Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-24
GRAND ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
A Rousny Reunion of the Old Veterans at Wash
ington-Spirited Scene at Election OF
President-Sherman's Speech.


i President-Sherman's Speech.
| WASHINGTON, Special Washington
to-day presented gala appearance in
honor of the visit of the members OF
the Society of the Army of the Poto-
| mac to attend the reunion. Flags and
| streamers float in the bright sunlight,
| and on the thronged streets the sound of
/ martial music and the tramp of march
ing columns impaired great animation
to the city, which is about to relapse
into the quietude of the summer vaca-
ton. A number of public buildings
were deliberately decorated with bunt-
ing, and the hotels. by their outside and
inside decorations, showed that they
entertained soldiers. The parade was
the feature of the day. The veterans,
about three hundred of them, formed
in q line about noon near the Riggs
House, and, escorted by the United
States troops stationed at Washington
and the District militia, paraded some
of the principal streets, and, passing
| by the Executive Mansion, were re-
viewed by President Arthur from the
grand stand, which had been erected
on the pavement in front Of the man
sion. Later IN the afternoon the veter-
ans were given reception by the Presi-
dent, who was introduced to them in
! the blue room.
The business meeting of the society
was called to order this afternoon by
General Humphrey, and, after the tram
sactlon of routine matters President
Humphrey announced the next bust
ness in order was the election of Off
GERS for the ensuing year.
Up to this point perfect order and
unanimity had marked the proceedings
| 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. Mo-
tons and amendments, calls of order
and appeals to the chair. which the
chair could not hear, or if he could,
could not make himself heard. followed
one another in rapid succession. The
best of good feeling, however, appeared
to prevail and each gentleman who
struggled to make himself heard above
the uproar seemed to be burdened with
the idea that he was about to submit the
one proposition, which would cut the
gordian knot and relieve his unfortunate
comrades from the perplexities into
which they had fallen.
Nominations for president having
been declared in order, Gen. Mann, Of
North Carolina, on behalf of the Sixth
Corps, announced the name of the
grand old soldier Gen. John Newton.
AS soon as the applause which greeted
this announcement had somewhat SUBJ
sided, Major Joseph Stone, who occu-
pied seat upon the stage. advanced to
the front and shouted at the top of his
voice the nomination by the Fifth corps
of Gen. U. S. Grant. Cheers and cries
of Grant" "Grantr' sVoter' New
tonn' Grant, for some minutes made
it impossible for any one to score the
gentlemen who were on their feet to be
heard. Then followed lunning dis
cussion as to Gen. Grants legibility.
Some one from the stage declared that
he was an honorary member. A voice
from the audience replied: 'He hasn't
paid his duesr' Another called out,
''For fourteen years he declined to be-
come member of our society, why bur-
den him with this honor now?''
Finally, Gen. Humphrey gained at
tention and naively suggested, IF 1 re-
member rightly, Gen. Grant at one
time was intimately associated with the
army of the Potomac near the close of
the war. | think he is clearly eligible
if you choose to elect him. This was
received with shouts of laughter and APP
plause from all quarters, and it was
moved to proceed to ballot.
Gen. Mann then arose and stated that
after consultation with several of his
associates of the Sixth corps, as there
seemed to be general desire to elect
Grant, he would withdraw the name of
Gen. Newton. This was the signal for
renewed connection, accompanied by
cries of good ''don't Withdraw"
The effect was heightened when Bar
mum, of Connecticut, in ringing tones,
announced the name of Gen. Grant.
A Voice-"What right have you to
withdraw him?''
Gen. Barnum. LAS presiding officer
of the Fifth corps at their meeting to-
day, and because l know personally
that Gen. Grant, though he was thought
not unworthy to command us at Apo
matox does not desire the onerous duty
in these piping times of peace, and
would not permit his name to be the
subject of controversy. If there is a
single objection | withdrawals name"
The president being utterly unable
to make himself heard, Gen. Horatio
G. King, the secretary, essayed to
straigbten out matters.
The nominations of Gems. Grant and
Newton were finally renewed and ballot
ing proceeded.
The result of the balloting for presi-
dent was announced as follows: New
ton, 155; Grant, III; scattering, Z.
Newton's election was made unani-
nous, and, withthe exception of presi-
dent, the old officers were reelected
The exercises tonight at the National
Theatre consisted of poem by George
Alfred Townsend, and an Grafton BY
the Hon. Martin Maginnis. Every
available seat in the theatre was occu-
pied. Mr.. Townsend poem was greet
ed with much applause, especially those
portions deifying Lincoln, the martyred
commandment. chief of the armies, the
vast audience rising repeatedly, cheer
ing and waving their hats. Major
Maginnis, the orator, was enthusiast
cally cheered throughout his effort
Major Maginnis concluded his address
by mourning the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln, whom he denominated
the best friend of the Army of the Poto-
mac, and apotheosized him as hero
for whom all the army would have
gladly laid down their lives. His pero-
ration was mastery piece of word
painting on the achievements of peace
and the glory, present and future, of
the American republic.
| At the conclusion of Maginnis' ora
ton, which was cheered at every point,
General Sherman was called for. He
came forward and made one of his char
aeteristic speeches. He addressed the
gathering as friends and comrades in
common cause" and made his first
joke by stating that neighbor on the
platform had told him they did not
want to hear from bummers tonight.
He then, in quiet way, twitted the Po-
tomac fellows for taking too much
credit to themselves for the suppression
of the rebellion. 1.-The memories which
have been recalled by your orator and
poet" said he, ''are common to each
and every soldier, whether he belonged
to your army, the armies of Tennessee,
Ohio. or Texas. We followed under
one flag. We had but a single cause,