The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-20
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
REUNION AT SPRINGFIELD.

REUNION AT SPRINGFIELD.
RECEPTION OF THE NOTWITHSTANDING
TIoNs OF THE OPERA HoUsE-GEN. SHEER
MANS SPEECH.
The telegraph has already furnished an
account of the reunion of the Army of the
Tennessee, but the following details from
the Chicago Times will prove of interest
1t is not the fault of the local committee
that most of the distinguished guests of the
society of the Army of the Tennessee arrived
in the city and got to their hotels without
the Intervention of any reception COM
mittees. Gen. Sherman was the first to
set the example in this direction He
was to have arrived at $50 last evening, but
took later train, and got here at midnight.
Thus, while the reception committee was
looking for him through the train, he slip
ped quietly of the platform, got into a car
riage, and was comfortably seated at the
Leland before the committee could dc eide
whether he had arrived or not. The COM
mittee, however, captured the balance of
the party that came with Sherman, and
escorted them to the same hotel. Presi-
dent Grant slipped quietly into town by
a special train from the west, and
Vice President Wilson also escaped the
committee by an effort of strategy not fully
understood, and enjoys the hospitality of
the Hon. S. NJ. Cullen. Schuyler Colfax and
Robert Lincoln, who are to be the guests of
the Hon. G. M. Smith, viii arrive to NOR
row morning. Many distinguished officers
are here, but space forbids an attempt to
give the full text of names. Without this,
it may be understood that the city is full
of veterans of the late war, and that
they are received by the good people of
Springfield with the utmost hospitality. In
holiday garb. In honor of the occasion, the
city blooned out this morning in perfect
blaze of decorations, flag, banners, boquets,
etc. Six fine triumphal arches have been
erected on the principal streets, and these
are decorated with laurel and evergreens,
adorned with the names of Grant, Lincoln,
and Sherman, and enriched with inscrip
tions. The 'army" in session. At about 10
o'clock in the morning, the society of the
Army of the Tennessee was
ASSEMBLED AT THE OPERA HOUSE,
when the chairman of the local committee,
Gen. John A. McClernand, escorted the
president and Gen. Sherman from the Lee
| land to the opera house. The Arsenal band
| furnished music, and the Sterling City
guards were the military escort. The build
| ing was quickly filed with the members of
/ the society and spectators. The hall was
most tasteiully and deliberately decked with
| flags from the adjutant generals Office here
| On the stage was life sized portrait of Gen.
Geo. H. Thomas, by Miss Caroline M. Ran
som, of Cleveland. 1t is enclosed in hand
| some and massive gill frame, on the bottom
OF which is inscribed, in gilt letters, "Gen.
George III. Thomas" and under this his SOU
| briquet, "Rock of Chickamauga." The SUBJ
| ject is represented at his headquarters at the
Snodgrass House. on the field of Chicka-
manga. A little to the rear is his war-horse.
| Then we have the landscape of Lookout
| Mountain, Mission Ridge, Rossville Gap
and the hills beyond which he finally re-
tired with his army on Sunday night.
\ The work is pronounced very faithful
one by those best qualified to judge.
1t was on exhibition at the late reunion OF
the Army of the Cumberland, at Columbus,
| and was endorsed by resolutions of the So
ciety, who there decided to ask Congress to
purchase it for the national capitol. On the
front part of the stage, on either side, were
placed portraits of Sherman, Mcpherson,
Sheridan and Rawlins, from the national
gallery at Washington. The original battle
| flag of the 21st Illinois, Grants first regi-
men, is suspended from the front OF
!, hestage. A little in front, and on each side
names of the battles in which the army par
ticipated, commencing with Belmont and
ending with Raleigh. Ranged around the
| front of the gallery, and surrounded with
evergreens, are the names of the gallant
officers: Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Nc
Howard, Belknap, Pope, Wilson, Dodge,
Croker, Fuller, Mower, Osterhaus, Hazen,
Smith, Gresham, Force, Hurlbut, Fairchild
Ransom, Corse, Blair, Walcutt and Leggett.
Above the stage, the word Welcome"
formed out of innumerable gas jets,
whole, is in very good taste.
During the morning exercises
| GENERAL SHERMAN
made little speech as follows: 1t inspires
me to see the interest you take in the an
nual reunion of this society, and il graf
ifes me to know that this feeling is not
confined to this society only, but exists in
the armies of the Cumberland and of the
James. Army and navy all alike meet to-
/ gether in friendship and cordiality, and all
take great interest in each other. Our FORE
fathers laid their hands heavily on titles
and ranks, and rightfully abolished them;
but Washington instituted the "Order of
the Cincinnati" whichsociety exists to this
day, having been handed down from father
to son, as it is now proposed the
rights and privileges of this society
shall be. approve the proposition which
has been made to that effect. 1t would be
right that our children should meet together,
fifty years from now, with as much pride in
the fact that they are descended from mem =
bers of the Army of the Tennessee, as we feel
of being members of that army. AS the
years roll on, they grow shorter and shorter,
and in a short time now we shall all be gone.
We do well to perpetuate the memory of the
war. To do so is duty we owe the coun-
try. You, gentlemen, in the prime of life,
may remember that in 1861 we did not ex-
pect war, nor do we expect it now. There is
no cause for war, but there are devils run
ming loose in Illinois as well as in Austria.
Therefore there may be war, though we do
not expect l.. The military spirit developed
by the late war is god send to the people,
and you are charged by God Almighty to
q
occasion requires. if we are again involved
in war, to call upon the people to rise and
strike for their country. AS a society, it is
our duty to preserve the military spirit
among The people; for no one can tell how
soon 1t may be OF use, or how useful 1t may
become 7 see in the hall a good wise and