New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-13
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
THIRD ANNUAL REUNION OF THE HEROES
OF VIRGINIA.

sLoCUM AND PLEAsONTON-THE BANQUET.
BOsTON, May 12.-The third annual reunion
Of the Society OF the Army of the Potomac took place az
II a. to-day in the Globe Theater which was dec
grated prousely with all the emblems OF war, the ds
tinctve Of the several branches Of the service
being gracefully blended. The scene was brilliant one
when the heroes OF the Virginia battles, with their in
vited guests, filed in the stage TO the music OF Gil
more's band and the cheers from the auditorium were
deafening Gems Meade, Hooker, Burnside, Sheridan,
Heintzelman Parke Humphreys, PleasontoD, Fitzpatrick
and many others were present, and Gov Clain, Pres
dent Eliot Of Harvard College, Judges OF the Supreme
Court, and other officials present as guests Gen.
Meade presided and opened the exercises by brief and
touching speech stating the object OF the reunion to be
simply social and ngratuatory not political He con-
mended the widows and orphans made by the war 10
those who survived and had prospered. He welcomed
the assemblage cordially and introduced the Rev. Phil
lips Brookes in complimentary manner az the chaplain
Of the OCCASION who addressed the Throne Of Grace.
ADDRESS OF GOV. FAIRcHILD.
Major-Gen. L. NJ. Fairchild. Governor OF Wisconsin,
was introduced the orator. and delivered the follow
ing address,
COMRADES: 90 many recOllectiOns crowd upon me In
this presence-sweeping food from out our common
past-that find it harder than tell you to know
what not to say This meeting calls up so wildly the
whole story the war the political events which led to
IT. the enormty Of the which caused IT. the dan
ger country the appeal to arms and the answer
to that appeal-any Of which suggests so much that
find It difficult TO know where to begin and even more
difficult know where to leave of After some hesita-
ton have decided TO suggest to you to-day, what
have long had in mind that it would be well for our So
cety to have upon it's records full an account as we
gather OF the part the Army OF the Potomac took In
the war; and by way Of illustration, propose, in the
short space allotted to to trace for you, brieny,
sketch Of the first organization Of that army; the
events which led to it. and the circumstances SUI
din1 10 Tho Time who
to the first battle OF Bull Run. II others coming after
me care to up the thread at intervals perhaps, and
1t may be not consecuvey, we shall In the end have
secured complete and more truthful history than
any in existence You will understand better than
any others the difficulties involved In such task how
impossible IL will he to select from these choicest
recoectOns OF lives the details most proper 10 pre-
sent II have taken uote OF matters you would have
passed by in silence 1t is because find sn unailing at
traction In whatever pertains to the war It's every iea
te of interest to The simplest record upon the
gravestOnes Of its dead appeals to nothing else
can. II omit some things you would wish to hear; l
can only plead the shorness OF the time for 90 not In
tend to keep you long. The soldiers of our Union Army
had everywhere many qualities IN common All were we're
and brave ALI possessed with the true spirit
Of patriotism purer hCer S MAS neN S
said of the Army OF the Potomac to-day might with equai
Every army, however has certain distinguishing char
scteristics The nature OF its service the character OF
composed of its earlier efforts the Held OF ats
activity and the strength and y 81 the army ehar S
Ter Of an army lust as the vcssitudes and associations
Of life develop the @ o, p have right to
be proud, for many OF them grew our Oh our Pecur
and came to us through many bitter days. From the
first was especial charge to guard the CITY OF wash
ingon. Every campaign embarrassed by TINS ne
cessy. This kept us constantly near the seat OF gov
eminent made us the special objects OF attention In Sh
civil quarters, and led to perpetua, interference win
the plans OF our commanding generals IL was our Tor or
less battles 10 suffer many unmerited defeats; and
what harder yet to bear, it was ours to know
thatn,t ain nv AM rem
of delays and disasters for which we were III no
way responsible a harsh schooling, lasting through
from which came many sterling qualities; an organlza-
ton which no defeats could destroy; an uh4usstonng
not whether in the fagues OF the march III le danger
81 the e on Ss ol ns avs in e holiness Of
purpose which made it strong to bear unjust criticism
when defeats were almost overwhelming, ana tardy
praise when victory had perched upon Its banners Not
Drawer than the soldiers OF other armies they encoun
greater Obstacles TO test their bravery not more
jealous lovers OF the Union they suffered defeats ana
disasters which would have utterly discouraged and de-
moraIzed men ss determined to win the prize Ior Weh
they fought Aud through all they never Tor one mo-
ment lost confidence that in the end they would be VIC
torious and that those who should survive would one Jay
return to their homes their task accomplished, Their
country reunited and its nag waving undsputed over
the whole of the national domain. . .
On the day OF Mr.. Lncolns Inauguration the situation
briefly this: Seven Southern states had adopted
ordinances of secession, and there we're no persons
within their limits TO represent the powers vi tne fea
era Government or to execute Its laws An oris,
arsenals, custom-houses docks, ana al other pubic
property had been seized by the authority OF the states
whose boundaries ",
session by persons denying the authority OF tne
Government. and owning allegiance only 10 d new uoY,
scoa Of these seven States There among par
ties profound wish that the horrors OF civil war might
with a touching appeal to his dissatisfied feloweoun
trymen." saying we are not enemies Dut W.
must not be enemies. Though passion may nave
strained il must not break bonds Of affection The
mystic chords OF memory, stretching from every battle
field and patriot grave to every living heart ana heart
stone ali over this broad land, will yet swell
the chorus of the, Union when again touched
ha
Of our nature" The President was at IT., last st
by the aek on tI ha appeal to
alone could the country The response when tnis
call oas iSaS or ade to it. Many
we're stunned and Inundated by the simple KnoHiedge
O SaG ere was no hesitation there was faerin
there was doubt In the face oil TINS common uange
West the Language was the Everywhere the press,
with its montOngued voice, called the people 10 ars'
thai next TO service TO our owed sacred duty to
our country On the streets IN AL pubic pihces az ot
homes there was but one expression; In our Closets
describe the profound enthusiasm wnpH r forret
that grand uprising free people Men rushed 10 arms
by OF thousands The quota OF every stood
begging to be received into the service peseeiul
people skilled only IN the arts 81 20 inspire them
with martial spirit, they accepted war NOT atusetSa
by its pomp and NOT month with no
selfsh ambition 10 serve but strred 70 'of httia
denths nv love OF country, they went
for nri1cipe and TO lay down their lives II need Pc
for the cause OF liberty and free government Inc
of the pe0ple beat with one desre-by the graco Vi
A,mirbtv (od AT whatever cost OF blood OF treasure
thus nnhoy treason put down Another mas saia
that the thrilling events Of those days now seem IKE
DRAM 10 ma who survive them. To me, the soiemh
eandenr OF that time Of sorrow, ana Anu ,h e
resolve more like another age anu "Ho''' ' ''"n
Ike q dream. .,,h ,ha 4. ain o. events
NJ The war and closed by saying The events OF when
have spoken were rendered comparatively nnimpor,st
by the magnitude OF Its later operations VI is
W w. ~ "a stru and varying fortunes under