Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
Army OF THE POTOMAC.
its Reunion-The Procession Retrieved
by the President and Cabinet.


The day proved most suspicious for the
opening ceremonies of the reunion of the
Army of the Potomac. The showers yester-
day laid the dust, and today a fresh breeze
from the northeast with a cloudless sky, have
made the day perfect. At IL o'clock the es-
cort. under Gen. RIB. Ayers. U. S. Army.
took its station along 18th street,. The soci-
ety of the ARMY of the Potomac, under the
command of Gen A. A. HUMPHREYS, pres'-
dent of the society, and staff, formed in
column of fours at the Riggs House, and at
II20 the procession moved, breaking from
right to left and marching to Pennsylvania
Avenue, passing lin view before the stand
erected upon the pavement at the White
House. Dense crowds of people lined the
entire route of the procession. Shortly be-
fore IL the Pres idt Mt was notified of the ap-
proach of the procession, and with the mem
bers of his Cabinet and other invited guests.
proceeded across the lawn to the stand which
was approached by a flight of steps from
within the White House grounds.
Upon the stand were the President. Secre-
taries Lincoln and Teller, Attorney General
Brewster, Postmaster General Gresham,
Justice Field. ex-Speaaer keIfer and many
other distinguished persons, including the
English, Spanish, French, Brazilian and
Chinese ministers and the ladies of their
families.
The head of the procession reached the
stand at 2l0 O'Clock, and the last of the
carriages which brought up the rear passed
at I25 F. NJ. OF the society of the Army of
the Potomac there were about seven hun
dred men in line, and together with the vari-
Gus organizations composing the escort, about
twenty five hundred men passed the review.
1t was the first representative gathering of
the Army of the Potomac IN Washington
since the war; and as the soldiers of twenty
wears ago marched past the stand. many of
them gray haired and bearded, and bowed
with the weight of intervening years, 1t re-
called the review of 1865, when the Army of
the Potomac marched up the avenue and
passed in review before the President. 100.
900 strong. In the procession were many
well known and familiar faces, and there
was constant interchange of recognition
between the passing veterans and those upon
the stand.
At O'Clock the escort was dismissed, and
the society of the Army of the Potomac
marched to the White House, paid their re-
spects to the President who received them in
the east room and greeted each member
as he was presented to him.
In the afternoon a business meeting of the
different corps will be held at their several
headquarters, and at three general meeting
of the society will be held.
At the conclusion of the reception at the
White House this afternoon the representa-
tives of the different corps which formerly
made up the Army of the Potomac. held bust
ness meetings for the election of officers for
the ensuing year
At the general meeting of the society for
the election of president it resulted in the
election of General John Newton, which was
made unanimous. The remaining officers
were then reelected.
The committee on the place for holding the
next reunion then reported the names of
three cities, viz: Brooklyn, Portland, Me-,
and Harrisburg, and after some discussion
Brooklyn was selected.
The meeting then adjourned until o'clock.
During the afternoon various corps held
meetings and elected vice presidents to rep
resent them in the society.
About % ex army paymasters, who served
during the war, this afternoon organized the
Association OF Union Army Paymasters,
by electing the following officers:
President-Gen. B. w. Bryce.
Vice Presidents-Hon Will Cumback. In
diana; Gov. Frederick Robie, Maine Hon.
VIM. s. Stricken New Jersey; Hon. Russell
Erret. Pennsylvania; and Stephen A. Wal
ker, New York
Secretary-Thomas II. Gardiner of Wash
ington.
Corresponding Secretary-Will,am Penn
Clark of Washington.
Treasurer-George Truesdell OF Washing
ton.
The exercises of the Society of the Army
of the Potomac, held this evening at the Ma
tional Theatre, drew together an audience
which completely filled the building in every
part.
Gen. Humphreys, retiring president, OPP
ened the exercises by Introducing Judge Ed
mupds, Commissioner of the District OF
Columbia, who delivered the address of
welcome.
AT the conclusion of Edmunds' address the
Marine Band rendered the ''Star Spangled
Banner" and then the president introduced
the poet. George Alfred Townsend, who de-
livered the poem.
Following the poet came the orator of the
evening, Major Martin Maginnis, who de-
livered an eloquent Grafton
There were loud calls for Gen. Sherman,
when Msginnis concluded, to which the vet
eran commander responded in brief speech.
Generals Webb Siocumb and Beaver and
ex-Speaker Keifer spoke briefly. kilograms
of regret at the inability to be present from
Generals Hancock and Sheridan were read,
and the exercises closed with "Dixie" and
Yankee Doodle by the band
The fifth army corps of the Society of the
Army of the Potomac hal largely attended
meeting this afternoon. at which a resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted extending
thinks of the corps to the President Senate
of the United States. General Grant, Sena-
tors Sewell and Mcpherson of New Jersey
and other persons for their efforts to secure
Justice for Fitz John Porter.