The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-19
all QUIET
ss-Along the Potomac,--Th Soldier
Boys at a Feast
A Growi BY One OF the Old Guard.
Speeches by sherman and
Little Mae

WASHINGTON, IL. ~. MAY 1S.-Ib Ii
all quiet on the Potomac tonight" The
famous catchword was spoken many times by
the veterans of the Grand Army of the Potomac
as they passed along that noble river to visit
Mount Vernon. As the boats steamed away
from the wharyes one old veteran, pointing te
the capitol, said: 'tSee there, they fly no flag
DOR the Array of the Potomac now Possibly
the officials of the house and senate do moi
care to excite sectional feeling. There was a
time when the flag did fly over the capitol foi
the Army of the Potomac, and there was .
time when Old Glory would never
have been raised over that building
again had it not been for the success of the
old Guard in defending Washington Bul
those who administer some t lches of the pub
lie service are very careful of peoples feel
ings. Why. at West Point. the other day, !
saw some of the old gums, the trophies of the
war, of our hottest fought battles with the
rebels, ditched in great ditch, with nothing
to indicate where they captured They
used to have plain plaeards them, with
Big Bethel and the like. 1 asked a eade
why this was so. He said Col So-and-so or
dered the labels taken Off He did not want
to wound the feelings of the southern cadets.
In the Smithsonian, awhile ago. they took
StOhh AaSS GdptdESu ROD0fI Il. Les
and put them in the basement where the rats
can feed on them, because they did not want
20 make conspicuous unpleasant reminders of
the war, and even The history of the regiments
has been torn from the army register ,,
Stores OF this sort served only to bring
more keenly TO mind the experiences of the
soldiers of the Potomac army. The trip was
well calculated to freshen memories OF the
war. Behind them stretched the dark, low line
OF the Long bridge, over which many present
sa3afaEl9
Gen. Scott, shouting, MAKE way for the Grand
Array of the Unionsa Alexandria was soon
reached, where the river used to be full of
transports for the supply of the troops but at
the right far over the hill was a spot keenIy
remembered by many-that terrible hell OF
Smoky Hollow.
Arrived at Mount Vernon, it was necessary
for the party to dlsembark into a steamer
drawing less water IN order to land at Mount
Vernon wharf, and it was also necessary for
the finance connittee TO pay TO the manage
ment of the Mount Vernon association 80 cents
for every one of the old veterans who set foot
upon the soil @1he time was" said one of
the old soldiers, when, but for the considera-
ton of the army of the Potomac there would
have been no Mount Vernon to be visited
The soldiers of both armies spared the sacred
spot, and to-day every soldier visitor was com
PEELED to pay his tribute.
A bana yet given at Abner's summer garden
closed the reunion. About four hundred
members and citizens of Washington sat down
to well filled tables The garden was beauti-
lUllyf QSeOfat61 WIFI GYeFRl6olS, mowers, and
bunting. and from the galleries a brilliant as
senbiage, largely composed of ladies', over
looked the scene. The full marine band fur
nished the music for the occasion, assisted by
glee club of twenty singers. The music was
of martial character, consisting principally
of arrangements of soldiers songs. The rem
dition of familiar airs aroused much
enthusiasm among the veterans, who
the choruses. At the principal table were
seated the officers of the society and
distinguished guests, among them Gems Sher-
man, Mcclellan, Rosecrans, Slocum, Schofield, |
Bingham, and NanNlIet Rear-Admiral Rodgers, !
Gem Sehenck,~Gen Walker, Senator Miller of |
California, Commissioner-of-P Pensions Dudley, |
and Charles Dudley Warner. Gen. Mcclellan |
made his appearances some time after the ban |
quet began, and soon as be entered some one |
called out Three cheers for Little Mac |
They were given heartily, most of the guests |
rising TO respond. The old commander of the /
Army of the Potomac bowed his acknowledge
ment of the greeting, and passing down in the |
and there with an old friend, took a seat next
to Gen. Sherman
The first toast, %The President" was drunk
after which Gen. sherman responded I
feIicitous style Gen. Mcclellan responded to
the toast The Army of the Potomac and was
greeted with tremendous applause His speech |
was a review of the work of the Army of the
POTOMAC. 1t was among the Swee sma' hours"
this morning that the banqueters bade each
other goodbye, when the last toast WAS given
and the last response spoken.
One of the historical persons present was
Gen Robert c. Schenck, who, at "a years OF
age, responded to @1he Loyal Legion. = He
spoke with the vigor of the youngest men, and
in some of his eloquent passages reminded
many of his best days in the house.
The friends of Gen Grant here seem to be |
considerably annoyed at the fact that he was
allowed to be voted for candidate for the
presidency of the Society of The Army of the
and was defeated. They insist thai
he was in sense candidate; that no one hao
aT1th IN a 10 1gSa1 |
and that the incident is the result of the indis
erection of some over-zealous friends Gen
Newton had been more thoroughly identified
with the society of the Army of the Potomac
than he has been, and it was for this reason
that his name was pressed with so much vigor.
1t is not fair however, TO infer that the name
Of Grant was not received with enthusiasm.
for at all the meetings of the society of this
army here nearly every mention Of Grants
name has been received with enthusiastic APP
plause.4 =