The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-13
MASSACHUSETTS,,
THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE PC

VI
BosToN, May 1.-THE Society of the Army
of the Potomac held business meeting this
afternoon, and elected Gen. Hooker President
In accepting his new position, Gen. Hooker
thanked the Society for the honor conferred,
saying he should feel it his duty to act for the
interest of every soldier who bore arms in the
war. ABOVE all he expressed the desire that
the Society should keep out of politics, what
ever other Associations might decide to d.
The Society voted to hold its next annual
meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, the first Tuesday
of May, 1872.
THE BANQUET OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
The banquet at the Revere House was at
tended by about $50 members of the Society,
and the Committee were severely taxed in the
arrangements for seating guests, the provision
for the press in that regard being conspicuous
ly Inadequate. The provision for the physical
appetites of the company was of the first Or
der, and mnch to the credit of the house.
Nearly all the generals attending the army an
niversaries were present, and as they appeared
in the hall were severally greeted with ap-
plause. Gen. Meade presided.
Collector Russell responded to the toast to
the President in his usual happy vein.
'The army" found representative in Gen.
Mcdowell, who was pleased to take part in
the amateur performance. He characterized
men as the primitive condition of man who at
the best was the animal among animals. The
sword he said was but the supporter of the
pen, and LincOlns famous proclamation would
have come to naught but for the combatative-
ness of the soldier.
No nation was assured of liberty without
standing army, but the intellect and moral
standard of the people should be cultivated TO
recruit it in time of danger. He claimed that
the late war had given the regular army its
start only toward perfection. Before the war
it was but armed body of people who took
their military ideas from the antiquated Eng
lish military manual and laws. IL should at
least be tolerated as a necessary evil. As Con-
gress, the courts and other departments under
| the Constitution were, it would certainly
never prove disadvantage, and West Point
did more to save the country than to harm it.
Massachusetts was well represented by 1t
Gov Tucker, who was received with cheers as
| q comrade. He said that the State sent her
best men and bravest to fight her battles and
felt hOnored in her selection as their gathering
| place for sociable1purposes, now that the peace
OF the country was tor the present settled. He
welcomed the soldiers from the Union States
and paid heartfelt tribute to the late Cover
nor Andrew.
Commodore Steedman. who responded to the
| toast in paternal and pleasing speech.
Col. Church of the Army and Navy Union
Journal attempted to read a letter from Admi
raj Porter, also in response to the sentiment
| but the confusion was SO great when it was an.
nOunced that he was obliged to desist.
| The Volunteers of the Army and Navy
found an able exponent in Gen. Woodiord O
N. Y, who spoke with especial reference to
the 18th corps, which compensated for its first
failure at Charlottesville by its biillian,
| achievements on the first and second DAYS al
Gettysburg, as the Goth corps at Chattanooga
| and with Hooker in the Clouds He compl
mented the people on their enthusiasm anc
non party spirit at the beginning of the war
| and paid touching tribute to the gallant Gen
Kearney, as to Gems. Hooker, Logan and
Sickles, and Cows. Curtin, Morton and An
| drew.
sour dead heroes" found an eXemplar and
| eulogst in Gen. Devens, who expressed diff
denee in paying a just tribute to their manly
sense of duty and splendid courage. The ut.
terance of his sentiments he said was hinder
ed by thoughts of friends who had fallen in the
strife, not only among the great chieftains bu
in the ranks. Their proudest epitaph wouli
b. 1.-THE Union soldier who died for the repub
lic.''
Mayor CASTOR next responded for the city o
Boston who, true to her Union instincts en-
dowed all who met within its limits. Patriotic
devotion to the Union would continue to bt
her motto. THE day We celebrate"-the an
niversary of the breskn of the rebel line a
SpOttsylvanIa, was assumed by Gen. Webb
wha fell there among men seeking to do theil
duty. Incidents OF the day were happily re
called in his brief remarks.
Gen. Gordon spoke for "the Rank and File
who joyously bore all their grievous burdens
through the war and returned to the duties O
civil life without complaining OF their disas
tiers, but rejoicing at their final victory
The health of the Grand Army of the Re
public was drank aud Gen. Logan responded
The festivities were prolonged till midnight.
SIXTH ARMY CORPS.
The Sixth Army Corps at the annual meet
ing to-day, elected the following officers: Mai
Gen. Fl. B. Wright, President; Vice Presidents
Gen: John Newton. 1st Divisions; Gen. Thos
III. Neill, I'd Division; Geh. Shaler 1st Divis
ion; Corresponding, Secretary, Col. David J
Milne; Recording Secretary, Gen. J. E. Jack