Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-16
OLD WAR TIMES.
EecollectiOHs of the Three Months
Service
Of the First Virginia Infantry BY 0ne Of the
Boys-A Brief Taste Of War
and Soldering.
Special for ire Register.

NANE NAhLASLER h1GLANA AoLAaUt @Aeks
22-Rain, rain. Nothing Of special impor-
lance trsnspired to-day. A good many Of
the boys are pr4cicing slipping past the
camp guard and going over to the city.
Aug. % and 24-The camp is almost de-
serted. The Wheeling boys are st their
homes. The Wellsburg boys have taken
Preach" and gone home to see their
mothers and sweet hearts.
Sunday, Aug. 25-The most Of the boys
Sre still at home, they have learned by
some means at what time to report for
muster out and receive their psy.
Aug. 26-All quiet Camp still deserted.
Aug. 27--The First Virginia Infantry
was mustered out Of service today and
will receive their pay to morrow.
Aug. 2S-The regiment was paid OF to-
day in gold. Now We are free TO so where
we please with none to hinder or make rs
afraid. The Wellsburg companies left for
kom on The steamer Convoy, arriving at
abou 8 P NJ, and were received By
the Home Guards" Captain VIM. II. H4r-
vey, escorted through the principal streets
Of the town. Tue citizens turn out en-
masse 20 welcome US home. After thus
showing ourselves rugged out in our
dark blue uniforms 10 the citizens We
eagerly seek our homes, there to relate the
sdyenturss of the campaign to the family
ana neighbour VINO Call To greet our return.
The boy ssy il was little rough, but not
so bad after all. Now We are out Of the
army, what sre we going to do, as there is
nothing thought Of or talked about but the
MAE?
Wsliburg, Sunday, Sept. /, 1861 Rev.
W. B. Watkins having previously an.
nOunced that he would deliver a sermon to
the returned volunteers Of Welisburg, &C
cordinsly the late members Of companies
+ and G. Assem- oled in uniform at the Court
House. With cOlors dying and the drums
beating We marched 10 the NJ. K. Church
and attsutiyeiy listened TO the sermon,
which beng cOBci uded, we returned to the
Court House and disbanded. Inc boys
were we'll pleased with the sermon aud
suoke very highly OF it.
We almost forgot to record something
concerning Private John smiths bed. john
had teen brought up on y farm iu Brooke
cOuDty, and had never wanted for the com
forts of life. lie enlisted in Company
OF the First Virginia Infantry, three
months, and slgays looked upon the
bright side of the hardships which We had
10 endure. john had the ksack Of utilizing
any and every thing at hand for his CON
fort, especially as 10 sleeping, owing to the
scarcity Of sufficient bedding he vas com
pelled 20 rest Oh q CON fort spread on the
bsre ground beneath his tent. Not liking
the dsnpnsss OF the GROUND he set himself
abe VI to Contrivs q plan that would pre-
vent him from beiOg so close to mother
earth On the morning Of August ., 81,
at Beverly, en- examination Of Johns bed
revealed what he had collected and placed
beneath bis comfort To keep him oil the
ground. The motley collection presented
anything bur 4 smooth or soft surface, bur
John declared he never slept better in
bis life than on that bed. Here is what he
laid on: Two mAttOcks, one spade, one
canal shovel, one ak, three tent pins, one
half lid Of q soap box, one-half head OF
barrel, one bsyonet, one hand saw, one
half Of the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer,
one carpet sack, containing variety OF
clothing, two worn out shoes, one tobacco
pipe. WheE John had been informed that
an inventory had been made of the make
Mp Of his couch, and the boys informed Of
it s vast amount Of sport was INDUCED IN.
IS6I-Iueitlents-We IIsOurS.
The guns that the First Battalion were
armed with were the same that were pro-
cured at Washington, ID. C., by Joseph APP
pltgate, Adam Kuhn and others of Wells
ton 10 WeIIsbUrg and stored 10 pork
house on Charles street in charge OF
strong guard. Every thing was going alOag
nicely and the guards were having Hne
I me of il walking their beats Carrying
minnie mUsset bran new from the
sTmOTy. one night word came TO town
tin he rebels were coming % Capture tn
STmS. The entire population, aroused
from their pesCaful siUmber by meSsen
,ers sSnt forth for thar purpose, turned
4, Vt. The male portion who tslt inclined
10 bear arms for the defense o! their homes
and the security OF the arsenal repaired
thereto, aud, sitter having swOsn to be
fsiIhful and true to their country, were
Supplied with muskets and ammunition.
Being divided into sgusds under chosen
l. aders they were assigned 10 tue several
highways entering the town, there to
await the approach Of the enemy. The
flooring Of the bridge spanning Buffalo
Creek was torn up 10 prevent the enemy
from crossing. A small cannon used tn
fire salutes was loaded With Scrap-iron and
such like and planted on the steamboat
lsDding 10 prevent the enemy from land
irg by stesmer. The most intense excite
ment prevailed throughout the town sod
vicinity. All kinds Of rumOrS as IN the
approach Of the enemy were lying
arUunC.
Women we're out cheering the meu to
deeds of valOr and providing them with
lunch ard hot coffee. A steamer upward
bound, not having occasion to land, is
btiled and requested TO impart her mis-
sion under pain Of receiving brosdslde.
Giving a satisfactory account OF her mis-
sion, she is told TO proceed on her journey;
The picketS snd the reserve force renamed
at their posts until long after dsyoreak
next morning, when these best informed
concluded that the Secesh were not coming
snd the men under arms were ordered to
return to the armOry and deliver up their
rurs. Thus passed one Of the most excit-
lug times that Wsllsourg ever experienced.
As soon as the Ordinace of secession was
IsSsC by several States Of the [ mon,
lumber Of our citizens displayed the ns-
tiOpsl flag Among the first TO ding the
STARS anu stripes TO the breeze to float in
sunshine and storm were the Herald office
81 the two paper mills OF Harvey, AAnser
Il Co. These flags were OF large size aud
could Re seen at q long distance oil.
Passing steamers encouraged the displaying
Cf The bur ting BY salUtss by steam whistle.
Notably SmcDg the steamers in this Gus
tom was the s @. Bgker plying between
Wheeling and Pittsburgh. Determined TO
be doing something to show their loyalty
sBd love Of country the ladies we're not be-
lind the gentlemen. On a certain occasion
lhe ladies made a monster flag. They as
stnbled at the residence of Capt +, +.
MCOre's to perform their work, and when
Con,pleted il was announced that IL would
be flung 10 the breeze with imposing care
monies from the roof of the Virginia
House. At the appointed time 8 respecta-
HE number OF gentlemen assembled at
Csutaip MOore's residence to assist the
ladies who had made the flag in conveying
il TO the Virginia House. The flag was
folded lengthWise and borne on the should
.rs of the aides and gentlemen-they keep
ing step TO martial music-to its destina-
ton, where il was hoistsd amid the loud
hurrsbs Of an immense concourse or citi-
zEps. Among our ritZenS were some who
kympatbIzed With their Southern brethren
Against those feeling ran high, and amid
The excitement and heat Of passion many
hitter expressions were iDdulged in.
The best Of friends failed 10 recognize
each other. Many foolish things were
aid ard done by both parties, but
Isppily there was no bloodShed
The n elirg WIS so strong at the outbreak OF
the rsbeIli, that many persons OF con
ssTystive turn Of mind were forced By the
nnblic sentiment to display the national
snsign. TIE spirit Of LOYALTY to TIE. gov,