The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-05-24
TWENTY YEARS AFTER.
Reunion Of the Army Of Potomac Vet.
erans.
Reviewed by President Arthur
Gen. Newton Chosen
President.

0GHs WlOIi NHOSCI
President.
About 5C0 members Of the Society Of the
Army of the Potomac attended the fifteenth
annual reunion OF that body in Washington.
The parade was splendid feature Of tho
exercises The veterans, about go Of them,
escorted by the United States troops and the
District militia. paraded some of the rrlnci-
pal streets, and, passing by the Executive
Mansion. were reviewed by President Ar
thur. The veterans were also given recep-
tion by the President, who was introduced
to them in the bue-room.
At the business meeting Of the society
| quite a spirited contest arose over the
election OF a President for the ensuing
year. Gen. Mann, OF North Carolina, NOM
Stone nominated Gen. Grant The eligibility
Of the latter for the position vas at once
questioned. he being My an honorary mem
Der OF the society Gen. Newton was eject
ed, receiving l55 votes to IL. for Gen Grant
Brooklyn. n. T.. was selected, by q rising
vote, as the next place of meeting.
The exercises III the evening 0t the Ma
tional Theaier consist ted of poem hy
George Alfred Town,end and an Grafton by
the Hon. Martin Maginnis Every available
sends poem was greeted with much ap-
plause. especially tlose tons deifying
fineon, the maityred Commander in. Chief
of the armies, the vast audience rising re-
peatedly. che ring and waving their hats
Mai Maginlis, the OF ator was enthusiast
tically che e,ed throughout his effort
At the conc,urion OF Ma2innis Grafton,
which was cheered at every point, Gen.
Sherman was called for. lie came forward
and made one of his characteristic speeches
He addressed the gathering as friends and
comrades in common cause and made
his first ] Ike by stating that a ne ghbor on
the platform had told him they did not want
to hear from bummers tonight He then,
in quiet way, twitted the Potomac fellows
for taking too much credit to themselves for
the suppression of the rebellion He
thought the e eat West contributed a little
bit toward downing JEFF. Davis and his fol
lowers @We of the West, sald he, shave q
fancy that the Mississippi is considerable OF
stream. We believe that its arms, the
Ohio. and Missouri embrace a large scope
of country. We know that it is dersely
ps spLated We know that 1t is peoplcd by
intelligent. industrious and sober cass es.
| They think themselves OF some Importance.
When they were cut off from the Gulf OF
Mexico and the ocean. | assure you that the
opening Of that river 10 New Orle ans, by tho
Joint etfor OF the army and navy Of tho
United states. substantially achieved tho
success cf the calse for which we fought
Gen T1tz john Porter's cd carps-the Fifth
| adopted resolution urging his restora-
tien TO the army
/ The second day of tn, reunion was de-
voted to an exenrsionto Mount Vernon dur
ing The day, and banquet in the evening
GEORGE ALFRED TowNsESDs POEMS.
The Toem Of George Alfred Townsend was
tr butte to Abraham Lincoln, Commander
I in-Clief Of all the armies. 1t was piece OF
smoothly flowing verse, and is undoubtedly
one of the best productions OF the poet
journal S. 1t is as follows:
] Civil soldiers reassembled by the river OF your
fame.
Yc who saved the virgin city bathed in Washing
tons clear name.
! Which of all yeur past commanders doth this
day your mory haunt!
/ Scott, Mcdowell, Burnside. Hooker, Meade, Nc
Sleian. N.ilcS.y, Srna.s
There IL too little mentioned when your
proud reunions come.
And the thoughtful love OF country dies upon the
sounding dram:
i Let me call him in Your muster. Let me wake
him III Your grici.
! Captain by the constitution, Abr'am Lincoln was
your chiei
Ever nearest to his person, We were his defense
and shield:
He alone OF your commanders died upon the
battlefield:
All your Generals were his children, leaning on
Il m ehildish-willel,
And they ell were filal mourners round the
mighty tomb he iilied.
now become,
j When amid the cares of kingdoms rose and fell
some Absolom:
And his humor gilds his memory like light
within tent,
] Or the sunken sun tina. fingers on the lofty
monument.
/ Like the save that saw the sunrise with his face
TOW ard the West,
As it flashed while vet twas hidden, on . slen-
der steenle's crest
4 So willie Victory turned her from him, ere the
dawn in welcome came,
] On his pen Emancipation glittered like an altar
/ flame.
/ Feeling for the doomed deserter. feeling for tho
drafted sire,
For the empty Northern heartlatone and tho
! Southern home afire.
Mercy kept him grim as Moloch. all the future
babes to free,
And eternal peace to garner for the millions yet
to be.
Not soldier of the classics he could see through
learned rretcnse.
1 Master of the greatest science military COM
mon sense:
As he watched your marches, comrades. hither,
thither. wayward wears.
/ On his map the roads YOU followed, you can trace
them by his tears.
In the rear the people elamarcd. in the front tho
Generals missed:
In his inner councils harbored critic and antag-
onist,
But he ruled them by an instinct like the Queens
Y With health Of soul that honeyed Publicans
and fharisees.
\ Faint OF faith we looked behind us for man Of
1
/ While the voice that drowned the trumpets was
the echo of our own:
I Ever thus, my old companions. Genius has us
BY the hand.
i Walking ON the tempest with US. every crisis to
Y command
Like the hucle blown at evening by some home-
sick son Of art,
Iincoln's words. unearthly uuiver, In the uni
versal heart.
Not an echo LETT Of malice, scarce of triumph in
the strain,
4 As when summer thunder murMurs i'll pathetic
showers OF rain.
Years forever consecrated. here he lived where
duties be.
/ Never crying on the climate or the tolls morot-
Here his tarling boy he buried. and the night In
Like his Lord within the garden. when the tired
disciples slept.
How his call for men went ringing, round the
world, a mighty helll
And the races OF creation came the proud revolt
10 quell.
standin: in the last reaction on the rock Of
Worn ann mournlui grew his features in the fash
OF Waffle lights.
Once. like Moses from the mountain, looked he
on the realm lie won.
When the slaves in burning Richmond knelt and
thought nisl Washington.
Then an enyieus iravo snatcheu him from the
To become sN "a saint q Nature in the Pantheon Of
Kings.
Faded are the golden chevrons. vanished Is the
pride If war:
Mild in heaven lis neral glory fingers like the
morning star,
And the ire mans zone OF cotton his white spirit
seems TO be.
And the insects, i'll the harvest, beat his armys
reyelle.
All around him spoiIea or greedy, women vain
and honor spant.
Still his faithia human nature lived without dis-
couragsmcnt:
For his country, which could raise him barefoot,
10 the moaarchs hight
Could he mock her, er his Mother. though her
name she could not write?
Deep the wells OF humble childhood, cool the
springs beside the hut
Millions more rs ioor as Lincoln see the door
he Inns mot shut.
Not till wealth has icadc t.s eankcr every
Ioor white cabin through,
Shall the grea. Republic wither or the infdel
subdue.
Stand around your great Commander! Lay
aside your little fears
Every Lincoln carries Freedoms car along q
hundred years.
And when the mkt call for soldiers rolls along
the golden belt
Lock ta see lntshtier column rise and march,
prevail aud melt