Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09
IN SHERIDAN TENT.
Rousing Reunion Of Eighth Corps and
Army Of West Virginia.

There a rousing reunion of the Sth
Army Corps and the Army of West Vir-
ginia in Sheridan tent Camp Roosevelt,
last night at o'clock. The patriotic utter
ances Of the speakers struck a responsive
chord upon the large audience and there
was much enthusiasm. The presiding officer
was Mr.. Thomas n. McKee, journal clerk
of the House Of Representatives. president
of the Sth Corps reunion. Mr. Mckee now
halls from Logansport. Ind. but he served
through the civil war with the LIST West
Virginia Regiment. Assisting Mr. Mckee
In bringing the reunion of the 9Th Corps
to a success was Gen. Van H. Bukey of the
bureau Of engraving and printing. who
served in the 11th West Virginia Regiment.
After calling the reunion to order and
paying a pretty tribute to the men of the
Sth Corps and the Army of West Virginia
Mr.. Mckee introduced Col. H. B. Case of
Chattanooga. Tenn. who recalled many in
teresting incidents Of the stirring campaigns
in which the noted sth Corps was engaged
during the four years conflict.
In introducing Capt. A. c. Moore Of Bat
terry E, LIST West Virginia Artillery the
next speaker, Mr.. Mckee asked If the com
rades in front remembered the first time
they ever hard a cannon fired from the
enemy.
you bet" came from several veterans in
the audience. I'VE wanted to hunt a hole
in the ground
That's right" said Mr. Mckee He then
spoke of the brave and hazardous work ac-
complished by the artilerymen, and pre-
scented Capt Moore. The latter made a
ringing speech. He spoke Of the rights the
veterans are entitled to. He declared that
so long as the men of this country. so long
as even the gray-haired veterans Of 1851
and 1865 could march as they did yester-
day this country need fear no enemy either
from within without The speaker then
reverted to the fine work of the West Vir-
ginia men in the army, who loved their
country better than they did the institution
of slavery
I'VE hold nothing against our confederate
brothers," declared Capt. Moore, but we
can never tell them they were right We
believe we were eternally right and they
were eternally wrong"
Mr.. Mckee told a number of wartime
stories before introducing the next speaker
There was much applause as he presented
Representative B. B. Dovener of West Viz
ginia. who marched with the chairman and
with Capt. Moore. Mr.. Dovener said 1t
was a great pleasure for him to meet with
his old comrades of the Army of West Vir-
ginia. He spoke of their valiant services
to the Union and declared no soldiers made
a fairer record. They had helped to bring
about reunited country, which had now
taken front rank in the nations Of the
world. When Mr.. Dovener referred to the
Spanish war Of 1898 his remarks elected
enthusiastic applause
when a suffering people on the shore OF
the fair Island Of Cuba called for help our
great comrade our nrartyred President,
called for troops to go to their rescue He
sent for joe Wheeler and he sent for U.
s. Grants son. Then came Lee and a
rough rider, Theodore Roosevelt. and to-
gether they marched up San Juan Hill and
planted liberty there. All indeed, my COM
rades. these are great days of our Union"
There was loud cheering at the mention
of President Roosevelt's name. Other
speakers Of the evening were Augustin
Boice Of Indianapolis. formerly of the Dist
Ohio Regiment: D. R. Bryan, formerly of
the 54th Pennsylvania Regiment. which
served with the Army of West Virginia;
Mr.. John McElroy. Gen. Van H. Bukey
and Mr. B. H. Warner, chairman of the
national encampment committee.
Gen Bukey said he was as proud Of his
services as a private In the LIST West Vir-
ginia as he was of having been mustered
out the colonel of the regiment and after
ward brevetted brigadier general. Gen.
Bukey recounted the names OF the COM
manders of the Army of West Virginia.
No names were brighter than those of Gen.
George Crook, Rutherford b. Hayes. after
ward President Of the United States; Gen.
B. F. Kelly and Gen. Isaac Harding Du-
vail. The speaker declared he would not
detain the comrades, for he knew the best
reunions were the impromptu ones made up
on street corners, where a fellow was met
go over the happy incidents of long ago.
These reunions are far better than stated
meetings and set speeches.
MI Warner told the West Virginians that
Washington was their city, as 1t was the
city of the whole nation. He babe them go
home and tell their representatives in Con-
gress they could not do too much for the
capital city.
Mr.. McEiroy made a brief speech. He
was welcomed with loud applause when
Mr.. Mckee said, "Comrade John McElroy
will be heard from In the G. A. r. In the
future even more than he Is now"