The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-07-09
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
| Annual Reunion ut Portland. Me.-Char.-
ecteristic Speech BY General Sherman.
PORTLAND. Me-, July 4-The society
OF the Army of the Potomac had q rainy-
morning for the opening of their annual
reunion in this city. During the fore
noon corps meetings were held in tho
city hall Some of the corps were
largely represented, but of others only
dozen members or 50 were present.
Secretary of War Proctor was elected
president of the First corps.
The veterans met in the city hall yes-
terday afternoon. In the galleries there
were many ladies. Among the promi-
nent officers who occupied the seats on
the floor and on the stage were General
Sherman. General F. A. Walker, Hon.
| Horatio King, General Fitz John Porter.
General Selden Conner. General G. F.
Coils. Colonel Horace C. King, General
Hodges, General Dickinson, Generals
Locke. Clarkson, Beale, Vanvliet, Good
ard, John w. Corse. Broadhead, Devens
and Howard and officers of the war ves-
sells in the harbor.
While the band was playing Hon.
Hannibal Hamlin came on the platform
and the whole society rose and gave
him three cheers. He held quite a re-
ception on the stage. shaking hands
with many, while all gathered around to
greet him. After an address of welcome
by Mayor Melcher, of Portland, the
meeting was called to order by General
Coils.
General Walker then delivered the
Grafton. which was an historical review
OF the career of the army of the Potomac.
After the grafton by General Walker
was finished the chairman introduced
General Sherman, who received a pro-
lOnged ovation and spoke as follows:
Comrades of the Army of the Potomac and
Ladies and Gentlemen OF Portland:
1t is not the food We eat that gives health
and strength, but that which we digest 1t
is so with the mind. II is not the books We
read, or the newspapers either, or even the.
speeches We hear. that enlar ge our under
standing. but those We comprehend and di-
gest Now, my friends, have had a good
deal OF experience in my life, and have
learned since 1 have been upon this stage
that the grand review in Washington term
mated when the Army of the Potomac
passed. 1t reminds me of a story General
Taylor is said to have told to an applicant
for office in Washington, who urged his
claims from having been at Buena Vista.
General Taylor said he had heard of so many
things having occurred there that although
he had thought he was there himself, he had
come to the conclusion that he was not
there at all.
Now, / have so many fresh memories Of
that grand review that think i was there
and think that review occupied three days.
The first day the army of the Potomac had
the floor and was upon the stage at that
time, as am now, taking notes of the posi-
tiOns, that might profit by them. For il
you remember. the armies of the West did
not have fair reputation for order, drill
and discipline. You got your news of US
through rebel sources [great applause] and
We chased them for 500 miles into your very
camps. They had not a very good opinion
of our Western armies and we found that.
even the authorities at Washington had not
a very good opinion of our Western armies.
They Thought we were rather liable to dis
order. Now, l assure you, my friends of the
Potomac, We were better drilled than
you were. 1 know it, because I was their
Commanding General. daughter and ap-
plauseI
Now let me give You little bit Of private
X u
cept my most intimate friends. l was on
that stand before Meade was, and indeed be-
fore President johnson and the Cabinet had
gotten there. Meade came with his staff
you have heard described, and as he wheeled
into the gate of the White House grounds,
up came Custer, and some lady flung him ::
wreath-one of those circular wreaths-and
IN trying to get it his mare made off with
him and he went by like a shot And Custer
was not reviewed at all and his brigade of
cavalry would not have passed muster of
the Champs de Mars in Paris. III. horses
were good, the men were sublime but not.
good looking for review.
Now four corps passed in succession and
the intervals between them were too large
i kept my eye upon them and watched them
all the time And the worst mistake the
army of the Potomac made was that you.
had two bands loaned you by stay at homes
in Washington There were these ele-
CANT bands designated to play music Of the
highest order and the latest operas. YOU
could not understand them, and 1 don't
blame you for it. You don't keep step. Now.
the first duty of a soldier is to keep step
and dress right and keep his eyes to the
front. Now. a good many of them
turned their eyes and heads around
like country gawks. looking at the big
people on the stand. Those are little things.
You know there are tricks in every trade,
my young friends-tricks in war we'll
in peace. turned to Meade and said: IT
am afraid my poor volunteer corps will
make a poor appearance contrasted with
your well fed men," and Meade said: "Well
Sherman. the people in Washington are now
20 well disposed toward the army that they
will make all allowance. You need not be
afraid"
Well. that evening got word from Gen.
eral Augur saying IL l wanted those two
bands could have them / said: Thank
vou, think 1 will stick to my old bands
and sent word that ght to all corps COM
nanders: "Be careful about intervals, ac-
'Ording to tactics. and keep your dress to
eft toward the reviewing stand, and don't
ct your men be looking around over shout
lers. We will give them plenty Of time to
zee the capital and see every thing after the
eview is over. Let them keep their eyes
fifteen PAGES to front, shoulders square and
march in the old accustomed way" They
lid so.
Well, after the reviewing was over, con-
end that your review was over, but mine
vas not. The two con st tute a thing of mag
ifcent proportions, creditable to both. As
o the patriotism within their hearts, as to
ne principles which moved these great
IA sses of men to a common purpose We