The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-28
GENERAL MILES HONORED
Unanimously Chosen President of the
Society of the Army of the Potomac.
Strong Protest Against Dissertation of the Bat
tie Field Of Gettysburg-Poem by
Richard Watson Glider.

BosToN, June 27.-The annual meeting
of the Society of the Army of the Potomac
was held to-day in Faneuil Hall. The at
tendance was large. with many noted men
among the veterans. While the veterans
were assembling q salute was fired by Bat
terry A on the Common. Gen. Horace Por-
ter, the president of the association. was
given q warm reception as he entered the
hall.
Before the business meeting of the soci-
ETY. came thevarIous corps meetings, which
were held in the Armory of the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery. Following the
CORPS meetings the annual meeting Of the
entire society was called to order
by Gen. Horace Porter. He made
no formal speech. The next business
was the selection of q place for
the next annual meeting. and Concord. n.
H., was chosen. The treasurer's report
showed total of 1881 in receipts and
81. 500 in expenditures. It was voted that
the life membership fee be reduced from
$40 to e10. On motion Of General Cogswell
q committee of Six. representing the Elev.
enth and Twelfth CORPS, was appointed to
cooperate with the Chickamaugua Battle.
field Association locating the lines OF the
battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge.
The election of officers followed. There
were three nominations for president-Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, u. s. A.; General Pratt
and Gen. o. .. Howard. The names of the
Miles was elected by the casting of one
ballot by the secretary. Horatio King. OF
Brooklyn, n. T., was chosen secretary and
Col. Samuel Truesdell of New York treas
urer. Gen. j. II. sharp WAS chosen CORE
spending secretary.
The following resolution, so amended as
to recommend that the United States gov
eminent purchase the Gettysburg field and
set it apart as q public park, was adopted:
10 Resolved, That this society has learned with
dared to desecrate the held OF Gettysburg, con-
secrated by the blood OF so many OF It's comrades,
and desire hereby to record its solemn protest
against such vandalism and to call upon those
who may be in authority to arrest 1t.
After passing the usual vote of thanks.
the meeting adjourned and the members
went for Q sail and luncheon down the
hsrbor as guests of the city of Boston.
The public exercises IN connection with
the convention were held this evening In
Fanueil Hall. The officers of the two Rus
sian men-of.war now In the harbor 0ccu'
pied a prominent place on the platform.
Richard Watson Glider gave his poem on
THE Great Remembrance" extracts from
which are appended:
Comrades. the circle narrows heads grow white,
As once more By the oamp-fire's fiaring light
We gather and clasp hands, as we have done
These many, many years.
Like to drama did the scene unroll-
Some dark. majestic drama Of the soul,
Wherein all stroye az actors hour by hour.
Yet, breathless, watched the whole swift. tragic
Faithful lid each his little part essay,
Urged to an end unknown by one al-knowing
Power;
While If the drama pauses now and then,
On the broad stage. tbs for moment only
Here at the heart or in some vista lonely,
single hero or a million men,
And with the tragic theme the world resounds
But chiefly tell of that one hour of all
When threatening war rolled highest its full tide,
Even TO the perilOus northern mOuntainsde
Where Heaven should bid our good cause rise or
fall.
Tell of that hour for never In all the world
Was drawer army against Drawer hurled.
To both the victory, all unawares,
Beyond all dreams of losing or OF winning;
For the new land which now is ours and theirs,
Had on That topmost day its glorious beginning.
They who charged up that drenched and desper-
We're heroes all-and looked in heroes eyes!
All! heroes never heroes did despise.
That day had strife its bloodlest bourne and
scope;
Above the shaken hills and suphurous skies
Peace lifted up her mournfm head and smiled on
Comrades. see, the fire burns low.
And darkness thickens. Soon Will our brief part
On earth forever end, and we shall 90
To join the unseen ranks; nor will we swerve
Or fear, when to the SILENT great reserve
At last we ordered are -as one by
Our Captains have been called. their labors done,
To rest and walt in the Celestial Field.
Ay, year by year, we to the dead did yield
Our bravest Them We followed TO the tomb
Sorrowing: for they were worthy of our love,
Highsouled and generous, loving peace above
War and its glOries therefore lived no gloom
In this our sorrow; rather pride, and praise,
And gratitude, and memory of old days.
A little while and these tired hands will cease
To lift oDedient or In war or peace
Faithful We trust in peace erst in war;
And On the scroll or peace some triumphs are
Noble as battles won though less resounds
The fame. as deep and bitter are the wounds.
But now the fire burns low, and we must sleep
EreloDg. while other eyes than ours the vigil
keep.
And after We are gone, to other eyes
That watch below shall come, in starry skies,
A fairer dawn. wherein in fiery light
The Eternal Captain shall his signals write;
And shaken from sleep, and gazing at that sign
On shall the mighty Nation move. led by q hand
divine.
Rev. Arthur Little. ID. D.. of Dorchester.
who was a soldier In the Army of the Po-
tomac. delivered the Grafton. Music closed
the exercises.