The National tribune., 1884-09-11
WEST VIRGINIA..
Reunion Of the Army Commanded by
Hunter, Sheridan and Crook.

The town of Cumberland, Md, was gay with
bunting and thronged with soldiers and sight
seers during the three days last week on which
the Army OF West Virginia held its annual
Reunion. The weather was all that could be
desired, and everything eonspired to make this
years meeting great success.
The feature of the first days exercises waa
the parade Of the trades Of the city. The
streets were densely packed with throngs Of
people-natives and residents of the surround
ing country and adjacent towns. The display
was most ereditable TO the business enterprise
of the city, and the procession was admirably
arranged.
After the procession of the trades was over
numbers of people gathered at the Queen City
Hotel to witness the arrival Of ex- President
Hayes, Gen. Crook and other distinguished
visitors. The train from the West, on which
they came. was behind time and did not arrive
until IL m. There were in the party az
President Hayes, Mrs. Hayes Gen. Crook, Mrs.
Crook, Gen. Milroy, Gen. Powell and Col Z. e.
Ewing, of Portsmouth, o.; Gen. Geo. McCreery,
u. s. A.; Gen. /. III. Duval. Co. ID, I'd battalion
NJ N. g., of Frostburg, Capt. j. p. Smith in
command, with Lieutebants G. f. Stevens and
James J.. Towles, numbering 81 muskets was
drawn up in line in front of the hotel 20 receive
the visitors. AS the train approached the ffs
and drum corps of the GAR. of Cumberland
struck up Hail to the Chief" The party was
/ driven directly TO the residence Of Hon. Lloyd
| Lowndes, where lunch was served.
| In the afternoon meeting of the Society Of
| the Army Of West Virginia was held in the
wigwam before a very large audience. Gen.
| Crook presided, with Col. III. J. Johnson, Secre-
| tary. There were seated on the platform Ex-
| President Hayes, Gen. Kelley, Gen. Sorthcott-
/ Capt. g. w. Harrison, Hon. Lloyd Lowndes,
exGov. Pierpont, Capt. l. M. Bunton, Rev.
Finkbinder Rev. NJ. Mofett, Rev. NJ Swedes
and others Before the regular proceedings
| began the glee club sang an ode, at the conclu-
/ sion of which Gen. Crook, dressed in fail uni
/ form and wearing the Grand Army badge,
/ appeared and received most enthusiastic
reception.
The address Of welcome was made in hand
some manner by Hon. Hopewell Hebb, Mayor
4 of Cumberland. His remarks were eathusias-
tically received, and when he mentioned the
names Of Crook Hayes and Kelley the vet
| Grams made the welkin ring with their cheers
Gen. Powell then introduced Gen. Crook,
who stepped to the front of the platform amid
8 storm of applause. Then came remarks from
Coils. Vernon and Schoonmaker and Rev. j. r.
Core.
In the evening letters regretting their abb
sence were read from Gems. Sheridan. Sherman.
Hancock, MeClelland, Logan, ROsecrans and
Curtin. Mrs. Wallace, wife of Gen. Lew Wal
lace Gen. George III. PendletOn and Attorney
Gen. Brewster. The name of Gen. Logan was
received with enthusiastic cheers An original
poem was read by Col. z. E. Ewing, Of Ohio,
after which ex-President Hayes was intro
duced to the audience. which cheered him
heartily for several minutes. He said, in tho
course of his remarks:
The State OF West Virginia was the school Of
instruction for soldiers in the beginning of the war
They began service there and passed to other fields
of duty. No great historic battles were foughs
within its borders, but il was the school In which
good officers were made. People wonder why
these Reunions continue, and ask what was gained
by our country, by humanity and by the world Ia
the triumph Of the Union arms IL could be sum-
med up in one sentence: "We have gained ths
United States" Who can measure all the blessings
expressed in that phrase In territory is is the
grandest country in the world, and its population
comprising the best people of the best nations Of
the world Every honest and intelligent man,
wherever he lives if he wants to better his condt-
ton, turns to this land hopefully.
Gen. Hayes's also spoke in the highest terms
of Gen. Crook. both as soldier and as man.
The second day was spent in parades, recep-
tions, drills, and other exercises. Speeches
were made by ex-Gov. Pierpont. of West Vir-
ginia, one of that States war Governors; Gen.
w. III. Enechs, of IrontOn, o.; Col Bakey, OF
Parkersburg, and z. L. Powell, of Eckhart,
"the drummer boy" of the 10th w. Va. The
81 memorial address was delivered by Gen. w. II.
Powell, of Belleville, ILL.,, in the afternoon. The
election Of officers resulted in the selection
of Gen. CIyOk as President of the society again,
and Capt. Vim. E. Griffith. Of Cumberland, a.
Treasurer. There are 20 Vice. Presidents, among
them Col. G. w. f. Vernon and Col. j. H John
son. of Maryland
The third and last day Of the Reunion waa
ushered in by a parade of military, Grand
Army, and other societies, there being not less
than 1900 men in line. The military was in
command of Col ]. III. Johnson. There were
GAR. Posts from Cumberland, Frostburg, Lon
aconing. Bedford, Pa; Mckeesport, Pa; Mar
. tinsburg, w. Va; Berkeley Springs w. Va
and delegations from many other Posts Car
riages containing number of distinguished
military men, including Gems. Crook. Hayes
Powell, Milroy, and ex-GOv. Pierp0nt of West
Virginia. and others, were driven in the parade
At the meeting in the afternoon Gen. Crook
bade the boys gOod-by. and left for home. Gen
w. F. Duval and Capt Thos Mckee made ad
dresses. Ex-Pres. r. B. Hayes delivered ths
annual Grafton in place of Gen. W. II. Gibson
! who was unable 70 come. and thus closed one q
the most successful Reunions the society haa
ever held.
Ex-Prisoners OF War Reunion.