Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-19
The Army OF the Tennessee.

THE Society of the Army of the Ten
nessee celebrated the Fourth at Madison,
Wisconsin. The spacious grounds of the
State Capitol were so arranged as to
present the appearance of an encamp-
ment. Zouaves in full uniform paraded
the grounds, and minute guns were fired
throughout the day.
The ceremonies were inaugurated with
procession, in which the Society of the
Army of the Tennessee participated, also
the Governor and staff and the State
Judiciary. Proceeding to the grounds of
the Capitol, which were thoroughly jam.
med, the Declaration of independence was
rehearsed, a I'd an eloquent Grafton was
delivered by Gen. S. A. Hurlbut, of Hi.
nois.
After the specified exercises had been
completed, cries for Gems. Belknap,
Sheridan, Pope and Governor Noyes, of
Ohio, were heard. In response to these
demands, short addresses were made by
the gentlemen.
In the afternoon the final meeting of
the society was held in the Assembly
Chambers. The committee on the next
place of meeting fixed upon Toledo, Ohio,
and the date Oct. IS and 10, 1878, Secre-
tary Belknap, as chairman of the com
mttee to select an orator for the next
meeting, reported the name of Gen. John
n. Logan. Gen. W. Il. Sherman was re-
elected President, and Col Dayton Re.
cording Secretary, Gen. Hicklenlooper
Corresponding Secretary, and Gen. Force
| Treasurer.
A banquet at the Park Hotel closed the
business of the day. The following is
the speech of General Belknap, In
response to the toast: "The Army of the
United States:'
Gentlemen of the Society of the Army of the
Tennessee
1t is a felicitous day for this glad meeting
of old army friends. 1t is a significant occa-
sion, upon which to respond to the senti-
ment expressed: The Army of the United
States? The day which celebrates the sign
ing of the declaration of free thought and
action, made by the heroes of Continental
times, opens in memory the record of the
deeds of the fathers of the land. 1t reminds
us of the exalted self-denial which marked
the conduct and shaped the career of that
noble army of martyrs" from which the
regiments of the revolution came. The oc-
| casion calls together men who-companions
in war and in the dangers of field duty and
| OF active campaigns, separating in peace,
| and following here and there the diligent
occupations of busy life--leave the labors of
the day and rally here, to give their hands
| to messmates with that hearty greeting
which only soldiers know, and in imagina-
tion soldiers STILL to hail old friends, to fight
old battles, to live again the life that made
them brothers, and to say kind words of
| comrades who have gone to the eternal
camp. Welcome be the meeting to us who
once were of the Army of the United States;
for the stars on the flag seem brighter, and
the blue seems deeper, and the stripes more
! crimson, as its folds wave tO-day-not oveI
| battle-felds and marching divisions and
cleaning guns and batteries built for war
but over brothers gathered in peaceful com.
munion and bound by ties which only sol
diers knOw-the bonds of mutual happiness
now made stronger by the recollection OF
dangers suffered in the past, and of triumphs
won when we were soldiers together in the
Army of the Tennessee.
The Army of the United States needs nc
eulogy from me or any man. The fields or
which it has fought, in the mention of theil
names. command responsive tribute to its
gallantry from every heart. Like the deed:
of your first Commander, now its Command
erin Chief, its achievements tell, in silence
its own glorious history. And were its acts
to be recOunted, you would hear, mufiied
and subdued only by time, but still distinct
and clear, the thunders of the guns of Lun
dy's Lane and of Niagara, of CherubuscC
and Chepultepec, and of all those battles o
the rebellion where, side by side with the
citizen soldiery of the land, 1t fought for the
right and did its part for the safety of tho
nation. Many of us are old enough to re
member the depressing influence of thai
cloud of gloom and uncertainty which hung
over the country early in the Mexican war
when in the expectation that there woulC
soon be collision near the Rio Grande, be
tween the opposing forces, there was undis
guised doubt as to the result. Tho
American army was small UNEQUAL in mum
bers to the foe, and untrled in action
From the halls of Congress and from the
meetings of the people had come open eX
pressions of apprehensions. News came bu
slowly. Enterprise had not then, as now
laid roads of iron on which the steamnG
messengers could move in their swift
course from the borders of the land
and there were few wires on whicl
the lightnings could flash their instantaneous
story. But, though the people doubted
there was no faltering hesitation in that liz
tie band, whose valor and discipline, anC
readiness for conflict, were equal to the peri
which was around them. Soon the glad It'd
ings of battles fought and bravely woI
aroused the nation-the victories of Pal'
Alto and Resaca, where Duncan Tough
and Ringgold gave spirit to the depressed
were full denial of those undefneC
charges of faithlessness and incompe
tency upon which the changes had so lonl
been rung. "If the enemy oppose IN,
march, in whatever force, shall fight him,
were the defiant words of their rough ant
ready leader, and this army placed anothe
All honor, then, to the Army of the United
States-regular and volunteer-for whel
danger threatens and the country calls, tn
young men will gather at the drums earlies
beating, and unite like patriots in the com
mon cause.
Comrades of the Army of the Tennessee
what day could be designated for our meet
ing which would recall more vivdly than thi
the memories of our martial life? On TN
4th OF July, 1862, in the second year of tn
rebellion, our flag was flying and givnl
grateful comfort tC 'oval men in every Stat
of the Union. Nine years ago to-day, a
the cheers were taken up by regiment afte
regiment and rolled along the lines, the'
told MS that the stronghold of the Soutl
was ours. Time speeds along so rapid,
that we can scarcely believe that so man,
! days are between us and that happy hour
when the shouts of those thousands pro
claimed our victory achieved. And though
our banners are bright tonight, none in al
their glory can ever be dearer to us thar
those torn and tattered flags, soied and worl
in march and action, which waved over tn,
captured works at Vicksburg.
Those days of war are gone. The countr,
grows beyond our highest hope. Grea
roads of iron reach out and tie the State
together in eternal union. The links ar
stronger as the chain extends. In the as
surance of lasting peace we gather in thes
meetings with our faith in the endurance O
the nations life made firmer as the year
roll on.
The following telegram, from the Pres
, dent of the United States, was receive
by the Mayor of Madison on the evening
of July A:
LONG BRANCH.
Mayor and Common Council, Madison, Wis:
regret the impossibllity OF my being at tn
} army reunion to day and also that no response h0
been received from me to your kind invitation
accept the hOspitaities Of the city. l certainl
wrote reply, but in the press Of business at IN
latter end of the session Of Congress IL may ne
have been put In the mail Please accept my n
grets and good wishes for all who have been nor
inrinnnla IhAn mYsef In heing ahle 10 alLend th