New-York tribune., 1877-09-03
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
THE PRESIDENTS VISIT TO MARIETTA.

FIRST FORMAL REUNION or FEDfRAL AND CONFED-
ERAI soLDIER5-sOUTHERN GENERALS WHO WILL
BIZ THERE-THE IowS OF MARIETTA.
lFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSgl
WAsmNGToS, Sept. 2.-The President and several
members of his Cabinet will, by their visit to Mari
etta Ohio, this week, assist to make the first for
nal reunion Of Federal and Confederate soldiers a
success, and will show the approval Of the Admins
traton of that measure of actual reconciliation
which brings together in a common celebration tho
veterans Of both armies. The annual encamp-
ment OF Soldiers and Sailors instituted at Cald-
well, Ohio four years ago, 10y private and noncom-
mssiOned officers of Ohio regiments who desired 70
preserve the memories and associations Of the war,
but who were unable to participate in the yearly
festivities of the great army societies. Its previous
meetings have been held at Caldwell, and although
they have been participated in chiefly b. Ohio SOL
diers,I the invitation has always been extended to
veterans from other States and the organization
has been from the first National in its character.
While the management of the society il mainly in
the hands of priyates the encampment has each
year been honored by the presence of some Of the
most distinguished officers of the Union Army, who
have always been received with marked honors.
This year the invitation has been extended to all
who participated in the late either side, and
letters were addressed TO all the more prominent
Confederate az well ~ Union Generals living,
requesting them especially to be the guests of the
encampment daring the reunion. Many Of the invi-
tatiOns have been accepted and many letters have
been written by those who will be unable 10 at
tend The letters from Southern Generals are, with
out exception, Of the most cordial character. Many
of the writer's take occasion to express the pleasure
they anticipate in meeting President Hayes, and
their qualification at the liberal and national spirit
which he has shown in the administration OF tho
! Government. Besides the Union officers who are ex-
pected to visit Marietta during the encampnent,
Confederate Gen. Hood will certainly be there, JOS.
T.. Johnston probably, and Gems Cockreli, Bradley
| T. johnson, Leslie Coombs and Col Menngerode Of
Ftzhugh Lees staff, have either accepted the iny-
taton or sent letters. Many officers Of less prom-
nence and priyates from Kentucky, Tennessee and
the NirgnIa3 also expected.
Marietta is one of the most dstinctvely Yankee
cities in the entire West. Ii was settled in 1877
by officers of the Revolutionary Army, chiefly from
Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and Connecticut
| These men, unable TO obtain the money for their
! bounty certificates. purchased land with them IN
! Washington County, Ohio, and many OF them re-
moved thither with their families. The site Of tho
town was chosen by the advice Of Gen. Washing
ton, who was familiar with that section OF tho
country, and the colony was established at tho
mouth of the Muslinsum River, aa it was believed
that this would be on the direct line Of communica-
ton between the East aud the West. Gen Washing
]
ton said that ne was personally acquainted with al-
| most every resident of Marietta, and that if
character, ability and energy would ensure the sue
cess of Il colony, this certainly oughtto flourish Ma
Iietta was the first distinctiyely American settle
ment in the West, and its people have always
preserved many Of the characteristics Of their an
| ccstors.
The city was named in honor Of Marie Antoinettc.
! Many Of the colonsls who had been Revolutionary
d ID
recognition of the infant Republic by the French
Government was due 70 the direct iuterposition OK
! the beautiful French Queen. She. greatly pleased
with the kind remembrance Of the Americans, caused
a bell to be cast in France, bearing an appropriate
inscription and TO be sent to the town. Unfor-
tunatey it was lost by the wreck OF the vessel on
which it was shipped. Washington County and
Marietta were for time the seat of government for
the whole Of the Northwest that was then under
civil jurisdiction, and the people Of this ofishoot
from New-England have left their mark upon tho
entire Northwest as il now is. When the state OK
Ohio was organized, the people Of Marietta desired
to establish the Yankee townshp-system, with lib
era provisions for free schools while the Nrginlans,
who had settled on the reserve Of their state and
had made tho town OF Chillicothe their capital in
sisted upon assimatng the civil institutions OF the
new State TO those of the South. The New-Eng-
lauders prevailed after hard struggle, and they
not only moulded the State of Ohio By the Yankee
model but established an example that has been
copied by every State since organized in the West.
From such a stock as was planted in Marietta it IL
not surprising that people have sprung who have
made their mark not only at home, but in other
States TO which they have emgrated. Lewis Cass
went from there to be Governor Of the new Terri
tory Of Michigan and the Secretary Of the Territory
who ACCOMPANIED him. William Woodbridge, after
ward Governor of aud United States Senator from
Michigan was also q resident Of Marietta. brother
of Gov Woodbridge was Bennerhasset's partner,
and ignoranty purchased tn corn which Aaron
Burr sent 10 the Southwest. Return J. Neigs, some-
time Governor Of Ohio and very prominent man
in the West early in the present century settled in
Marietta.
During the late a recruiting camp was estab-
Ished az Marietta commanded by Col VIM. p.
Putnam a grandson of Col. Rufus Putnam OF the
Revolutionary Army aud granddaughter of Gen.
Israel Putnam. From their camp We're sent ono
nearly all the Ohio soldiers who served IN Virginia
The people Of Marietta being intelligent, and many
of them educated, their city selected as the slle
of q college which, an olfshOOt of Yale, has gained
an honorable place among American institutions OF
learning. Its library contains 600 volumes on tho
subject Of phIloogy alone. Some OF the most inter-
esting Indian mounds in the country are within the
city limits and they have been carefully preserved
On the whole no better place could have been chosen
for the lirst reunion Of Union aud Confederate sol
dieIs. H. l. W.
RECEPTIONS TO BE AVOIDED.
u,l,o prosidnnt b9a decided thar he will