Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1883 — WAR SCENES RECALLED. [ARTICLE]

WAR SCENES RECALLED.

Reanion of the Army of the Tennessee at Cleveland. The Old Comnaander-in-Chief in His Glory. [Cleveland Telegram.] The Society of the Army of the Tennessee has been holding its sixteenth annual reunion here. There was a large attendance. The business meeting was held at the Ontario tabernacle, and was called to order by Gen. Sherman, who expressed the deepest gratitude to the society for postponing the reunion from Oct. 4 to the present date on his account. Letters of regret were- read from Gens. Hancock, Crook, Prior, Harrison and others. A committee reported that satisfactory arrangements had not yet been completed for holding the next meeting at the Yellowstone p&nk, and the matter was recommitted. A motion to wear uniforms at the reunions and badges at all times was defeated by a docisive vote. In reading an invitation to meet at Cincinnati next week with the Army of the Cumberland, Gen. Sherman referred to the two societies as the Siamese twins. In the afternoon the members went to Lake View cemetery, where they visited Garfield’s tomb. Gen. Grant is expected to arrive to-morrow. In the evening a great crowd assembled at Euclid Avenue opera-house, which was elaborately decorated with flags and shields showing the many battles in which the army took part. At the front of the stage was a portrait of Gen. McPhersou, wreathed with laurel and immortelles, and draped with a flag.* At 8:30 the reveille was sounded behind the scenes, after which the curtain was raised, disclosing seated on the stage Gens. Sherman, Fallows, Leggett, Logan, Poe, Fairchild, Belknap, Hickenlooper, Noyes, Strong, Force and Fuller, and Govs. Foster, Fairchild and others. Miss Dora Henninges sang the “Star-Spangled Banner,” the Arlon quartette joining in the chorus. They also sang “Tenting To-Night on the Old Camp Ground.” Gen Sherman then announced the order of exercises, and presented the Bov. Capt. John Mitchell, who offered prayer. Gov. Foster welcomed the society to the State, saying that both victors and vanquished in the late war now follow the same flag, and are both ready at the drop of the hat to fight together for that flag against the whole world if need be. Mayor Farley next formally welcomed the society to the city. Gen. Sherman responded to the addresses, and was about to sit down, amid vociferous applause, when a huge camp-kettle in flowers was presented to him, and the cheering was renewed. When he could be heard, he turned to those on the stage, remarking: “ I suppose we must keep the pot boiling.” He then presented Miss Alice Mitchell, of Chicago, who sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” assisted in chorus by the Arions. Bishop Fallows, of Chicago, was introduced as the orator of the evening, Gen. Sherman remarking that “He is a General, he is a Bishop; you can take your choice of titles. I know he was brave and gallant in war; he is eloquent in peace.” Bishop Fallows began his address by giving a vivid description of the battle of Corinth, a battle in which the most splendid heroism was displayed by the soldiers of the North and the soldiers of the South. The reverend gentleman did not express a very warm admiration for Jeff Davis. He said: “A gentleman very prominent in ‘the late unpleasantness’ has been endeavoring to play the part of ghostraiser—Mr. Jefferson Davis. He has been as unsuccessful in his combat with that illustrious, intelligent gladiator and uncompromising friend of the Union, Judge Jere S. Black, as he was with the armies of the United States. It is one of the most marvelous exhibitions of the magnanimity and assured strength and position of a mighty nation that it permits the leader of the groat Confederate movement, which convulsed the continent and shook the earth, to write a book in two volumes on ‘ The History of the Confederacy,’ and enjoy the profits of the sale—that it allows him to reopen the questions which load to our civil war, and to to prove, in spite of the logic of reason and of the logic of events, that South Carolina, in tho position it assumed before the war, was ail right, and the Government all wrong. When we remember that regiments, brigades, divisions, and whole army corps once marched along singing, “We’ll Hang Jeff Davis to a Sour Apple Tree,” and that the only reason why the sentiment of the song was not put into execution was the sheer inability, as things then were, to make the connection between tho tree and the subject of the song. Mr. Davis must certainly sharo in the feelings of the pious old woman who, whenever she hoard of any one who had felt, the halter draw, was wont to exclaim most earnestly, -‘What a mercy I’m still alive.’ ” After a lengthy' yet eloquent discourse on the events since the war, and present friendly feeling between North and South, he closed amid much applause. The regular programme thus completed, and Gen. Sherman announced that it would be in order to call upon those upon the stage to make short, pithy remarks. Gon. John A. Logan was first called out, afterward Gen. Belkrtap, Gen. Noyes, Gov. Fairchild, Gen. Leggett, Gov. Fletchor, and Gen. Force. The following officers wore elected: President, Gen. William T. Sherman; Vice Presidents, Cos. William B. Leach, Gen. Madison Miller, Col. H. L. Barnum, Capt. William 8. Burns, Col. H. S. Hnjchinson,. Col. H. T. Noble, Maj. J. H. Plunket, Col. William H. Gibbon, Col. John McFall, Maj. John J. Safely, Capt. J. D. McFarland, Maj. William C. Clayton; Recording Secretary, Col. L. M. DaytoD; Corresponding Secretary, Gen. A. Hickenlooper; Treasurer, Gen. M. F. Force. Gen. Grant was elected Orator for next year, amid prolonged, fervent applause. It was voted to hold next year’s reunion on Aug. 15 and 10, at Lake Minnetonka, Minn., with headquarters at Hotel Lafayette. After the business session it is proposed to make an excursion to Yellowstone park. The following were appointed a committee to arrange for it: Gens. Pope, Strong, Sanborn, Logan, Raymond and Sprague, Col. Everest and Lieut. Andrews. It was resolved that the wives and daughters of members shall hereafter be admitted to banquets of the society. A telegram of condolence was sent to the family of Gen. Steedman, and a hearty greeting to the ex-prisonors of war assembled at Decatur. The reunion closed with a grand banquet at the skating-rink, Gen. Sherman officiating as master of ceremonies.