Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-12
THE GRAND ARMY.
Soldiers Of the Union Fighting The
Camp Fires of 1861
Speeches by Gems. Grant, Hawley and
Logan and Others.

Washington, April ia specia
campfire of the Grand Army of the
Republic was held at Masonic temple
| tonight in commemoration of opera
tions against Nicksburg. Gen. Joseph
r. Hawley, president, and all the posts
of the grand army in the city were
| represented in the assemblage, which
numbered about 1900 or 1900 people.
| Among the guests present who had
seats upon the platform were President
| Arthur, Gen. Grant, Secretary Lin
coin, Gems. Logan, VanVleit, Vernon,
Mckee, Dunn, Dudley and Hazen,
Representative McKinly, Judge Law
renee and others. Gen. Grant, walk
ing with the aid of crutch, entered
the hall at the head of the invited
guests. lie was greeted with the
widest applause, the assembly rising
and sending forth cheer after cheer,
and continuing the ovation until the
president had taken his seat Oh the
platform.
Comrade d. S. Alexander, depart
ment commander, opened the eXer-.
cises with II brief speech, in which he
congratulated the department on the
presence of so many distinguished
guests, representing nearly all the
| departments of the Grand Army Of
the Republic, and especially upon
the presence of whom he denominated
the grandest chief that represented the
Union, IN allusion TO whom was the
signal for repetition of the applause
which greeted the entrance of Gen.
Grant.
He then introduced the presiding
officer, Gen. Hawley, who was greeted
with applause, and who spoke briefly.
: He said such meetings as
B. this were productive of good
they were good for the grand army
/ and the perpetuation of the memories
they commemorated; they were good
: thing for the country. 1t was twenty
two years to-day since word was sent
to fire upon Fort Sumpter, and that it
I must surrender. 1t was twenty-three
' years tomorrow since the rebels
opened fire upon it. He referred to the
} feeling at the North at that
n time; feeling that there was
n great struggle before the country
$ and God only knew whether it was to
n be divided country, and he asked
a could any one of them have torseen
what the character of that struggle
+ would be, what sacrifices the country
d would be called upon to make, and
e what the result would be.
he thought after a four
years desperate struggle between
the brayest soldiers on both sides who
ever drew breath, the men who com
N posed this assembly and similar ones
- had q right to come together some
times and look back at these things
l. without being accused of Boosting: 10
A. congratulate themselves, TO shake
TT hands and thank God that tae great
at and small alike each counted one I'm
Is the greatest st uggle on record i'm the
is most glorious cause that was ever
to fought.
s. Gen, Hawley then introduced Gen.
e. Logan, saying he felt sure, no matter
what the newspapers said about tbat
gentleman, they We're about to hear
of from brave comrade and an honest
h. man. The statement was received
is with applause. Gen. Logan. on cam,
as ing forward, was greeted with warmth
Il. and his speech was many times inter.
n rupted by applauses by the audience
nj While he WAS speaking, President ~
"a. thur and Secretary Lincoln entered
in the hall. AS soon as their presence
he was made known, the assembly arose
an and cheered them loudly unfit tbey
10 reached Athe platform. The Marine
N. band In the gallery was mean.
q. while playing Hail to the Chief j,
,e When the president and secretary Ind
no reached the. platform the presiding
Il officer called for three cheers for liz
president, which were given, and fo,
three cheers for the son of Abrah.n
Lincoln, which were also given with =
vim. Gen. Logan raised laugh I'D The
IN beginning of his speech by alludiny N
nc the chrnniclers of battles and cantains
re who never saw battle or camnalgn
es but who can tell more about them
- than those who took part in them
u He then described at length aboni
~ Nicksburg, taking occasion 10 make
a. some uncomplimentary allusion IA
1. Fitz John Porter In the course
ae OF his remarks. Some M
~ these illusions drew forth applause
~ from some of those present, especiallv
the one In which, speaking of the for.
ward movements OF certain troops in
operations about Vicksburg, lie said
= with emphasis, "We knew there was
H. u battle going on, and wanted 10 uet
H. there" a statement that was greefsJ
with cheers, q voice oryine ont
k, "rhere was no Porter thereto Ea
closed his description of the carnpaign
- with the statement that the accomnIish.
d. ments and achievements In the iata
war have no parallel In the history Of
- the world VI
m After the assenblage had sumo
"Marching through Georgia. I'D Nhh Ss
- General Hawley, General lsrsny,
re. was called for, ana . mn