. reviewing the two
wears, seven months, and ten
davs that they were in actual SER
vice, how they had lived together
AS brothers during the long and weary
struggle, and how now, after this long
time appearances seemed to indicate
that such state of affairs was still ex.
istlng The roll call was then ordered
and Commanding Sergeant Lem L.
Busby, i'm the absence of First Sergeant
G.. III. Deiters, called the roll from the
old roll call. Sixty-eight men responded,
they being:
Adam Honecker, John j. Birch, john
Reitz, Jesse Hall, Theo. Roller, Isaac
Steelman, JOS Wheeler, Thos. q. Ham.
mond. James McCully, A. &. Lnkens,
q 20. W. Clark, Levi Cassell, Charles
Miller, John Reed. john w. lsett, Chas.
III. Senseney, William Johnson, Seig
Fritz, George Dehbaugh, James Aims
worth, Joseph III. Connolly, John G.
Reed, George B. Reed, Henry Stewart,
". II Robinson, George Bottles, Joseph
Green, John Il Wilson, Henry Jones,
George Rabbit, VIM. Carter, John
White. Samuel Swearingen, ThOs. Will
son, Thomas MOiiett, James Dyson,
Harrison Belleville, Hugh McCord,
James Saller, George Branden, VIM.
Rose, Phil. Fletcher, James Lyons,
Alonzo Reed, Fred Brown, VIM. Frank,
q. A. Dowler, Hugh Wilson, Isaac Sad
Ter, VIM. Ii. Hobbs, Albert Redman,
John T. Barton, Henry Seamon, Thos.
Harris, James Il. Gorrel, Charles H..
Watkins, VIM. Philips, ID. Il. Clark,
Lem. L. Busbv, Sam Morrison, Jesse
I.itten, W. II. Haller, Jim. Dyson.
There were many times when the
Sergeant would call for several names
and no answer would be heard, then t
WAS that sad recoll, c;ions seemed to
crowd upon those in line and a tear
could be seen here and there in the eyes
of the men AS they thought OF the COM
iade who had died on the field or in the
Southern prisons.
After roll call the order to break ranks
was gwen, and the men seated them.
selves around the room in 4 comforta-
BILE manner.
The cigars were opened and the bust
ness part Of the evening commenced by
Lieut.. Harris taking the chair, and
Charlie Watkins the secretary's chair,
assisted by David b Clark.
The first thing to command attention
was a pile of letters that had been re-
ceived from members who were unable
to accept the invitation to be present at
their first reunion.
John Walker briefly expressed his
sorrow, and wished all pleasant aud
happy time. He was with them in'the
spirit.
A long letter from Mort K. Hoxie fol-
lowed, accompanied by little pocket
testament, all worn and weather beaten.
Mr.. II. told in his letter how it had been
presented to him by Rev. S. b. Barnltz
on the eve of their departure from the
city; now it had been captured with
himself at Mason's Cove, gone to An
Jacksonville, come back home with Com.
rade Seaman, and at last had reached
his own hands again.
Lieutenant John l.. Morrison was
next heard from at White Sulphur. He
referred to one or two pleasing little an
ccIotes, and closed by wishing ali a
pleasant and happy time and many
more reunions.
Jessie L. ID. Gatewood's letter was
next read. 1t was rousing one and Gre
tel unboundei enthusiasm. He avowed
his intention OF sticking to the old prin-
ciples and called on all his old comrades
to do likewise.
Lieut.. &. &. Thaecker closed the list OF
letters in few brief words, in which
his regret at not being able TO partici-
pate was set forth and the old scenes and
memories recalled in pleasant man.
ner.
This closed the business part of the
evenings exercises, and fun and recrea.
ton was now the order OF the day. In
one corner of the room was an organ
with VIM. II. Sheib, Esq, behind it,
and surrounded by Ed. Hobbs, Will