The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-23
pHE FIRsT,s REUNIoN,
Enthusiastic Gathering at the Opera House.
Cheers and Tears,


COL. JOSEPH THoDURN,
The principal event yesterday Afternoon
was the reunion Of that famous old orgsni
sstion, the First Regiment West yirginII
Volunteers. 1t was held in the 0peri
House and grand meeting 1t was; thert
was very little lormslity sboutit, but thsrI
was lusty cheering, hearty greetiHga ant
an exhibition OF that wonderful fellowship
that one always anda where soldiers con
gregate; that fellowship that during the
dark days Of the war bound men closer to
gether than brothera. And with the cheer
ing, and the greeting, and the handshak-
| ing at the Opera House yesterday, there
was also weeping. AS old comrades met
and embraced after years Of absence from
each other, the tears sprang unbidden In
their eyes, and as some speaker would
recall the deeds OF Valor done
by the members Of the First
or refer to the gallant ones who went 10
their death in some Of the numerous en-
gagoments the regiment was In, the tears
would again flow; cheers, tears and
hearty laughter were all combined 1t was
q gathering OF brothers, full Of enthusiasm
and love for each other and the glorious
country they did 80 much TO save; 1t was
q gathering proud, and Justly so, OF ita
record; glorying In the names Of Tho.
burn and the other brave leaders
whose memory Is as fresh to-day In the
hearts OF their devoted followers as sitever
was. The reunion was regular love-
feast, and those who were not present
missed rare treat
BRIRP HISTORY OF TIE REGIMENT.
Incidental 10 the report Of the reunion
q brief history Of tho old organization may
be OF interest. The regiment was organ
lied in this city in May, 1861
Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and
Marshall counties, which had been form
cd in the previous April to resist aggres
sion from that portion Of Virginia which
had seeded from the Union. Col. B. f
Kelley was in command OF the FIRST organ
ization, Capt. A. II. Britt was at the head
OF Co. A.; Capt. E. w. Stephens, 90. y.
Capt. ]. N. Fordyce, Go. o.; Capt, G. O
Trimble, 90. T.; Capt. G, w. Robinson
90. X. The regiment .atirst. enlisted FOL
three months service under the
call OF President Lincoln for 75.00C
men, and was mustered out August %
1861. In November IA Of that year the
regiment reorganlzed under tho call iol
three yea men under command ot the
lamented Col. Joseph Thoburn, who wa!
surgeon OF the regiment during the three
months service. The Captains Of Com
panies OF tho reorganizsd regiment were
%, A., Jacob Weddle, subsequently pro
NOTED To lieutenantc he held thai
position at Cedar Creek and Winchester
and was in command OF the regiment
at the time Colonel Thoburn, Of
| ficiating as q major.genera, wa
killed; Weddle was soon alter made Col
onel Of the regiment. Captain William
Morgan commanded %. i; Captain ]
Trimble was in charge OF 90. l; Captain
II. RadclitF, Co. X; Captain Z. W
Stephens, Co. F; Captain o. Melvin, %
| q.
A BRAVE COMMAND.
The regiment was composed Of mel
who did not know the meaning Of TIM
word fear. It with two others, one from
Indiana and one from Ohio, formed {
brigade that opened the campaign In thi
State, by engaging in the first action
The Adjutant General In his report 0
1906 paid the highest praise to the Wes
Virgininia troops Of which the First was
part. The First always played su honor
able part and has always been highl!
spoken OF by the members oil the othe
regiments who knew Of It's services.
Yesterdays reunion was such q gorioul
one, 80 full OF enthusiastic patriotism ant
tender "reminiscences that an adequate re
port OF IL is impossible. The stage wa
set with o garden scene; In the chande'
| liers were tiny flags and broad bands oI
bunting were prettlly draped In the rear
In the center OF the scene hung an OIL
portrait OF Colonel Thoburn; the cut oI
that honored man published In this issue
Is a reduced reproduction Of the portrait
The men commenced gathering about
o'clock. As their eyes rested on the
benevolent features Of their old com
mander, hats were reverently lifted ant
eyes moiStened.
OLD TIME CHEERING.
There were warm.hearted greetings ant
as some particular iayorite was detached
there would be an old time ringing cheer
The reunion was held In response to OF
invitation sent out by the officers soml
time since. Capt George M, White %
K. OF Wellsburg president Of the Society
called the meeting to order and Sergt
Sam, Dean, Go, O, OF ST. Clarisville, aCtet
% secretary. The men had 80 much L
talk about and were 80 merry TO see eaCt
other that II was some tint
before order could be establish
cd. Then every one Of tho two hundred
present wanted 10 cheer, and cheer thel
did. Finally O committee composed Q
Capt. o. Melvin, Capt William Robb
Capt. Oh. Rawlings, Charles Freenai
and Jacob Blankensop, was appointed Il
nominate officers for the ensuing year
The following was suggested as a,b0nd \
be bigued by the surviving members, ant
was unanimously adopted, like everything
else, with D rouslhg cheeri
I'VE the undersigned members Of TIL
| First Virginia Volunteer Infantry, 10 Of
dor 10 pefpetuAIe the bonds Of brother
hood formed during the late war, NOT
propose forming permanent organlEa
tioti 10 be known as the Society Of th
First West Virginia Volunteer Infantry
and agree 10 remain loyal 10 the organlSa
Nor Is long as II and we live"
oFTlCRAs HLrCtEp,
The Committee on Nominations report
cd thb following as officers for the comlnl
General I. II. Duyal, President.
Col. Jacob Weddle, First Vice Ptesl
4V Capt VIM. j. Robb, Second Vice Pres
Charles BAlissll, Third Vice Pea
John s. Sweeney Fourth Vice Pres
Clarence 3. Twin, Recording Secretary
George D. Crawford, Correspondent
Secretary.
Capt Thomas Reed, Treasurer.
Thege clIleete were eleesed without
[cosliAtsa NJ FeaEB Pagal
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