Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-17
GATH'S POEM,
As Read Last Night at Washington
at the
Reunion of the Army of the Potomac-A
Pleasant Day, Large Crowd and
General Good Time

WASHINGTON, May 16.-Despite the low
eripg clouds and threatening weather of
yesterday, to-day has proved most auspi-
CiOus for the opening ceremonies OF the re
union OF the Army OF the Potomac. BY 8
O'Clock this morning the various uniform
ed military organizations which we're to
take part in the parade were on the move,
and the sounds OF martial music greeted
the ear from dozen quarters.
At IL o'clock the escort, under the COM
mand Of Brevet Major General K. B. Ayers
L. s. A, took its station along Fifteenth
street with the right resting on PennSylva-
MIA avenue. The society of the
Army OF the Potomac,
under command of Gen. A. A. Humphries,
president of the society, and his staff form
ed in column of fours at the Riggs
House, and as the procession moved, break
ing off from right to left and marching
up Fifteenth street past Mcpherson
statue, thence through Vermont avenue,
Massachusetts avenue, passing the Thomas
statue, to Rhode Island avenue. passing the
Scott statue through Connecticut avenue;
passing the Parragut statue to Seventeenth
street, to Pennsylvania avenue, passing in
review before the stand erected upon the
pavement opposite the White House.
Dense crowds OF people lined the entire
route Of procession, and gave ample occu.
patton to the mounted police in keeping
a passage way open for the procession.
WASHINGTON, May lG.-The following is
the poem read by Geo. Alfred Townsend
before the Society OF the Army Of the Po-
tOmac this evening:
Civil soldiers reaSsembled BY the river Of
your fame,
Ye, who saved the virgin city. bathei in
Washington's clear name,
Which OF all your post commanders doth
this day your memory haunt2-, ------,
Mcclellan, Halleck, Grant?
There is one too little mentioned, when your
proud reunions come,
And the Thoughtful love OF country, dies upon
the sounding drum.
Let me call him in your muster; let me wake
him in your grief.
Captain by the Constitution, Abraham LIN
coin was your chief.
LIVER nearest to his person, ye were his defence
and shield,
He alone Of your commanders, died upon the
battle tielu.
All your generals were his children, leaning
on him childish willed,
And they all were tilial p1OurnerS round the
mighty tomb he Filed.
Tender as the harp OF David, his soft answers
When amid the cares OF kingdoms, rose and
fell some AbSolom.
And his humor gtlds his memory, like light
within q tent.
Or the sunken sun that fingers on the lofty
monument.
Like the slave that saw the sun rise. with his
face towards the West,
As ii flashed while yet twas hidden, on
slender steeple's crest.
So while victory turned her irCm MIN, ere
the dawn in welcome chIhe,
On his pen emancipation glIttered IKE an
altar flame.
Feeling for the doomed dcserter, feeling for
the drafted sire,
For the empty northern hearthStone, anu the
southern home ahre,
ture OabestO free.
And eternal peace to garner, for the millions
yet TO be.
Not n soIdief of the classics, lie could sse
through learned pretenSe,
MaStero OF the greatest science, military col
mon sense.
hlther, thither, wayward years,
ON his map the roads you followed, you can
trace them by his tears.
In the rear the people clamored, In the front
the generals missed,
II his inner councils, harbored, critic ana
antagonist.
Ru, he ruled them by an instinct like the
Queens among the bees,
With a health OF soul that honeyed Puollcans
and Pharl>eeS.
Fount OF faith. we looked behind Us for 4
chief OF higher tone,
While the voice that drowned the trumpeS,
was the echo of our own.
Ever thus, my old companions, genius mas
us by the hand, "
Walking on the tempest with Us, every Vr.sls
TO command.
Like the sugle blown Mt evening, by some
hOme-Sick son OF art, -,
IincoIn's words, uncarthly CULVER in the
universal heart. .,
As when summer thunder murmurs, in pa
thetic showers rain.
Years forever consecrated, here he lived
where duties be,
Never crying on the climate or the toilS no-
Here his darling boy he buried and the night
in vigil wept A.,
Like his Lord within the garden Wheu tue
tired disciples slept
How his call for men went ringing round the
And the races of Creation, came the proud re-
volt 10 QUell. -,
Standing in the last reaction on the rock oi
human rights, i, AL,
flash of battle lights
Once like Moses, from the mountain looRel
he on the realm he won.
When the slaves in burning hiCnmoud hHe''
and thought blm Washington:
Then an envious brave snatched MN irou
the theatre OF things
To ecome a saint OF naturein the pantheon
Of kings.
Faded are the golden chevfens, vanished Is
thepride OF war, ,.,,,-
While In Heaven his moral glory ungers IKE
the morning star.
And the freemans zone of cotton his white
spirit seems 10 he,
And the insects ia the harvest beat his arm
in reveille.
All around him spoiled or greedy, women
vain aud honor spent,
Still his faith In human nature Lived wuhou'
For hi, County,, which could raise him, bare
foot to the mon arch height,
Could he mock her, or his mother, thouSa he!
name she could not wrttes
paxp the wells OF humble childhood. cool the
springs beside the hut,
Millions more as poor gs Lincoln, See the dool
he has not shnt.
Not till wealth has msde 1t cankar, ever
poor whites cabin through,
Shall the great Republic w.tlsf or 'ae IhI~e
subdue.
md around your great commando, lay
asIHe your lttse lars;
Every Lincoln Cari!eS .reSdonas Ca hi'ns
hundred yeas
Ard wheC II the eel Tor o'Iiets Ep4 HI"i'!
the GO. IN belt,
look 10 g a r,iES,Ier c"irnu T;ss anC
TuaI, Il. p.eVsil Snd Tnets.
-c-
pasiA Better.