Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
VETERANS AT BANQUET
Four Army Societies Gather
at the Arlington.
SHERMAN THE THEME
ALL THE SPEAKERS REFER TO
THE DEAD LEADER.
Addresses Made by Generals Brooke,
Howard and Black, Capt. McCook,
Father Sherman and Col. McElroy.

The survivors of Shcrman's great army,
as represented by the members of the So
cieties which perpetuate the name and re-
call the deeds of the armies of the Ten
nessee. Cumberland Potomac and Ohio, as
sembled. probably for the last time. as
Gen. Oliver O. Howard said, in the banquet
hals of the Arlington last night to join in
a last chorus of praise and tribute to their
great commander. Gen. Sherman once SAID
there was nothing he liked better than to
meet with his comrades about u wel-filled
able and recount the victories and Incl
dents of their military life. He only want
ed plain food. hut plenty of it, The banquet
last night. given under the joint auspices
OF the four societies. would have delighted
the heart of the dead leader. There was
every element that goes TO make UP tho
heartiest good fellowship. All that remain
of the great army commanders of Sher-
mans host We're there many of the corps
division and brigade commanders and hosts
of officers of less exalted rank. Nor was
this ali that added to the enjoyment of the
evening. All those present who could do
81 brought their ladies with them. and
when every one had assembled in the pla zee
assigned him, or her, the two great rooms
used for the occasion were solid masses of
color.
tables placed in the two rooms A major
ity OF them sat in the banquet hall proper
where five long tables. extending the length
of the ROOM had been set. Those who
could not be accommodated In the banquet
nall Were given places at the dozen or more
siaa Her tables that filled the main dining
Rail. which was connected by a wide alcoye
or vestlbulc with the other room used
The decorations were impressive About
the walls of both rooms were draped large
American flags. Oak leaves hid the metal
work of the chandeliers and the electric
bulbs that shed light on the diners ap-
peared TO be thousand stars shining
through the green of the sturdy forest oak.
Flowers of all sorts used in the table
decoration. although more American Beauty
roses entered into the scheme than any
other kind of flower. The menu was pre-
pared with excellent taste and was well
and eXpeditiously served. The speaking
began shortly after 9 O'Clock and though
the addresses were none Of them long. the
be- nqueterS did not leave the hail until long
after midnight.
The Speechmaking.
Archbishop Ireland, member Of the
Society of the Army of the tennessee. pro-
nounced the invocation, and Lieut. Cen
John NJ. Schotield. L. S. A (retired. pre-
sided as toastnaster When the dishes
had been cleared away and the cigars
lighted. Gen. Schoneld called the assem-
hiagc to order and announced the first
toast was to the great commander, William
TecumSeh Sherman. The entire assemblage
rose and drank standing and remained
standing for a few moments. Major Gen
John r. Brooke, L. S. A. (retired). was
then introduced to speak for the Society
of the Army of the Potomac, of which he
is the president. Gen. Brooks said: $50
MIR. PreSident-COmradeS
Many Of the survivors of four of the
great armies of the republic are met in
m n tn
of CUR great captains.
The army which I have the honor to
represent tonight did not come under his
command during it's existence as an armed
body, but 1t was great factor in the great
game of war in which these four great
armies were engaged during the final cam
paign of the greatest struggle which the
world has ever seen. The Army Of thu
Potomac gives greeting to its brthren and
expresses it's appreciation of the invita-
ton which brought it here at this time.
In the days when we were young the Army
of the Potomac was created here in our
capital city, and went forth to. do it's
work, which was actually close deadly
struggle with the Army OF Northern Vir-
ginia. The fields of Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania bear evidence of the
mighty conflict. In Virginia. as it was in
1861, we fought many battles; in fact, we
may say with truth that Virginia was our
great battle-ground from the Potomac to
the Dan. Maryland was dyed with the
blood of both armies in 1892 and 1868.
PENNSYLVANIA had Its baptism of blood in
1863. during the memorable campaign re-
sulting in the awful battle of Gettysburg.
The keystone of the arch was then rudely
shaken but the gallant, the great Army OF
the Potomac was equal to its task and our
southern brethren were turned pack ana
crossed the Potomac never 10 return IN
hostile array Then followed the final cam
pagn. Commencing at midnight on the
Sd of May 1864. the Army of the Potomac
passed through the Wilderness to the front
Of Richmond, to Petersburg. TO Appomat-
fox 1t is not necessary to go into de-
tails of it's final campaign. suffice 1t to say
that in cooperation with the armies I'M
der the great chief to whose memory
, statue was unveiled yesterday. an unoer
the supreme command of Grant, peace
finally came after the events at Appomat-
tox and Goldsboro'. A mighty most was
altered in deadly strife on the plains or
Virginia as the sun rose on April y, 1850.
! but before the sunset Of that day the
Armies of the Potomac and Northern Viz
ginia were resting from their long years
of battle sitting together, sharing as broth
| ers should the rations which one army
! had and the other had not. Peace reigned.
| The contest so far as those armies were
concerned, wasclosed, the flags furled; and
each returned to Its homes TO resume tne
occrpations which were interrupted by the
guns at Fort Sumter. Since then we
have seen the participants in that great
war with their sons standing SIDE by size
with us and our own sons wearing .ne
united and earnest supporters or one coun-
try and one flag
In the language of our greatest captain.
.Iet us have peace now and forever.
We go to our homes from this reunion
bearing in our hearts the brotherly love
which these gatherings beget and FEELING
| thankful that so many have found time,
amid the busy and eventful times In which
| we live, to devote few days in which to
| do honor to one of our countrys great men,
! and to again clasp the hands of comrades
who have been endeared to each other by
| the touch of elbows in battle and with
| whom we have drunk from the same can
| teen Nav we be spared to greet each
other at our army reunions many times to
| revere the memory Of friends not now with
| MS recalling the days when we did our
| m,ehtiest that government of the people,
| nv the people, for the people should not
| nerish from, the earth.
| And now, friends, comrades. hail and
| farewell.
| for the Society of the Army of the Cum
| berland Capt. McCooks address was one
/ of the longest of the evening. and held the
| attention of his audience throughout. He
| confined himself almost entirely to the
| history of the Army of the Cumberland,
| and told of it's great fights. He referred
| TO the feats of Thomas and Sherman and
| numbers of the corps. division and brigade
commanders. His address was generously