Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1892 — G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT.

GREAT OUTPOURING OF OLD VETERANS. Stirring Scenes on the Streets of the Nation's Capital—Thousand* of Warriors Take JPart In the Farade—Washington Surrenders to Them. Twenty-sixth Annual Meet.

(ashington COlt(respondence: Twenty- 6ix years ago In the State of Illinois

Ihero was Initiated a movement, resulting in the organization for fraternal, charitable, and loyal purposes of the men who at their country’s call left hearth and home to devote the best energies of their manhood to itssalvatlon. In 1866 the Grand Army of the Republic wa3 founded, with B. F. Stephenson of Illinois as first Commander-in-chief. Included in Its ranks were many men who had become famous throughout the world for their brilliant achievements in the field of war and on the sea, and there were also untold thousands of the

men unknown to the world by name, and who never swore any more pretentious uni- , form than the blue J blouse and but who were the units that made up , the grandest force of t warriors In numbers* and warlike deods that • the world had ever known. When their

duty was done and their country was saved these countless thousands laid down the musket and sword and returned to the pursuits of a peaceful

life, leaving behind the habits of the field aud the camp, and becoming once more farmers, merchants and mechanics and laborers. But once a year it has been the custom of many of them to como together at some central point, and, exchanging fraternal greetings, revive the memory of the days goue by, of war and valor, and bitter struggle, and heroic endurance, of hardship and disaster, and of final and glorious victory. Now the, ranks ore thinning out; old faces ore missing, and the list of the

famous Generals who led their men to victory and have passed from earth Is growing apace. As the years rolled past and the comrados dropped out of line the remainder of that great host has longed to come again to the capital city and tread once more the broad sweep of that

magnificent avenue on which they stepped with ereet figures and martial bearing in 1865 at, the end of the war. At last this longing has been gratified by holding the National Encampment here. . A Magnificent Gathering. For days the comrades gathered from every part of the Union. Great cities, small towns, little hamlets and solitary farmhouses sent their quotas, greater or smaller, and the result was an attendance that no man could closely estimate, and one certainly surpassing any ever before seen in Washington. The trains arrived ia so many sections as to constitute an intricate problem in railroad management, and every train was laden with comrades and their wives and sons and daughters. Besides, there were very many slghtseeis, not connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, attracted by the spectaoular displays expected to be seen during the week. All of these people were taken eare of, as they arrived, by the members of the Reception Committee or the numerous corps of bright hlgh-school boys who were detailed for the service. Those who had secured accommodations at hotels or boardinghouses were directed to their destination; those who had heedlessly and without regard to warning circulars scDt out by the Citizens' Committee, neglected to engage lodgings, were furnished with addresses where bed and board might be had, and the great army of veterans who have availed themselves of the free quarters tendered by the citizens of Washington were escorted to their temporary quarters. In some way everybody was cared for. Grand Army Place. The feature of the first day, full of events as It was and one of historic interest, was the inauguration and dedication of Grand Army place, as it is called, which Is known as the White Lot, and lies just south of the grounds of the executive mansion. It is one magnificent lawn comprising many acres of ground, covered with well-kept green sod and unbroken by a single tree or bush. On this vast field has been laid out a reproduction of the closing campaign of the war of the rebellion. But Instead of serried ranks and rows of death-dealing artillery, the positions of the Federal armies have been indicated by the arrangement of tents and stands. Trie Greer Fanils. On the second day the Grand Army of the Republic made its triumphal march along Pennsylvania avenue. Time’s ravages in its ranks made it possible to attempt in one day what it required two long days to accomplish in 1865. To the survivors of the 160,000. men of the armies of the Potomac and the West, who on the memorable 23d and 24th of May, 1865, passed in review before the President and his Cabinet, including Secretary Seward, just recovering from the assassin’s knife, the foreign ministers, the military attaches of the great powers of Europe, and their own beloved and illustrious generals, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, the contrasts and reminiscences called out were necessarily striking. It took seven hours—from 9 to 4 —each day for the armies of 4865 to pass the reviewing stand, and the estimated length of the two days" procession was thirty miles

At the hour for the start the Capita was the central point of a friendly arm} massed for a half mile or more square on most of the streets radiating from it On all sides the eye gazed on nothing but aged men plainly attired In blu« clothes with gilt buttons and slouch hats, save an occasional post with whit* helmets, and except where showed the bright uniforms of bands, of which there seemed enough to sound a trumpet call that would shake the nation. From the botanical gardens at the foot of the west front ol the Capitol down Diagonal avenue aa far as the Pennsylvania Kailway station and the railway tracks stretohod the ranks of the Illinois and Wisconsin Departments. To the south and east covering the entire available space from the flank of the Sucker and Badger State Divisions to and along whero the Pennsylvania Kailroad tracks enter the navy yard tunnel, oovering a space that would hold several ordinary processions, were the Pennsylvanians and Ohioans. South of the Capitol the New-Yorkers spread out In a long, Irregular, broken formation that made their rear column completely flank tho mon from Connecticut and Massachusetts, whose right of column faced tho parking of the east front of the Capitol, on whose green lawns many of the Eastern troops lolled, fraternized, and told war-time reminiscences as they waited for the signal to fall In line and begin the march. The other New England troops and commands from New Jersey and far off California oocupled, for blooks, the streets direotly east of the Capitol. North and east of them, stretching out for three-quarters of a mile and overlooking the Baltimore and Ohio ltallroad tracks, were the stations of veterans from the States of Michigan, Nebraska, lowa, Maryland and Virginia. Reviewed »t tlie Grand Stand. As the parade moved around the Treasury Building to the north front, where tho reviewing stand was erected, near the corner of the White House grounds, tho double column would close up and form a single one. Tho effect was magnificent. Vice President Morton was there to represent tho government, tho President being absent on acoount.of Mrs. Harrison’s Illness. With the Vioe President wero Secretaries Tracy, Noble, and Busk, all comrades of the Grand Army, and Seoretary Foster, Attorney General Miller, and Postmas-

ter General Wnnamaker. There were also Gen. Schofield, the head of the army, and a numerous assemblage of distinguished men. It was a grand sight when, following the oivlo escort and the old guard of Washington, oame the Sixth Massachusetts, given a plaoe of honor because of Its part In defending the National Capital In the memorable days of 1861. Its remnant of a flag boro the Inscription which told of the bloody riot in Baltimore where the disunlonlsts disputed its course to the National Capital. Closely following came a detachment of the Pennsylvania first defenders, who also claimed the honor of being the earliest protectors of Washington. Illinois, as the home and the birthplace of the Grand Army, by right of seniority headed the departments As department after department marched by the recognition of a heroio figure would evoke tremendous outbursts of enthusiasm. All In all, the parade was an event which fully justified the emotions of the veterans who had bent every energy to have It take place In the midst of historic associations of the National Capital. Monument* Unveiled. Two events of more than ordinary Interest mark the encampment of 1862 as of great Importance. These were the unveiling of the Lafayette and the Antietam Monuments. The former Is a gift of Lafayette Post of New York, and Commander Mills, Chauneey M. Depew and Joel Erhart, all members of this post, were the principal speakers. Congress appropriated $3,000 for the dedication ceremonies. On the third day of the encampment, the survivors of the Fourth New York,

the well-known “First Scott Life Guards,’ unveiled a monument to the memory of the comrades who fell Sept. 17, 1862, at Antletam. Its is erected in the rear of the New York section in the national cemetery at Antletam, and It is eleven feet high. It is of granite and has appropriate inscriptions on all sides. Encampment* and Commanders. Thus far encampments have been held in the following cities: Indianapolis, twice; Philadelphia, twice; Cincinnati, Washington, Boston, twice; Cleveland, New Haven, Harrisburg,Chicago, Providence, Springfield. Mass.; Albany, Dayton, Baltimore, Denver, Minneapolis, Portland, Me.; San Francisco, St. Louis, Columbus, 0., and Milwaukee. The Commanders -in - chief have been Stephen A. Hurlbert of Illinois, John A. Logan of Illinois, three years; A. E. Burnside of Rhode Island, two years; Charles Devens, Jr., of Massacusetts, two years; John F. Hartranft, of. Pennsylvania, two years; William Earnshaw of Ohio, Louis Wagner of Pennsylvania, George S. Merrill of Massachusetts, Paul Vandervoort o! Nebraska, Robert B. Beath of Pennsylvania, John S. Kuntz of Ohio, 8. "S. Burdett of Washington, Lucius Fairchild of Wisconsin, John P. Rae of Minnesota, William Warner of Missouri, Russell A. Alger of Miohigan, Wheelock G. Veasey of Vermont, John Palmer of New York.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PALMER.

VICK PRESIDENT MORTON’S REVIEWING STAND.

VICE PRESIDENT MORTON.

ANTIETAM MONUMENT, UNVEILED DUTRIHG ENCAMPMENT.