The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-24
ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC.

ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC.
Annual Reunion In Washington
Gen. Newton Elected President
Review by President Arthur
Address by Major Maginnis.
The reunion of the army of the Potomac
1T Washington on the 10th. in connection
with the public parade and other ex-
ercises was a 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 and bowed with the
weight Of the intervening years, it recalled
| the review of 1865 when the army of the
Potomac marched up the avenue and passed
strong. OF the society Of the army Of tho
Potomac there were about 1000 men in
line, and together with the various organi-
cations composing tho escort, about 8, 500
men were iii 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 sections by
faising his hat. The fife and drum corps
played Marching Through Georgia. To
| hat, out he invuluntarily Kept time with his
foot.
/ At the business meeting in the afternoon
a sharp contest was aroused over the cleo.
ton OF president fthe society. Gen. Grant
was proposed, but the large majority of
those present being from Pennsylvania and
New York, he was defeated by Gen. Newton,
OF He'll Gate. When Grants name was
brought forward, cheers and cries of "Grart!'
"G1ant!" "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 running dis
cussion as to Gen. Grants eligibility. Some
one from the stage declared he was an hon.
Gray member. A voice from the audience
replied, He hasn't paid his dues" Anoth-
or called out, "For fourteen years he de-
clined to become member OF our society.
Why burden him with this honor now"
Ii remember rightly Gen. Grant, at one
time was intimately associated with the army
0fthe Potomac near the close ofwa think
il clearly eligible # you choose to elect him.
| This was received with shouts OF
laughter and applause from all quarters,
and it was moved to proceed to ballet the
| XCoUlt UcAnS az AOAAVWSs UCUs NCWLOu,
Gen. Grant, III, scattering, Z. Gen. New.
tons election was made unani.
NOUS, and with the exception of president
the old officers were reelected. Brooklyn,
N. Y, was selected as the place Of the nexi
reunion of the society.
| In the evening there was brilliant audi
! ence at the National theatre.
The veterans filled the first floor and 9
number of distinguished generals, among
whom were Gems. Sherman, Rosecrans, Bea
yer, Hazen, Webb and Slocum, occupied
coined the society to Washington, and Georg,
Alfred Townsend read poem. 1t was ar
artistic effort, devoted chiefly to the memory
| of Lincoln.
The Grafton by Maj Martin Maginnis O.
the First Minnesota was the chief feature O
the evening. He was over an hour in de
livering it, but was listened to throughout
with close attention and evident interest
The appreciation of the audience was fire.
Gnued applause. At one time when he al
luded in particularly effective way to Gen
Sherman al the magnificent Sherman" thu
| old veterans arose in their Seats threw ny
their hats and fairly shouted in their enthu
siasm. He inspired many other similar out
bursts and was enthusiastically cheered anC
personally and heartily congratulated by
many at the close.
| MAGINNIss' ADDRESS.
Addressing the president of the United
States and his comrades 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 clustere
memories that have attended you through 9
long peace amid the struggles of existence,
in the fields of everyday endeavor. surely
the stones of twenty years were rolled 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 o.
try-garrisoned only by the government
Secession had gone back to the sacred soil
but it said, with Catiline, I 20
but I return. For otfense or defense
Washington was strategicaly weak, but it:
| foundation were laid with those of the
Uni n. 1t was hallowed by association
with the venerated dead. l. was the sacred
city of the nation. And the loyal people
determined that never should domestic in
surrection profane it's holy places. Their,
is no need to defend the justice of that wal
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, anG
on statesmen who had large followings il
their lives and are honored by the country
in their deaths. Let critics and historian
perform this ungrateful task. I shall Civ,
only honor to our superiors in the cabine
and in the field. It is boosted that the bes
blood of the South was in their ranks
Well, the best blood and brains O
the North were in ours. Thu
orators of our pulpits, the
lights of the bar, senators and represents
tives were privates in the army of the Poto
mac. The story of that army is a sad bu
glorious story OF boOtless efforts, useless sac
rifces and final success. Worn out in
marches without objects; wasted in battles
baffled by interference and delay, it strug
gled, fought and bled for victory. For as
this was the peoples war, it turned out te
be the peoples fight. NJ Alexander, Caeea1
or Napoleon arose to monopolize its g1ories
and claim its victories for himself alone
As far as 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 it lost was often
it 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 battles and smiles of folly, for une
and glory, when hope was lost in useless
endeav +, and patriotism paled in the
apathy of outworn enthusiasm, its disci'
plinz, its spirit, its organization never failed
ind whatever criticism may be made as 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 fit it for its task. II
could maintain no bummers. It never
camped out of the sound of the enemy's
guns or bivouaced beyond the reach OF i'm.
mediate attack; . gladiator always in the
arena, a knight whose guard could never
be let down. That discipline was superb.
Ifin the wider sen discipline means that
obedience to duty, which keeps men in line
when they fight, and in column when they
march, to fight again tomorrow, and march
the night after, until energy is exhausted
and obedience mechanical; if that be dis.
cipline, as tits the object of discipline, then
it was the best disciplined army on thi,
planet. But, comrades, the result is worth
it all. Every passing year will make more
| plain the decree ofthe god of battles that
the lost cause was justly lost. To this city,
where they had met, the comrades of many
years were called, that they might part
| Won croaso6 tho POtnmac and tnrnin0. v0ny