The Press., 1883-05-24
Washington Letter.

The fourteenth reunion of the army of the Potomac has just been held in Wash ington. Every condition affecting the event was perfect. Wednesday, the 18th instant, was peerless day for pageantry The fresh bracing air was rightly temper ed by the bright May sunshine. The sky was blue, and the city was radiant in its. fresh spring garniture of green. The broad asphalt streets had been washed as clean as a floor by the heavy rains of the previous day, nature having conspired, seemingly, with human effort, to make the gala day unexceptionable in every partic- ular. Every quarter of the city present ed animated scenes. Flags and streamers foated on the breeze hotels were bustling centers, whose interior as well as exterior decorations proclaimed that they enter tained soldiers. Every train brought new arrivals, who found old comrades waiting to welcome them, and committees were busy telling the strangers where to go and what to do. Many private residences along the route of the procession were tastefully decorated with banners, and the sidewalks were thronged with spectators, who iberally applauded the old soldiers, and cheered at the sight of empty sleeves, and the halting steps of those who had lost leg. Now and then veteran was seen on crutches, who managed to keep up with the procession. The local sol diery, with their well drilled lines, mil itary bearing, and bright uniforms, con- tributed a brilliant and imposing feature of the parade, while the old soldiers gave it 8 trouching and dramatic effect. This surviving remnant of the army of the Po- tomac was treading in the footsteps of the departed ones, who, eighteen years ago, marched in review down Pennsylvania Avenue under their illustrious commander and others whose names are even now his torical. The veterans made 8 fine looking body, but most of them of course, are bent figures and silvered heads. Many had lost leg, an arm, hand or an eye, and others were disfgured in various ways by wounds. But few of them would be phys ically able to endure military service now, though two decades have not yet passed since they were all sturdy soldiers, with elastic step and erect forms. The col umns formed on the avenue in the vicinity of the treasury department, and at the firing of the signal gun the troops wheel ed into line, and moved in the following order: First, detachment of mounted po- lice artillery Washington light infant ry national rifles headed by marine band; national rifles cadets high school cadets 1; army of the Potomac headed by Gen. Humphreys and his staff; union veteran corps and veteran corps cadets, followed by many smaller organizations. The fa- nous war eagle, Old Abe, now stuffed, was borne aloft in the procession, and with the tramp of marching columns to the sound of familiar strains of martial music, some- thing of the old time enthusiasm was re- vived. The president, with a party of distinguished men, foreign migisters and ladies, reviewed the procession from a grand stand erected on the pavement in front of the white house grounds The president wore black dress coat, white kid gloves, and dark blue cravat. As each installment of the parade passed the stand, he removed his tall silk hat and bowed slightly. On his right sat Secretary Lin coin, pale, dign1fed and handsome and Gen. Sherman hoary and homely, but showing much of the vitality and vivacity of a younger man. As the representation of the grand army of the republic passed, Marching through Georgia" was played by fife and drum, to which Gen. Sherman responded by raising his hat, while he in- voluntarily kept time with the music with his foot. He exchanged many recogni- hons with veterans as the army of the Po- tomac marched by the stand.