Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-27
THE ARMY REUNIONS.

A BRILLIANT AND NOTABLE ocoAs1oN-F1vE
THOUSAND MEN IN LINE ON TUESDAY GREAT
ENTHUSIASM AT THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
REUNION ON WEDNESDAY.
The great gatherings of veterans at Albany,
N. Y, on the 18th and 1Sth inst in the large
attendance upon them, in the interest excited
by them in the community where they were
held, and in the extent and warmth of the re-
ception accorded to the soldiers of the Union,
were deeply significant Surprising in these
respects any recent occasion of the kind, they
showed that the tide of national and patriotic
feeling is rising, rather than falling, among
the people. The first of the meetings, on
Tuesday, was the National Encampment of
the Grand Army of the Republic. 1t was
made the occasion of the greatest civic and
military pageant ever witnessed in the Capital
of the Empire State. The whole community
seemed to have devoted itself for the time be-
ing to the business of welcoming the veterans
The city of Albany-which claims to have
been the real birth place of the Union, the
place where the union of the American col
onies was first proposed, and where the stars
aud stripes first foated in battle as our ma
tional banuer-farly outdid itself. The city
was decorated in honor of the occasion to an
extent never before witnessed. The build
ings, public and private, by thousands, baz-
ed with the national colors, in flags and drap-
ings and decorations of every conceivable
kind and the red, white and blue never
looked handsomer than in the clear air and
brilliant sunshine of the faultless day. The
grand procession comprised about flee U0uS-
anil men, and occupied fifty minutes in pass
ing n given point. 1t was in six divisions
and included one of the finest military parades
that has taken place since the war. 4 line of
100 carriages, one-half mile long, bore the
invited guests and city officials. The parade
of Grand Army posts was imposing, the most
prominent among them being Post of Phil
adelphin, over 200 strong, in military caps,
dark blue blouses and white pants. With
them were Citizens Corps, and delegation
of Henry Wilson Post of Baltimore bearing
a Maryland State color, and heading them
was n fife and drum corps of boys. Follow
ing were Post of Philadelphia headed 10y
full band of boys in gray uniform, all of
whom are soldiers orphans.
The parade and procession were reviewed
by Governor Robinson of New York, from
grand stand on State street. The utmost en-
thusiasn was manifested along the whole line
of march, and the veterans, many of them
with an empty sleeve or marching with the
aid of crutch, were cheered to the echo.
Among the distinguished porsonagcs in the
procession were Attorney General Charles
Devens, representing the President and caLi-
net Gen John G. Robinson, ex-ieutcnant-
governor and commander-in-chiefo of the c.
A. Il. ; Gen. Van Zandt, governor Of Rhode
Island, and his aids; ex-Gov Hart ranft of
Philadelphia Con. Geo b. Mcclellan. gov
ernor of New Jersey, and many others At
Tweddle Hall (Which was elegantly and olab-
oratey decorated) addresses of welcome were
delivered by the Mayor of Albany and Hon.
Charles Il. Knowles to which Attorney Gen
eral Deyens briefly responded. The Nation
al Encampment was then opened, the roll of
delegates showing that representatives were
present from the departments of Maine New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Potomac, Virginia Ohio, Illinois,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, California,
Iowa, Kansas and Louisiana. The address on
the occasion was delivered by Grand Com
mander Robinson, and was a patriotic and ex-
cellent production. The banquet in the eve
ming was great success. Over five hundred
people sat at the tables, while at least thous-
and spectators occupied the galleries.
The reunion of the Army of the Potomac
on Wednesday exceeded in enthusiasm any Of
the reunions. The officers and members of
the society were escorted to Tweddle Hall at
two o'clock by the red, white and blue bat
talon, composed of the Albany Burgesses
Corps, the Old Guard of New York and the
Utica Citizens Corps. The galleries were
crowded with spectators and received
the distinguished officers present with
cheers and applause. When Post > of Phila-
delphia marched in, headed by martial band
playing John Browns Body" the building
fairly shook with applause. Later the Orphan
Boy Band filed into seats in the auditory, and
their first selection of patriotic airs was en-
Enthusiastically received. The platform was
filed with prominent men. After the usual
opening prelimnRries poem was read by
Francis NJ. Finch, and Gen. Hawley then de
liyered the annual address-an address which
fully merits the universal praise which it has
elected for its eloquence and patriotic spirit.
The annual banquet of the Society took place
at the Delevan House, on Wednesday evening,
and formed brilliant close to the two days
Festivities