The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-17
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
a Brief sketch Of the Organization.

The twenty-irst annual reunion OF the
Society Of the Army Of the Potomac will be
held at Portland on the Sd and 4th of July.
The association has been in existence since
1869, when large number of the survivors
of that army met in the city of New York
and completed its organization. Under the
constitution of the Society, every officer and
enlisted man who has at any time served
with honor in any Of the armies which did
duty east of the Allegheny Mountains. and
has been honorably discharged therefrom OF
remains in the service In the regular army,
is entitled to membership.
As stated in the constitution: "The OBJ
ject Of this Society shall be to cherish the
memories and associations of the Army of
the Potomac; to strengthen the ties of
fraternal fellowship and sympathy formed
from companionship In that army; to per-
petuate the name and fame of those who
have fallen either on the field of battle or in
the line Of duty with that army; to collect
and preserve the record Of its great achieve
ments. it numerous and well-contested bat
ties, its campaigns, marches and skirmshes.
Every officer and enlisted man desiring
to become member shall pay to the treas
urer the sum of one dollar as an initiation
fee. and each year the sum of two dollars as
annual dues. and shall thereupon be en-
titled to copy of the proceedings of the
society, when published, free of charge"
No formal election Is required.
AT the first meeting of the society there
was very lively contest between General
Mcclellan and General Sheridan for the
pos. Of president, General Mcclellan for
time running ahead, but by combination of
other candidates, Sheridan was finally elec-
ted. On that occasion General Joshua l..
Chamberlain, of Maine, the late president
OF the society, was the orator Of the day, and
delivered brilliant address. The banquet
which followed at Delmonico's was ad-
dressed by, among others, Admiral Farra-
gut, General Humphreys, General Burnside.
General Meade. General Stannard, all of
whom have ''crossed the river" Meetings
have since been held every year, except in
1915, in various cities, from Boston to San
Francisco, and the record of the proceedings
forms one of the most interesting and valu.
able historical recitals that can be found In
almost any publication since the war. The
presidents of the society in the order of their
succession have been Generals Sheridan,
Meade, Hooker. Burnside, Mcdowell, Han
cock, Hartranft, Slocum, Franklin, Sickles,
Wright. Devens, Humphreys, Newton, Grant,
Mcmahon, Robinson. Chamberlain and
Parke, and the subordinate officers, Generals
Davies, Sharpe and Colonel Church; Gen.
erals Rjdenbough, McMahon. Horatio G.
King and Col. Sam. Truesdell.
Portland is famous for its hospitality, and
the arrangements for the reunion are so far
completed as to insure a most delightful
meeting. The corps meetings will be held
at 030 a. m. on the third, and the public
meeting at the City Hall, at Up. M, will be
addressed by Gen. Francis A. Walker, Of
Boston, orator, and Hon. Horatio King. Of
Washington, poet. In the evening banquet
will be held at the Falmouth Hotel. the gem
eral headquarters of the society On the
morning Of the fourth there will be grand
parade of the entire National Guard Of the
State and the Grand Army posts, and at the
close an excursion down the bay and clam
bake. President Harrison has been invited
Many distinguished officers have already
signified their intention to be present, among
them General and ex-President Hayes,
Generals Slocum, Slckles, Butterfeld, Fitz
John Porter, Doubleday, Pratt, Horace
others. Gen. Sherman has been invited as
guest Of the city, and will undoubtedly be
present. To these meetings all veterans
are cordially invited