People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1893 — HEROES OF THE WAR. [ARTICLE]

HEROES OF THE WAR.

Veteran* Who Fought on Land and Sea During; the Rebellion Gather for Their Encampment at Indiana poll*—Hl* to ry at the O. A. B. Indianapolis, Ind., Sept 4.—“ They are coming, a hundred thousand strong.” That is the refrain on every lip, and the home of ex-President Harrison has arranged a royal welcome for the G. A. R. It is its twenty-seventh annual gathering, and in no year was the interest deeper or the attendance more flattering. The question of most importance to come up for debate is that relating to recent developments in pension legislation and department decisions, and under this head will probably come the appeal of the disbanded Farnham poet of New York. There was an unusual scene at the Tabernacle Presbyterian church Sunday morning, and one in which exPresident Harrison, much to his surprise, was made . a central figure. A special patriotic service had been arranged for the delegates to the convention of naval veterans, over 100 of whom, headed by Rear Admiral B. S. Osbon, occupied seats in the body of the edifice. The audience still lingered after the benediction had been pronounced, and several of the old salts in the rear pushed to the front and grasped the ex-president by the hand. Seeing that an impromptu reception could not be avoided, the pastor invited Mr. Harrison to the front of the platform, and for over an hour men, women and children filed by. each taking him by the hand and many expressing in a few words their pleasure at seeing him amongst them. In accordance with the usual custom the naval veterans held their celebration before the rally of their comrades of the army, and Saturday being the second and final day of their reunion they were up brignt and early, and at eight bells every man of them had gathered at the flagship Kearsarge on the capitol grounds to witness the ceremony of putting the counterpart of the time-honored craft into commission. The festivities at the man-of-war were concluded barely in time for the veterans to make their way to North Meridan and St. Clair streets, where the line of march was formed for the grand parade.

It was In Decatur, 111., on April 6, 1866, that Dr. Stephenson formed the first post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and on October 31, 1860, the first national convention was held in this city, where now they are gathering in twenty-seventh reunion. The second session was held in Philadelphia in January, 1888 s It was during this session that th* rule was established abolishing tho use of aIU mill tary titles in connection with grand armyproceedings, with the result that in the post room the major general and. the private from the ranks stand on precisely the same footing; no rank or grade being recognized except those of the grand army itself and derived directly from that body. The third annual session-of the national encampment was held in Cincinnati May 12, 1869, Gen. Logan presiding, and he was reelected commander in chief for the Sallowing year, and the fourth annual encampment was held in the eity of Washington on May 11, 1870. For the third time Gen. Logan was elected commander in chief to succeed himself, and the fifth annual meeting of the national encampment was held in Boston on May 10, 1871. The sixth annual encampment was presided over by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, as commander in chief, meeting in Cleveland, May 8, 1872. Gen Burnside was reelected commander in chief, and 'Jhe seventh annual encampment was held in New Haven, Conn., May 14, 1873. The general declined to serve a thirdtime, and Gen. Charles Devens, Jr., of Massachusetts, was elected in Harrisburg, Ra„ May 13, 1874. Gen. Devens was reelected commander in chief for the following year, and the ninth annual, session. was held in Chicago May 12, 1875. The tenth annual meeting, Gen. John F. Hartranft commander in chief, was in Philadelphia on June 30,1876, the centennial year, and was largely attended. On. June 26, 1877, the eleventh annual meeting was in Providence, R. 1., Gen. Hartranft having been reelected. On May 16 preceding, Gen. Grant was mustered in as a comrade of the grand army and a member of Gen. George Meadepost Na 1, Philadelphia Here was a spectacle; the commanding general of the greatest army known to history—the ex-presi-dent oO the republic—quietly taking his place in the ranks of the army of citizen veterans, among his men who carried the musket. On June 4, 1878. the twelfth annual meeting took place in Springfield, Mass., with Maj. Gen. John C. Robinson as commander in chief. The thirteen th year Gen. Robinson succeeded him■elf- as- comtnander, the meeting occurring- at Albany, on June 17, 1879. The following year Chaplain William Earnshaw, ot Pennsylvania, was commander in chief;, the fourteenth annual session being held! very appropriately at the soldiers’ home at Dayton, 0., June 8, 1880, where there were living over 4,000 veterans. The fifteenth yearly meeting, with Gen. Louis Wagner as commander in chief, was held in Indianapolis, Ind., June 15, 1881. The sixteenth annual session was held in Baltimore. Md., June 21, 1882, with, Maj. George 8. Merrill in Command. On.- July 25, 1883, the seventeenth annual session took place at Denver,, with Sergt Paul Van Der Voort, of Ohio, as commander in chief, vzho was under 1# ' years of age when he enlisted. The eighteenth annual, session was held in Minneapolis, Minn., July 23,. 1864, CoL Robert B. Bea th, commander In chief. The nineteenth meeting was at Portland, Mt, June 24, 1885. The commander in, chief was John S. Kountz, of Ohio. The twentieth, meeting was held in San Francisco, Au- ■ gust. 4,. 188 G, and Capt. S. S. Burdett was chosen, commander. The twenty-first annual session was held at'. 61 Louis, Mo., Septembers#, 1887. Gem Louis-. Fairchild, of Wisconsin, presided as the com--mander- in chief. The twenty-second annual; session was held at Columbus, 0., on September--12, 1688, Maj. John P. Rea*, of Minnesota, commander in chief. The, twenty-third annual: encaaixpinent was held hi Milwaukee, Wlau,. on August 28, 29 and S 3, 1889, Commanderin Chief William Warner, of Missouri,. :■ presiding. The twenty Sourth annual session,. |! with Gen. R. A. Alger as commander in chief; ■ was held at Boston, Mas*, on August 13 and L 4,. 1890; The twenty-fifth annual meeting was. at ' Detroit, Mich., on August 5, 6 and 7, 1891,. with Gen. W. G. Veazey, oS Vermont, commander In chief. The twenty-sixth annual meeting was held in Washington, Commander in Chief Jtohn Palmer, of Albany, presiding. Commander In Chief Weissert, ot Milwaukee, succeeded him and is in charge of she Indianapolis encampment.