Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-18
The Old Commander Of the Army
of the Potomac Messing
With the Veterans.
An Enthusiastic. Tumultuous
and Hearty Greeting.
Tho Principal Points OF MoClsl-
lan's Address.
THE VETER ANS.

OF the Army OF the Potomac for tn
excursion to Mount Vernon to.ds,
had three steamers-Gsorge Leary,
large river steamer, and United S ate
steamer Tallspoosa aud revenue cutie
Ewing, the latter having been plscec
at the disposal Of the committee b,
the navy and treasury dspsrtmentr
On the three boats were about | 90,
members Of the society and thei
gueats, including many ladies and res
idents of Washington. A COLLATION.
was served Oh each of the boats anc
the trip down the river was enlivenec
by army soNgs ana impromptr
speeches. After remaining two hour,
at Mount Vernon the veterans and
party returned to the city.
The banquet tonight at Abner'f
summer garden closed the reunion.
The full marine band furnished music
for the occasion, assisted by glee
club of twenty singers. The music
was of martial character, consisting
prir cipslly of soldiers songs of the
rebellion. The rendition of familiar
airs aroused much enthusiasm among
the veterans, who FREQ lently lent
their voices to swell the chorus. AT
the principal table were seated the Of
ticers of the society and distinguished
guests, among them Generals Sher.
man, Mcclellan, Rosencranz, Slocum,
Schofsld, Bingham and Van
Welt, Rear Admiral Rogers,
General Schenck, General Walker,
Senator Miller, of Californis, and
Commissioner of Pensions Dudley,
Gen. Mcclellan made his appearance
some time after the banquet began,
and as soon as he entered some one
called out: "Three cheers for Little
Mac" They were given heartily, most
of the guests rising to respond. The
old commander of the Army of the
Potomac bowed his Acknowledgement
of the greeting and passing down In
the rear of the guests table, shaking
hands here and there with old friends,
took a seat next to Gen, Sherman .
The first toast, "The President" was
drunk standing The next toast, "Tt Q
army of the United States" was re.
sponded to by General Sherman.
Rear Admiral Rodgers answered for
the navy. General John F. Miller,
United States senator from Calf ornia
responded to the next toast, 1.-THE
Armies of the West" He said the
armies of the Cumberland and Ton.
nessee shared with the army of the
Potomac the spirit of self.sacrifice.
They were ready to perish that the
union might live. He spoke of the
battles ot the armies of the wea. and
of their commanders, of Grant, Sher.
man, Rosencrsz, Mcpherson and
Others and at the mention of each
name the veterans loudly cheered.
The next toast, "The Army of the
Potomac, was responded to by Gen.
Mcclellan. As the name of their old
commander was announced and he rose
to address them, the veterans uprang
upon chairs and burst into cheer
after cheer. For two or three min.
utes the clsmor was deafening, men
pounded the tables, stamped with
their feet and shouted themselves
hoarss. Viewed from the gallery
during this space of time the ban
quoting room was a surgipg, tumultu-
GUS sea of heads, arms, napkins, hats
and even crutches, with which the
owners were wildly gesticulating In
their enthusiasm and excitement
General Mcclellan stood calmly bow.
ing during the tumult, and when 1t
showed signs of lessening stilled 1t
entirely with wave of his hand. In
a voice of deep feeling and speak
Ing IN measured tones, he be-
gan his greeting 10 his old
command. Every voice was hushed
He said, "In the days long past and
gone forever, when we were young
and strong, full of life and hope, with
the future all before us, there we're
such relations between us that 1t seems
to me too cold and formal to address
you simply as ''Mr. Chairman" and
"Gentlemen." Our chairman often
brought to me intelligence that need
ed up from the very jaws of death,
and when assigned to the command of
q division of new troops he hurried
by forced marches to the assistance of
his commander on the bloody field of
Antietam. There can be no form or
ceremony between him and myself.
Very many, perhaps most of you, were
with me when In this very city I as.
sumed command of that mass
of brave men, unorganized and IN.
instructed, who composed the nu.
cleus of what afterwsrd became the
Army of the Potomac. Those Of you
who were with me then were more
to me than dear comradea, NOR
than brothers in srms-you were 90
my very children" This was Nc
Ciellan's opening and In this strain
he proceeded to the close. He spoke
of "the trying times of In which you
and l did our best for the country
aud recalled the well loved and ia
mliiar faces which all missed from
their ranks. He eaid, II see now
in this city, the capital of the nation,
as 1t Was when l came here teom
western Virginia, full Of disorgan
izsd troops In imminent danger of
attack, l see quiet and order re.
stored as If by magic when you at once
responded to my appeals and seconded
my endesvors. / remember we'll the
mass of raw troops pourInp In hadlv
armed improperly equipped, but com.
posed Of the best men that ever re.
sponded to an appeal to arms, actu.t.
cd by tho highest and purest motives
OF patriotism, discussing no party
questions, knowing but one thing
that the country was in danger and
that they were ready 10 give their
lives to save II. saw m army come