The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-23
BOYS IN BLIIE
[Coniinued nom Rirli POgf.l

dissenting voice, and With cheer sitter
cheer. Capt. Reed, Of FaiEmont, alter
wards declined, giving good reasons for
30 doing and Capt. U, j. RaWling was
elected IN his place, General DuYRl as he
took his seat as presiding officer, was
warmly greeted; he made few Appro'
pirate remarks that kept tho enthusiasm
al fever heat. Lieut.. j, Hudson Mckee,
Of Company ID, Chief OF the
Document room OF the U. s. Senate made
a beautiful impromptu address. Colonel
Weddle, who came all the way from Iron
ton to attend this particular reunion, was
received with the most enthusiastic DEM
onstEati9nsi the Colonel could mot say
much more than "God bleEs you, boys, "
but that was said so ierVenIly and came
60 direct from the hearl that it electrified
the old boys aud brought them to their
feet with an answeringCheGr thRtBhook the
place. Col. Henry B. Hubbard j AXE Blank
inbop, Captain Robb and Jesse Plalten'
burg, the versatile editor OF the Hancock
county Courier, were all called on and all
said something,
General Duyala statement that he
would not exchange his record IS sol.
der or that OF the First for all the civil
offices In the land, was echoed all over
the building by cries Of "ThAts It,"
Lieutenant MCKee'a remarks, and those
OF Colonel Weddle, were the best Of the
afternoon. They carried the veterans
away back to the scenes OF the war;
they forgot themselves and cheered and
Cheered, while many laughed and cried at
the same time. Jerry Ebbert OF Mar
tins Ferry contributed 10 the enterIain'
ment by reCiting 1--WE drank from the
same canteen." Col, Hubbard taking up
the suggestion Of Lieutenant Mckee that
some member write history Of the, regI,
ment said he had one prepared aud
hoped that an opportunity TO read 1t,
would present itself before the reunion
WAS over, The Colonel also told how
handsomely he had been honored ct the
recent Cleveland reunion oil that honor
belonged to the gallant old First, Consid,
cradle routine business was transacted
during all this time,
While the speaking was il
progress there was brought on the
stage one Of the old battle flags Of the
regiment and the headquarler Tag OF Col
h Ihoburn. The battle flag, once u hand
some silk one Ia now faded and stained
and shot and torn into ribbons; the head
quarters flag Is In we'll preserved. con
dition, Tuesday night kube Wait o.
Portland, q former lnSmbeF-ot TO- u, Wenl
. out to Mt. Pleasant aud borrowed the
ilaGP.
As they were slowly unrolled the men
stopped talking among Themselves; there
was almost o moments pau!e as they
gazsd reverently on the tattered standards
for which they had fought and bled and
their comrades died in their Dyes those
flags were priceless. The hush was fol-
lowed by q tornado Of cheers; ringing
Union shouts such as rang through ~
CARTS valley when the regiment first start
I'd out, on it's way to PnlIppi. For fully
five minutes the cheering was almost con-
tinual; then they paused q moment 10
gain breath, and went at 1t again; the
cheers were such as only old Union sol
diers can give.l
Sometime after the flags had been dis
played, Robert Stroble, Company IT,, Colo
mel Thoburn's orderly entered the place,
Ne CHANGED to BIZ on the stage and found
lbimselfi In front OF tho old headquarters
flag; he recognized 1t at once and burst
into tears; falling on his knees he buried
bls face in its Hmoke stained folds
and gave entirely away 10 Ills feelings;
comrades gathered around this affecting
scene and It was not long until there waa
not dry eye In the house. The occur.
ance was one that impressed itself on
everyone. The old boys were In no mood
for further business alter that and djourn.
ed until this morning, The balance Of
the afternoon aud evening was devoted 10
"reminiscences and iraterni2lng.