Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-17


States having directed an increase of the reg
ular army of the United States" With no
power vested in him by law, and with no au-
thority under the Constitution to take these
steps, the President had risen to the occasion,
and had authorized the increase of the regu-
lar army, and had called upon the governors
: of the loyal States for a volunteer force.
Save that they spoke the great wish of the
people, and were authorized by the source Of
all governmental power in this country, these
acts were simply revolution. But the emer-
gency was great, the motive pure and the
need vital. All justified the President, even
the most conservative were sincerely if silent
ly grateful for these measures. 1t is not,
however, to discuss any question Of constitu-
tional law involved that have called atten-
: ton to these orders. 1t is because they pre-
sent the plan of company, regimental, brigade
and division organization, which was then
adopted by the War Department, and after
wards substantially adhered to throughout. the
war. They mark the birth, so to speak, of
the Grand Army of the Potomac. Its small
beginnings were soon afterwards organized
under these orders.
Among those high in power there were
some who still hoped that the State of Vir-
ginia would not join in the rebellion, and by
| them it was insisted that there should be no
armed occupation of her soil until after the
election, to be held late in May, when the
people were to vote upon the ordinance Of
secession already submitted to them by their
State convention. To this party General
Scott gave the countenance of his support,
adding weight to his opinion on this point by
the sche ne of campaign which he advocated
as best adapted to the suppression of the re-
bellion. This was to leave in the East only
troops enough to guard the capital from cap
ture and the northern States from an invasion,
considered barely possible, and to concentrate
the whole available force of the North at Cal
70, and send them in overwhelming numbers
down the Mississippi River. To this plan he
chung tenaciously. When, late in May, the
rebels were threatening to plant hostile bat
teries upon the heights of Arlington, and were
Haunting their flag at Alexandria, within
plain view from the White House, he con-
scented to the occupation of the south bank of
the Potomac, at these and intervening points.
purely as defensive measure. 1t was not
until the capital of the Confederate States had
been removed to Richmond, and the South
| erners themselves, by word and act, an
nounced that Virginia was to be the battle
ground of the war, that he would consent to
such an advance to the south of Washington
as could lead to a collision. This, doubtless,
had much to do with the delays in making
brigade and division organizations, and in
supplying trains to the force south of the Po
| tomac, while difference to the public distaste
for parades of all sorts prevented reviews
which would have been of great service in
perfectng organizations and in disciplining
troops. When that consent was once given,
however, we all know how earnestly he gave
the movement his support Perhaps the
sounder military measure advocated was that
proposed by General Mcdowell, to occupy at
once Manassas junction and one or two STRAIT
w tn ha nd IN holH
with the three month militia. while the volun-
teer force, then raising at the North, should
perfect its organization, and then to make an
offensive campaign with an army sufficiently
strong to insure success. The plan in circles
not military was simply 10 aacance and crush
ont the rebellion And to this plan some of
the leading members of the cabinet were com
mtted, influenced no doubt by the popular
demand for the movement, and perhaps still
more by the financial need of the country,
which seemed to make it necessary to put to
some active use the three-months men then in
| the field.
He then gave sketch Of the organization
of the troops, and spoke briefly of the trials
and achievements of the Army of the Poto-
mac. His Grafton closed as follows:
| 1t is not in vain, comrades, that we recount
the story of the war. 1t cannot be repeated
100 O1teH NOT uWeit upon 100 long. we OF
this generation must treasure up its simplest
incidents and give them lasting record, not to
glorify ourselves. but that our children may
know by how much of sacrifice and suffering
at home, and, alas, at what expense of price
less blood in the field, their liberties have
been preserved to them, to the end that the
devotion to country, which has inspired and
exalted the men and women of day may
become an exhaustless well-spring of patriot
ism.
Nor is it without benefit to ourselves that
we meet together as society at these annual
reunions; not as proud victors to boast "our
battle won; not to exalt ourselves, still less
to exult over brave but fallen foe our meet
ings serve a nobler end. Mingling with one
another, clasping the hands of comrades en-
deared by many common dangers; looking
into the familiar faces of our beloved chiefs,
we find renewed within ourselves in these
quiet days that fervent love of country which
swelled our hearts when dangers were upon
us. The waning fire is rekindled. Here, be-
fore one another, in the presence of these
living witnesses, and in the presence of our
noble dead, we renew our vows of fidelity to
our country. We go hence baptised anew
into her service; as jealous now in this
| blessed time of peace to guard the honor of
her flag as we were to uphold it amid the
gloom Of war.
GENERAL NEWS.