The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-26
ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC.
Reunion in Washington
Gen. Newton Elected President
Review by President Arthur
Address by Major Maginnis.

The reunion OF the army OF the Potomac
at Washington on the 10th, in connection
with the public parade and other ex-
ercises was very brilliant affair.
1t was the first representative gathering of
the army OF the Potomac in Washington
since the war; and, As the soldiers of twenty
years ago marched past the stand, many of
them gray bearded ana bowed with the
weigh OF the intervening years, it recalled
the review OF 1865 when the army of the
Potomac mar he'd up the avenue and passed
In review before Tn president 100,
strong. Or the society Cf the army of the
Pot mac there were about 1900 men in
line, and together with the various organi-
zations composing the escort, about 8, 500
men were in line The president was sur
rounded by number Of prominent men.
Gen. Sherman and Vice Admiral Rowan
were the only officers in uniform. The
president saluted the different secti rs by
rails ng his hat. The fife and drum corps
played Marching Through Georgia. To
tn Gen. Sherman responded by raising his
hat ut he inv UNFAIRLY kept time with his
foot.
At the business meeting in the afternoon
. sharp contest was aroused over the cleo
ton OF president ofthe society. Gen. Grant
was proposed, but the large majority of
those present being from Pennsy lvania and
New York, he was defeated by Gen. Newton
| OF He'll Gate. When Grants name was
brought fJrward, cheers aud cries of 'Graru"
Grant" "Votel" "Newton!" for some min
utes made it impossible for any one of the
score Of gentleman who were on their feet
to be heard. Then followed q running dis
cussiOn as to Gen. Grants eligibility. Some
one from the stage declared he was an hon
oray member. voice from the audience
replied. He hasn't paid his dues" Anoth-
er called out For fourteen years he de.
| .lined to become member of our society.
Whv burden him with this honor now?"
Finally Gen. Humphreys gained attention,
and naively suggested
| Ii remember rightly Gen Grant, at one
| time was intimately associated with the army
ofthe Potomac near the close ofwar think
Is clearly eligible II you choOse to elect him.
| This was received with shouts of
laught'r and applause from all quarters,
and 1t was moved TO proceed to ballet the
result being as follows: Gen. Newton, 155;
Gen Grant, III, scattering, 7. Gen. New
tons election was made uEaui-
nous, and with the exception of president
| the old officers were reelected. Brooklyn,
n Y, was selected as the place of the next
| reun on of the society.
| In the evening there was brilliant audi
ence ut the National theatre.
| The veterans filled he first floor and q
number OF distinguished generals, among
| whom we're Gems. Sherman, Rosecrans, Bea-
| yer, Hazen, Webb and Slocum, occupied
| seats on the stage. Judge Edmunds well
come the society to Washington, and Geo
Alfred Townsend read poem 1t was an
artistic effort, devoted chiefly TO the memory
| of Lincoln.
The Grafton by Maj Martin Maginnis of
| the First MINI esoia was the chief feature OF
the evening. He was over an hour in de-
| liverlng it, but was listened TO throughout
Ia ,.tt
| The appreciation OF the audience was fire.
quently exhibited by hearty and long con-
tinued applause. At one time when he al
luded in a particularly effective way to Gen.
Sherman as the magnificent Sherman" the
old veterans arose in their seats, threw up
their bats and fairly shouted in their enthu-
siasm. He inspired many other similar out
bursts and was enthusiastically cheered and
personally and heartily congratulated by
many at the close.
MAGINYIss' ADDRESS.
Addressing the president of the United
States and his comrad1s of the army of the
Potomac, Mr.. Maginnis said
Surely comrades, as you again came down
to the Potomac and to your eye again ap-
peared the white vision Of the capitol,
around which, phantom-like have custered
memories that have attended you through .
in the fields of everyday endeavor. surely
the stones OF twenty years were role away;
and out OF the sepulchre of each comrades
past came forth young, an ardent, an he
| roic spirit. Planted by the fathers in the
center of'their United States, revolution had
moved the capital to the frontier Worse!
Secession was behind as well as in front of
it. 1t was an outpost in the enemy's coun-
try-garrisoned only by the government.
Secession had gone back to the sacred soil
but 1t said, with Catiline, gol
but | return. For offense or defense
Washington was strategicaliy weak, but its
foundation were laid with those of the
Uni n. 1t was hallowed by association
with the venerated dead. /. was the sacred
city of the nation. And the loyal people
determined that never should domestic in
| surrection profane its holy places. There
is no need to defend the justice of that war
which has given us Union. The military
history OF our campaigns is road beset,
with thOrns, involving criticisms on gen.
erals who are members of this society, and
on statesmen who had large followings in
in their d. aths. Let critics and historians
perform this ungrateful task. / shall give
only honor to our superiors in the cabinet
and in the field 1t is boasted that the best
blood of the South was in their ranks.
Well, the best blood and brains Of
the North were in ours. The
orators OF our pulpits, the
lights OF the bar, senators and representa-
tives were privates in the army of the Poto-
mac. The story of that army is q sad but
glorious story OF bootiess efforts useless sac
| rifices and final success. Worn out in
marches without objects; wasted In battles
! that had no results; tainted with inactivity;
baffled by interference and delay, it strug-
gled, fought and bled for victory. For as
this was the peoples war, 1t turned out to
be the peoples fight. M Alexander, Oscar
and claim its victories for himself alone.
As far rs the army Of the Potomac was con-
cerned, there never was an army that owed
| less to brilliancy of leadership or the inspi-
ration OF genius. What II lost Wa often
from the lackes of its direction; what II won
| 1t dearly paid for IN its own patriotic
blood. In the history of the war this army
Is entitled to the right of the line. Through
all the bafh and smiles Of folly. for une
and glory, when hope was lost in useless
endeav r, and patriotism paled in the
| apathy OF outworn enthusiasm, its disci-
plin It's spirit, its organization never failed
| md whatever criticism may be made rs to
how it was fought, this society of this coun-
try unite in praising the organizing hand OF
our comrade and chief Mcclellan. More
| so than with our other armies that disci-
pline was needed to ft it for its task. 1t
| could maintain no bummers. Ii never
camped out Of the sound of the enemys
guns or bivouaced beyond the reach OF i'm.
mediate attack; Q gladiator Away In the
| arena, q knight whose guard could never
be let down. That discipline was superb.
fin the wider sen discipline means that
obedience to duty, which keeps men in line
when they fight and in column when they
march, to tight again tomorrow, and march
the night after, until energy is exhausted
and ohpdience m a. hanical. ~ that ho A;~-