The Portland daily press., 1890-07-04

magnificent divisions of Kearney and Hooker.
lts tnree Drlgades. under de TrObiand, Perce
ana McAlllster, comprised wealth of cour-
age and discipline never surpassed 10 tine
history OF war; These are the men of Will
lamsburg and Seven Pines, of Glendale and
Bristoe Station; of Manassas and Chantilly;
of Charlottesville and the Peach Orchard
at Gettysburg, who, on the opening of the
great campaign Of 1864, leaving their old as
sociations with passionate regrets, carried
with their new relation the same devoted 10y
atty, the same fiery but steadfast courage
which had made the name Of the Third Corps
the synonym of soldierly virtue.
And now Hazards artillery brigade brings
up the rear, and the great review is over.
rms was what the young officer OF artillery
mighty column, scarcely once Withdrawing
his eager gaze. What was it he did not 80
what was lit THAT HE MISSED? An, That
story would be longer, far. than the one l
have thus rudely and hurriedly told. Those
| who were absent from their colors could have
heightened the march out to whole day aud
night. How greatly, too, would their pres
| ence have altered its aspect
OF those whose forms had once been most
conspicuous In that gallant army. there were
| some who, after rising to high command,
had, whether through the accident OF fortune
| or through popular or administrative i'm
patience, or because of their own confessed
| limitations, been removed. under more or
less OF censure, yet carrying with them for
| life and forever, the love and devotion of
| their soldiers. Such, in the highest place,
| were Mcclellan, Burnside and Hooker. A
| few there were, whose retirement had SAVIOR
| ed of personal or political persecution. Their
names Will too readily occur to every mind
/ to require mention here.
Many there were who, with less of Obser-
walton had drifted out of the current Of ac-
tive operations, through changes which were
perhaps for the benefit of the service, yet
without any imputation upon their courage
| and patriotic devotion. OF these | surely
| need not speak. Others there were who
In the height OF their usefulness had been
removed by cruel wounds and mad been con-
demned for the rest of the war to see
younger and m0re.f0rtunate soldiers occupy
their places and lead their troops to battle.
Some too, there were, who, after long and
distinguished service in the Army of the PO-
tomac had carried their swords to other fields,
Such were Hancock and Slocum, Couch and
Howard, Williams and Gibben and Geary.
But where, on the day of that great review
were Reynolds and Reno, Kearney and Rich
ardson, Whipple and Berry, Stevens and
Bayard, Rice and WadswOrth. Look and
Alexander Hays. Weed and Vincent, Taylor
and Rodman, Stevenson and Smythe? All
In soldiers graves. Killed in battle. Sumner
too, that grand old veteran, and David b.
Birney had yielded to the stroke of disease,
scarcely less fatal in war than the bullet of
the enemy.
The Sixth Corps was indeed still In the
field; but where were Scdgwick and David
1
the thousands of younger officers and tens of
thousands Of enlisted men who had dropped
out OF the ranks of the gallant army, in three
years OF almost continuous battle? Had the
eye OF the spirit been opened upon that 23rd
OF May. the spectator would have seen by
side OF each man who moved swiftly, firmly
and proudly in the victorious column, three
wounded and crippled soldiers limping and
stumbling In their eager desire to keep up
with their more fortunate comrades while,
with the four stalked one pale ghost.
Such, companions, have been my thoughts
concerning the great pageant of 1865 What
If the Army OF the Potomac were to be sum
mOned today, by authority which no man
could resist, to meet in WashiHat65 this 9TH
year after the close>66f the war; and all were
70 come from their homes, East or West
9soIth or South, to pass in review before
the Commander-in-Chief Of the armies OF
the United States?
We shall march in column along an avenue
nobler and stateier far, through a city t.
which the Washington of 1865 was but as
the grub to the butterfly that city the CAPT
tai Of nation OF whose grandeur the most
patriotic American of a quarter century age
could have formed 70 adequate conception
Already In the front rank among the powers
OF earth, that nation stands at the entrance
OF career such as has been vouchsafed to
no other people. Greater than all the EN-
plres Oh history. yet under no necessity tC
raise an arm, for one hour, whether Il
main ain its Independence or its dignity, OF
make good single one of its rightful claims
IL Is Tree TO dedicate its mighty powers anG
ious task of illustrating to all mankind the
labor.
But what Of the column of that great ma
tlon's defenders, in its direct hour of peril
which would be summoned, by such a cali a.
nave supposed, to pass through the streets
OF the new Washington? Where are III
leaders nowS Grant is gone, and Sheridan
ana Meade; Gone are Mcclellan, Burnside
Hooker and Mcdowell. All who ever com
i manded that army, except the one will no
name. Gone are Hancock and Humphre,
and Warren. Griffin, Ayres and Mot
More than half, doubtless. of all who tool
part in the grand review now rest in soldiers
graves, while among the survivors the shaft:
Of death are today falling faster than they
fell in '62, or 3 or a.
And of those who should come up at sucl
a call, how changed the aspect! Qudntun
nplttdtus db lilo. how enfeebled the limbs
now ashen and shruuken the cheeks OF
thousands who then strobe along in all thu
pride and vig0r of early manhood How
many think you out of all that host could
this day compass that one long march, much
life?
Yes, comrades our day is over. Mustered
out Oh service. Enfeebled by years, disabled
by wounds, we are no longer to be counted
among the military reserves OF the country
Another war should it occur, would have t
be fought by younger and stronger hand.
. than ours. But no one can take from US oul
certificates of honorable service, or dimin
ishes the part we took in the nations deliv
ance. Wherever we see the statues Of one
OF our heroes dedicated amid the applause Of
thousands and the thunders of cannon
whenever we hear some moving tale of thu
war in Virginia: whenever we see som,
crippled veteran hating in his steps, each OF
us may stand up and proudly cry: II, too
was OF the Army of the Potomac"