New-York tribune., 1874-10-22
Forty-eight hours OF

Fort Daring which commanded the banks some six or
eight miles above, thus enabling the advance OF the
Union army from the position which they hed at ro'
Harrison. Of which will speak hereafter. =, -,
But at that hour and from that moment all work w
ceased the canal until the return OF peace ann th
Army OF the have rested under an mputafion OF
futile au, useless expenditure OF time and money 70
do useless work. and II speaks highly for the patriot
ism OF many an officer and many private who knew
why appeared, and that 1t was no rant OF tneirs
that they have chosen to TINS hour TO ge e-c
reason why Dutch Gap Canal an apparent failure.
have said that the canal was undertaken to Ine
to river and put themselves in position II nee
be- lombard Fort Daring The door was to De Opener
In order that the dog might get at the wo: ana thls
was done with the full concurrence OF the able accom-
plished and gaa1t commander OF the navy upon tnat
every meaus in his power. But there was change or
commanders on that station when the canal was Ieay
Dutch Gap received a letter from the commanding
officer Of the forces OF the United States stationed
passage through because he would thereby give an
avenue to the enemy to come down through ana aaeR
the fleet OF the United states stationed below H. nen
the door was about to be ened for the dog to kill the
wolf the dog feared that the wolf would eat MN; Ia
obedience to that request OF the navy wnch coud NOT
be made public because the enemy must not be informed
by patriot that the naval forces OF he Uteu
slst the OF the enemy stationed
In James Rive near Ricnm0nd-anu rather .nah uIs
grace should fall on the American navy the Army ol
James chose rest under the inputation that they
unable TO complete this great WORK Tor the use o
the navy, which, however, might nave Deen done ~
three days And so the engineers OF the Army OF the
James saw In silence that their WORK was iress pe
advantage OF it, not without reason as was AFTER
ward shown for few weeks after that letter request
ing to open the canal, the enemys gunDoats e
bodened by the inactivity OF ours came down aouna @
Teuts Reach only three OF theu ana although Que sos
aground, the other two made an attack upon our nay
vessels which fed ingoriousy down the river; and II
the enemy had only known their strength auu inauo AUG
pursuit. they would have cut in two the armies OF tne
United States operating in that vicinity and been aole
to command its OF supplies at CITY Point but ot
unatey they did not know their strength ana tuey le
turned after having shown that our naval vessels AS
then commanded, II able were not competent " coPo
This matter was examined by a naval CONTINENTAL,
at the head OF which was the gallant farraguws1@So @
who fought with him for the saLc' " ther
country than by the gallant men OF the - y oi lne
James, whose memory Is em0aned IN our - drss, auu
who was the fullest incarnation or the spirit the patriot
ism, the gallanry and all that gives dignity 70 tne
American saor-and the naval commander was iounu
guilty OF inetiiciency and cowardce All.
Comrades of the Army Of the james 30 far as TINS
canal concerned we have at least the satisfaction OF
knowing that OF all the laborious works done py our
army during the war. none are now OF any advantage
to mankind IN peace. The rains are washing down tne
embaRkments and undermining the revetments WHICH
our soldiers put up with SO much care ana pans, anu
the magazines built are falling In so tnat an tne
miles OF works that were made IN tue operations vi .no
war of the rebellion upon the surface OF the earth are
useless except Dutch Gap Canal which Is now the main
avenue of commerce TO the city OF RcDmO1u, deWon,
strating feasibility and usefulness in peace as II woud
have done If used by the navy In war; - J.. g.,
Again, the Army OF the James Were called upon 10 Iu
nis1 six thousand five hundred troops for tue move
Wilmington, both III the first and second expe-
dlGions against tho strong works which defended ts
harbor Too much praise caunot be accorded for the
steadness the bravery nay, the enthusiasm shown by
the troops in both expeditions; and how gallany and
brayey they made the assault when they carried the
works under circumstances 80 well CALCULATED W suow
their dsclpline ana steadness when the navy aided
them has BASED nto history and need not be repeated
here Nor are here the time aud place III which any
comments shall be made on the first expedton, enei
III excupatlo iuculpatOn OF ANY Oh either tue inu
naval forces who took part IN that eApedition
s he av we ape Se @ m @ Ss or BY tue
partial pen OF true and just history for 'na' VIC ~
wait. MI,
In the grand movements Of the armies around Rich
mond in April. 1866 corps Of the army Oh tae
was called upon to hold the tIenGnes oSe detonr
along the Weldon road and engaged the troops ot .no
Ana you also an through the lines Of the
enemy and was the first TO capture anu occupy
burg the Twentyffth Corps the nrst 10 capture
and enter Richmond. ,. 49,.
Ihaye now given, my comrades, not succtnct, but
hurried and Imperfect sketch OF the & S v veil
be proudl without detracting anything rom .ae gar
liant operations of other armies Is there any better re
cord shown in the space OF time Oy any otucr
equal number OF men Let me add one thlne turtner,
aud the record is then made up and completed. an
Army OF the James had disaster ana never sur
fered defeat when more than single brigade was Gu
gagged ... a.. ,..,ors r.oord
shall pass into history And when all personal rYaiIy
ceased when all reasons why justice SHOULD no. oe
done to gallant OF the Army or the James nave
faded out and the just OF history has gwen he re
suits Of efforts TOR our countys unity, saety ana
glory who of hear these truths read III AFTER
II may not turn TO those who may DC near US anu say
with just pride 81 too was soldier Oh the Army VI
AT the close Of the war Gen. Washington aud his
brother officers OF the armies OF the Revolution esea
arms the Order OF the Cincinnati" in which only tue
oldest could succeed the father as means Oh
petuang the memory Of the friendships formed IN tne
war; and this Order, too, TO have among It's mem
only the officers Of the army aud their edes. porn
forever But let us, comrades, cherish our Irenusnps
in a wider association OF c0Dradeshp. Let not only
officers but soldiers be members OF our association l
that equality which common service, common peru,
common wounds and common glory give to all men
alike who their country In the hour OF need eacn
and all equal alike the embodiment OF the true prh-
cIpes of republic FOR we know, aud none better tnan
we that In ranks, carrying the musKet guaruius
the picket post delvng in the trenches were sOuers
OF the Army OF the James. equal in bravery equal in
intelligence equal IN culture 10 any wuo wore tne IN
ali who served whatever capacity In the Army OF the
James, and not only their Oldest sons put an tner SOUS
aud their sons sons to the latest generations. per
the other growing stronger aud stronger as TINE goes
on and Gss OF years eears ne nesd Which
always distinguished the soldiers VI the ARMY VI 'no
James.
Applause and music followed the address, and then
Dr. Holland introduced aud recited the anniversary
poem which closed the public exercises.
POEM BY DR. J. G. HOLLAND.
Who in this fair metropolis,
where lire sweeps on in mighty tldes,
Or into pleasant homes subsdee,
Or eddies through hall IKE THIS,
Can feel the pulses OF his heart
ThroD with the Joy OF beng one
Still breathing underneath the Gun,
And Of the waves vital part,
Nor turn with tender thought TO those
Who weary OF the rough highway,
Or smtten in the deadly fray.
Lay down to sleep, aud never rose!
Surely not we who gather here
From tolls aud pleasures round and range,
To breathe, in social interchange,
The garnered memories OF a year
We praise their deeds we bless their nsmes'
Who brayely fought and nobly fell
Aud love aud pride remember well
The vanished Army Of the James