Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-20
GRAND BALL AT THE CAPITOL TONIGHT.

GRAND BALL AT THE CAPITOL TONIGHT.
Grand Concert and Bal. at the Capi-
tOl Tonight.
In accordance with permission granted to the
local executive committee of the Society of the
Army of the Cumberland, the promenade con
cert and ball will take place at the Capitol at
O'Clock this evening. Tickets for the tent vii
be good. All entrances to the building Will De
closed except the one on the main floor Senate
wing. Tickets must be presented 10 OBTAIN ad
mission except for members of the Society and
its invited guests. This rule Will be rlgldly en-
forced Senate and House restaurants will fur
nish refreshments at reasonable rates. Carriages
will put down heading SOUTH park themselves
in the usual space due east Of the rOtunda, take
up heading north. The best facilities for wraps
that the brief time allowed have been made.
Major Morgan has kindly furnished an ample
police force for the preservation outside and
Capt. Alabaugh for the inside Of the building.
The rotunda will be reserved exclusively for
dancing, corridors for promenading, and the old
hall OF the House of Representatives for dancing
and prOmenading.
Exercises in the Tent Last Night.
The Society of the Army of the Cumberland
held interesting exercises in the big tent on the
White Lot last night. There was big jam to
get in, and jam after entrance was effected,
as hundreds of people had to stand. Although
crowded, the tent was rather cool. General
JGH. Z. DaNlS DTtSlQou. Iue Speakers SJduu
was in the southern end Of the tent, facing
weSt-not lengthWiSe OF the canvas. Many
were unable to hear what was going on. and left
before the speech-making was over. The eXer-
ciSes were interspersed with music by the mill
tary academy band. The audience was very
demonstrative, and called vociferously, after
General McCook's speech, for anybody they
wanted to hear, and would not be comforted
until the call was answered. The President and
his Cabinet, Mrs. Hayes, officers of the army
and distinguished guests were on the stand.
General Davis called the meeting to order,
hoping that good order would prevail, that the
speakers might be heard. Rev. Clay McCauley
offered up prayer.
JUDGE MAC ARTHUR's SPEECH OF WELCOME.
General Davis then introduced Judge Arthur
Macarthur, of the District bench. Judge Mac
Arthur said that he addressed himself especially
to the members of the Army of the Cumberland.
In the name OF the District he bade them ''wel-
Come welcome thrice welcome" All eyes and
all hearts responded to the wave OF the banners
and the sound OF the music OF the reunion. In
the name OF the District he thanked the society
for placing in our midst a statue that will stand
to mark the glory and worth OF a man dear to
all lovers OF the country. He referred to the
deeds of the Army Of the Cumberland in high
TERMS Branching off slightly, he referred elo-
uuently to the volunteer service and the graft
tude the country owed its brave defenders. The
trials they went through were spoken OF; trOonS,
opposed to the army were our own coi.nurymen,
and therefore gallant and brave. They were
under great illusion, as we believe, but fought
most grandly. [ApplauSe.l But the war is over.
All the country wants is a restoration Of peace
to national and united people. The idea of
nationality is becoming the great Dulwark Of
our liberties. He referred to Washington as the
center of government, and said that no man
could ever visit this city without having some
thing more added to his knowledge OF the power
OF the government. In the name OF liberty and
hospitality he would again and again say well
come to them, and invite repetition of the
presence OF the Army of the Cumberland here
year after year.
GENERAL MccooK's GRAFTON.
General Anson G. McCoak was introduced.
and Hooker he reminded the Army of the Cum
berland that 1t was fast passing away. He be-
lieved that its memory would be hallOWed
When this army was last here it was returning
from the war. 1t was one of the greatest
epochs in the history of the world when the
army disbanded and went peaceably home.
There were no trophies displayed. There was
no thought of pay for services rendered, made
Or attained. The army saluted the chief mag
istrate thus quietly, acknowledging the suprem-
acy of the civil power. How changed are the
circumstances under which the army now
meets. The artilleryman is perhaps doctor,
and the calvaryman makes daily note OF his in
cleaSing avoirdupois. The eStubborn fighter, the
In trade. He referred to the south, and said
that we have resolved that the war settled the
contest; that the country owes debt of grati-
tude to its disabled defenders. WeWill preserve
one basis OF the Army OF the Cumberland. He
reviewed the glorious deeds Of the Army of the
III gIdpulC Style. IudI dTlQy never
lost sight OF the fact that its sole mission was to
demonstrate that this was government of the
people, by the people, for the people Foreign
powers predicted that cyiil war was certain
death to the republic, to the idea of the
power OF the people to govern themselves.
They were unprepared for the result; so were
we to a certain extent. Trained in the pursuits
OF peace the people cheerfully assumed the bur-
den to maintain our country. The men OF the
south fought bravely and stubbornly. Every
foot OF our advance was marked by blood. 1t
was tough fight. State supremacy went down
forever, We thought. and nulliiication and all
such heresieS were buried beyond all hope OF
resuscitation. With these convictions our vast
armies melted away into the ranks of the peo-
pie in space of time incredible to all foreign
powers. He knew he expressed the sentiments
of all, when he said that no repetition of the
fight was desired nor any hatred cherished.
The Army OF the Cumberland was distinctive
as containing in 1t men of all states loyal to the
Union. White and black can wear its badge.
His reference to Rosecrans was greeted with
cheers. His eulogy of the character and capa-
city, military and otherwise OF Gen. Thomas
was doubly cheered. In an able way he sum-
married the deeds and fights Of the army under
its guiding genius, Gen. Thomas. He also re-
ferred in terms of praise TO other officers OF the
Cumberland. 1t was invincible under fair
terms OF conflict. His .peroration was refer
killed in the skirmish, in the rush, or on
picket or who died OF wounds or sickness.
The real heroes OF the war for the Union lie in
their graves, he said. They rushed into the
breach and. fighting, fell. He asked if 1t would
be out OF place to recall the memory Of Robert
and Daniel McCoOk. loud applause.l The
ceremonies of the day had shown their universal
appreciation Of their old commander. Virginia,
the mother OF Presidents, never brought forth
nobler son. better soldier or more heroic soul
than George II. Thomas. loud and long-con-
tinued applauSe.l
Miss Story next recited 1.-The Rock of Chicka-
mauga.r poem by Edward Renaud. The three
cheers for Thomas, with which the recitation
closed were given most heartily.
GENERAL SHERMAN
was called out. He said that there is a certain
air among societies more hOnored in the breach
than the Observance-calling upon friends after
the regular speeches are over for '.feW re-
marks.' This was hummer" meeting. He
was acquainted with Gen. Thomas from boy
hood. He knew him before he ever thought OF
the Army OF the Cumberland, or cared anything
for it. He referred TO Gen. Gartield's eulogy OF
Thomas in Cleveland, in 1870. He would impress
the tact that Thomas rose grade by grade. He
would impress upon the southern people that
tine time will come when they will point to
Thomas as a man who stood firm for his coun-
try when they went astray. Such day would
come: He (ShermaD wouldn't be alive then,
and didn't want to be. Gen. Thomas was in
debted to Gen. Robert Anderson for his first COM
mis- sion as brfgad1er general. He was present
when General Anderson made this request
OF PRESIDENT Lincoln, and the latter prom
ised him the commission. Gentlemen OF the
Army Of the Cumberland" SAID the speaker
''IOu owe the fact that you had such man a J