The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-13
FIRST EDITION
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Address OF Governor Fairchild ut the Bos-
ton Reunion.


ton Reunion.
Governor Farchild, OF Wisconsin, delivered the
public in Boston yesterday. He suggested that the
society should publish history OF the organization
devoted his address to such facts as mad come
under his view from the first call for troops until
The Army Of the Potomac, he said, was peculiarly
deserving Of praise, because 1t had done nobly In
spite Of th. most discouragng reverses. Its mission
from the first was to guard Washington; and its de-
lays, countermarches, and defeats which were the
result OF conflicting counses, were the subject Of
other with such rapdity that the leaders scarcely
knew what line Of policy to follow, and many Of the
disasters were due 70 the lingering hope Of peace
General Scott had been making preparations for de-
f. nse. Coonel George IL. Thomas afterwards Ma
tt'wnJ; Captain skiras (afterwards COmmlsssFy-
GeneIaD In charge OF the Treasury building;
guarded the Presidents house; Nator Mcdowell
(afte Iwards Major-GeneraD had command OF Capt.
tol Hill from the railroad depot to the Navy Yard
Commissary supplies were stored in ana around
the Gen eral Post ONCE; body OF troops was sta
TTeasnTy SudinS were strange eposits Of WhoIe
tiers OF barrels of beans, pork beef aud sacks OF
coffee, while its portlcos brlstled with cannon. The
Capitol under Major MCDOWELL, was rapidly con
verted into a fortress.
on the nth day of April there were with Major
Mcdowell Captains McComb and Woodruff (engi
Ieer onlcers), two companies of militia, two hun
dred strong composed OF the stonecutters and other
workmen about the Capitol. Near the Navy Yard
were four other companies, and near the railroad
depot still another, all local militia.
sponded to- On the 18th OF April, the anniversary
OF Lexington and Concord, the hearts OF all loyal
OF the 9Th Massachusetts Regiment six hundred and
forty strong, commanded by Colonel Jones. On the
afternoon of the 2bth the 7th Regiment New York
Militia Colonel Lefferts, reached Washington. They
left New York city on the 18th, and communication
through Baltimore being Interrupted, went from
Philadelphia by way OF Havre de Grace to Annapolis,
where they joined the 9th Regiment Massachusetts,
Volunteers, Colonel Monroe,wh were accompanied
by their brigade commander, General Butler. So
far as Washington was concerned, the crisis was
now passed. The way being open, other troops
came forward rapidly from all parts of the North,
that by the first OF May general feeling OF
rity prevailed. The speaker then noted the result
of the second cal for troops, detailing the events in
regular order until the 23d of May General Mans
field, commanding the department of Washington,
had under him rather more than thirty thousand
men.
The immediate defensive occupation OF che south
bank Of the Potomac was determined upon. A force
OF about thirteen thousand meR was assigned to
this duty and the night of the 23d the movement
took place in three columns. These troops took
possession Of Arlington I'll Heights. .g AT Long Bridge
trict militia, consisting OF the National Rifles,
Captain Smead, Zouave company, Captain Powell
later the 7th, 18TH and q5th New York Volunteers,
under command of Major-General Sanford; and the
2d, Sd, and 4th New jersey Volunteers under Briga
er.General Runyen. The 7th New York posted
at Hughes tavern near the Virginia end OF the
bridge; the 20 New Jersey half a mile further on
at Roachs Spring. The 1Sth and 25th New York,
and the Sd and 4th New Jersey, and one company of
cavalry moved to the the right up the river ana ,aed
Heights The let Michigan, Colo o1el Wilcox, a de-
tachment Of United states cavalry, under Major
Stoneman, and section OF Sherman'S battery
under Lieutenant Ransom, marched by way OF
Long Bridge to Alexandria. The fire zouaves
the same time by water. The whole OF Shermans
battery crossed during the night and Ricketts, bat
tery marched over about noon on the 2tth Thus
quietly was taken the first step into hostile territory
From this the speaker proceeded to give an ac-
Sy the peope Ge Of tSe NortS Which asened the
movements in July which resulted 80 dsastrousy.