The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-14

but few, il any. achieved more honorable
and distinguished record. 1t was the
first regiment to report for duty under
President LincOln's call OF July, lSO2
and was recruited in less than u month
by Second Lieut.. Benjamin Harrison
After the regiment had been recruited,
Lieut.. Harrison was elected Captain oil
Company A, and when the regiment was
organized August 7, 1862, Capt. Harrison
was commissioned its Colonel.
1t left indianapolis for the front Au-
gust IS, 'G2, and returned thirty-four
months later with loss Of $50 men. II
participated in eleven engagements, in
Guiding ResaCa, Renesaw, Marietta,
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah
and Bentonville. The regiment was n
part ofThomas' army and was attached to
THE THIRD BRIGADE,
third division, twentieth corps. For
several years past General Harrison has
been successfully chosen President oI
the regimental association, which now
comprises about 800 veterans.
Gen. Harrison, accompanied by Mrs.
Harrison and their daughter, Mrs. Nc,
lee and their guest, Mrs. Dimmick, OF
Washington, left indianapolis shortly
after o o'cloCk. The train was q special
of eleven coaches filed to overtlowing
with old veterans and their families, and
arrived Mt Clayton at l0:30. At the
dopot fully 5000 people had assembled
TO welGonic the distinguished guest, and
as their train pulled in, a cheer went up
that was carried along the crowded vi
lage streets and echoed back by the
multitude waiting in the grove nearly n
quarter OF mile distant.
: The reunion was held in a walnut
grove before the gChoolhouse. Apavil-
ion DECORATED with flags and flowers
stood in the centre, with seats TOR the
veterans in front.
After the cheering had ceased, Gen.
Harrison, as president, called the meet
ing to order, using small rattan cane,
which he carried, as his gqvel, He
then briefly announced tho purpose
of the reunion, and the order oil proceed
ings, and Introduced Comradc III.
Meter, who opened the exercises with
prayer.
ALADY's TRIBUTE TO HARRISON.
Miss Mary L. Mitchell, the daughter
of Capt. W. c, Mitchell, was then intro,
duced by the chairman and delivered
nm eloquent and touching address OF wei
come 10 the veterans. Her Grafton in
point Of delivery and VOICE was among
the best OF the day. As she was about
concluding she turned to General Harri
son and said:
GENERAL HARRESoN:-l must say IN
behalf Of this vast multitude assembled
to do you honor, that we are proud oil
you as q citizen OF onr State. We are
proud OF you MS n soldier and as a states;
man and, sir, we are proud Of your grand
religions character, which has eVol
shone out with such lustre and bright.
ness us TO be unassailable. We areproud
of YOU MS the leader Of the gallant old
sevenHeth that was ever led to battle
for the right"
When the vociferous cheers &nu ap,
plause subsidized, General Harrison, with
much earncstness and in clear sympa'
thetiG yoipc, spoke as follows;
HARRISON REsFoEpS,
Miss MlrcIELL:--l feel quite incom'
petent to discharge the duty that now
devolves upon me-that Of making Z
suitable response 10 the touching, cordial
and sympathetic words which you have
addressed to Us. We thank you and the
good citizens Of Clayton for what yoy
have spokenI that you have opened
your hearts SO fully to us. Your hos
pitabIe welcome makes us feel at home
and in behalf OF this large represents
tion of ourregimcnt, possibly the largest
flat Inns assembled since the close oil tht
war, gathered not only from these ada
cent counties, but from distant homes
lbeyond the Mississippi anl the Missouri
we give you to-day in return our InoGI
hearty thanks for your great kindness:
The autumn time is the tit time ioi
our gathering, for our springtime is gone
II Eag in the springtime lot our llve'
tLat We heard our Countrys call. Full
Of yigor and youth and patriotism, We
responded to it. The exhaustion o
march and camp and battle, and tht
civil strife OF these years that haY'
passed since the close OF the war have
| left their mark upon us; and, as w
gather from year to year, we notice INT
signs OF advancing age, and the roster o
our dead is heightened. We are glat
to-day 10 be together, yet our gIadness II
sobered. As i'look into these familia,
faces, note deep sense OF satisfaction
INT | have not failed to observe tha
there are tears in many eyes. We. ART
not moved to tears by any sense oil re
oret that we gave some service to ou
Country and to its flag, but only By thi
sense that we are not all here to-day ah'
that all who are here
| WILL MEYER GATHER AGAFS
in meeting like this. We rejoice tina
we were permitted to make some contri
button to the glory and credit and per
petuity ; Nation We love- Tap
plaus
Cot. ..-y5 Who served under othe
regimental flags, apd who have gathere'
here with Us to-day, we do not boast q
higher motives, or greater service lha'
yours. ,,,., :,
We welcome you to participation u
our reunion. We fully acknowledg
that YOU had iull-possibly a fuller
share than we had in the great achieve
ment Of the var. We claim only TIL
, for the Seventieth Indiana that we wen
into the service with the full purpose !
respond to everyIorder, Cries OF That
"a. . and that we never evaded a fight Q
, turned our backs TO the enemy. TAI
nlnuse.1 We are not here to eXalt oui
. selves. but cannot omit to say that
pnrer, truer, self-conseCration to the ia
and country was never offered than b
you and your dead comrades, who, !
1862, mustered for the defense OF til
Union. Applause.
Z, 1t is my wish to-day that every rel
7 ton occupy to the public or to a poIlt
n cal party might be absolutely forgotten
1 [Crfes OF Good, Good,'l and that