The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-14

w.
| commanding, 40 strong.
| Custer Camp, of Washington 35 men, F. w. Far
| quahar commanding.
Ellsworth Camp, 40 strong, Jno Alaaser command
Latchford Camp, of Woodbury.. 50 strong William
Scott commanding.
The third brigade was composed of civic and
religious societies. The fourth of firemen.
THE BANQUET.
A Brilliant acknowledgements by Comrades-The
Blue and the Gray.
A fitting close to the Reunion was the ban
auet which took place in Concordia Hall. AL
most every State in the Union was represented,
| and by men who were known and honored the
length and breadth of the land About 8
o'clock the members of Lee Camp arrived in a
body and We're heartily greeted. Soon after
| Gov. Lloyd and staff. in full uniform, and
Mayor Latrobe arrived, and were received by
| Gen. Felix Agnus. By 9 o'clock all the guests
had arrived and the march to the banquet
hall began. The column was headed by Mr. S.
| z. Thompson, Gen. Hunt and Mayor Latrobe,
followed by Gov. Lloyd and Col. Loomis L.
| Lan.don AS the line marched into the hall
the band played The Star Spangled Banner
The scene as viewed from the gallery was
most brilliant. Over the proscenium arch was
| a large portrait of Gen. Grant draped in the
Stars and Stripes. Two magnificent flags ex-
| tended from either side OF the wings, while
| bDe Dack OF the stage was almost Dluuen Dy
potted plants, which lined the front. In the
ceuter was magnificent shield Of roses, rest
ing Oh two crossed flags, also formed of flowers.
The whole was surmounted by the American
eagle. From the galleries. arranged in crescent
shape, were the colors of all nations, caught in
| the center by blazing silver stars. Below were
evergreens and garlands, extending along the
caves, and suspended from these were baskets
of flowers. Extending from the chandeliers to
| the sides of the hall. streamers
All the tables were beautifully decorated wi th
! flowers The Speakers table was presided over
| by Maj Gen. Hunt, tianked on either side by
Gov. Lloyd and Mayor Latrobe. TO the Chair
mans left were Commander Schley, Col. John
l.. Thomas, ex-Goy. VIM. Pinkney Whyte, Maj.
Innes Randolph and Maj. Dewitt c. Sprague.
70 his right were Lieut-COl. LOomis l.. Lang
don. comnandant at Fort McI1enry; Col.
Charles Marshall, Gen. Horace Porter, Mr.. S.
| p. Thompson and Judge Ernest Hall, of New
| York. The heads of the table were occupied
by the Chairmen and members Of the various
committees
AT the conclusion of the banquet, when the
President of the society announced the toast
I" The President Of the United States" the fol-
| lowing telegram was read from Secretary
| Lamont:
WASHINGTON, D. G.
Gen. II. c. Klsa. baltimore:
The President regret that it will not be possible
for him to attend the Reunion of the Society of the
Army of the Potomac. ID. A. LAMONT,
Private Secretary.
In the absence of the President, it was drunk
| standing.
Gov. Henry Lloyd, Of Maryland. was intro
duced by Vice-PreSdent Hunt, and said in ttA
course of his remarks, that III Maryland rest
| the bones of some who wore the blue and some
who wore the gray. Her State military is
| manned to-day by the men who wore the blue
! and the grav, and she stands today ready to
back the armies of the Republic. Her people
| are loyal and they accept the amendments to
| the Constitution, aud " Maryland, my Mary
land" will ever be found in hearty accord with
the best thought and patriotism of the Republic
Mayor LatrObe then responded TO the toast
"The City of Baltimore" He said that Balti
more was the first Southern city which had
ever been selected for the annual Reunion of
| the Society Of the Army of the Potomac and
considered the choice peculiarly happy.
| In conclusion will say that we thank yo,I gen.
tlemen of the Army of the Potomac. for selecting
this place for your Reunion. And we hope that
this is not the last time you will visit us. We
| now ali one people. The flag of the Union, thank
| God. floats over all. lAppause.l We will never
| have another war. fCries of Never, never"
| When did have IA battles and str-,t egies
| and victories were the biggest ever furnished any
| wher=. Now, all this has passed away, and when
| another war shall come it Will be from foreign
foe, and the blue and the gray will fight under
flag and one country. Immense applause. And
when that time comes l am sure Maryland will not
| be found wanting
Gen. Horace Porter replied to the toast The
Army of the Potomac in a very happy strain,
and his humorous illusions elicted much mirth
In the course Of his remarks he made a touch
ing aflusi0n to Gen. Grant:
| We feel sad when we think If the vacant chair in
our midst. We miss the presence cf or:r iilrst.ous
head-ihe President OF this orSanizai He is
suffering from fatal disease. and the voice that
WAS heard to give the word of command in battle
can scarce be heard above whisper. We know
not when the silver cord will be loosed His name
will never be forgotten by the men of the North
/
the south ever forget his kindly behavior. The
teiegranls Of condocncc from the South is another
proof That the breath of partsanship is no longer
III the land. where none arc for the party and all
! for the State.
Lieut.-Col. L. T.. Langdoa, commanding at
Fort McHenry. responded to "The Army" and
Commander Schley, Of Arctic fame, answered
to the toast of "The Navy"
| In place Of Rev. Fl. w. Bee"her, tie toast
"fhe Volunteers was responded to by Hon.
John l.. Thomas, whose speech repeatedly
interrupted by applause and laughter.
Col. Charles Marshall replied to "rhe Bench
and the Bar in an able manner, and the re-
marks OF Maj Innes Randolph on 1.-The Press !"
were received with much enthusiasm.
Gen. Calvin f. Pratt was introduced to re-
spond to 1.-The Orator of the Day." and said
rhc Army of the Potomac holds this Govern
ment i:ipp.HscI, and the country holds hundreds
| OF thousands of acres and we will accept those
hundreds of Thousands of acres our back-pay
for stitferings. Gratitude costs nothing. There
, | is more loyal than a soldier. He Is loyal
in peace aud in war; they believe in civil service
but not for soldiers, who are TO be asked conum-
drums in geography which they actually learned
and mapped out before they are to be given posi-
| tions
De Witt Clinton Sprague replied tn the toast
"The Poet Of the Day" He made few re-
marks, in which he occasiOned much applause
and laughter by his humorous illusions to poe
try and poets -
Ex-Gov. Whyte responded to "Woman in
War He said it had been the lot of few
women to do notable things in war, but if the
story of her sacrifices could be transferred to
history it would make volumes.
!! At the conclusion of Gov. Whyte's address a
Buminers' Meeting was organized, of which
Gen. King was made the President, and the
rest of the evening was passed by the veter-
, ans in lively manner. Thus ended the great
5 est Reunion ever held by the Army Of the Po-
| tomac.
1t was found impossible to give the pyrotec-
: mic display contemplated. because Of the rain.
| The exhibition, consequently, took place on