Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-04-14
Veterans Meeting.

Inc regular quarterly meeting
of the Alpena County Veteran
Association was held at the Armory
on Friday evening last. The meet
ing was called to order by Capt.
H. S. Seage, and the exercises
opened by prayer from Rev. VIM.
Donnelly, followed by the song Of
Greeting" by H. S. Seage, Geo.
Fl. Nicholson, Mrs. G. VIM. Jones,
and Ada Sellick, with Prof. Chees-
bro a. the organ. Then followed
the "reminiscences of the second Bull
Run battle, by Comrade 2. NJ.
Knight, which was as follows:
Ladies, Gentlemen and Comrades
/ very much regret that it has
fallen TO my lot at this time to re-
count some Of my personal recol-
lections of the late unpleasantness ;
not that l desire to shirk any part
of a duty which ! feel that every
member of our association should
cheerfully perform, not so much
for his own amusement, as to en-
tighten those whose age debarred
them from taking an active part in
the war, but for the reason that
my time has been so much occu-
pied with other matters, that l
have been unable to collect and ar
range all the dates and details in a
proper form to insure either an en-
PERTAINING or comprehensive narra-
ton. Therefore you will please ac-
cept the will for the deed, and Sc
cure all the pleasure and profit
possible out of a brief and prosey
account of the second Bull Run
campaign.
In beginning my account of this
campaign / deem it necessary to
state a few facts, which, though
remotely connected with the dis
astrous affair, yet are necessary as
tending to throw some light upon
subsequent events. Many of you
win remember that in April, 1862,
the Army of the Potomac was or
dered to Fortress Monroe, and that
while the army was embarkiDg at
Alexandria, orders were issued from
the war department, that the 1st
army corps, commanded by Gener-
al Mcdowell, should remain to
guard the national capitol. Wheth-
er this action was, or was not, ju-
dicious, / leave for others to de-
eide.
The regiment in which I was
then high private II have for
gotten whether in the front or rear
rank was attached to the LIST
brigade, 1st division, of the LIST
army corps, and, consequently, did
not participate in the Peninsula
campaign; yet think that two
divisions of the corps were sent to
the Peninsula after our arrival at
Fredericksburg. know one was,
although / have heard it stated and
much fault found about it too,
that none of McDowell's corps ever
went to McClellan's aid.
General John Pope was placed
in command of that part of the old
Army of the Potomac. remaining
in the vicinity of Washington,
while General Geo. B. Mcclellan
commanded that part sent South.
Between the two generals no love
nor fraternal affection seemed to
exist, ia fact personal enmity sway
ed and Influenced them in their ac-
tions, and certain other officers,
high in rank, sided with the one or
the other, as their feelings of friend
ship prompted. Owing to such a
state Of affairs, the country suffer-
ed and the second Bull Run cam
paign proved anything but sue
cessful one.
The battles on the Peninsula had
been hard fought. Whether our
army had won victory there or
not Is immaterial at this time. II
they did not, IL was not the fault
Of those brave men who had been
slain. and though our gallant CON-
rades who had survived the heat Of
battle, were forced to withdraw,
leaving the field in possession Of
the enemy, yet their courage and
Loyalty never waned as many here
can testify.
The rebels, at all events, were
not very badly demoralized after
that campaign, for they soon COM
menced operations in the direction Of
Wsshington--their objective point
being some more
city. and before McClel-
Ian had left Fortress Monroe, Lee
had stgrted on bis northern tour,
which took 10 Boil Run sod ter
minated with the battle Of An