New-York tribune., 1872-05-08
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
FOURTH ANNUAL REUNION.


ADDRESS BY GEN. STEWART L. wooDFoRD-
POEM BY EDMUND B. srEDMAN.
CLEVELAND, Ohio May THE fourth annual
reunion Of the Army Of the Potomac began IN this
city to-day. The weather being fine the attendance
was large ncludn evera prominent generals RI lags
displayed from the public and many private
buildings in honor of the occasion. At lOt O'Clock
a. m the members of the Society formed in column,
with Gems. Hooker, Burnside, Meade and others in
carriages and, headed by band, marched TO Cass
Hail. where Gen. Hooker, President Of the Society,"
occupied the chair. After prayer by Chaplain Wm
Ernshaw the veterans were welcomed by Mayor Pelton
on behalf OF the citizens Of Clevellnd.
Gen. stewart L. woodford delivered the address. he
reeted the dongs Army Of the Potomac from the
battle Of Bull Run to the surrender at Appomattox
Courthouse Sunday April TO- concluding az follows
This hour is no for politics Mine not the lips,
trust them here. But when think OF that
heroic past which your faces and presence vividy
recall and then how trading trckster politicians forget
u Of what baptism OF blood seald the new Dr OF tne
nation seek to array In needless hostility 10 excite
ignorance OF the and the brutal prejudice OF the
other, would like to summon gnart, halt from the
rebel Army OF Northern Virginia and half from the loyal
Army Of the Potomac, take such malcontents OUT give
them drumhead cOurt-martial, immediate execution
and soldery burial under the appetree at Appomattox
Let have peace No stealing by carpet ggers. NO
midnight murders by eowardly KuKlux. But camp
followers and cutters TO the rear and true men to the
That Sabbath day in beautiful fidelity the Christian
brotherhood, which Is stronger than section, hoer than
creed soldiers took from their tattered
the ratons left from your last three days supply
and shared them with your beaten and hungry
foe. Fitting end to strife between brOthers
That Sabbath evening the bells rang out in JuDnee,
from cathedral chimes and In village spre, the hight
nIng whispered from city TO city and hamlet 10 hamlet
the glad dings OF victory and peace The nation fell on
bened knees reyerenty thanked the God OF Battles
and OF Love- Widowed hearts sadly proud even in
their agony OF desoatiOn d men and women ceased
% mourn their loved san and regerenty thanked
God that they had been permitted TO give their first
born freewi Offering upon the altar Of country and
hoerty And loving wOmanhOOd, and prattllnR child
hood and age with its silver of honor waiting
heaven slept peacefully and well that Sabbath night,
and dreamed Of the brave boys-cOnIlng home.
Around us press these thronSing memories. To-day
and all this fade Back that past Into
these ases and by sides sa0Owy forms gather
ing Tue eomrade who wasted in the hospital; he who
fell by the wayslde; he who was with you as you
went over the rifiepit and all here-the living and
the dead We take the Old touch Of elbow and are one
IN the bonds OF eternal union BY the meuo-
RES tender byOnd all utterance, by the brave ones
ne by the defeats patiently borne, by the victories
80 Justly won and mercIfuy usedwe plead with thee,
thou God fathers to keep the Land thus saved And
NAV the peace which fell that sabbath morn 50 tender
on land and flag, long remain unDroken
Gen Phil sheridan arrived during the address, and
his entrance the signal for general outburst Of
welcome The grafton being ended Gen. Hooker INTRO
dueed Edmund B. stedman who recited the following
poem written for the occasion: