Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-27

Interesting Exercises Conducted at the
Camp Grounds Yesterday.
A REUNION OF THE VETERANS OF
THE BLUE. WHICH WAS VERY
ENJOYABLE IN SPITE OF THE
SMALL ATTENDANCE ADJ
DRESSES IN THE AFTERNOON BY
COL ]. L. VANCE, CAPT. B. B.
pOvENER, AND OTHERs-THE
EVENING EXERCISES.


DovENER, AND oTHERs-THE
EVENING EXERCISES.
Yesterday was G. A. R. day at the
Moundsville camp grounds, but it can
not be said to have been successful
in point of attendance. A special pro-
gramme had been arranged for the
day. including an address by Senator
S. B. Elkins, but Mr.. Elkins did not
appear Most of the cottages on the
grounds were handsomely decorated
with flags and bunting in honor OF
the occasion. There were very few
visitors from Wheeling. the audience
being made up almost entirely OF old
soldiers and their friends from
Moundsyille, and the families spending
the summer on the grounds.
Religious exercises held in the
Amditorium in the morning were very
interesting. In the evening the at
tendance was largest and exercises
were conducted by the Rev. DR.. Reeee
The secular programme was arranged
for the afternoon, including number
of addresses.
At noon there was big bean bake
The ladies had secured an abundance
af the article which figures in the ia
yorite dish of the Bostonese. and they
were served in excellent style. Inc
grjzz,ed veterans "fell to- in a manner
suggestive OF the sanguinary days CT
'6l-'e5. The meeting in the Auditor
i,rm was called to order at two o'clock,
by Master Of Ceremonies F. H. Crago,
of Wheeling. There was a fair at
tendance, including the Moundsville
Post of the G. A. r. and Woman's Re-
lief Corps.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Kellogg, after
which several patriotic songs were
rendered by the choir. Prof. Crago
made a few remarks in his character
istical1y happy vein on the general
subject of soldiers reunions. His
address was well received
Prof. Crago introduced Col. John
L. Vance, of the Fourth West Virginia
infantry, and remarked that he had
been asked by Mr.. Vance to make an
apology for him on account of his
physical condition. When Col. VanE
arose he was warmly applauded. He
said he had begged to be excused, be-
cause he was not fit, physically, to ad-
dress an sMHnce which was made up
largely o2 .erans who had from 81
to '65 tupheA the manhood and digni-
made it possible
or Old Glory % wave over Cur united
puntrv. He then paid a tribute to
Dapt. r,oFener, and facetiously remark
ed that ne kind feeling for the Cap
tain, except politically"
Continuing. Col. Vance stated that
the occasion recalled to him the days
of 1861-1S65 with all the WV
idness of the events Of the morn
ing. He eulogized the West Vir
ginia soldiers, who had always per-
formed their duty, and whose only
thought was the preservation of the
integrity Of the flag He paid trib
ute to Col Thoburn, whom he charae-
terized as soldier who would have
honored the position CT Brigadier Cen
eral, man who made Brigadier
Generals"
These reunions" h said, "are mag
nifcent occasions. They awake the
most tender emotions of the human
heart. Two years ago, at my home,
took all possible efforts to get together
H. fragments of my regiment. We
Get together 107, some with an arm
gene, some with a leg gone-all of
them bearing some physical token of
service in the army. But it seemed
that the weight CT years was lifted,
and they became boys again. And