West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-07-13
SOLDIERS reunion.
Proceedings Of the fEsnty-ssCOnd
Annual Session Held at Terra
Alta July I'd, Srd and 4th.

The first assemblage proper Of
the Twenty second Annual Reunion
of the Soldiers and Sailors of Pres
ton County convened at the White
Grove, Terra Alta, at 10:30 a. IN. =,
July 2. The Cellar Concert Band
and the Beech Run Martial Band, in
charge of Professor Rolly +. Mar
tin, were present and made the
leafy grove resound with stirring
music. At 1l:15 j. Ben Brady OF
Kingwood, addressed the audience
in mastery manner. which, at its
conclusion, was fittingly recognized
10y a rising vote of thanks. Ed
mund Messenger followed with a
short but pointed address after which
the band discoursed that popular
and stirring air, Marching Thro'
Georgia" Leroy Shaw then ad-
dressed the audience briefly upon
the duties and responsibilities of the
old soldiers in letting their loyalty
TO country shine out TO the young
and rising generation as a part of
their unfinished work, after which
diournment was had for dinner.
Monday afternoon was taken up
by a campfire, which was very
much enjoyed by the old soldiers
and their audience. Col. John ID.
Riag opened the ball, and was fol-
lowed by William Glover, the oldest
soldier on the ground and the father
of Hon. VIM. II. Glover, our re-
spected comrade and citizen; Capt.
j. h. Murdock, Edmund Messen-
ger, Il. 5. Cunningham, J. G. Elsey,
J. A. McWilliams, who chunked up
the fire with war "reminiscences and
every day history. At 4:30 O'Clock
a recess was taken, To reconvcne at
7 O'Clock.
The crowd was slow gathering in
the evening, and it was O'Clock
before anything was done. Then
for half an hour the time was taken
up by splendid band concert, fol-
lowed by singing by the choir, after
which an hour was pleasantly spent
in a campfire service, which was
not only interesting but instructive.
II. III. Cahill, who was not soldier,
started the blaze in an appropriate
and entertaining address; and Capt.
j. +. Murdock, S. B. Lee, and NJ. l..
Crane. the latter being the only An
dersonville prisoner on the ground,
made things lively and interesting
the remainder of the evening. Ad-
journment.
The third day, July Fourth,
dawned upon us in a pleasant man
ner, and early in the morning the
patriots commenced TO gather from
far and near. AT ten O'Clock n. m.
John w. Hill, Adjutant, called the
large assemblage TO order, and the
bands furnished regular oldfashion-
ed army music to the satisfaction of
all. At 10:30 Senator s. b. Mont
gomery of Tunnelton, arrived on
the ground. II had boen decided
the previous day by those in COM
mand that the Senator was to be
solicited 20 address the large and
intelligent gathering at this hour,
but the phone being out of order, he
had received no notice of the part
that he was expected 10 play. But
Sam b. Montgomery is not the man
to waver when duty or a respons-
ibility confronts him. He said,
While ] am totally unprepared to
address the old soldiers of my county
in fitting way, as / consider them
entitled TO the very best effort that
could possibly be made by any
speaker, will do the best / can 20
entertain our heroes; whereupon
Leroy Shaw appeared before the
audience and in way of an intro
duction explained the situation i'm a
manner that would indicate that
too much should not be expected at
the hands of the man that he would
introduce as the speaker Of the
hour. Among other things he said
that he personally knew that his
young friend was unprepared, and
stated the scant opportunities Of the
speaker; that he was the son Of n
deceased soldier who had answered
the last roll call when he was a
mere boy, and that being true, what
he was today was acquired under
trying circumstances; that he had
not been fed with silver spoon,
and that under the circumstances
too much ought not to be expected
When he concluded with the words,
] nOw have the pleasure of intro
ducing TO you as your speaker Sena-
tor :. b. Montgomery Of Tunnel
ton, the hum Of voices ceased, and
all eyes were turned on the speaker.
who, with the confidence and firm.
ness OF a commanding general, bade
the veterans TO draw near TO him. as
II was u them and Of their deeds Of
valor that he desired to talk. and he
did talk to the point and the pur-
pose without n break or n Aaw TO
the great satisfaction Of his hearers.
After music adjournment was had
for dinner.
AZ about ! O'Clock p. M. the gavel
was again sounded by Commander
Albright, but owing TO shower
that came up nothing was done ex-
cept to listen to the sweet strains of
music that were furnished bv the
bands, until 2 O'Clock. when the
venerable Joseph h. Feather one Of
the old pioneer preachers Of the NJ
T.. Church, addressed the people in
one of the most mastery efforts
that we have ever had the pleasure