Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-17
NAVAL VETERANS,
Interesting Meeting of the Recently Organized
Potomac Association.


VISITORS FROM BOSTON AND PBrIAprLPHrA PRES
ESr-rLoouESr SPEECHES MADE-THE vALoH
OF THE SAILOR DURING THE WAR ExToLLED-
THE TRANSFORMED NATIONAL CAPITAL
Last evening the recently organized Potomac
Association Of Naval Veterans had a gala time
attheir hall. 7th and Dstreets northwest. which
will be long remembered by the participants.
This organization is one OF the various associs-
tions of the Naval Veteran Legion, at the head
of which is Admiral Wells Of New Haven, Conn,
and 10 full brother TO the Grand Army Of the
Republic, having for its objects the relief Of
the distressed, &c The District association il
now but three weeks old, and expects soon to
have hundreds on its roll 1t has adopted n
neat uniform Of dark blue coat with brass but
tons, and cap with crossed anchors on b
front They will take part in the great G. A R.
demonstration in September next. The officers
are Isaac Newton, commander; 4. N Vanne-
man, lieutenant commander; F. NJ. Skinner,
lieutenant; j. H. King, secretary; e. K Rey-
nolds, surgeon; ID. d. Brennan. chaplain; W. 3.
Seymour. master-at-arms, and Z. +. Clagett,
ships corporal
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS LAST xvESISa.
Last evening the association had a. visitors
Mr.. Sinms Of the Philadelphia association,
Capita W. A. Abbott and 5. V. Stillings Of the
Kearsarge Association OF Boston, Capts. II. p.
Fisher, Thomas Galloway and Messrs- % Bryon,
Sheshsn, Whitehand aid Langley. These were
introduced through Capt ii. ). Wetmore in the
following terms:
Commander: Your order for me to get
under way and proceed to the harbor st. James
snd convoy alOngside shipmates Stiliings and
Abbott Of the Eearsarge Battalion of Naval
Veterans of Boston, together with comrades Of
the GRAND Army has been complied with.
trust that you viii receive them on board and
permit me TO return to my anchorage.
Commander Newton welcomed the visitors
heartily. expressing his regrets that the asso-
ciation had not a hall full to meet them, but
what they lacked in numbers was made up IN
the zeai Of tine membership, and those present
we're but the nucleus formed less Than q month
ago OF an association which they hoped would
number hundreds There were numbers of
naval men in The Grand Army who they hoped
. and expected to join them, but they did not
wish them TO leave that organization for the
purpose
KEARsAaGE BATTALION At THE EScANPsIESr.
Capt Abbott stated that with his colleague
they had secured for the Kearsarge battalion the
finest quarters in Washington and they had
been promised by the Navy Department all pos
sible assistance. They had talked up the Poto-
mac Association TO their naval friends and
would say don't be backward. but ssk ;o- what
You want The 6. A. l.. .be place for
every soldier put the sailors should also JOIN
sailor organizations OF the 40 nIpers of
the kearsarge niEc-toiths in the Grand
Army. and q. a. II. r::en should tina. those
OF their membership who are qualified JOIN the
Posoniacs- who he expected would receive them
with full ranks Ihey could promise at least
go men. lie had been amazed at the improve
ments made IN The twenty years since lie was
last here and IT now the queen city of the
as-. and were he younger man he would like
to become u resident here
TRIBUTE TO TRANSFORMED WASHINGTON.
Capt Stillings followed, expressing his pleas
ure nj being again in his native city and meet
ing AGAIN the friends Of his youth and friends
with whom he had served. He had had the
pleasure to greet one OF their number Tommy
Mcintosh, whom he knew is . boy and met
with the gull and had last seen twenty-six
years ago and he knew
''WEen but boys grow tall,
Hearts don't change much after all
He had seen the transformed streets where
once be walked knee deep in mud and had
seen few OF the weil-remembered faces of yore
and his visit appeared like the dream of Rip
Van Wrinkle. Here his father and mother were
laid to Test and his young days were all spent
here, and ne loved his dear old city, trans
formed as it has been into the most beautiful
on earth and the capital of the greatest
nation on earth, whose flag they had upheld.
Thank Goo peace now reigns over the whole
land and the dear flag waves gracefully in
Boston as in any other quarter. Potomac As
ISOLATION should not be discouraged but re-
member that the kearsarge Association started
with but nineteen members, and he would
urge his friends here who had been in the
navy to help row their boat
Messrs % Bryon, Sheahan and Fisher made
some remarks.
Capt Thos. Galloway spoke of the difficult
ties surrounding the loyal men in the border
states and paid high tribute to the three
months men Of the District. who, he said had
saved the Capitol, which would not have been
found by the three years men had they not
defended it.
THE WORK OF THE NAVY DURING THE WAR.
Mr.. Simmons of Philadelphia spoke of the
disparity Of numbers between tine army and
navy, the former having in the war g. OGO OJO
men against 10. 900 in the latter. and the navy
had brought abou: many victories for which
credit had not been given. The men of the
navy are said to have had soft snap but he
denied ii, and he pictured the life OF a sailor
and the dangers which beset him While the
pension rOii vas said TO be too large the conn
Try should remember that she pensioners are
dying of rapidly and that she naval pensions
should not be charged against them for dur
ing the war had not the navy captured /. IS5
BLOCKADE runners from which 530.UOO. OO6 had
been paid into the treasury! He clairaed that
when Jack received a pension nc was receiving
only his own. After skesching the services OF
lie navy IN the west and along the coast
declaration Of the state and of the affairs of the
Claiming that the operations OF the vessels
mad brought about many victories Ire asked
Why should generals be made Presidents to
he exclusion OF admirals- Why should Con-
gress be chock full OF generals? ..Show me
general who fought like Farragut." ne said He
cld not wish TO appear to disparaSe the soldier
Tor he honored him and was glad TO see com
rades VINO showed their patriotism, but he
Claimed that too little credit WAS given the
sailor.
Mr. Patrick Doolaa spoke Of the services of
the marines
The order splice the main brace" was given.
the ships corporal notified Lieut. Commander
Vanneman anu the Refreshments were brought
In and discussed.
An OLD sHrPs MUSTER ROLL
During the evening Shipmate a. T. Bond
presented the muster roll OF the United States
frigate United States from January 1 to April
W, lfy9. which be secured through a dealer in
Old junk The roll is on several sheets of paper
nusty with age, and Ia certified to BY the cap
TAIN II contains the names of 362 persons
from the captain TO cabin boys, and on the first
sheet are the names OF the officers, several of
whom became bright in history subsequently.
HE ee.eers were John Barry. captain; David
Moss. John Mullowney, James Barron and
Snaries Stewart, lieuteusilts; John BULLS and
Nunam Turner, surgeon mates; Edward Meade
sailing master, Joseph johnson aud Edward
Barry. masters mates; Freeborn Banning
hlehard Summers. stephen Decatur James K.
Caldwell. Edward Wyer, States Ruttledge and
Ind .lah,