The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-24
THE TIRsrINFANTR
A business Meeting and campire-ThO
Three Months Men.

Three MOnthS meh'
The Society OF First Virginia Volunteer
Iafantry met in tho Opera House last
evening, General l. II. DuvSl, President
in tho chair, S. F. Dean was made tempo
rsry aecretary. The minutes OF the last
meeting we're read and approved. twas
moved that q vote OF thanks DO rendered
to tho Wellsburg brass baud Tor their ser
vices on this occasion.
An executive committee Of lvc was
named to have general management ofthe
next reunion, tho committee being O. L.
Irwin, S. +. Dean, @. ]. Rawlings, James
A. Henry and William Gilchrlst.
A committee Of three was also appoint.
ed to formulate rules Tor the government
Of the Society, The chairappointed I,
Fl. Mckee, ]. A. MCOauly and Judge
Thayer Melvin,
Ageneral advisory committee Of four
WINS appointed, consisting Of Capt. 6. M.
White, Hon. Thayer Melvin, Capt. Thos.
Reed and W. A. Harp. IT was moved by
Capt. Robb. that the next annual reunion
be hold on the first day OF the meeting OF
the Society OF the Army OF West Virginia,
which was adopted.
1t was agreed that as many Of the mem.
bers aa are In the city attend the funeral
Of ComTedaR nOry, Of 90. A, who died
Wednesday.
A resolution was adopted that the
thanks Ci this society be rendered 10 Man.
ager Fooso for the ug0 Of the Opera House
so generously rendered. Tho following
was unanimously adopted by a standing
vote:
Resolved, That the thanks Of this society
In behalf Of all our comrades, be rendered
to the Ladies' Committee having In charge
the entertainment Of the Veterans. All
feel deeply our indebtedness 10 them for
their valuable aid in making this reunion
success. And 10 the citizens and col.
niers Of Wheeling, we desire to express
our obligations for another evidence OF
their hospitality furnished this day.
To Captain William Prince & Co. our
warmest thanks are returned for free
transit across the river by the pontoon
bridge-a big hearted boatman's Charac.
terigtic act
The rest OF the evening was spent In
holding d Regimental Camp Fire, during
which q number Of interesting speeches
wore made, notably by Col. Henry Hub.
bard, Hon. Thayer Melvin and number
Of others. The boys separated feeling
that tho Reunion had been an entire sue.
cess.
Col. Hubbard's address was In the ma.
ture Of historical sketch, and II was so
interesting and valuable to the members
Of tho Regiment and their friends that II
10 appended In full;
A SKETCH OF THE yIRsT IN Tue THREE
MONTHS sERVICR.
COMRADES AND FRLIow.SoLDfRRs.-I
will not say your call has taken me by
surprise for soldier to be surprised IL to
be dlRgracGd. 80 anticipating your call, l
have prepared from memory a short
sketch Of the First Virgins Infantry in
the three months service.
In doing this 1t may be well TO review
the anomalous condition In which the
Union men OF the Border Slave States
were placed ct the commencement Of the
war. From the standpoint Of State sover.
eighty they were rebels, aud as rebels,
beyond doubt, would they have been
treated, and punished by fine, imprlGon.
nent, Conlscation or death, had the South
succeeded In disrupting the tie that
bound the Union together.
Serious as the outlook wRs In this diroc-
lion twas backed by distrust on the part
81 tho Government at Washington 10 such
IN extent that they were refused arms
with which 10 assist that Government, or
with which 10 protect Themselves.
In support Of this statement let mo state
! fact which 10 many Of you may be novel
that Is that the guns with which VIC
we're armed were furnished by the Cover.
ior OF Massachusetts at tho solicitation Of
A. w. Campbell, s. II. Woodward, 4, N.
Norton and perhaps others. Such, then,
Fas the condition Of the Union men Of
he border alAve Statos-Cursed as traitors |
~ their State government, aud Viewed
With suspicion by the Government at |
Washington. Such being the case, Ia II |
lot 10 their credit that there were men |
yho could View uuapalled tho approach |
u the storm which was 10 burst In fury on |
heir heads, unshOltered as they were by |
hO general government, end cast out by |
he State 10 which they owed allsglence,
IN allegiance they would have gladly
,ald In any other CRuse than tho sunder'
rs Of the bonds that bound the States 10.
,elhor2
Tbs trepldation, grown OF uncertainty,
vhiCh affected the bOldest, was thrown TO
he winds when tho general government
she would recognize the Vn'
on men Of the border slave states, give
hem arms and Commission the officers.
iut the First Virginia was formed before
bis, when oil was darkness and unCef'
Ninty, when no one knew who was 10 DO
expended on BayO God and the right.
'roVlous 10 this, however, 0 number Of
ompAnles had bsen formed here and
noWn 40 the, Home Guards. Some Of
leBe were made up Of men beyond the
aRlnl NJ aNliVa nkFVlHp Whn Sbhhh BALLAD