The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-14
ARMY oE The POTOMAC.
The Reunion at Baitimore--GeneralG Grant
Again Chosen Commander-The Blue and
the Gray.


corps associations taking part in the re-
union OF the Army of the Potomac, which
began here yesterday. each had separate ;
place of meeting and spent the morning in
organizing and electing officers. Each corps
selected Vice President of the Society of
the Army of :he Potomac, and many reSo-
lutions were passed, one asking Congress
to take speedy action in carrying out the
recommendation of the military committee
looking to the complete vindicatiOn Of Gen.
eral Fitz John Porter, and another asking
that that portion of the civil service law
relating to the preferences to- be given to
honOrably discharged Union soldiers in the
distribution of Federal patronage be strictly
enforced. The business meeting of the So
eiety was held in Ford's Grand Opera House
| The stage was set as a camp, a, portrait OF
General Grant being in the center arch.-
! Shields bearing coats OF arms were placed
around both galleries, and from the pillars
| hung gonfalonS inscribed with the names
of Grant, Burnside Meade, Sherman, Sheri--
| dan. Mcclellan and Hooker. Many dis
tinguished men occupied seats on the stage
|
| Secretary,
| CALLED TIRE MEETING 10 ORDER,
| and owing to the deafness of King General
| Hunt, the senior Vice President was COM
| PEELED to do the chairman's duty most of
| the time. General King said that he had
been commissioned by General Grant to say
| that he was greatly disappointed at not be-
lol,1
the society, but his sympathy and heart
were with his old comrades. Major GEN
| eral Hunt assumed the chair, with thanks
for the cordial reception given him. The
reunion of 1856, it was decided, would be
! held at San Francisco. General Wander
| WORT stated that the National EHcamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Republic
/ would probably be held there next year, and
that the California Legislature had
appropriated twenty-five thousand dol
/ lars for the entertainment of the
/ visitors, provided both organi
cations should come at the same tina
| Cheap railroad fares were promised and q
cordial welcome guaranteed. Nominations
| for the officers for the ensuing year being
| in order, General John c.. Robinson adj
vanced on crutcheS. He thanked his friends
| for mentioning his name for the position as
| Commander of the Army of the Potomac,
but said he would under no circumstances
! allow it to be used i'll opposition to that of
| the illustriOus soldier now holding the posi-
tion, and he moved that the Secretary bs
| authorized to east one ballot upon which
should be inscribed the name of General ".
| S. Grant. The various corps associations
| seconded General RObnSOnS motion and it
| was
| CARRIED By \ STANDING VOTE,
amidst the widest enthusiasm. The other
officers were also reelected. General W.
| II. BIowE, OF Washington, suggested that
As the r. Z. Lee camp of Richmond, Va,
was in the immediate neighbOrhOOd it would
be both generous and graceful to invite
them to occupy seats on the floor of the
House and make their acquaintance. Motion
TO that effect was made and seconded. when
two or three men jumped up and violently
opposed such proceeding, one of them say
ing that rebels, no matter how repentant,
had no interests in the business of Union
soldiers and that their presence was an ia
suit which could not be endured Nearly
every man in the house was instantly on
his feet trying to make himself heard, and
for while there was scene of confusion
which threatened to terminate in personal
encounters. The chairman vainly en-
deavOred to secure order, and threatened to
and committee appointed to invite the
ex-confederateS to meet their old opponents
after the business of the meeting was dis
posed of. \ resolution from the Grand
Army of the Republic Veterans ASSOcia-
ton was adopted, asking that the civil ser
vice rules referring to preference that
should be given to persons hOnOrably dis
charged from the army and navy in the dis
tTibutiOn of Offices
SHOULD BE STRICTLY ENFoRCED.-
also one asking Congress to appropriate
sufficient funds for the erection of the
statue to Major General Joseph Hooker.
After the adjournment committee ap-
pointed to invite X. Z. Lee Camp to seats :
on the floor came in bringing with them a
long string of men in gray suits. They
were greeted with great applause, and in
return filed the house with the genuine
rebel yell. Ex-COnfederates were scat
tered among the blue coats and their Off
GERS invited to the stage. Colonel McGin-
mis-, of Montana, welcomed them, and Com
mander General Cooke responded. Short
addresses were also made by Colonel
Charles Marshall, Chief of General Lees;
staff, and Colonel Evans, of Richmond. A
reception was held at F0rd's Opera House
last night and was brilliant success. Hun
dreds of ladies were present. On the stage
were many men distinguished IN military
circles. In the audience was the r. f. Lee
Camp of ex-COnfederates. General King,
Secretary of the society, read the following
Telegram from General Grant: Please
thank the members of the society of the
Army Of the Potomac for their partialIty
in selecting me for a second time as their
President | wish my health promised tire
probability of my being at the next meet
ing | would regard it as PrOsideEtial
should be able to attend. but | accept the
honor, though without hope of performing
the duties Of the Office. Wishing
all the members many happy re-
unions, L remain, etc" Mayor La
trobe welcomed the Veterans in be-
half of the veterans of the city Vice
President Hunt returned thanks in the name
Of the society. He said I'VE have a
fair, square fight and now we have fair
square peace. | aIB here TO represent Gen.
eral Grant. | have said enough and will
try and represent him by being quiet"
Major Dewitt &. Sprague delivered an Origi-
nal-pOem and General Calvin C.. Pratt Of
New York, delivered the Grafton. Short
addresses were UlHue by Governor Lloyd,
Of Maryland, General II. w. SlOcum. Cen
eTal John Z. hartranft, General Horace
Porter and c. 4. Bowman, an eX-COnfede-
rate soldier Tbe audience were strik-
mgly demonStratiVe.
End of tu- Cattle Deadlock.
SPRINGFIELD. ILL, May 7.-GovernOr
Oglesby TODAY s-nt dispatch to a number