Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-19

flags, festoons of flowers and wreaths.
On either side the stage the inscription
in evergreens, Welcome to the Society
of the Army of the Tennessee" Above
the centre of the stage in like manner
were, Welcome, Commander" There
was also upon the stage representation
of the battle ground, back of V cksburg,
in charge of the boys in blue, who
guarded the approaches, doing regular
sentry duty. The ground was strewn
with munitions of war, fascines, etc.
There was also arranged on each
side the stage, and facing the audience,
life sized portraits of President Lin
coin and Gen. Thomas. High above all,
on large banners, were inscribed the
names of the battle fields with which
the army Of the Tennessee are so well
acquainted. Lasch's military band
supplied the music. The decorations
were almost solely designed and excu-
ted by Mr.. Haverly. The immense
building was filled to its utmost capacity
with an audience which upon the arrival
of Gen. Grant and stat broke into hearty
applause. Upon the stage were seated
many of his prominent officers, includ-
ing Gems. Sherman &nd Sheridan. Gov.
Cullom, Mayor Harrison, and other
dignitaries were also present,
Rev. DR.. Thomas opened the exercises
with prayer.
Gov. Cullom said nearly fifteen years
had passed since the army had COM
pleted tie task for which it was called
into existence. They had battled better
than they knew, for they had battled
for nationality, and the best safeguards
of the rights of the state. He welcomed
them and Gen. Grant to the borders of
Illinois. He paid warm compliment to
the soldiers, living and dead, of the civil
war, and especially mentioned those of
the Army of the Tennessee.
Mayor Harrison welcomed the Army
of the Tennessee to Chicago.
Gen. Sherman, in response to the
addresses of welcome, said:
We are richly welcomed tonight, by Mr..
Washburne, Gov Cullom and Mayor Harri-
son, the last of whom dwelt strongly upon
the fact that Chicago would for a consider
ton feed the world, and Chicago would
build railroad to the moon if the man in
the moon would hold a ladder long enough
! for them to get there. In 1865, in Raleigh,
| N. c., before the huttering wings of peace
were heard, even when the sound of cannon
and rifles were familiar to all, few COM
rsdes passed, in the senate chamber OF that
city, resolutions which sill the people ought
| to read, to show what was in this army at
the time. Kindness and charity pervaded
every line and syllable. The society meets
| once year, not to celebrate victories, not
to glory in achievements of arms. but to do
| acts of kindness, keep alive kindly feeling
aud memories. We are society named
after the Army of the Tennessee, proud of
! its record, glorying in its deeds, and social
| in our nature, and we have resolved to come
together annually, and have affected that
purpose for thirteen years, and we have
recorded every word spoken and every deed
done, whether of charity or reward, and they
are recorded and can be seen by the whole
world, and they are very Instructive. We
are tonight assembled and prepared to
make good the welcome of our old friend
and comrade, and our first commander, Gen.
Ulysses s. Grant. He has been, like his
namesske, all around the world, and has
come back at last to his own land, and we
welcome him back in a simple, soldierly
strain, and he who is to follow M referring
to GIN. Gresham will probably enlarge
upon the subject, and therefore I do not
intend to dwell upon it. l say to him l can
look upon these men and recognize friend
in every enc, little older than when he
we propose to meet every year, either in the
great city of Chicago or some other city
where we can get plenty to eat-and / am
satisfied from what l have heard to day
there are dozen different persons anxious
to have US next year. Returning thanks to
the kind patrons of to-day and evening, 1
will allow the proceedings to go on in the
order presented in the programme.
Gen. Gresham then arose to make the
annual address, at the conclusion of
which Gen. Sherman arose and an
nounced the conclusion of the session,
when the audience set up shouts for
Grant. This was persisted in until he
arose in response. He suggested that it
was better to follow the programme, but
as he was not down for a speech, the
audience laughed and renewed their
demands for a speech. Thereupon Gen.
Grant deliberately drew from his pocket
manuscript and as deliberately read
the following, the longest speech of his
life:
After an absence of several years from
the gathering of the Society of the Army of
Tennessee, it affords me heartfelt pleasure
to be again with you, my earliest comrades
in arms in a great conflict for nationality
and the union of all the states, under one
free and always to be maintained govern
ment. In my long absence fro m the couu.
try have had most favorable opportunity
of seeing and comparing in my own mind
our institutions with those of all European
countries, and most of those of Asia-com-
pairing our resources, developed and dor
mant, the capacity and energy of our PEG.
pie for upholding the government, and de-
veloping its resources, with most of the civ.
ilizsd people of the world. Everywhere
from England to Japan, from Russia to
Spain and Portugal, we are understood, our
resources highly appreciated, and the skill,
energy and intelligence of the citizens
recognized. My receptions have been your
II receptions. They have been everywhere
kind, and an acknowledgment that the
United States is a nations strong, indie.
pendent and free nation, composed of
strong, brave, intelligent people, capable
of judging of their rights and ready
to maintain them at all hazards.
This is non-partisan association,
but composed of men who are
: united in determination that no foe, do
| nestle or foreign, shall interfere between
us and the maintenance 0f our GRAND FREQ