The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-06-22
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
The Annual, neun,on M nc,rol

The Annual Reunion at Detroit.
The Society Of tho Army OF the Potomac
convened at Detroit on Wednesday, Jnne L.
and was called to order by Gen. Charles Dew
ems. Jr., its President. Gen. Andrew A.
Humphrey, U. s. A., WAS elected President TO
the ensuing year. The other officers were re-
elected.
The various army corps represented in the
Army Of the Potomac. held corps reunions
during the afternoon. First corps elected Cen
F. @. Bragg President Second, Col y. s.
Church, Ithaca, Mich; Fifth. Gen. James Me-
Quade; Sixth, Col James II. platt; Ninth, Gen.
John q. Park, U. :. A.: Twelfth. Capt ". W.
Bush. Lockport, N. T., who claims to have been
the first enlisted man in the War Of the Re-
sin Cavalry, Gen. w. Wells, Vermont
Gen. Francis A. Walker sent letter accept
ing the position Of historian Of the second
corps, aud Gen. Hincks, Of Wisconsin, made
ron~ing speech to his old comrades, whom he
had come 5000 miles to see.
A. the meeting OF the Ninth corps Gen. +.
+. Sprague, Of Massachusetts, read 4 beautiful
tribute to the memory Of their late President
Gen. Burnside.
Gen. sheridan was received with deafeninc
cheers BY the Cavalry corps, and made brief
speech, expressive Of kind regard for his old
comrades.
The reception in the Music Hall il the even
ing was grand event The auditorium was
beautifully decorated with mcmentocs OF camp
life. interspcrsed with the rude engines Of war.
Gov. Jerome welcomed the veterans OF the
Army Of the po'omac. He said:
:" / shall not linger long III the grateful duty
imposed upon mo Of giving you welcome to
the State OF Michigan. We recognize In you
the surviving coworkers in one OF the greatest
periods Of our historv-ilustlious agents in the
accomplishment OF mighty triumph far
transcending the ordinary exploits OF arms.
You are conspicuous witnesses to the truth.
never represented at the m,litary reunions OF
nations across the Atlantic, that free re-
publican government hv the people knows
how to take care of itself. 1t was ycur
fortune to have been placed IN the fore
ground OF the conflict. 1t was the Army Of
tire Potomac tint began the war, and when its
fighting WAS done the war lad ceased. Tue
rebel Army OF Northern Virginia, defending the
rebel capital. represented in the ewes of the
world the idea of organized hostility to the
Union. The Army OF the Potomac. protecting
tue capital Of the nation, and striking directly
thercfrom at the hearts of its enemies, repre-
scented in the eyes Of the world the idea of
creanized loyalty to the Onion. You saved
Washington, and YOU captured both Richmond
and its tisfendcrs."
The Governor then dwelt upon the long sery-
ices OF this great army, and bid it warm wei
come to the State that had furnished 80 900
men to the Union army, and whose representa-
tives were found with the Amy OF the Potomac
from the first crossing over tile Long bridge
into Virginia to the fall Of Richmond and
whose dead streWed every one of that army's
battle fields.
Mayor Thompson, in a brief. but cordial
speech. welcomed the veterans to the hearts
aud homes oil the citizens OF Detroit.
General Devens, On behalf Of the Army OF
the Potomac, made y irief but eloquent re-
spouse.
John Boyle oReilly. Of Boston. then read
his poem, entitled America" which was A
very neat PRODUCTION, indeed, and was received
with great applause.
Gen Z. s. Bragg, of Wisconsin, was then in
trodnced, and delivered the Grafton. This was
an elaborate defense OF Gen. McClellan's or
ganizing ability and military skill. was high in
its praise u Fliz John Porter and strong In its
incidental condemnation OF Gen. Pope and
Secretary Stanton. Tracing the history OF the
Grand Army from tie first to the last, he
closed in these words:
"Oh, my countrymen. the Army OF the Po-
tomac WAS the army OF deeds worthy to live in
history. II fought more pitched battles and
armies Of the United States, aggregating q
grand total OF 80. 500. It was often reDulsed.
but never with dishonor. Broken, it rallied
again driven back. 1t returned vigorously to
battle. As the sturdy oak on tile mountain
side, stripped OF its limbs and riven with
thnndcrbolts, refuses to bow to the
storm, but, conscious Of its strength, lifts
its head in grim defiance to the elements. 80
this grand old army, shattered, worn, with
Trimmed ranks, bleeding sons in every hospital.
its dead strcwn on scores Of battleficlds bore to
the front her battered, blood-staincd banners
until the sun OF Appomattox guided them with
the luster OF final victory. In its vocabulary
there is no such word as fail Proud is the
record Of any soldier Of whom it NAV be truly
said lie was OF the Army of the Potomac"
The close OF the address was greeted with great
applause.
The audience then loudly called for Gen.
Grant. who was on the platform. who acknowl-
edged the compliment, but declined to speak
further than to express bis qualification at be-
ing present with his old comrades in arms. aud
to declare his belief that volunteer armies were
the best in the world. They fought for love OF
country, and not because they were hired
Sheridan also declined to make . speech. but
expressed qualification at meeting with old
friends.
Speeches we're made by ex-President HAYES
and Gen. sickles, and the exercises OF the even-
ing closed.
The second and last day Of the reunion Wit
messed . grand procession in honor OF the vet
Gran guests The streets we're everywhere
lined with thousands OF people, and the appear
ance Of the most prominent soldiers was greeted
with great applause. Grant, Sheridan, HAYES,
and Slckles Were, of course, the chief attrac-
TORS. The procession Was . mile and a half
long. In the afternoon two steamers gave
The guests ; ride on the Detroit river.
The exercises closed with banquet at Music
Hall. where the menu cards were in the
form Of q canteen, opening on . hinge Ex-
President Hayes responded to the toast, Tour
Country ex-Goy Austin Blair to "The Vol
untecrs = Gen. Sickles to 1.-THE Army and
NAVY" Gov. Jerome to "The State OF Mcai-
can, and Mayor Thompson spoke for the city
Of Detroit.
THE GREAT STRIKES.
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