The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-20
RINGGOLD REUNION.
[o@tiaped from Fra Page, ]

useful otticsr, and the Indispensable COM
mSnder,
But, as distinct organization, the
cavalry ann oil service, in tho war for
human rights, suffered, no Disagreement
from your service, The record Of the
Ringgoll Cavalry will live while Western
Pennsylvania is peopled by Americana,
As tho centuries unfold, while Times
great pendulum strikes out tho passing
years, the happy children Of the future
will read and prAttle OF onr achievements,
willis mothers will teach their sons t.
emulate your noble aud heroic qualities.
FIRST IN THE FIELD.
You were the first upon the field.
Here, in the person Of your old com.
mandsr, Gen, B, +, Kelley, you stand
credited az the frat cavalry III the De-
partment Of West Virginia, then the
active 4. enc bI the great rebellion,
UommeuCi0g with this service, there
arc yolum9s OF unWTitten history. The
scenes OF the lesser conflicts, the scout,
the midnight radcliffe lone sentinel in
some mountain gorge. History, that
pluCks itH sentences from u thousand
mountain paths, its chapters from tho
sentinel stars, the only Witnesses that
mark the Bpot Of single'handed conflict;
its headlines from an hundred ba Ito
helds, where the speaking blood OF fallen
comrades shall hold etGrnal audlencei its
title-pags single name, "RlnRgoldl"
But, comrades, cannot leave you in
your glory to-day without q single word
OF Gliding,
1t was often said that a CavaIrymau
would not steal. This might have been
true respecting all other cavalry, but 70.
speeding the Riuggolds, must enter my
protest; my testimony certainly would
convict II | should be called 10 testify.
But II were serving as u Juror, and one
OF these fellows were being tried Tor some
otIense Of that period, wOnld be compel.
ed TO give them the benefit Of the doubt
as to ielOnIous taking,
want to cite m incident, and leave you
to Judge whether the taking was with
felonious intent. During the winter OF
lSGl-'2, q detachment OF my regiment tin
lautry) was sent, together with detach.
ment Of the RinEgOlds, all under the com.
mand Of Captain Keys, TO make q night
raid into thu enemy's territory for the pur.
pose OF capturing some officers who Wers
visiting some ladies outside OF thH proteC.
ton OF their own troops, Having reached
the place and, surrounding the premises,
we awaited morning light to close in on
our supposed Reb. We vera suCGeasful,
having secured a rebel captain. The de.
taChment broke ranks for the purpose OF
finding something to cat, Us We carried no
rations with US. entered negro
shanty In company wiGh number Of
theae Ringgold tellows.
CONTRADAND PROPERTY.
Having secured SONS buCkwheat cakes,
we were casting about for more, when
one Of these honest calvarymen spied a
largS old.iashioned straw bread baske:
setting near tho stove with something
carefully wrapped in it; whereupon hs
appropriated said bssket and con.
tents, bu. bsiore he had time to get
woman, who was baking cakes, QuioSly
tackled this knight OF thu spur and sabre,
demanding that hO Ghouid EnrrOnler
basket auI contents Seeing that he
could not gOt away from the old cook he
demanded 10 know what II contained ba,
fore releasing 1t, when, to his great snr-
prise and to tbs narriment of his COM
rade5, tho old woman carefully unlolded
the wrapping and exposed the well.
rounded form oil n new born negro baby.
The only apology have ever heard Of
iered for this theft, was that II was ICON
traband property" and should, at any
time, an indictment bt returned against
that fellow, am confident that IL can he
shown OH good authority that this was
tho frat, the last, and tho only time that
CayNlryman was known to take auy-
thing during the entire war And now
we ahall plead the law Of limitation in
this case.
But, in conclusion, let III pause a mo.
ment as we contemplate tho muster roll Of
our absent comrAdea, many oil them passtd
from mortal vision as they ru8hCd into
the battle smoke and laid their shcRves OF
homagO on the altar OF eternal truth. HAY.
ing done all that man could do for his fel.
low, all that mortal could sacrifice for
mortals, they yielded their lives willing
sacrifice, Tor the priceless treasure OF uni.
versal liberty. Others who saw the old
flag born intriumphGmid the acClamRtions
OF Joy at returning peace have with kind
and loving hands been tenderly laid to
rest.
We mics them in our greeting, but we
are all engaged for final reunion Just
beyond tho shadow of q few more sum.
mer days, there we ghall meet them, where
their tents are pitched, Just within tho
shades OF the tree Of life, forever.
IiItgn1a ~ NVoahtn1Hna ,,tilI ,,pr nN ll,n
guardian Of that priceless jewel, these
veterans must soon transmit to your keep.
ing, forever preserve the blood bought
treasure, so that the expanding influence
Of our higher civilization, the broader
christianity developed by the war, will
sanCtify andglorify the record Of these men,
while destiny Is busily weaving, Of these
golden threads, for each mantle OF i'm
mortality.
GENERAL KgLLEY's REMARKS.
General Kelley was then introduced as
the frat colonel OF the war, and the fret
officer to receive q dangerous wound. lie
was enthusiastically received, and apclo-
gized for not making any extended re.
marks owing to the weakness OF his right
lung, which was wounded. He, however,
called attention to the fact that as he was
not likely to DO Rble to attend many moro
reunions, he wanted to make statement
as to the proves OF the Ringgold Battalion,
aud that was, they had never tailed him
when called upon. After the General had
thanked the boys and the audience and
bidding them farewell, Comrsde Hudson
Mckee delivered an eloquent and feeling
little speech upon the services Of General
Kelley, which was warmly received. Let.
ters wore road from Adju ant Rose, Of the
Fiity.fonrth Pennsylvania and Capt. Jesse
McNiel.
The meeting was then adjourned 10 meet
In the evening at tho &. A. X. hall. The
camp 6ro Was held this evening at the 6.
A. X, hall aud was the occasion Of grea.
enjoyment.