The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-20
Reunion Of the Army Of tho James.

lue IeuulOu VI Inc ARMY OF tle james
took place at Apollo Hall, to-day. Thl
representation Of the various corps, tn
10Th, 18th, Gath and 25th, which compos
ed the Army Of the James, was yer,
large, among them Chaplain Thomas
Generals Carleton, Graham, Devins, Stew
art, OF New Jersey, Hincks, Duncan ami
Sorrell; Major Lockwood, Capt. Howell
Gen. Vogdes, Maj. Kisselburg and Gen
Alden, Of Troy; Majors Sawyer, Pell, Nc
Donald, Mickey, Davenport Lawrence
and Bullard. Tho following dispatch wa
received by Capt. John u. Howell, frou
General Horace Porter:
u regret that neither tho President mol
|, will be able to attend the meeting o
the Army Of the James, on account o.
other engagements.
Signedl HoRAGR PORTER"
The business Of the reunion was beguI
by an address Of welcome by Genera
Devins. In 1t he referred to the distin
gulshed services ottho Army ofthe James
In crushing the rebellion Chaplain
Thomas, delivered a prayer for the peace
and welfare OF tho whole county. In the
absence OF General Terry, Major General
Dunear delivered On Grafton, which con.
sisted Of review Of the record OF the
Army Of tho James. The following poem
was composed and read by John Hay
THE ADVANCE nUARn. |.I
In tho dream Of tho northern poets, tho brave
who In battle dlO
Fight on, in Shadowy phAlAnS, IN tho aeld the
upper sky;
And as wO read tho sounding rhyme, the rOyGreht
fancy hears
The ghostIy ring Of the yIcwless swords and the
clash of the spectral speRrs.
We think with imperlOus questioning of the
brothers that We lost,
And strive 10 track In deaths mystery tho llght
Of each valiant ghost.
The northern myth comes back IN us and We feel
through our sorrows night
Tint those young souls arc striving Sill some.
where for truth and light
II was not their limit for rest aud sleep; their
hearts beat high and strong;
In their resh veins tho blood OF JOnth was ring.
Ing Its hot sweet song.
Tho open lheaven bent over them; mid flowers
their 1.-The feet trod;
ThOlr lives lay vivid In light and blest by tho
smiles OF women and God,
Az they come again hear tho tread Of that
gOOdly band.
know the flash Of Ellsworth'a eye and the grasp
OF his hard warm hand
And Putnam and Shaw OF the lion heart and an
eye like . Boston girl; ,.......
And see tho light Of the heaven which shonc on
Uric Dahlgrcn'B CurlS.
There Is no power In tho gloom of hell to QuCnch
those spirits hre;
There 10 no charm in tho bllss of heaven TO bid
:. them not aspire;
But somewhere In the eternal plan that strength
that life survives,
And like the iles on Lookout crest, above deaths
clouds they strive.
A chosen corps they arc marching on, in wider
field than ours;
Those bright bAttalions still fulfil the scheme Of
heavenly powers,
echoes Of that far fight,
Like flash Of distant pickGts gun through shades
OF the sevorlng night.
No fear for them; in our lower field let us toll
with arms unstAinod,
That at last We be worthy 10 stand with them, on
-, tho shining heights they've gained.
We shall meet and greet In closing ranks, in
Times declining sun,
When the, bnglcs Of God snail sound recall and
tho battle OF life b6 won.
The Army Of the James to-day elected
the following officers; President, Brevet
Major General Joseph r. Hawlcy, Of
Connecticut Vice Presidents, Brcvet
Maj. Gen. Chas. X. Graham, Of New
York, Brevet Maj. Gen. Adelbert Ames,
of Miss, Brevet Brig. General o. z. Mann,
of Ills, and Brevet Maj. Gen. Z. Kessel.
berg Recording Secretary, Maj. John
II. Howell; Treasurer, Brevet Brig. Gen.
Charles.A A. Carlton, Of N. Y; Chaplain,
Rev. VIM. H. Taylor; Orator Of the next
meeting, Brevet Gen., Thomas o. o..
borne, Of Illinois.
A banquet for the society OF the Army
Of the James was held at the st. james
Hotel this evening. About 200 members
attended. Gen. Chas. X. Graham pre-.
sided Among the prominent gentlemen
at tho head Of the table were Rev. VIM
II. Taylor, Gems. Chas. Devens, Jr, G.
A. Gilmore, Samuel A. Duncan, Geo. A.
Custer, Geo. A. Sharpe, Henry Z. Davis
and E. W. Hincks and Col. .Johff Hay.
Letters apologizing for absence, were read
from Gems. Mcdowell, Hawley and But.
Ter. Toasts were responded to by Gen.
Sharpe for the President by Gen. Vodges
for the regular army, James Shaw for the
colOred troops, Major John II. Howell for
the press, and General Devens for the
citizen soldier. Governor Hoffman was
10 reply TO the toast 10 the State of New
York, but was unable to be present, and
sent letter OF apology, as did also Mayor
Hall. -. .g ''...r.
During the evening q song composed
for the occasion by Mortimer Thompson,
was sung with much enthusiasm. The
festivities, which were Of most cordial
and lively character, concluded at q late
hour.