The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-17
THEY SERVED WITH GRANT
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ARMY OF
 THE POTOMAC.

Burlington Profusely Decorated-Busine Meetings of the Various Corps-Wel- comed to the Green Mountain State by the Governor and to the City by the Mayor-Sixteen Years Ago Reunion the Famous Officers of the Army Present
 Number of Veterans Less Than Ex- pected-Convention Win Close To-day. Burlington, Vt, Sept. 16.-The annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Potomac is in progress here and will continue through tomorrow The town is profusely decorated for the oc- casion. Owing to the fact that the re- union follows so many meetings, politi- cal and otherwise, the attendance is not as large as was expected
 Following the meetings of the various corps this morning and the parade this afternoon there was a business meet ing at 4 o'clock It was called to or der by General John T. Lockman of New York, senior vice president of the society, and prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. D. M. Haynes. Reports of the sec retary and treasurer were read and accepted. The following committee was appointed to draw up resolutions on the death of General Gibbon: Gen erals o. 0. Howard, Brooke Ruggle, w. W. Averill,. Major c. A. Woodruff and General H. c. King.
 General Orlando Smith in his ora tfn11 n ba ne in, Y.t.
 The achievements of the Army of the Potomac have so often been de- scribed and commended that they are universally known and appreciated in all intelligent circles" The speaker went into an extended review of it's operations against the Confederate army of Virginia, under General Lee from the inception of the war down to the surrender of the latter. The address was replete with "reminiscences attesting the gallant conduct and brav- cry of the Union forces under adverse and trying circumstances, some of which also paid high tribute to the bravery and self-sacrifice of the foe, and continuing the general said: By a rapid succession of skillful battles and manoeuvers Lee had been forced, with the Confederate government, to evacuate Richmond, and to ultimately surrender at historic Appomattox court house. The surrender of Johnston with all other Confederate forces fol- lowing soon after, nothing remained for the grand and triumphant armies but the homeward march, their inspira- tion now, intsead of martial ardor, be- ing peace and good will towatrd all their countrymen, their late antagon- ists cordially included. Traversing many of the same roads over which they formerly marched and bivouack- ing on some of the fields where they previously fought, the old Army of the Potomac and it's former associates who had completed the grand circuits con cluded their triumphant, but now peaceful marches, amid scenes of their earliest labors on the banks of the Potomac, tenting together on the old camp grounds"
 He concluded as follows: 'AThe pre- servation of the Union having been the object for which they had toiled and suffered, the cultivation of cordial re- lations throughout it's entire extent now became their laudable purpose Having sacrificed so much for the pre-. servation of the republic can they not be confidently trusted to contend with equal fortitude in their civic capacity for it's unsullied honor, its integrity and the perpetuation of its most cherished institutions"
 Tn welcoming the army remnant tc Vermont Governor Woodbury said among other things:
 MT. President and Comrades of the So-
 ciety of the Army of the Potomac:
 l consider 1t one of the highest hon. ors that has ever come to me that have the privilege in behalf of the peo- pie of Vermont to welcome you to oul Green Mountain state. For the second time we are honored by your presence In our "Queen City, on the borders ot the placid Champlain. Our means fol entertaining you are more limited thar some of the larger places you have wis. tied, but we will yield to no people ir the hearty welcome we extend to you
 The glory you won is the glory o1 Vermont You will not claim that yor displayed more heroism in battle or en. dured defeat with more fortitude thar the soldiers of other armies, but the du ties which devolved upon you were more important than upon any other army of the unioc. It was your duty to defend the capitol of the nation 1T which were located all the functions ot the government. If the confederate: had captured Washington it would have meant recognition of the confed eracy by all the great European powers and very likely the success of the re. belIion. You had pitted against vol the cream of the confederate force. commanded by the ablest commandel in their service. It was their duty tC endeavor to capture Washington, ant at the same time defend Richmond The exact reverse was your duty. Int contest was severe and constant. Botf armies felt that upon them the resul of the war largely depended. Victory or defeat to you meant more to the Union cause than the defeat or victory Of any other army Your days of fight ing with cannon, musket and sabre art over. but you may yet have fighting O. a more peaceful but scarcely less i7 portant nature to do If the anarchist ic or socialistic element of this country or any other enemy of social order ant prosperity attempt to imperil the inter tests of this great government whicf you fought so bravely and so success ifully to preserve, you will be found,