The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-16
THE ARMY REUNION.
Lieutenaut.GenernIS Sherman's Address
of welcome.

Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, 1t being no less
than grand reunion of the commanders and
soldiers of the Armies of the Ohio Tennessee
Cumberland, Georgia, and the Northwest.
Major-General Thomas presided aud introduced
Lieutenant General Sherman, who made an ad-
dress of welcome, as follows:-
Fellow. soldlers:-It is made my pleasing duty
TO address you this evening words of welcome
for deeds that have been spread before you, from
the city and from the country from the town
and the village. You hsve come together the
representatives of the grand volunteer armies
which responded to the countrys call in her
hour of danger, and fought her battles some
times side by side and sometimes far apart, yet
always in unison. (Cheers.) Az her bidding
you returned to your homes as farmers and as
mechanics, as artisans and citizens and after
short rest you have again assembled, as 1t wcre
upon pinnacle, TO look back toward that vale
wherein you struggled so long, to point out to
each other the spots of the greatest interest, and
to live over again those hours and days and
months OF deepest anguish or of 10Y. l know
that you have laid aside forever the feelings of
animosity and anger which you may have enter
IA ned, and that you have dropped into oblivion
You now stand here WITH hands extended
in fraternal friendship. You have rather
gloried in the right to defend the flag of your
country cn land and on sea. You have fought
TOR the Umon OF our fathers (cheers) and the
flag of our whole country (Cheers.) No mere
selfgratitCatiOn now animates you, but Just
pride ID your own actions and Deep intense
the hour OF deadly st1ile, and shouted with you
in the hour OF victory. Happily, my friends,
you did not belong to that class of our people
III whose hearts was planted from youth the
pernicious doctrine of State power, and that the
citizens should love part of the country better
than the whole. You were reared in a better
school, and taught to revere the Cons titution of
the whole country, and to love the wise, genial
influences under which are assured the largest
measure of security and happiness consistent
with the safety of the whole.
DplipVp the
should rule; we believe that in this we have
discovered o panaoea for the ills that have from
The earliest history of the world ravaged and
afflicted the human family; but we were no eX-
ceptlon to the general rule that minorities will
not always bow pc" ABLY 10 the decision of the
majority and Il ..nd that we must maintain the
privileges of our Dirthright by force. You may
search history in vain for more fragrant viola
ton OF faith than that which resulted III
our civil war; never were people more ruth
lessly, more unwilliDgly dragged into a long
and bloody conflict; never was a nation so
utterly uL prepared. The attempt to prepare for
the danger was called cowardice, and the whole
civilized world was taught to believe that the
broad stripes on our flag were TO be trailed in
the dust the stars sunk forever from view, and
that our fair fabric of Union was broken up
beyond recall; our attempts to reason were
laughed at, our laws were derlded to scorn,
public property was seized and a war begun.
Men wasted their eloqueDce i'll vain attempts to
avert the storm; atesmen exhausted the last
peaceful lemedy, and not until this time was
the last arbiter resorted TO. The volunteer SOL
dier then stepped forth into the deld, and offered
his life aud bis service to defend aud maintain
the Government against all its enemies,
and swore an oath that Rebellion and
anarchy should not rule the land, but that
liberty, Justice and law should be restored to
their rlghtful throne. (CheerS.) He has kept
his word. and you now behold the good ship of
state again tul-rigged, and once more on her
free course towards a glorious future. You
know that the flag is still there-not q star has
been lost not a stripe dimmed-that the same
flag we have followed so of.en in the glare Of
the scorchipg sun, by the moons pale beams,
by the light OF the blazing pine TORCH now
waves alOtt in victory and peace. Shall ] not,
then, claim for you, who represent this ideal
volunteer. the higher honor-yea, the highest
honor that can be conceded to mortals on earth?
You can easily recall how long the war
seemed to be in its progress, but how short now
looking back after period of little more thau
three years: now inconceivably short then
will it appear to those who hundred years
hence will grOpe through the. pages of history to
learn of events and the causes which led five
millions of people to rebel when no single act of
of oppression or tyranny was ever alleged. We
owe it TO them, whilst yet in the vigor of life
and health, 10 record the part we played in this
grand drama of life, with the motives aud
feelings that actuated US through Its various
ages.
Many a time and oft you have lain upon the
bare ground With no canopy above you but
that OF heaven, with its hosts of gItterng stars,
and know you have thought of the time to
come when, seated in peace and security, sur
rounded by admirng friends, you would be
crowned with tiara of light such as now hangs
over you! Dream and enjoy the hour. Four of
your comrades, one from each of the armies,
specially represented here. will address you,
and tell you of the deeds you have done. tive
them a willing and attentive ear, and when YOU
go back TO yoUr bones tell Il EN- all that these
armies, though dispersed IN the flesh, yet live
in the spilit, as strong aud enthusiastic as they
were four years ago, when IN the very death
grapple with the enemies Of your country aud
OF civilization.
In the name of the committee that has made
the preparations | extend 70 you all a cordial
\ ereetine-fo the veteran of 1861 and TO the
recruit OF 1865; yea, to the converts OF the very
I Hast hour OF grace. Iu the name of the people
I OF Chicago, who have provided the means, bid
] you welcome, ana assure you that a seat awaits
you at every preside, and IN the name of every
patriot IN tue land give you welcome, and tell
you he liehn ngs flash Is not swift enough to
satisfy tueir yearning nearts TO know what i;
done here this night.
The presence OF the men about me, their high
Office, aud the duties they have left to be with
you here AL attest the interest and grandeur o.
the occasion, and in their names, too, comrades
all, bId you thrice welcome. (Tremcndou,
cheers
After addresses by Generals Belllnap, Graft
Cox and CoesWell, representing the different
armies, the audience dispersed.
Booths and BrOug hams New Theatres.
There can be no doubt that Booths VIII a
once take the stand of the repre- sentative metro
.,sx y,vsn .,g.sl.