Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-24
NOT A SUCCESS.
The Army of the Potomac Reunion a
Disappointment
Washington Correspondence Baltimore Sun.

Washington Correspondence Baltimore S,,a-
Extended and surprised comment has
been brought out by certain features and
incidents attending the reunion of the
Army of the Potomac in this city. First.
as to the exceedingly meagre attendance.
The hotel and restaurant keepers seemed
to have premOnition of this, for their re-
sponses TO the appeal for contributions
were so pitifully small as to excite
mingled ridicule and disgust. Had it not
been for the local military display. the
procession would have been a most
lamentable failure. Baltimore, within
one hour, and Philadelphia,
within three hours of Washing
ton, have thousands of Union soldiers
who belonged to the Army of the Poto-
mac, and vet these two big cities, so near,
sent scarcely handful of representatives,
and outside of the regular army officers,
there was comparatively no attendance
from the rest Of the country. There could
be no stronger evidence of how rapidly
the old war feeling is dying out. vet some
of the few who did attend are endeavor-
ing to stir up old feelings with the puerile
complaint that no Army of the Potomac
flags tiOated from the capitol or other pub
lie buildings. On the day of the excursion
to Mount Vernon criticism was made
because before landing thirty cents
was eXacted for each of the old veterans
Criticism on this account was not I'M
natural, as it would have been a graceful
act for the Mount Vernon Association
managers to have abated the head tax for
the men who helped to save the capital of
the nation. The meeting at the National
Theatre on Wednesday night, when the
Grafton was delivered and a President of
the society elected, was postponed for half
an hour in the vain hope of the Presi-
dents attendance. The President prom
lsed to attend, and two of the highest
officers of the army called at the White
House to escort him to the theatre. They
found that he had gone on moonlight
sail down the Potomac, and had not left a
word of excuse or explanation. The dis
appointment and chagrin exhibited at
this ineXplicable conduct of the Presi-
dent was the more marked because of the
indifference with which he was charged
when the procession in the morning
passed before him in review. One or two
members of the Cabinet were at the thea
tire, but all Of them declined to attend the
banquet the next night. The brilliant
Grafton of Major Maginnis did not please
some, because they alleged it had too
much in it favorable to Fitz-John Porter.
At the banquet Gen. Mcclellan, who had
been counted upon as great card, was
so long in making his appearance that
he was given up, only, indeed, coming in
time to make his own speech. His speech
did not please even his own personal
friends, and grieyOusly offended the ma
jOrity of those present, because, as al
legged, he took the entire credit of every
thing that was done by the Army of the
Potomac to himself, and he belittled the
achievements OF the navy to such
an extent as to arouse the Indignation
of every naval officer present. A navy
Lieutenant became so excited that it was
with the utmost difficulty he could be
restrained from violently interrupting
General Mcclellan while he was on the
floor. When General Mcclellan arose he
was greeted with enthusiastic demonstra-
tiOns. When he sat down the applause
was very much subdued. The best and
most brilliant speeches of the evening
were made so late that no one paid atten- |
tiOn to them. Some of the walters were
so busy in stealing wine and storing it
under their belts that they began to fancy |
they were Generals of the Army of the |
Potomac. General Sherman-sagaciou |
able and prudent-stuck to his comrades |
for the entire two days, and did all in his |
power to make the meeting one of |
pleasure and success. That it was a dis |
to those who participated is |
but true.