Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09
FRIENDS meet AGAIN
Veterans 4tell the Stories
Of F. War
THE REUNIONS HELD
GEN. MccooKI GREETs COMRADES
IN GRANT TENT.
Shields Division Reassembled-Penn
sylvania Reserves-Twenty-
Second Army Corps.
THE REUNIONS HELD


of yesterdays parade, or some other cause,
the members of the Army Of the Cumber-
land were rather slow in coming to the
meeting which was called to be held at 10
o'clock at Grant tent. However, those who
came sat around and snapped stories and
enjoyed themselves as only old soldiers do
wllen they come together for their annual
reunions AS usual, when events so remote
as those Of the civil war are discussed, a
good many differences of opinion arose, and
disputes of q mild nature were frequent.
However as commonly happens, the man
of the strongest will and determination
usually came off triumphant, and SO the
interchange went on to the evident enjoy
ment of both disputants and listeners.
Gen. Darlington who is eighty years of
age and has behind him military record
Of distinction. was the center of eager talk
ers and contributed not little to the cur
rent discussion.
In addition to the knot Of takers a group
gathered about the piano, which was on
the platform. and while one Of their num-
Der banged out the music Of Marching
Through Georgia" and other familiar tunes,
they sang with more spirit than harmony.
No objection was interposed, as all present
were evidently in good-natured mood and
nelined to encourage the widest latitude Of
personal liberty
The singing as we'll as the gossip was in
terrupted about half-past ten by Gen. Bal
loch. who called for order, and said as
there were only few present they had bet
ter come up and take seats near the plat
form.
This invitation was accepted and the chair
man went on to say that no regular pro-
gram had been prepared for the meeting,
but it was hoped that all would take part
and they would have free and easy time
He said that there was no need to welcome
them to the city, as that had already been
done
Col. Daniel Grosvenor, after escorting
General A. Med. Cook to the platform, was
introduced as the man who was likely to
know about the program If one existed. Col
Grosvenor, however, had no mind to talk
about such a trivial matter, as he said
amid laughter he believed that to the Army
Of the Cumberland was due the credit Of
winning the war of the rebellion and he
proceeded, as he said, briefly to tell how
1t happened. EIfse CO
He said the winning Of the battle of
Clear Spring, under Gen. Thomas, was fol-
lowed by the defeat at Bowling Green and
the fall of Donaldson He also said that
Pap Thomas refused to retreat at later
day, and went on mentioning dates and bat
ties up to the battle of Chickamauga with
the assistance now and then Of the COM
rades in the audience. He said that 1T was
not necessary for him to eulogize Gen.
Thomas, in spite of the fact that his name
had been left off of the tents in this en-
campment to make place for that of some
other general. He went on to say that up
to the battle of Nashville he was never
whipped, and he had the distinction Of de-
feating the fine army under the command
of Gen. Hood. -
Gen. McCook introduced.
In concluding, he proceeded to introduce
General McCook, and said he was one of
five brothers in the war of the rebellion,
and added that he was from Ohio.
A voice in the audience called out,
United States of Ohio" which amendment
was accepted
General McCook then came forward and
said, after a few words of greeting that
patriotism is as necessary today as it was
In 1851 He spoke of the attacks on the
army in the Philippines as an instance of
the need he had spoken of. He went on to
say that the men whose faces he looked
into IN the parade yesterday, and those
VINO were before him now, were the finest
in the world. He did not know where the
old buns had gone, but they have gone
and the Grand Army of today represents
the survival of the fittest.
In speaking Of General Thomas, he said
that Ward. the sculptor of the statue of
General Thomas located at Thomas Cir
Gle, modelled that horse from one that he
Kept In his studio while he was at work.
He thought 1t was a fine one, and 1t now
bore on its back fine man. He said he
mad engaged In no discussion about the
war. He did his duty and was satisfied
with that. The old soldiers were interested
In what General McCook had to say with
some detail in regard to the battles Of Stone
River and Chickamaugua. The speaker
then took up the subject of the battle of
Perryville, and said that he had been
charged with starting that fight. which, he
added, was the greatest lie ever invented.
In describing his situation he spoke Of VOL
unteers, and said that you can't make q
soldier In three months He had heard Of
Spanish war veterans, but he would like to
see one, and this comment evoked laughter
and applause from his hearers.
He said he had never written the history
OF the battle, because to do so he would be
Obliged to assail the reputation of Col.
Cr1ttenten and Gen. Sheridan. He did not
want to do that, and his shoulders were
broad and he was in good health and could
stand it,
Responses to Queries.
A number OF questions were asked by
those in his audience who followed with
close attention the narrative. AS one of the
soldiers said, 1t was evident Gen. McCook
had been directed to hold a position, and
while doing this he had been attacked, and
the only thing Left was to fight or run, and
the men did not do the latter.
When Gen. McCook took his seat the vet
Grams gave him hearty cheer and evinced
their appreciation of his interesting narra-
tive.
An invitation was extended to the SOL
dlers as well as the ladies in the audience
VINO knew. how to sing to come to the plat
1orm Quite a number responded, and old
war songs were given with great spirit.
Before the meeting adjourned Gen. Car
rington and Gen. Kpeiffen were called upon
and responded an speech.
The latter sid fhqt Gen. Rosecrans did
not encourage retreat at Stone river, and
added that AIR his lapse of time the
memory of the nad$w who won the battle of
Corinth ought mot ~ be forgotten or neg
lected: After q Pleasant interchange of
shlsldss Division.
One of the MOST Interesting and pleasing
reunions Of the eneampment was held in
Farragut tend on the White Lot, this
morning 1t bseught together many of the
survivors of SkfeIdE division, and the off,
GERS Of this association were extremely
lucky in capturing an ex-confederate gen.
eral and putting him forward as the prin-
cipal speaker Shields division operated
extensively in the Shenandoah valley dur
ing the war and claims the unique distinc-
ton Of being the only soldiers who routed
Stonewall Jackson. which was at Kerns-
town. and the principal speaker this morn
ing made things unusually interesting by
detailing many Of the exciting events that
occurred on the southern side. The APP
plause and cheers Of the veterans were al