New-York tribune., 1870-04-11
ARMY REUNION.
THE GREAT GATHERING IN PHILADELPHIA.
GRANT SHERMAN, SHERIDAN, MEADE, BURNSIDE,
AND sCHOFIELD TOGETHER-BANQCET IN
HONOR OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

GRANT, SHERMAN, SHERIDAN, MEADE, BURNSIDE,
AND sCHoFIELD OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN
HONOR OF THE ARMY or THE POTOMAC.
[PROM OUR OWN c0RREsP0NNDBST.l
PHILADELPHIA, April Olive years our
great civil war was virtually ended in the surrender
of Appomattox and this afternoon the Society of tho
Army of the Potomac commemorated that eyens
with its truly Grand Reunion at the Academy IL
was like battle and victory. As TO hghfing tho
assembled veterans, some part OF them found %"
worse enemy than Gen. Martndales speeeb-oI
which, more anon. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm OK
the hour was like that of great triumph and tn
umph it certainly in the best sense of fesfivliy'
Never has Philadelphia's noble Academy been ~
filed tier above tier, and 80 gaantly adorned "lth
all the trappngs of great national occasion. 10 e
men who had slain their ten thousands all this was
not 30 wonderful for they had taken part in dramas
which called hundreds af thousands of men int"
play. with the etemal.hnls for the amphtheater OF
some of the fercest and greatest Of scenes But,
surely the crowded greeting at the Academy was ~
pleasant a one as popular patriotism and sodieriy
cOnfraternity could press into four walls.
Part of the glory of todays celebration OF victory
We perhaps owe to great defeat-the death of that
high-minded hero, Thomas, from whose funeral many
of the distinguished celebants Of to-day came to JOIN
their comrades in arms. 1t was pity that the
GRAFTON of the day could not have made Thomas lts
text and the ideal Of American manhood and Valor
its lesson and teaching; but this was too much Ia
ask at short notice The real celebration was GER
tainly in the reunion ITSELF and in anything said
OF DONE The speeches bore shallow comparison Ia
the scene Seldom in the history of country have
SO many of its military great come together upon
one stage To have conerepated many more OF them
would require Don Quixote's own stage the, open
pain-wde enough for knights, steeds, and all Ia
enter on it-or such field Of Gettysburg, though 1t
is doubtful whether any Sc ne of the war has brought
together so many eminen, commanders.
while before o'clock in the afternoon, amid
music and cheers President Grant, escorted by Gen.
Sheridan, and followed by Gems. Sherman Meade
Burnside Mcdowell, and many other distinguished
commanders, entered upon the stage of the Academy
Vocferous enthusiasm from the veterans IN the par
quet TO the dense crowd in the furthest tier con-
tinued for many minutes. At length, Gen. Sheridan
made bold to introduce the orator OF the day. Gen
John H. Martndale. Ii was this gentlemans misfor-
time to make speech 800 long for his occasion and
his auditory. He explored tie beginning of the war
dived into the question of Slavery and brought mp
old Judge Taney at some length. He said thought
full and worthy things, us gu will see but he might
have put all his ideas into speech ot
10 or Is minutes, and have saved good many men
who do not make se thes, or care very deeply abont
them an hour of tai Shall L say t'-it grew
to be a bOre-as pE..A n bore as either OF the t""
guns that fanked the stage, and which, could they
nave spoken, would have protestingly hnndered
against any sort OF disqusitOn IN the presence OF
Grant, Meade, SheTma and Sheridan. The age has
hardly vet reached the point Of demanding short
speeches and short poems; and Gen. Martindale him.
self is not much at fault-not at fault certainly IN
his Anti-Slavery ideas ard his tribute to the Fif-
teenth Amendment. Only military Hunkerism
having it's place in the Academy which shut out Sen
ator Revels would care 10 make Martindales politics
the subject of condennatory resolution The reso-
luton was tabled of course; and suspect that the
real grievance was not the strength but the length
of his Grafton.
After the speech, Mr.. George Ii. Boxers
pOem called Heroic Themes" 1t was unheroically
long-but, though Mr. Boxer is not reader OF re-
markable power, its allusions called out frequent
cheers that summoned even the great around him TO
their feet Everybody by this time has heard of MI
Boxer, the war poct-the handsome Boxer, as they
call him in Philadelphia, and picture to themselves
kind of Dutch Byron, too drowsy to be grand, and
too well-behaved to be wicked. He is dramatic
writer of noble instincts and has partiality for the
larger "utterance of the early gods'-a lyrlc poet
whose noblest and boidest fire only smoldes amid
such an oratocal yerse-essay he read but which,
after ALL was about the best thing said or sung On
the occasion.
After this came q long ptnl ucIuge ol III"
President was summoned to the front, and the
quetest, strongest figure of the day began to be-
audible in voice the snaness of which could just
be realized when its half blushing owner ceased to
speak, and not unpracefuly retired. Nothing could
be more desirable in a hero or President than the
habit of quet signaled by color of modesty In the
face of the firm, square, hard-headed man who has
only begun in politics, let trust, some OF that III
domitable strategy which helped Ms through Ia the
war. We run in danger of making too mush of =
hero of him but of all the to be on plat
forms he seems to be least "A humbug or one OF the
least He fufs the idea of his worst and best por-
traits gives hint of simple power III reserve,
and in point of military sgnuicance is quite mp Ia
the most ideal pictures of him. do believe that he
is ouiet contemner of speecl-makers and all nn-
practical men.
Sherman came forward in answer to a call-the
straghtes boldcst most sOldierly figure, perhaps IN
all the army. You know bis blunt, quick MANNER
and stalwart sei-p0ssession-setter hunored and
tempered now than in the Did Atlanta days. Then
came Meade with the face Of aristocratic Phila-
delphian graduated ont ~ one of lis medical schools
with touch of Dundreary in his soop and his dim
eyes-but with hight and breadth and tone "i the
brave able soldier that he is. He stood little less IA
the affections of the assembly than even Sheridan.
with all the popular qualities which the shoiI aciiY"
figure and the CHEEKY cOnntenance OF iin' great
cayalryman gave him. one thinks that tins hrpht
face is gathering to itself too much blood. ana III"
dashng soldier has almost ceased to grow, aud nbsi
dan is Young vet All that his alert person and ee
one, suggested was u remarkable amount al eN"ei-
tiv, ability; but it must be remembered thai sberi
dan has in trying hours been as good a Judge "i a
lal state of facts of a military.
Of ntb.r IiStin neruiS shed on