The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-11
LETTER PROM WASHINGTON.

TFROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. -, 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The ceremonies Of unwilling the
statue Of the great aud heroic soldier,
General George II. Thomas, aud the
meeting Of the Society Of the Army Of
the Cumberland" gave to the capital
Of the nation the grandest pageant it
has witnessed since 2OO. 600 battle-scarred
veterans, fresh from the victories Of At
lauta, Jouesboro and AppOmattox,
marched through its broad avenue in
the Spring Of 1865. The morning Of the
18th Of November was ushered in by
the boom Of artillery, aud by II o'clock
Pennsylvania avenue, from the Capitol
to the Treasury, was thronged with
spectators, gay with flags and streamers
and garlauds, while staff officers and
civic aud military organizations moved
to their respective rendezvous.
At 1890 the grand procession moved
up Pennsylvania avenue in five divis-
ions, headed by General T. T. Critten-
den, Graui Marshal, aud his staff
Each division was headed by marshal
aud his staff The President reviewed
the divisions from stand on the avenue
in front Of the Executive Mansion.
Reaching the circle at the intersection
Of Fourteenth street, Massachusetts, and
Vermont avenues and VI street, the
divisions were assigned their several
positions around the veiled monument.
Fifty thousand people had assembled to
witness the ceremonies at the unveiling
Of the statue. The circle around the
monument was most beautifully aud
artistically decorated with flags aud
stTeamers aud garlands. y prayer, a
salute OF artillery and the 'Star Span
gled Banner by a choir Of 100 voices,
with artillery accompaniment, aud, at a
signal, the starry folds Of the flag Of our
country fell at the touch Of General Don
Carlos Buell., aud the splendid eques-
triau statue Of the pure patriot and un-
flinchiug soldier rose to view, amid the
cheers Of an admirins multitude. The
oration OF General Stanley Matthews,
which followed, was a splendid tribute
to the memory Of the warrior whose
form lives in bronze, but whose great
name and deeds live in the hearts Of the
American people.
This equestrian statue is pronounced
to be the finest in Washington. 1t is
the work of the sculptor J. Q. A. Ward.
and was purchased by the Society Of the
Army of the Cumberland at a cost OF
| $1,000 The pedestal on which il stands
was erected by the Government at a
cost Of 81. 600.
The morning Of the Goth dawned cold
and blustery, with flakes of snow in the
air. The mammoth tent of the Army
Of the Cumberland had been flattened
out by the gale, and the Society met al
Willard's Hall, where, among its pro-
ceediugs, it was determined to hold the
next reunion at Toledo, Ohio. At Il
O'Clock A. NJ the Society went by
steamer to Mt Vernon, the tomb o
Washington, and returned to the city il
the afternoon.
Two interesting incidents worthy o
special note occurred during the cere
monies. One was the presence Of thre,
Virginia and two Maryland voluntee
I military companies, who, ignoring pas
differences, came to tender their tribut
to the deceased soldier. These veteran
Of many a bard fought battle showed b.
: their admirable drill and precision tina
they had not forgotten the discipline q
war, aud by their presence that brav
: soldiers can do honor TO a gallant oppo
neut. Another was the remarks of
, Mr.. Watkins, on the boat which carrie
the Society TO Mount Vernon, that
though he had fought against Generi
Thomas, aud bore in his body a FEEDERS
bullet, yet he wished to raise his vOiC
, in honor Of the memory Of that grea
soldier, and asked that he might be pei
r mitted to join the Army Of the Cumbel
land. His speech was greeted with
rousing cheer. aud also an eloquent r,
D sponse from General Garfield, for n
5 evidently touched warm spot in th
> hearts Of those present. DON PEDRO.