Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-18
The Military Reunions at Boston.


with sketch of the first of the grand
series of reunions of the veterans of the
late war, which opened at Boston or
Wednesday last. The report included
the proceedings of Wednesday, at the re.
union of the Grand Army of the Repub.
lie, together with the magnificent ban.
quet given at Faneuil Hall in the even
ing. This was followed on Thursday by
the reunion of the participants in Burn.
sides Expedition, which was in every re.
spect most successful and enjoyable oo.
casion. Then the veteran horsemen gave
most brilliant and enthusiastic recep-
ton to their former leader the gallant
Phil Sheridan who had fastened on his
arrival from Europe to greet his old com.
rades in arms. His words as usual were
few, but eloquent language was not need.
ed to arouse enthusiasm for the dashin9
young hero of the Shenandoah.
On Friday the reunion season culmin-
ated in the interesting exercises of the
Army of the Potomac, which were held
at the Globe Theatre. They included
an eloquent and appropriate Grafton by
Gov. Fairchild of Wisconsin, and a mag
nifcent banquet at the Revere House in
the evening. Among the most interesting
part of the exercises was the reading of
an exquisite poem written by Bret Harte
specially for the occasion. 1t was read
by Mr.. James T. Fields, who introduced
it with thu following lines;
II the poet whose absence today we deplore,
Had struck bnt one note to his countrys dis
grace,
If his Tyre had betrayed you, ye heroes of war,
1 could not, 1rould not stand here in his place.
But his soul was responsive to all that was grand
And his loyal young spirit leaped up in flame,
And he fought with the pen for his dear strus-
Cling land,
AS you, with your swords, sons OF 81 ry and
Fame
And 80 for my friend 1 will take up his song,
And give it voice, though alas not its own;
To him the quaint verse and the genius belong,
To me but the accents of Friendship alone.
This was followed by Bret Hart@'s poem
which ia in his best vein as follows 3:
IHEOLD MAJOR EXPLAINS.
Well, you gee the fact is, Colonel, don't know
as can come.
For the farm is not half planted, and there's
work to do at home;
And my leg is getting troublesome. 1t laid me
| up last Fall,
And the doctors-they have cut and tcke and
never found the ball.
And then-for an oh man liked me-it's not ex-
actly right,
This kind of playing soldier, with no enemy in
sigh.
The Union-that was well enough, way up to
'6G;
But this -Union-may5c now its mixed with
politics.
No Well, you understand it best; but then,
you see, my lad,
I'm Deacon now-and some might think that the
examples bad.
And week from next is Conference. You said the
18th of May
Why that's the day we broke their line at
Spottsylvania
Hot w1rk -eh, Colonel, wasn't it Ye mind
that narrow front
They called it the death apgle." Wei, well
my lad we won't
Fight that old battle over now. 1 only mean to
say
1 really can't engage to come on the 18th OF
May
How's Thompson What willie be there ?
know
The first man in the Rebel works They called
him Swearing joe"
A wild young fellow, sir ; fear the rascal was
but then
Well-short If heaven-there wasn't place he
dursn't lead his men.
And iok, you say, is coming too And Billy
alb, its true
We buried him at Gettysburg mind the spot
Do you!
little field below the hill-it must be green this
May
Perhaps that's why the fields about. bring him te
me to-day.
Well, we'll Excuse me Colonel-but there are
something's that drop
The tail board out of ones feelings and the only
ways to stop.
SO they want to see the old man. All the vas
sals-do they, Ell
Well I've business down in Pos'on about the
18th OF May.