The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-19

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Fleming, who in response to theapplduse
which greeted him made o happy
speech. He eulogized the old soldiers
and paid an eloquent tribute to- their
heroism and patriotism. In closing he
referred to the fact that captious critl-
cisms are often INDUCED in about the q.
A, r., but said that it was noble or
ganization for II patriotic purpose; that
| It would be kept up and ought to be
kept up. This brought down the house
and was the signal for an outburst OF
cheering that fairly shook the roof.
Other speeches were made, among them
the memorial address by Col. Geo. B.
Caldwell, Of Wheeling, on the life and
character Of the late Gen. w. B. Curtis,
which was received with cheers. Col.
Caldwell spoke as follows:
COLONEL cALDwELI's ADDRESS
CoMRApEs AND FRIEYDs:-General Cur
lis is gone. He was u grandson OF John
Curtis, patriot soldier Of l776.
General Curtis was born April is,
1921, on now historic ground, where the
great battle of Antietam was afterwards
fought.
In 1882 his parents removed to the
town of West Liberty, in Ohio county,
where on becoming OF age, he engaged
and continued in business us mer-
chant until he became soldier in 1862.
In 1861 lie was o member of the State
convention ut Wheeling which organ
lied loyal State government for Vir-
ginia.
Continental Congress advocated unan..
unity in supporting the immortal
declaration Of our country's independ-
ence by reminding his fellow congress-
men that "they must all hang together,
or they would all hang separately" In
that Wheeling convention every man
had to face the same situation. Each
one who cast his lot and his vote there
on the Union side risked his life, his
fortune, and his sacred honor on what
was then doubtful result, and against
the vast majority of the people Of his
State, against the seductions Of State
sovereignty, and often againstthe strong
est influence OF family ties. General
Curtis had brother who was colonel OF
the Twenty-third Virginia Confederate
regiment, and was killed ut the battleot
Slaughter Mountain.
II tho South succeeded, death or exile,
confiscation of property and business
and social prescription were sure to
each member OF that convention. 1t
was convention OF Southerners true
to the old flag without an appropria-
ton.
8From its results was born West Vir-
ginia, fair and patriotic, devoted and
loyal, in the sisterhood OF States.
HIS MILITARY CAREER.
1t is one of the proud memories that
we cherish of our comrade that he
served not falteringly among those
true and devoted men.
In 1851 he raised and rendered to the
old war governor, Francis II. Peirpont,
a company OF volunteers. Again, in
1852, he enlisted company, which be-
came Company Dof the Twelfth West
Virginia Infantry. He was elected
captain.
In 1868 the nine captains Of the regi-
ment, other than himself, and the other
commissioned officers, lectedhimmaior.
AS such he commanded the regiment
until January, 1864, when his worth
was again recognized by his election by
his follow-officers of the regiment as
colonel, and their choice was ratified by
Governor Boreman. Holding that dis
tinguished rank, he commanded gener-
ally brigade, sometimes his regiment,
until the close Of the war.
Even while thus serving he suffered
from disease, but was soldier who
never lost days duty in those trying
years, or answered a surgeons roll.call.
Whoever else wasabsent, he was always
"present for duty"
At New.Market, Piedmont, Lynch
burg, at Snicker's Fold, kearnstown,
Winchester, Fishers Hill, and above all
at Fort Gregg, he was the leader not
only in rank Of his brigade, but in fact.
He served under the quick, brilliant
and glorious Phil. Sheridan, the Stone
wall jackson OF our side, throughout
tho great campaign of1S64 in the Shen-
andoah Valley.
At.Snickcr's Ford on the banks OF the
beautiful Shenandoah we were nll rang
ed along the shore OF the river behind q
low fence OF stone surmounted by rails.
The coniederates had lately had q
blockade runner get through and wore
light blue trousers and jackets, once grey,
which time and service had rendered Of
no particular color. Their skirmishers
approached us walking backwards, and
turning to fire. Our boys, when they
got near, wanted to fire on them, but
Colonel Curtis forbadeit, saying, "Those
are our men," :.
Directly one OF them turned and took
| deliberate aim at the colonel, who was
standing by rail upright by his side,
and blazed away. Tung! went the oak
rail us it was struck by the ball close to
his head. 1t was the only time l ever
knew the colonel to forget his tactics.
"Shoot them, boys, shoot them nowl"
he said with energy. 1t was not the
regulation command, but it was appro-
pirate and efficient.
AT FORT GREGG.
The foremost OF all who served, Cen
eral Grant, in his Personal Memoirs,
calls tho assault by Curtis's brigade on
Fort Gregg, in front OF Petersburg, Va,
desperate" In this assault there was
us men and officers killed and wounded
on Sunday, April 2, 1865, yet Colonel
Curtis captured the fort. His own regi-
ment had three color bearers killed in
planting their flag on the ramparts.
After he had ordered the charge,
General Foster, regarding it as impos.
sible OF success, ordered that ii should
be abandoned utter the troops had got
near the fort. But American soldiers
are men OF intelligence. With one
mind they thouVht that thay were moro