New-York tribune., 1870-08-06
ARMY AND NAVY Of the GULF

QUET AT THE REVERE HOUSE.
Boston, Aug. 5.-The annual reunion OF the
Society Army and Navy of the Gulf was begun al
the Music Hall to-day at IL o'clock, where an informal
gathering place. The organization is composed Oh
officers who served iphe army and navy OF the pepa
ment OF the Gulf during the war, and It was oreaN
an NevYork last year The first reunion took paOo "
Long Branch Jnly s, 1869. Today was the ahl' IJ
Of the passage OF the forts OF Mobile Bay ny .nooo
Farragut and his section OF the navy Amoue Co,
present at the opening were Gen N r. 'Sord ot
Timothy Ingraham OF New Bedford Cen Do Iorou
NJ the 1eod NewY York Regiment, GEN. FISK VI -,
GEN Jacob Sharpe Gen. Louis feoA " " ' - 90 tbe
York Regiment Col Sargent and Lieut. @ III no
sd Massachusetts, Cavalry, Col. IIhes Vi -. 49,.
nartment Lieut. Col Durgin OF the 4'n 81, 49,
H., 90 en-, Iousia1a Cavalry, Col Godfrey OF the Name
60, col Tracy OF the Maryland Cavalry, bfe'ueLl'
op,ncv Lieut. Col Minis Of Nmss Bat'er!' O"p', Nunu
Lett Of the 9sth Massachusetts, Regiment ana many
Others. o,,, ,,o ,ocot
-. order AT 1890 o'clock and in the absence OF Ad-
ii Earracut GEN Banks was called upon to preside,
and on assuming the chair he made brei speech' oo
graduating those present the happy circumstances
attending this meeting and hoping that the result Vi INC
meeting would be beneficial not only to themselves pu'
The Tst business to select place for the next s
annual meeting. This matter caused cOnsdefaole Vls
cussion the members being about equally dlvded pe
S9 ssSg eSen Il @ %as dny decided that be
selected. ,. sooors ond
Col Hawcs spoke in favor of appointing commlIse TO
collect materials for history oI tS aterI ia TO
show the history Of the state OF LOUISIANA uuns 'ne
GEN Banks fndorsed the movement in the warrnest
terms, and thought i very eRdeaVor TO
felt. II finally voted that com
mttee three be appointed 10 consider the subject on
history, and that auxiliary committee OF one ron
each State be added to facilitate the work.
The following officers were elected ior inc year ehSu
President, Admiral Faragut; Weep Presidents, Gen.
Sheridan Rear Admiral Bailey Gen w a. E9oIy' zen. en-
gel Cen T. W sherman Gen & r. StGne' eGetrG Gen, T. "
GraHyiie p Halves; Corresponding secretary, Capt. G.
II. Raymond; Treasurer, Gen JACOB shaIpe LAeC9tiVo
c. g Sargent, Major Robert Watts.
Immediately after the adjournment OF the business t
meeting there organ concert by Mrs 1rohock io
lowing which the oration Of Cen Banks, OF Wheh
Mr President and 4ssOciaes Of the Army and Nary Of
Itis 8nieult TO interpret the feelings with which
greet each other upon this return Of our annual
the more interesting as il % one me 81 on re
West. How many memories cowdup0n us. HON ~ m many ny
events recall which seem now, as we review tnen, TO
have heen ire GIFTED with detnes of the past rs well
as Of the future No exposition, no defense, no euOgy
Gle for five wears wrought upon standing in the
son you have assigned me, shrink from the attempt
to interpret your thoughts 10 give uterance 70 you,
emotions. OF 10 yindicate the canPgns III ~hSn you
sonal rather than historic characteT III Is or us 70 h MS
return of an anniversary so deaf 10 US so non
rrabe TO county 10 thank God FOR the preservation ION
Si te eV,S t,Iat tbe f1ure which s before us and
Iro,5trfe Welcome soldiers and sailors of the Gulf
Welcone tls and every anniversary OF campaigns
Welsomp forey the manned and SCARED veterans or
our battles by and Land! We fought the nght. we
kept lie fsth It great cause, and God gave Us
tba victory Fragrant he The memories, living or dead,
uI che soldiers OF liberty! Blessed be the maine OF the
There we're more Of the loyal States represented be
heve. Ia the Army and Navy OF the Gun t1'ah III any
Srny or navy The theater Of ts operations extended
from the Atlantic to Mexico 1t was not Ike many
other. mere military district, with jurisdiction
limited to military affairs only The hrst extenslVe por
was conquered by the forces OF the Union ~ DfT4gnt
with il the responsibilities of civil as well az mIltry
Government and these responsibilities, necessarily as
sned without specific orders and executed without IN
sfnIctions and in most eases in the absence OF any
pTactea communication with the Government at Wash
ingon imposed upon Its commanders NaieIy oI laoo
20 which officers in other parts OF the country Were utr &
strangers Nevertheless the experiments ihue III e
Department Of the Gull must be considered as t M 3ass
of the measures ADOPTED seNelaI Years atv uS o .o
ernmcut. respects without manifest improve,
neut These experiments proceeded upon the iued oi
common consent general intelligence and universal
Justice on part Of the Government and peOple-the
II was not however, to matters OF this character purely
that 9f m aSnoR @ was % reeed ee Eo portion Of the Army
and Navy were more constantly emp,oyed IN the @ pubic
service and proportion 10 its means no troops encOu-
tered greater peTis, endured greater pnNatlChs OF
achieved greater success From ne capture OF new
Orleans ia 1882 by Far1agut ana butleI, 70 tnG VII VIZ
Ory Of Mobile by Fauagut and Candy, in 1868 the Army
and Navy were almost constantly engaged The nnIary
events of the earlier period eontl6uted 70 ana
in the campaign against Port Hudson III 1863 as TINS con-
quest aud eliminated III the capture OF
Mobile in lS5 The SURRENDER OF NchsuuIg au T III
Hudson were the crownng events OF the war he DAT
iory at the achievements of the army in the
Central and Western Departments had crippled the
forces of the enemy and demonstrated the impOssibity
of his carrying the into any State which recognized
loyal Government. The gallant sailors OF the navy heil
him t hsy M tie river the gulf and the on three
sidos OF his discovered territory ana left the army at
liberty seek him within the recesses OF his interior
Ines The Confederate forces separated by the free
Mississippi, could neither communicate with nor relieve
each DINER The Confederate Government had no ave
nue the land OF sea by Which IT f1Hid comm
condition of affairs as apparent IN 1868 as III 1860 ~
offered the opportunity Of concentrating an the FORCES Oi
the army OF the Union upon tne camp OF the eHen,
wherever he might he found, with the certainty OF SUI
end certain. IL was but question OF tiuIe 1He
freedom Of the Mississippi destroyed the ReDelPOn.
North America. The surrender OF NlcksDuI9 was Ile
pccasOn but not the cause, OF the captuao4 OF fOrU
Hudson The commanding EeneII ol tne CoiIeuc!Soe
forces said TO me, at the time OF ms suriebGei l1at
events at VickshuIg had accelerated his captuauOn ny
render OF Veksburg TO Gen Grant furnished an occasion
the surrender Of the brave garrison Of Port Hudson
There were three officers in command Of the Army of
the Gulf during the war; from 1852 10 -Maor-Gens
Rousseau, ana Mower commanded the Department dur
ing the period OF reconstruction from 1865 until the
lOratioH of Louisiana to the Union.
ADMIRAL FARRAGUT.
Admiral Farragut commanded the naval forces during
be whole period Of the war; from the capture Of New
Orleans the conquest OF Mobile History presents no
character superior that Of FarTagut His naval victo
rles equal the greatest Of the achievements OF Duquay
Troun Of France Van TrOnp OF Holland, ana Nelson OF
England The conquest Of Mobile has given him a
greater reputation, because II occurred AT moment
when the close Of the the eyes OF the world were
turned upon him His success not victory merely
bat the aIbincer Of certain and general peace. .
The occasion does not allow me 10 speak Of Others
Every man present able fashion for himself the
character Of those with whom he served In due time
they viii receive their need OF honor.
since the ast anniversary of this Association, death
has removed Of the most prominent defenders OF
the flag No branch Of the service has been spared The
army and navy, regulars and volunteers, have paid III
part the debt OF nature
lafa Eaorp nf Mar Jnnu A Ravgliue