Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-17
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
AUsPIoIoUs OPENING OF THE CEREMONIES o
THE ANNUAL REUNION.


WASHINGTON, May 16.-Despite the low.
ering clouds and threatening weather of yes.
terday, to-day has proved most suspicious
for the opening ceremonies OF the reunion of
the Army Of The Potomac. The showers of
yesterday laid the dust, and to-day fresh
breeze from the northeast, with q cioudless
sky and bright sunshine, ade the dsy 4 per-
feet enc, both for those who marched in the
procession and for the Thousands Of specta-
tors who from early dawn this morning lined
the streets. By 8 o'clock this morning the
various uniformed military organizations
which were 10 take part in the parade we're
on the move, and sounds of martial music
greeted the ear from 5 dozen quarters. At
IL O'Clock the escort under conan and OF
Brsvet Maj Gen. X. B. Ayres, United States
army, took It's station along Fifteenth strsst,
with lis right resting on Psupsylvsnia ave.
nue.. The Society of the Army OF the Poto.
mac, under command OF Gen. A, A Hum
Pnreys, prssI1eal OF the society, and his stan,
formed il column Of tours at the Riggs
House. At IL 20 o'clock the processioA
moved, breaking from right to left and
marching up Fifteenth street, passing Nc
Pherson's statue; thsnoe through Vermont
avenue, Massachusetts, avenue, passing
Thomas statue, 10 Rhode leland avenue,
passing ScoiPs statue, through Conueci icat
avenue, passing Farragut s statue, TO Sew
enteenth street, TO Pennsy wants avenue,
passing in review before the Stand erected
upon the pavement opposite the White
House. A dense crowd of people lined the
entire route Of the procession and gave am
pie occupation to the mounted police in
keeping the passage open for the procession.
Shortly before IL O'Clock the President WAs
advised OF the approach of the procession,
and with tbs members Of his Cabinet ana
other invited guests, proceeded scrsss 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, Secretaries Lincoln aud Teller,
Attorney General Brewster, Postmaster
Geperal Gresham, Justice Field, Senators
Miller. Of Caliiornia- and Butler. OF -Sonth
Carolina, ex-senator Window, II spressnta.
lives McKinney and s s. Coz; the Easlish,
French, Spanish, Brazilian and Chinese min
listers and ladies OF their families; W. W.
Corcoran, Gen. Sherman and staff, Gen.
Hszen, Gen. B. S. Caief, ZEN. Liyermore,
Gen. Ingalls,, Ger. SchoHeld, Admiral Mich.
OILS, Admiral Rowan; the Commissioners Of
the District, Ex- Postna asters- G sneral II alto
King and J. j Creswell, Marshal McMich asl
and others. The head f the procession
reached the stand about 1910 O'Clock, and
the last of the carriages which brought up
the rear passed at 1850 o'clock pm. OF
the Society oil the Army of the Poto.
mac there were about 1000 men in
line, ami altogether there were various
organizations composing an escort of about
$500 men paused in review. Along the line
OF march there was a liberal display Of bunt-
ing and much enthusiasm. II was the fret
representative gathering OF the army of the
PoLomsc in Washington siuce the war, aud
as the soldiers of twenty years ago marched
past the stand, many of them gray haired
and haardaI nd ~ u;f e
intervening years, it recalled the review of
1865 when the army of the Potomse marched
up the avenue aud passed in review Of the
president 100000 strong. In the procession
were many well-known and familiar fsces,
and there was a constant interchange OF re-
cognition between the passing veterans and
these upon the stand. At o'clock the ecort
was dismissed al the Riggs House, the point
from which the procession started, aud the
Society of the Army Of the Potion &C marched
to the White House and paid their respects
to the President, who received them in the
east room, and greeted each member AS he
was presented 10 him. This afternoon the
business meetings of the different corps will
be held at their several headquarters, ssd at
3 o'clock general business meeting Of the
society will begin at the National Theater.
After the review the members of the So
ciety Of the Army of the Potomac were re-
ceived by the President st ths Wki,e House.
The general business nesting of the SO.
cieiy was held this afternoon, and after the
transaction of routine business, President
Humphries announced as the next business
in order, the election of officers for the en-
suing year. Up to this point perfect order
and unanimity had marked the proceedings.
The scene, howsVsr, which ensued, and the
discussion which took place in the course of
the next three-quarters of an hour recalled
most wildly the closing hours OF the Forty
fifth Congress.
The name Of Gen. Grant as placed in Eomi.
nation for president, which gave rise 10 an
animated discussion, which developed so
much opposition that the nomination was
withdrawn.
The president being utterly unable to
make himself heard, Gen. HorAtiO c. King
the secretary, essAyed 10 straighten out mat
tiers, and finally the nominations OF Gene
Grant and Newton were renewed and the
balloting proceeded. After the appointment
OF several committees the result of the bal
letting for president was ANNOUNCED as fol
lows: Gen. Newton, l55; Gen. Grant, III
scattering, z. Gen. Newton's election wal
made unanimous, and with the exception o
president, tie old officers were reelected.
The exercises this evening at the Nationa
Theater drew together an audience dihtin
guished, enthus astic ard sympathetic. Tit
stage, auditorium and galleries were filed.
Brooklyn, N. Y, Was selected az the plsc
for the next rsuniOn OF the society, and thu
meeting adjourned.