Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-17
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
THE ANNUAL REUNION At JY.4SHING-
TON YESTERDAY.
Professions, Business and Speeches-A Big
Fight Over the Presidency of the Assoei-
ation-Gen. Grant Defeated by Gen. New
ton-Mart Maginnis the Orator-Gen.
Sherman's Speech.


ering clouds and threatening weather yes
terday, to-day has proved most suspicious
for the opening ceremonies of the reunion
of the army of the Potomac. By o'clock
the various uniformed military organiza-
lions which were to take part in the parade
were on the move and the sounds of mar
tial music greeted the ear from dozen
quarters. At IL o'clock the escort, under
the command of Brevet Major General R.
B. Ayres, U. S. A., took station along
Fifteenth street, with the right resting on
Pennsylvania avenue. The society of the
Army of the Potomac, under command
of Gen. A. A. Humphreys, pres
ident of the society, and his staff,
formed in column of tours,
at the Riggs house. At 1920 the process
sion moved, breaking from the right to the
left, and marching up Fifteenth street past
the Mcpherson statue, thence through
Vermont avenue and Massachusetts ave-
nue., passing the Thomas statue to Rhode
Island avenue, passing SCOTS statue,
through Connecticut avenue, passing the
Farragut statue to Seventeenth street to
Pennsylvania avenue, passing in circuit
before stand erected upon the pavement
before the White house. Dense crowds of
people lined the streets and gave ample
occupation to the mounted police in keep
ing the passage open for the procession.
Shortly before II O'clock the president
was notified of the approach of the pro-
cession, and with the members of his
cabinet and a large party of invited
guest proceeded across the lawn to the
stand, which was approached by flight
of steps from within the White House
grounds. The head of the procession
reached the stand at 1910, and the last of
the carriages which brought up the rear
passed at 1850 p. N. OF the society of
the Army of the Potomac there were
about 1900 men in line, and together with
the various organizations composing the
escort, about $500 men passed in review.
All along the line of march there was a
liberal display of bunting and much en-
thusiasm. 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 headed and
bearded and bowed with the weight of the
intervening years, it recalled the review of
| '65, when the Army of the Potomac march
ed up the avenue and passed in review be-
~
O'Clock the escort was dismissed at the
Riggs house, the point from which the
procession started, and the society of the
army Of the Potomac marched to the White
house and paid its respects to the presi-
dent, who received them in the east room
and greeted each member as he was pre-
sented to him.
| A general business meeting of the society
LIZ
transaction of routine matters, President
Humphrey 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 proceed
ings. The scene, however, 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. Motions
and amendments, calls of order, appeals
to the chair which the chair could not hear,
or if he did could not make himself
| heard to reply to, followed one another in
rapid succession. The best of good feel
ing, however, appeared to prevail and each
gentleman who struggled to make himself
heard above the uproar seemed to be bur-
dened with an idea that he was about to
cut the gordian knot, and relieve his I'M
fortunate comrades from the perplexlties
into which they had fallen.
| Nominations for president having been
declared in order, General S. H. Mann, of
North Carolina, on behalf of the Sixth
corps, announced the name of shat grand
old soldier, Gen. John Newton. AS soon as
the applause which greeted the announce
ment had somewhat subsidized, Major
Joseph Steiner, who occupied q seat upon
the stage, advanced to the front, and
shouted at the top of his voice, the nomi-
nation by the Fifth corps of General U. S.
Grant. Cheers and cries of "Grant, Grant,
vote, Newton" for some minutes made it
| impossible for any one of the score of
gentlemen who were on their feet to be
heard.
Then followed running discussion as to
General Grants eligibility. Some one
from the stage declared that he was an
honorary member. A voice from the
audience replied, she hasn't paid his dues"
Another called out, ''for fourteen years he
declined to become a member of our So
ciety, why burden him with this honor
now?"
Finally General Humphreys gained the
attention, and naively suggested, ''if I
remember rightly General Grant, at one
time, was intimately associated with the
army of the Potomac near the close of the
war. 1 think he is clearly eligible,
if you choose to elect him.
This was received with shouts of laugh
ter and applause from all quarters, and it
was moved to proceed to ballot. General
Mann then arose and stated that after con-
sultation with several of his associates of
the city corps, as there seemed to be a
general desire to elect General Grant, he
would withdraw the name of General New
ton. This was signal for renewed COM
motion accompanied by icries of "good''
and don't withdraw" which was heighten-
ed when General Barnum, of Connecticut,
in ringing tones announced tbatl he would
withdraw the name of General Grant.
A voice, ''What right have you to with
draw him."
General Barnum, Gas the presiding Off
Ger of the Fifth corps at their meeting to-
day, and because 1 know personally that
General Grant, though he was thought not
unworthy to command US at Appomattox
does not desire onerous duty in these times
of peace, and would not permit his name
to be the subject of controversy. If there