New-York tribune., 1874-10-22
THE ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES.

THE ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES.
The public services of the Third Triennial
Reunion Of the Army of the James, consisted chiefly Of
a speech Of welcome by Gen. Hawey, Grafton by
Gen. Butler, and poem by DR.. Holland. with inter-
ludes Of music by the Governors Island Band. good
sized audience. with many ladies in It, gathered about
p. the Union League Club Theater. Flags and
corps banners spread around the stage where the
officers and speakers sat The President. Gen. Joseph
X. Hawley, presided. Around him sat Gen. b. +. But
Ter. Dr. j. G. Holland, W. g. Hancock, Admiral Rowan,
Gen. Ingalls,, Gen. Charles K. Graham, Gen. Morgan.
Gen. Duncan, Gen. Golf, Gen. Shaw Gen. Alden, Gen.
Terrell Gen. j. B. Kiddoo Gen. Charles A. Carleton.
Gen. Serre, Col. Kilburn Knox, Major W. f. Kissel-
burgh, Major ]. II. Howell Major H. c. Lockwood, Capt.
John l. Davenport, Capt. Thomas Freeoorn aud Chap
lain W. II. Thomas. After by sthe band. Gen.
Hawley opened the meeting with short address Of
welcome to his comrades and their friends.
ADDRESS OF GEN. nAwLEY.
welcome you he said, to this trennal meeting OF
our Association, and take this opportunity TO most
heartily thank for the honor you haye done me IN
giving this position. Nothing in the world Is more
natural than the formation Of associations like this
We together One two three, four years, under
better calculated to cement warm friend
ships than any you Imagine We shared all manner
of trial and danger; the heated OF the Southern
climate, assaults and sieges aud retreats hunger. We,
and cOd auxietes OF the future. and hDay joined
In heartfelt gratitude TO Almighty God for the great
success which crowned our arms. or course warm
opinions and from widely different parts OF the country
Nobody expected to forget them, but TO come to,
those times. We enjoy very much to come
together from our business or politics to tax
soldier" without being reproached. don't thlnk,
however that really brave soldier Is especially oiS
posed to boast OF any part that he took IN the war.
have thought sometimes that had IN many respects
the pleasantest side or the work. dont know Dut
what may have been better 70 Ge Gown .nere IN te
up here, away from the STRIFE hcu with anxey re.
spectiug our work. So don't boast above others
had Than a ID
try but it was great satisfaction ana Is now, as we
we did much or little we did what could. Applause
Very few OF knew much OF the military ART called
from all manner OF peaceful pursuits. could only
in its terrible emergency. lAppiause.l
brief prayer was offered by the iRey. w H. Thomas,
Chaplain OF the 4th New-Hampshire Regiment after
which Gen. Hawley introduced the orator of the day.
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, who was received with con-
siderable applause The first part of his speech was
given in almost listless manner with little feeling but
as he began to follow campaigns Of the Army OF
the James laid aside his notes and the hating hesl-
tating manner and gave the rest with animation and
interest, provoking frequent applause. Ieh' Butter
began address with the opening sentence OF an order
issued by an army commander ten years ago Sodiers
of the Army OF tho James, the time has now come when
some word should be said OF your deeds" Upon this
text he gave very full hstorlcall sketch OF
all the operations Of the Army of the James
from the time of its organization IN April 1864 until the
close OF the war mentioning every step OF ts progress
but without any comments or personalities Inc reasons
for the movements 70 be executed by IT, tbe original
plans and those finally executed, aud summary OF inc
position at its beginning, were briefly recouhted From
this elaborate address extracts In relation 10 those
operations which created most interest," the Dutch zap
Canal and the Wilmington expeditions, are given, TO-
getber with Gan Butler's concluding thoughts:
ADDRESS OF GEN. BUTLER
fErirdey).
now come TO what has always been objected against
the operations Of the Army ofthe James us ""u
futile but which, when the facts are known anu unuer
stood as they really in the light OF history WI" oo
seeu to have been its most successful auo orliisn'
Undertaking carried so were concerned 10
a successful result refer to the cut-on known as
/ mitch Gan Canal II was demonstrated TO the CON
mandne General Of the armies OF the United ana
the Chief Engineer of the armies OF the umted oa'es
that It was impossible for the navy 10 a'u 'ne ay ~
| our operations further up the river tuan ou s" a.
Of the peninsula at Bermuda Hundred because VI 'no
want Of sufficient depth OF water arouhu iieh'
even II the river had not been commahueu w '"o ~
v,s hatteres at Hewlett House and along the Danks'
, -, q, 49,, 500 o,eratious toward Richmond made
nnon the north bank OF river when was tue Gns
| movement against the enemy s'"p''"' "A'
oo ariSen from their position the enemys
above Trenrs Reach would give ne as our Sunboas be-
aliVe t o ,vs 20 as II was assumed by the command
ing General Of the army that sS inere saes ney were
70 float the gunboats OF thg o., cnemys gunboats aud
dTVe them above Darling ana s rye ns s
the river free for our bend and return
while tas @s the
m ,h heei from wafer water was only w ieet NJ ~
afsr fS 90 ss, WIDE, Ss
the engineers Of the 70 through this bank so
70 permG our vessels to up OK such
We 20 tSs ~ork that While IL was going on they tnre v
into the the shape OF sns IHy taHsn with
erv IftIn resut the cutting was prosecuIea on tao
south side until the earth was all thrown Out oua s
Ctnd,ns Inward wedge shaped, so 40 10 anord pro
lection to the workmsn from the direct nfe ot sns roe
,s % cwder nut as feet deep at s base Tor the pur
"ss of tbrovng out this last obsruction all OF whleh
wss successfully sooompsnsc. s c on anensd and three