The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-05

General Ames Criticised Gen
} eral Curtis.


New YORK. feD. o.-AccoiuihB 10 ai'
accounts there was a rather stormy
scene at the banquet OF the Loyal Legion
AT Delmonico's Wednesday night.
II is said just as a speech by General
A. A. Ames Of Lowell. Mass. was nm
sshed. General Newton NJ Curtis OF
pgdensburg. N. Y, jumped to his feet
and shaking his clinched fist, called
General Ames a craven hearted coward
IL is denied that these words were
used. but il is not denied that there
was some such occurrence.
General Curtis was seen soon after the
dinner He was emphatic In his denia-
that the words liar. coward. ano
others of a strong character had beer
used.
..The scene may have been stormy
he said. but / can say that the words
that have been published as coming
from me were not used. General A. A
.Ames OF Lowell. Mass. read paper or
The Capture of Fort Fisher before the
command on the evening Of Feb. 3. II
had been stated that the council strucs
out certain passages which IL was
thought would produce irritation, but
they were. nevertheless, read.
His statements were SO much dis.
approved of that the members severa.
times cheered me during the reading oi
IL, and at the close called on me and re.
sQuested that / make a reply to the stric-
=aures upon General Terry and his part
I'm the battle.
In obedience to this general call, the
spommandery recognized me, and / re.
spaied to certain assertions which had
been made, in very plain and decisive
words. I was then requested to prepare
90 read a paper before the commandery
pf my views of the subject discussed by
General Ames."
The trouble began over q speech by
General Ames. in which he described his
own conduct at the battle of Fort Fisher
TO use the words of one of those present
General Ames made some reference tS
General Curtis which was not regarded
rs complimentary.
General A. A. Ames Of Massachusett:
Nas the guest of honor at the dinner
and was the first speaker. His sub
sect was the battle of Fort Fisher He
Was in command of a part OF the Fed.
.eraI forces in that fight. General New.
ton M. Curtis, member OF congress from
xhe Twenty second New York district,
was also a guest at the dinner. General
Curtis also took an active part in the
Fort Fisher fight.
In his speech, according to some OF
those present, General Ames made him.
self out hero. During his remarks he
several times mentioned the name Of
General Curtis, and each time the veter.
ans present applauded the New York
congressman.
Those present seemed to be growing
impatient before General Ames con.
ciuded. When he finally sat down Gen.
ersl Curtis was on his feet in a moment
He said that he realized that the dinner
sf the Loyal Legion was not the proper
place for such a controversy, bat he
asked leave to defend himself. He was
loudly applauded as he proceeded to tell
the details of the fight at Fort Fisher.
Then the trouble occurred. The whole
place was in an uproar after the re.
marks of General Curtis.
General Porter raped for order. Gen.
eral Wager Swayne began to pour oil or
the troubled waters. He was recog
nized finally, and said that the discussion
was out of order.
Then General Curtis got up again an,
apologized for his impetuosity. but die
not mention General Ames' name In hi
apology.
Friends Of General Curtis begged hir
90 desist. General Swayne, in order (
end the discussion. moved that Genera
Curtis be asked to prepare a paper o.
the battle Of Fort Fisher. to be read a
fhe next meeting Of the legion. Thi
Yvas adopted and the meeting broke VI
Wolcott Is ssnguine.