West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-10-04
ALL TYLER COUNTY
Has a Jolly Good Time, and not a
Drop to Drink.
Editorial Correspondence.

Editorial Correspondence,
Wherever the "boys' gather
themselves together there the
FREEMAN ssboyp wants to be also,
and accordingly the reliable old
Courier discharged us as part of
her cargo, at the port of Long
Reach, Tyler County, last Wednes-
day at noon.
1t was rainy and gloomy, creek
reported out of ride, with little
prospect of any Reunion, even if
we could get to Middlebourne, and
.as a matter of course we were about
as blue soldier boy as one would
care to meet unless he was peddling
Burroughs"
However, after camping for the
night, and running down one of
Bob Johnson's horses, next morn
ing, we made a forced march
through mud and food, and at
noon, found ourself call present
and accounted for" at Tyler Coun-
tvs capital, and reported at
REUNION HEADQUARTERS.
Hickman's Grove, overlooking
Middlebourne, is just one of the
grandest places for the good humor-
ed thousands of wide awake coun-
ty to come together for a good time,
one will find in securing a dozen
States.
The first day had been rainy and
the arrival and going into camp
of a few veterans, was about the
only visible sign Of the Big Reunion
that was to be.
Thursday dawned gloomy also,
and the afternoon found only few
hundreds in the Grove, though
from the drilling and skirmishing
by the "boys' it was manifest that
the esprit du corps Of the army was
admirable.
At2 p. m. the Sistersville Cor
net Band stirred up the harmonious
echoes of the grand old woods,
when Hon. w. I. Foreman Vel
comed the "Boys that saved the
Union" in a neat address full of
enthusiastic and patriotic senti-
ments.
And just here it is proper to say
that "ye FREEMAN boy" had been
doing little missionary work by
distributing tracts and circulars,
and that while so engaged he was
summarily seized by the strong
arm of the military" and drafted
out of the crowd to respond on be.
half of the soldiers. As there's no
such thing as resisting this Tyler
county soldiery, of course ne just
had to respond, as best he could.
The afternoon and evening of
this second day was spent "promis-
cuously" by the "boys" in having
general good time.
But Friday came and proved
GRAND BIG DAY.
The morning was bright and
beautiful and the day splendid,
and Tyler county humanity poured
in from every direction, till fully
seven thousand people were on the
grounds, many judges estimating
the number much above that.
Our old friend Henry William
son with Mr.. DeLoe and others,
dispensed excellent sutler stores at
moderate rates, SO that the facili-
ties for obtaining wholesome rations
were admirable.
There were swings, the SEWN 6
machine men, "side shows" the
everlasting soap man with his
banjo, and al that sort o'thing to
amuse, and get your money; but
no "wheels of fortune" thank for
tune and the good sense of Tyler
county people who tolerate nothing
of the kind.
In the afternoon addresses were
delivered by Col. D. ID, johnson,
Capt. Richards of Ohio, and others,
Capt. Richards closing q pathetic
address by singing with touching
cfecta patriotic song on the "Sink-
ing of the Cumberland"
Col. Johnson spoke more at
| length, and as he was addressing