Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-12


r Annual Reunion NJ Povtlasd. Me.-Chai
. Acterlstic Speech ~ General ShermaA.
D PORTLAND. Me-, July A-The sOciet
I Of the Army Of the Potomac had rain
D morning for the opening OF their ANNA
. reunion in this city During the fore
, noon corps meetings were held in tn
= city hall Some Of the corps wer
} largely represented but Of others Onl
dozen members or so were present
Secretary Of War Proctor was electe,
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 or
tho floor and on the stage were General
Sherman, General f. A. Walker. Hon.
Horatio King, General Fitz John Porter,
General Seldea Connor, General G. f.
Coils, Colonel Horace G. King, General
Hodges, General Dickinson, Generals
Locke, Clarkson, Beale, Vanvliet Good
ard, John w. Corse, BrOadhead, Devens
and Howard and officers Of the war YES
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 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 o 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 II
Is so with the mind. It Is not the books we
read, or the newspapers either. or even the
speeches We hear, that enlarge 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 have been upon this stage
mated when the Army OF the Potomac
passed. 1t reminds me Of story General
Taylor Is said to have told to an applicant
for Office In Washington, who urged his
claims from having been ut Bucna Vista.
General Taylor said he had heard of so many
things having occurred there that although
he had thou ght he was there himself, he had
come to the CT Inclusion that he was mob
there at all.
Now 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 was upon the stage Mt that
time, as am now. taking notes OF the posi-.
tions, that might profit by them. For, II |
you remember. the armies of the West did |
not have fair reputation for order, drill |
and disciI line. You got your news of us |
through rebel sources [grcat applaus"] and |
we chased them for 800 miles into your very
camps. They had not very good opinion
OF our Western armies and we found that
even the authorities Mt Washington had not
a very good opinion OF our Western armies.
They thought we were rather liable to dis.
order. Now, assure You, my friends OF the
Potomac. We were better drilled than
you were. know It, because was their
Commanding General. Laughter and ap.
plause.I
Now let me give You a little bit OF private
history, which have not given any one cx.
cept my most intimate friends. was on
mat stand before Meade was, and indeed be.
Iore President johnson and the Cabinet had
gotten there. Meade came with his staff, "a
Tou have heard described, and as he wheeled
INTO the gate OF the White House grounds
Up came Custer, and some lady flung him |
Nreath-one OF those circular wreaths-and
n trying to get IL his mare made off with ,
him and he went by like shot And Custer
vas not reviewed at all and his brigade OF
avalry would not have passed muster OF {
he Champs de Mar, Ia Paris. Tn. horses I
Eere good. the men were sublime, hut not
God looking for review. 4
Now four orps passed In succession and 4
he intervals between them were too large. 8
kept my eye upon them and watched them [
II the time And the worst mistake the I
rmy OF the Potomac made was that You q
ad two bands loaned you by stay al. homes e
Washington. There were these Gle. N
ant bands designated to play music OF the G
ighest order and the latest operas. You n
ould not understand them, and I don't Il
lame you for It, You don't keep STEP Now, n
he first duty OF q soldier Is to keep step d
nd dress right and keep his eyes to the ri
ont. Now, good many OF them n
ke country gawks. looking at the big @,
eople on the stand. Those are little things. bI
on know there are tricks in every trade, Of
y young frlends-trlcks In war as well as tr
peace. turned TO Meade and said: 'I
n afraid my poor volunteer corps will "a
AXE q poor appearance contrasted with IN
'ur we'll fed men," and Meade said: swell, az
erman, the people In Washington are now oa
we'll disposed toward the army that they II
II mako all allowance. You need not be 6:
raid"
Well. that evening got word from Gen. b
~ Augur saying III wanted those two on
nds Icoplq have them said: "Thank WI
u, thiHk WIN stick TO my old bands" GA
sent word that n ght 60 all corps com. An
Inders: "Be careful about intervals, ac- ~
rdinR to tactics. and keep your dress to of
toward the reviewing stand, and don't Mi
your men be looking around over shout. vi
q. Ne VIII give them plenty Of time to sta
the capital and see every thing after the ito
lew is over. Let them keep thelr eyes ths