St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-04
Reunion Of the Society Of the
Old Army Of the Po-
tOmac.
Scores Of Generals and Other
Veterans Of Minor Rank
Present.
"Old Tecumseh' Sherman
Gives the Society Pointers
On Army Tactics.
Gen. Selden Connor, of Maine,
Elected President for the
Ensuing Term.

G1SuluS L ACI Lie
PORTLAND. Me-, July 3.-The Society
of the Army of the Potomac had a rainy
morning for the opening of their annual
reunion in this city. During the fore
noon corps meetings were held in
the city hall. Some Of the corps
were largely represented. Of others
only dozen members or so
were present. Secretary of War
Proctor was elected president of the
first corps. All over the city buildings
were gayly decorated with flags. Gen.
Sherman arrived to-day and took
quarters at the Falmouth hotel, where
he received calls from comrades. The
veterans met in the city hall this after
noon. In the galleries were many ladies.
Among the prominent officers who occu-
pied the seats on the floor ana
on the stage were Gen. Sherman, Gen.
F. A. Walker, Hon. Horatio King, Gen.
Fitz John Porter, Gen. Selden Connor.
Gen. Coils, Col. Horace e. King, Gen
Hodges, Gen. Dickinson, Gen. Locke,
Clarkson, Beale. VanVliet. Goddard.
John w. COrSe, Brodhead, Deyens and
Howard, also the officers of the war YES
sells now in the harbor. Gen. Brown
escorted Gen. Sherman to the stage and
three cheers were given for him. Three
cheers were also given for Gen. How
ard. While the band was playing, Hon.
Hannibal Hamlin came on the platform
and
The Whole Society Rose
and gave him cheers. Mr.. Hamlin held
quite reception on the stage, shaking
hands with many while all gathered
round to greet him. The chairman
then introduced Mayor Melcher, of
Portland, who welcomed the comrades
in an admirable address which was re-
sponded to by Gen. Coils. The men,
ton of the names of Gen. Sherman and
Hannibal Hamlin by the la tier
speaker evoked the widest en-
thuslasm. The meeting was called
to order by Gen. Coils, who
presided in place of Gen. Parke. After
prayer by Rev: Norman Fox, of New
York, and music, Gen Horatio King
read the poem. Gen. Walker then de-
Hyered the oration, which was an his
torical review OF the career of the Army
of the Potomac. looking backward from
the time of its final review, prior to
disbandment. After the oration by
Gen. Walker was finished the chairman
introduced Gen. Sherman, who re-
ceived prolonged 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 also with the mind. 1t is
not the books we read, or the news
papers either, or even the speeches we
hear, that enlarge our understanding,
but those we comprehend and digest.
Now, friends, | have had good deal of
experience in my life, and have learned
since have been upon this stage that
the grand review in Washington termi-
mated when the Army of the Potomac
passed. 1t reminds me of story Ten.
Taylor is said to have told to an appli-
cant for Office in Washington who urged
his claims from having
Been at Buena Vista.
Gen. 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, l,
have so many fresh memories of that
grand review that think | was there,
and | think that review occupied three
days. The first day the Army of the
Potomac had the floor, and l was
upon the stage at that time,
as am now, taking notes of the posi-
tions, that might profit by them. For
If you remember, the armies of the
West did not have fair reputation for
order, drill and discipline. You got
your news of this through rebel sources,
and we chased them for 1880 miles into
your very camps. They had not very
good opinion of our Western armies,
and we found that even the author
tiles at Washington had not very
good opinion of our western armies.
They thought we were rather liable to
disorder. Now, | assure you, my
friends of the Army of the Potomac, we
were better drilled army than you
were. know it because l was their
commanding general. Now let me give
you little bit of private his
tory, which / have not given
to any except my most init
mate friends. l was on that
stand before Meade was, and, indeed,
before President johnson and the cab
with his staff, as you have heard de-
scribed, and as he wheeled into the gate
of the White house grounds, up came
Custer, and some lady flung him
wreath Ole OF those circular wreaths-
and in trying to get 1t his mare made
off with him and he
Went by Like Shot.
And Custer was not reviewed at all.
He and his brigade of cavalry would
not have passed muster on the Champ
de Mars in Paris. The horses were good,
the men were sublime, but not good
locking for review. Now four corps
passed in succession. and the intervals
between them were too large. 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
those elegant bands, designed to play
music of the highest order and the lat
est operas. You could not understand
them, and 1 don't blame you for it.
You did not keep step. Now the first
duty of soldier is to keep step and
dress right, and keep his eyes to the front.
Now, good many of them turned their
ewes and heads around like country
gawks, looking at the big people Oh the
stand These are little things. You
know there are tricks in every trade,
my young friends; tricks in war, as
well as in peace. l turned to Meade
and said: 81 am afraid my poor volun-
teer corps will make poor appear
ance contrasted with your well-fed
men, And Meade says: .'Well,
Sherman. the people in Washing
ton are now so well disposed to-
ward the army that they will make
all allowance. You need not be afraid"
Well, that evening got word from