The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-12-24

the lJth century, ana the freeloent
elect OF forty millions OF people.
We find that our space will not
permit us to speak in extenso of the
Interesting meetings Of the different
armies; of the successful efforts to
raise money to complete the McPher
son monument; Of the resolutions Of
fered to the memory Of the heroic
dead of the last year, including
our own Mathies, and Wiscon.
sins Fairchild, and many other
things about which one could conve.
niently spin out co.umns, but must
hasten on to the final grand banquet
at the Board Of Trade Rooms on the
night OF the 10th, which in its inn.
mensity, and dazzling magifcence,
surpassed anything OF the kind ever
given in the United States, whether
reference be made to the vast mum.
Der in attendance, or the distinguish
ed character Of 80 many of the guests.
"Old Tecumseh" presided, with
Grant as usual occupying a retired
position on the stand, surrounded, by
Fort Fisher, Terry, Schofeld, Pope,
Barry, Slocum, Logan, Thomas, Cav
airy, Wilson, Logan, and scores of
others more or less known to fame,
while promiscuously mixed up in the
vast ansemblage were governors and
ex-governors, Major Generals and ex
Major, Generals in uniform and with
out IT'LL you couldn't rest"
One Of the most remarkable epi~
sodes Of the grand carnival, was when
At about 8 o'clock it seemed that the
general hilarity thatprevailed, amidst
the rafting of dishes, clinking ofgob-
let's, and the hurry scurry of 1--WE
hundred negro walters, was about 10
make the noise and confusion 90
great, that the toasts and responses
could not be heard by any consider
able number in the Hall, and would
therefore have to be dispensed with.
At this iuncturo, Gen. Logan took
the stand, and for q few moments
stood like q statue, one of the most
impressive tableauxs Of manly beauty
ever witnessed. Presently he opened
on the apparently almost unmanage-
able multitude, and for about Eve
minutes poured forth such terrific vol
leys OF invective, sarcasm, aud invo.
cations TO remember the time, place,
aad occasion and the respect they
owed the President elect, and the
distinguished gentlemen present, that
in an incredible short period of time
he brought order out of chaos and
licked them into shape, after which
he proceeded to respond to his toast,
in his usual eloquent style.
This triumph of Logan's mind over
the heterogeneous. and obstreperous
mass of matter, was the theme OF
universal admiration.
Many able and eloquent speeches
were delivered in response to senti-
ments by such men as Cows Fletch
er, Oglesby, and Fairchild, Cons.
Terry, Wilson, Schofeld, Thomas,
Slocum, Schurz, and others, and the
crowd estimated at from 1900 to g.
500 dispersed at a late hour, and most
generally departed tor their homes
the next morning, rejoicing that they
had attended, and been an humble
component part, of the largest and
most noted meeting of soldiers and
patriots, who ever have, or perhaps
ever will meet together on the Amer.
lean continent.
By general consent politics were ig
nored, and the prevalent impression
being that the best way not to get an
office was to obtrude the matter on
this festive and social occasion, gave
Gen. Grant immunity from the pes.
tcring opportunities of the office
seekers, which was certainly great
consolation to him, in view of his
acute suffering during the whole af
fair, from neuralgia in the face and
1 head -1sl