Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-10
LEES SURREN DER.
g. A. B. Celebration of tho Anniver-
tary Of Appomattox.
4 RECEPTION AND CAMP FIRE
Distinguished Guests Contribute to
the Enjoyment.
SOME EXCELLENT SPEECHES

The history of the most momentous
event in the war Of the rebellion was SUBJ
stantially enriched last evening when the
anniversary Of the surrender of the army
of northern Virginia at Appomattox was
celebrated by the Department of the Poto-
mac, G. A. R., at Grand Army Hall. The
occasion took the shape Of a reception by
the department to the ex-Union soldiers
and sailors of the present Congress and
prominent officers of the army and navy.
and SO men who were famous in the events
that led up to the result that was being
commemorated contributed valuable per-
sonal "reminiscences to the story of the 9th
of April, 1865. and many written errors of
the happenings at that time were corrected
by the actors and eye-witnesses of the
realities.
The Receiving Party.
The exercises began at o'clock in the
post hall, OH the fourth floor, where the
visitors were received by Department
Commander McElroy, assisted by Past
Corlmanders-in-chief Jno. c. Robinson, SIS.
Burdette and w. G. Veazey, Past Depart
ment Commanders F. H.Sprague, G. E. Cor
son. VIM Gibson. J: B: Burke NJ. e. urell,
s. S. Burdette, c. p Lincoln, j. NJ. Pipes
n. Biclsford, A. H. G. Richardson. c. c.
Royce, N. NJ Brooks. W. S. Odell, A. F.
Dinsmo re and NJ r. Anderson; Post Com
manders r. r. Shepperd, VIM. Hunter
Myers A. NJ. Legg, James Wells, Eugene
Wells, NJ. NJ Lewis, L. Mundheim, G. w.
Lacy, J. P. Quander, A. F. Dinsmore. G.
w. Gladmcn, c. S. Heron, A. Gertman,
Peter McGirr, J. F. Meacham. Jacob Moore
S. c. Robb, J. T. Clements and Lawrence
Wilson, and Captains j. B. Pitcher, camp
1; Ed. r. French, camp 2; NJ. P!ummer,
camp 3; H. VIM. Riecks camp 10; Leon
Turner, camp %; F. Nj. Allen, camp 80;
JOS S. Haas, camp 81, and VIM. II. Moore,
camp 33.
An hour was spent in pleasant chat and
then the assemhlage went down TO the
concert hall on the second floor. This fine
apartment was tastefully decorated with
flags and bunting and shields and coats-ot-
arms. Immense portraits OF sherman ana
Farragut were hung upon the SIDE Walis'
and pictures of Grant and Sherman at the
back of the stage. The audience occupied
every seat in the hall, and the stage was
crowded with distinguished guests and
speakers.
Among them were Maj. Gen. Q. o. How
ard, Adjutant Gen. Ruggles, Gen. Hum
phries, Gen. Reynolds Commissary General
Morgan, Paymaster General Stanton, Con-
gre ssmen Grosvenor, Brosius, Lacey, Fen
ton, Evans, Poole, Curtis, Gillet, Prof.
Moore of the weather bureau, Gen. E. w.
Whitaker, Gen. James ID. Brady, Corporal
Tanner and others.
Commander McElrOy's Address.
Commander McElroy delivered the ad-
dress of welcome after the sounding Of the
assembly at 8 o'clock, and the rendition of
selections from the Bohemian Girl by
Schroeder's Orchestra His remarks were
largely of political nature, and he extend
ed to the comrades Of the Senate and House
Of Representatives warm welcome. He
spoke of the change in politics which had
sent many of the old soldiers away from
Washington, and described what good
,;,n&.r
ing back again. So he offered them a
three-fold welcome; as Congressman who
were the best and truest friends of the
soldier; as members of the Grand Army
and on behalf of the country. Commander
McElroy said that no one can love his
country SO we'll nor govern it SO wisely as
he who has fought for it, and SO on the ami
versary of the gladdest single event in our
history he extended a most soldierly and
fraternal greeting.
Congressman GrOsvcnOrs Address.
Gen Charles H Grosvenor of Ohio re-
piled, on behalf of the guests, saying that
they recognized in the cordial greeting ten
dered them the appreciation the whole
American people felt for those who as
sisted in shaping their government. The
political reaction of 1894 he said, was a re-
action in favor of the old soldier. 1t was
remarkable how many old soldiers had
been returned to the present Congress.
party to which he belonged was better
than any other party. There was something
a little more like Yankee Doodle and Hail
Columbia in the republican party than in
any Of the others. Mr.. Grosvenor went on
to speak of the capacity of the United
States for self-protection in time of trouble,
and laughed at the men who We're advising
it to be careful how we acted in regard to
Cuba.
''They want to know what is going to
become of us If some old, broken-down.
played-out kingdom gets into a fuss with
U.S. why, can raise war cry, if I am
authorized, and go to Cuba and not leave
a green blade of grass in forty-eight
hours!"
Further on. Mr.. Grosvenor said that on
this continent of America there should be
no dictator save the United States of Amer
lea, and that We should exercise the right
to interfere not only when we were COM
PEELED to- but whenever we desired to.
Other Speeches.
Mr.. George Lllibridge sang "Tenting
Tonight On the Old Camp Ground" the as
semblage joining in the chorus, and Major
General o. o. Howard was introduced and
greeted with loud and long applause. His
address teemed with interesting reminis-
cences. and he was enthusiastically ap-
plauded when he sat down. Addresses were
also made by Capt. s. r. Stratton, Gen.
James D. Brady, Gen. E. w. Whitaker,
Adjutant General Ruggles, Brigadier Gen
eral NJ. R. Morgan, commissary general
of the army, and Congressman N. NJ Cur
tbs, the hero Of Fort Fisher At the con-
clusion of the speeches the company adj
tourned to the post room, on the fifth
floor, where bounteous collation. was serv-
ed by Freund.
The committees in charge of the enter
tainment were as follows:
Program-John McElroy, S. E. Faunce,
A. NJ Legg, ]. P. Quander, M. M. Lewis,
e. J. SWEET and Jacob Moore.
Invitations-A. J. Huntoon, C. P. Lincoln
Nathan Bickford, William Hunter Myers
and ]. F. Meacham.
Music-J. F. Raub, E. J. Sweet q. E.
Corson, A. Gertman and G. w. Gladmon.
Hall and decorations-A. s. Taber, W. H
Decker, Peter McGirr, A. E. Johnson and
T. R. Shepperd.
Printing-Johr McElroy, G. NJ Hustled,
M. E. Urell, Lawrence Wilson and ]. T.
Clements.
observation-disclosures Mundheim, 8. c.
Robb, J. F. Raub, ]. T. Clements and G..
w. Gladmon.
Ways and means-William Gibson, James
Wills, H. s. Stevens, c. s. Heron and G.
w. Lacy.