The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-20
"THE ARMY OF THE JAMES"
Second TrienniaI Reunion and Ban
quet of Ben Buffers Heroes.
What the Society of the Army Of the James
Thinks Of Hin-Are Military Associations
Menace to the National Veal p
Orations, Poems, Songs and
Music by the Vetera 6.

About two hundred men assembled yesterday
afternoon in Apollo Hall-men OF various ages,
Abilities professions and conditions Of llfe and yet
all were men who were ut time bound by oath
and by honor to single duty that duty the military
service OF the nation in its greatest struggle and its
grandest triumph. They were few or the sur
yivors of the Army OF the James, that glorious
Gordon Of troops that In 1864 and 1866 closed their
lines about the capital Of the confederacy until il
surrendered, and whose first service, they entered
il in triumph was to quench the flames which
the retreatIng enemy had kIndled to destroy ii.
They had met yesterday TO perpetuate the friend
ships OF their warrior days and the memories Of
friendships sundered by the service that had made
them friends, the occasion being the second tren-
NAL reunion OF the Society Of the Army OF the
james. Among the
DISTINGUISHED SOLDIERS
present were Generals O. X. Graham, Charles Dev-
ips, Charles A. Carleton, Israel vogdes Samuel A.
Duncan, James stewart, Jr., e. W. Kinks, W. L.
James and others; also Colonies O. L. Mann, Mac
donald, Lawrence, Mckay and Pell; Majors Kisscl-
burg LOCKWOOD Sawyer, Billiard and other noted
commanders OF the various grades.
About twenty ladies' occupied seats IN the galleries.
and seven or eight officers, among them being
Generals Devins, vogdes ana Duncan and Colonel
John Hay occupied seats on the platform. Colonel
Hay will be recognized by many as the author OF
Little Breeches," and other poems OF a refined
order, after the Bret Hare school, well OF nu-
merou other literary efforts Of higher grade and
remarkable merit. There was no attempt at deco
ration OF the hail. The national co0rs draped the
candeabra on either side OF the stage, and at the
back Of the Platform was suspended device In
coiors embracing a laurel wreath, with the insignia
OF the Tenth. Eighteenth, Twenty-frst and Twenty.
fifth Army corps noticeable feature OF the as.
semuly was the handsome and generally healthy
appearance Of the men, and by far the greater mum
Of them were yet under the prime OF their
Three or four coored men loitered In tinild sort
OF way about the vestibue and listened to the
proceedings through the open doors OF the
hail. as though not quite sure OF their
right to enter. Two al least OF these
black listeners had served in the "coored division"
OF the Army OF the James, and though they did not
fear to charge at Newmarket or Boyan's larm with
that army, they felt an evident embarrassment
about entering Apollo Hail, though they longed TO
do so. Perhaps they felt that they would not be as
warmly received" even by their white ex.comrades
a. they were by their foes along the James River.
General Charles Devins presided. despatch
from President Grant announced that "ofher en-
gagerlcRtsN prevented him nom being present With
these heroes OF historic engagements.
The ADDRESS or wKlCoME
was then delivered by General DEvENs, and in the
course OF his remarSs he sa,d-"t lbs ndheced