The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-17
The Grafton of che Dav.

Following the poem came the grafton of
Major Maginnis, who spoke as follows
Surely, comrades as you again came down to
the Potomac, and to your eyes again appeared
the White vision of the Capitol, around which,
phantOm-like, have clustered memories that
have attended you through long peace, amid
the struggles of existence, in the fields of every
day endeavor, in the temples of gain, where
trade worshiDs at the affairs of profit and specu-
lation kneels to the divinity of dividends, surely
the stones of twenty years were rolled away, and
suit of the sepulchre of each comrades past came
forth young, an ardent, an heroic spirit; q
youth who had laid down his scheme of life,
abandoned his career, and with the spirit of a
patriot and the devotion of martyr offered
himself to that country whose startled hills
were echolng to the guns of Sumter, and whose
first appeal and first command to the men of our
generation was "Rally on Washngton!'
The address was an eloquent recital of the
record of the Army of the Potomac vividly
recalling its deeds on the field of Chancellors-
vile, Antietam, and particularly Gettysburg.
While disclaiming any intention to depre-
ciate the merits of any of the men who at
different times commanded the army,
the speaker thought General Pope
was unequal to his great task, but con-
Z :ered him loval and earnest He indig-
nanuy repelfed the charge that the Army OF
the Potomac was unwilling to fight under a
general from the West, in confirmation of
which he pointed to the hopefulness with
which it welcomed Grant, and the ardor with
which it followed Sheridan. After an elo-
quent decription of the repulse of Picketts
famous charge at Gettysburg, the speaker
passed to another phase of his address and
spoke as follows:
After a campaign of maneuvers-Bristow
and Mine run-the Aulic council was suppressed
ed. The country was tired of the aspiring poll
ticans, newspaper generals, and other marpots
of war, who had been directing our movements
from Washing gton. Grant was made commander
in-chief of the armies of the Union. He accepted
fhn meth ffrn fl.
coupled with the power, and took direct super
vision of the war in Virginia. In the barbarous
days of frontier town L once fight be-
tween a mastiff and wild cat. The dog was
confined to the circle of his chain, the cat had
the freedom of the enclosure So, the Army of
the Potom ac had to range around this city, and
the hands that held the chain generally pulled
it at the wreng time. When Grant came TO the
head we knew that the leash would be
cut by the edge OF tlat sword which shone
in the West. That the dog was Oosel And how
ever the method of fighting may be challenged it
Is beyond dispute that under Grant the Army of
the Potomac got chance to fight. That never
more would it rally on Washington, but ever on
TO Richmond until the recall was sounded by the
lips of victory.
The high hOnors in our war fell to our edu-
Gated soldiery. Middle-aged political generals
could not compete with them, but many young
officers who studied whilet hey fought graduated
in the school of war, masters not only Of it's
practice but of its written science. They took
off their eagles and stars at the close of the con-
profession, that in new or more prolonged
war some of them might have startled the world
with generaship and soldlerly capacity. These
now commanded regiments, brigades and divis-
ions, which they were competent to handle in
wooded country r ort@r where commanlGa s,na
Under our new chief the army
hopefully plunged into the Wilderness. 1t met a
bloody check, more bloody than usual, for it was
in the very lair of the enemy. But it did not
make the usual return to camp. Instead of re-
tiring Grant struck out by the left flank. He
pounded Lee whenever he got chance, and Lee
struck back with interest. But the army, which
never had refused to stay with its leader now
felt that it had a leader who would stay with his
army.
The veterans had long been in the fiery fur
mace, had taken more chances than those of Ma
poleOns wars. The choice aud noble spirits
whose ardent natures take no thought of danger;
who lose themselves in the enthusiasm of ac-
tiOn and glory in the rapture of the ight;"
whose fiery lips seek the very chace Of DEATH
and receive with Joy "Ghe sacrament of eter-
nity;" the very pick and flower of these fell
in the Wilderness campaign. Heroism stood
appalled, at the hopelessness Of individual en-
deavOr; but there was no flaw in the metal of
the army. A corps might be disabled to-day; it
came up fresh tomorrow. The sun went down
on the scattered wrecks of division; it rose
next day on restored organization. The onset
of the army could only be stayed by its destruc-
ton. 1t could know no defeat but annihilaton
so it fought by day and marched by night, and
after planting its advancing feet in many
bloody footprints, it passed its old camps upon
the Peninsular, and found Itself again upon the
James.
THE ADVENT OF SHERIDAN.
Then Lee tried to relieve Richmond by his old
plan. He made diversion on Washington.
Early came rushing down the valley and reached
the defenses of this city. Cabinet and Congress
were sorely frightened. 1t required all Grants
courage and prestige to prevent the army being
brought back from the James, and the state OF
war In Virginia returned to the situation of 1862
TJncnln. whO aver atOn1 hekwaan hia panama L.
and the politicians, called on General Grant to
come to his aid, and the General
came up from City Point and reinforced
the President with his demorallzed advisers. The
valley had been the read for the raids on this
capital 1t was the grain field OF Virginia, and
the generals we had kept there were aids to the