The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-04
TIE CELEBRATION At PORTLAND.
A Naval Review 10 Accompany tho Re
union Of the Army OF the Potomac.

A Naval Review to Accompany tho Re
union OF the Army OF the Potomac.
The chief city OF Maine combines this year
with its ordinary observance OF the Fourth OF
July tho annual reunion OF the Society OF the
Army OF the Potomac. The national authori-
tics have coOperated In doing honor to this &C.
casion by ordering a naval display at Portland.
in which all the vessels OF the North Atlantic
snuadron.-the baltimore. tho Galena, the
KearsarGe, the Essex. the Dolphin. and the
Petrol-are to tnke part. The throe wooden
craft and the three steel vessels will form q
suggestive contrast between The naval appli-
ances OF the old war times and those of to-
day: but not less worthy OF pride than Adj
miral Gherardi's last flagship Is the craft
whose guns sent tho Alabama to the bottom Of
the British Channel on the 18th OF June 1864.
This years gathering OF the veterans OF the
Army OF the Potomac is one OF special signlf-
cance round quarter OF century has
passed since its work was finished and its
prize won. The Second the Fifth. and the
Sixth Corps were formally disbandod on the
2Sth OF June. 1868; and on that day General
Orders No. IS. tho last ever issued from the
headquarters OF the Army OF the Potomac de-
clared. over the signature OF Gen. Meade, that
this army as an organization ceases to exist"
provisional corps, under Gen. Wrights COM
mand. was formed from the regiments and
smaller bodies not then mustered out; but the
remarkable energy and administrative skill
which were 80 rapidly clearing away the whole
fabric and machinery Of war, disposed also Of
this provisional CORPS within q fortnight A
few vcpe aetsDs cd the r Apy
son with regulars here and there beyond mid
summer; hut more than q million soldiers.
turned to civil life. Tho celebration of the
Fourth OF July 1865. was accordinGly one OF
Years yea earlier in isI5 the Fourth Of July ceIe.
The veterans assembled in Portland will
perhaps recall the farewell words OF Gen.
clarsd maj history would do justice to AZ
Would keep in remembrance not only the
grand and decisive battle Of Gettysburg. the
rSt OF s and tine re OF
maltox." but your patience and cheerfulness
n1e ba all hH Ani ebs
In looking back upon the events OF twenty-five
yeas ago, the survivors OF this army do
was The their ornne both to check the course Of
the insurrection ut Its climax OF strength, and
to give tho deathblow to Io armed Secession on
Potomac always showed under the most de-
1t is remarkable and suggestive. indeed. that
even now, when a quarter OF a century has
passed. thoughts OF what the Army OF the
Potomac accomplished are so largely tempered
with memories OF what it herocally endured.
The clores Of Malvern Hill, the Antietam.
never have quite overcome melancholy refiec-
tions upon, tne terrible cost TO the best and
Always better than its commanders wrote
Gen. Palfrey. always ready to stand In the
evil hour. and having done all TO stand. 1t
marched and fought and hunRered and thirsted
for four long years. hardly ever animated by
victory. 1t fought through TO the end. it did
was long and rough and seldom checred" Mem
cries OF their patient waiting in adverse for
tune are no doubt, as potent as memories Of
which the annual reunions OF the survivors OF
the Army of the Potomac always show. But 1t
was q happy outcome OF hard experience that
to It was reserved the supreme honor OF con-
nuering both the Confederate capital and the
most important army Of the Coniederacy on
whose fate war and peace depended.