The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-12-30
REUNION OF COMRADES.
nj fhn Irnin,, an,nIa... Alrinunn


of the Union Soldiers Alliance.
Tho banquet OF tho Union Soldiers Ait
ance last night at the National Hotel was a
grond success, The comrades ana invited
guests commenced TO assemble In one OF the
handsome parlors about & O'Clock, aud az each
entered he was heartily greeted, and II was
soon ascortained, by testing his ability to
stand up and DO punched, whether no had
como prepared for the usual duties OF the oc.
casion or was expecting to "nro and fall back"
For about an hour Joke and repartee was nrod
from one TO another OF the Veterans. Many
were the old stories OF camp ana field revived.
The Invited guests, Colonel John McElroy and
General Rosocrans, were paid particular at
tention and their conversation was at all
times most entertaining. Gen. Rosecrans was at
his best, and his smiling, genial countenance
made oven those introduced to him for the
flrat timo feel they had known him for years.
no was surrounded by crowd OF Eager lis
tenere.
The unfortunate and distressing condition
OF their "most eminent grand commander"
was the subject OF earnest conversation among
those he had so often led % victory, and 1t was
evident that II "the boys" know II would not
be distasteful TO the general they would soon
be subscribing toward q ''soldlers' and sailors
testimonial fund.-" and Inducing others to
served under General Grant would DO pleased
TO do something for him, now, personally, but
they would not wound his feelings further for
who would submit TO being punched, having
been punched, and having looked at the eye.
opener, the battalion was formed and marched
right In front, without the band, TO the BAN
quet hall, which was handsomely decorated.
The only thing not Just right about the en-
IRE banquet was the unfortunate fact that
whine host" could not place his tables In &C.
cordanco with tho rules aud regulations OF the
Alliance, In hollow square.
He was compellcd-the hall being long and
narrow-to have table so long that, In the
clatter OF the clattorers, one could not be
heard from one end of the table to the other.
The menu was-but why aggravate those
have been. We will not. The menu was
simply superb and that IA simply all, unless
that II was the Nationals best; and that, do
you know" 10 saying much.
The regular toaets and responses were:
The President OF the United statee," Com.
rade Q. E. Coon; "The Republicans Safety
and Perpetuity" Comrnde 8. s. Burdette;
"The Union Soldiers Alliance" Comrade Ben
lamin Engel; THE Loyal Women OF the Late
War-Their Mission" Comrade d. W. Bliss;
THE Grand Old 6uard.-Tne Veteran Soldiers
Who Stlll SURVIVE" Comrade A. +. Mcmillan;
"The National Militia-The Citizen soldiers
Oomrade W. @. Moore; sour Fallen Com
"The Press-Its Freedom, Its License" Com.
rade Frank t. Howe; "The Army and Navy"
Comrade Brodie.
the "dip toast" was served, and there were
sounds OF revelry by night" Joyous, rolick.
Ing songs, speeches, recitatlons, stories,
piuhho pihyous huu-uD Oue
went away after midnight who could not be
overheard as they won't down stairs singing,
Haven't we had good timer" "Mlue host'
can congratulate himself that had he not given
"the boys" such an elegant banquet-had II
not been go we'll served and the walters 30 at
tentlve-they would not have forgotten TO
adopt the customary resolution OF thanks to
| him.
Had Il Do' HHou COR his unfortunate rheuma.
tism, Gle; n would have boon pres.
emit. > iafinr Waa from Lieutenant Gem
eral hneri4au. re .fef.lig that q "slight iudts-
pc .' NlI t1unei3a him TO withdraw his
'gMn- lnut tao IH.leIdr extended him.
lan c.u' r.grt lIU.H ~ "greaty disap-
y Iuuo. viaa nt n-rng me at the ban
gus af'. .ul p worry fIHag W Year"
Al. rln NHUg. trat..I annr'HHr know that
though "a ..H.. u1Ur. .. el lal ed more.
Some - Pc Lann.r ius avg nee ex-
pressed n rrf .r.. fUH rHuHtfIUt.Hu 4 4 by
laws do not s0rifl .arU Ur4.Hsf c. elef OF
the quarterly .gc.fl1rn