Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1894 — G. A. R. AT PITTSBURG. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

G. A. R. AT PITTSBURG.

ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT OF A NATION'S HEROES. Nearly 30,000 Old Soldiers Brought Together—A Fitting Place for Thli Meeting of Veterans—The Northwest Takes a Prominent Part. “Boys” In Bine.

THE twenty - eighth national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, hela in n Pittsburg this year, :lfr brought together nearly 30,000 old soldiers. The conven-

tions of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army, the Daughters of Veterans, the National Asscciation of Naval Veterans, and the National Asscciation of Union ex-Prisoners of War were held at the same time. The reunion this year has been a notable one, the anniversary being held upon soil peculiarly sacred to the cause represented at this gathering. Pennsylvania gave more sons according to her c uota as a sacrifice to the god of battles than any other State in the Union. She stood on the border in 1861. She sent the first volunteer defender to the imper iled capital in the crisis following Sumter. Her genius ruled in the national camps and counsels, and within her limits, fair set among the charming hills of the Cumberland, lies the battlefield of Gettysburg. Thousands of tho “boys of "61” who have made their homes in the Northwest have reason to remember Pittsburg and to be grateful for the helping hand extended the so diers by the people of that city. Pittsburg was the gateway through which thousands of troops passed to the “front,” and again when mustered out of tho service and returning home. The necessities of the brave lads were realized at an early day and measures take to provide for their most pressing wants. Prom August. 1861, to January, 1866, Pittsburg fed and sheltered 409,745 soldiers, besides caring for 79,460 sick and wounded. Aug. 3, 186], the Pittsburg Subsistence Committee was formed for the work. Troops starting for the “front” carried rations for a given number of days, but delays often compelled them to go hungry. In this vicinity was an abundance of foodstuffs and the committee set about gathering all possible and providing the soldiers with meals. City Hall was the headquarters, but buildings and grounds near the railroad stations were secured and no boy in blue t assed through Pittsburg with an empty stomach. The Twentieth Indiana Regiment, Col. Brown, was the first one furnished with food by the regularly organised committee. Pittsburg bad made elaborate preparations for the event, $75,000 having been subscribed for the entertainment of the veterans. Triumphal arches were erected for ihe Grand Arjny to pass under, and the merchants ana citizens vied with each other to secure the most original and beautiful decorations. Hard times prevented the attendance of a great many of the veterans who live at a distance, but Pittsburg is the heart of a district in which old soldiers are numbered by the thousands and the contingents from Pennsylvania and Ohio were large, while the Northwest was well represented. At the National Encampment at Washington two years ago Pennsylvania had the largest number of comrades in the parade, beirg 9,000 strong. Ohio was second in strength, and there was a big rivalry between the Key stone and the Buckeye States this year. Northwest Well Keprrg anted. The departments of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, lowa. Michigan, and Ohio sent.. goodly delegations this year, though the numercial strength ot the various bodies was less than might have been expected had the industrial and financial conditions of the country been good during the last eighteen months. The Illinois delegation to the encampment numbered over 1,000 men. Michigan sent over 500 men, lowa was represented by 109, Indiana by 700, Wi ensin by 100, Ohio by 10,00 b, and Pennsylvania by about the same number The sessions of the encampment proper were preceded by immense parades of the surviving veterans of the army and navy. Tho parade on Monday, which the Pittsburgers saw marching down their sth avenue, was one that through the novelty of its cnaraeter, in an inland locality, was fully as intere-ting as the greater demonstration of the Grand Army “turn out,” which took place on the following day. The first was a procession composed of the National Association of Naval Veterans, commanded by' Rear Admiral Bradley' S. Osbon, of New York City, and the Naval Cadets and the Sons of Veterans. Rear Admiral Osbon was Admiral Farragut's signal master, possesses an honorable record and has had a variety of experiences. The characteristics of the naval veterans are original and vary considerably from their comrades, who fought on land while they fought on the sea, and occasioned the interest that attaches to all things nautical among people who dwell far from the sea. Tuesday saw the parade of the remnant of tne great armies that subdued, secession, saved the Union and made black men forever free. It is a glorious organization that Commander-in-chief John G. B. Adams led on that day-. Pennsylvania was a State of patriots from l or old wa" Governor. Curtin, down to her (almost) every humble son. The Department of Illinois had the right of line, followed by the Wisconsin and Ohio departments. Forty-five State and Territorial departments were represented. This day, also, the ladies of the G. A. R., the Woman’s Relief Corps, and the Daughters of Veterans held council meetings, and the Union ex-prisoners of war held their national contention. At night there were camp-fires at a dozen places. The twenty-eighth National Encampment of the Grand Army assembled Wednesday in the Grand Opera House. Addresses of welcome were delivered by Gov. Robert E. Pattison, Mayor B. McKenna of Pittsburg, and. Mayor William M. Kennedy of Allegheny. Gov. McKinley, of Ohio, made a speech. The Ladies of the G. A. R., Woman’s Relief 6orps, and Daughters of Veterans held their first meetings; there were entertainments at the Exposition Building and Westinghouse works, and a camp-fire of the Union exprisoners of war. Thursday was given up to business meetings and elections, a concert and reception, and a camp fire by the Sons of Veterans