Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1893 — G.A.R. ENCAMPMENT. [ARTICLE]

G.A.R. ENCAMPMENT.

“TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, THE BOYS ARE MARCHING.’’ Twenty-Seventh Annual Meeting of the G. A. R. in the City of Its Birth. Indianapol Is in Holiday Dresa—Profnse and Imposing Decorations—Vaal Gathering ot the Survivors of the Union Armies—Scenes, Notes and I Incidents. Drums are beating, bugles blowing, Flags and bunting greet the eye, Pageantry prolonged, imposing. ■ . ' Columns gray are passing by. Spectres of the past are flitting Through the thoughts of aged men; Time turns back, his pinions winging To the days when war began. ~Scenes ofbiood'anTcarnage awful X Pass in panoramic view, And the end, grand and triumphal. And the homeward journeys Coo. - AU Is over—like a vision Are those bloody days gone by— Peaceful States without division Hail the heroes passing by.

The festivities incident to the meeting Of the twenty-seventh annual encampment G. A. R., at Indianapolis, began Thursday evening, Aug. 31, with the formal launching of the model ship Kearsarge, in the State House campus. The stationary ship had been amply provided with electric lights. A vast crowd had gathered in the streets and grounds, and the boat—lacking water—was launched in the “sea of faces” that generally figures on such occasions. The novelty of being on shipboard attracted all that could be admitted, although an admission fee was charged. The vessel was built for the entertainment of the naval veterans. Regular ship discipline will be maintained on board during the Encampment. Real Admiral B. A. Osbon, of New York city, accompanied by his staff, took charge of the vessel, Friday at noon. The regular naval routine was observed, Saturday morning at eight bells (8 o’clock city time) the ship was formally put in commission. At 9 o’clock the naval veterans assembled on North Meridian street for their parade. The route of the procession was nearly two miles in length The parade formed and marched south on Meridian street from St. Clair to New York, east to New Jersey, south to Washington, west past the reviewing stand at the court house, past the ship Kearsarge where they were received by the admiral and his staff, disbanding at Mississippi street. The Naval Veterans annual reception took place on the deck of the Kearsarge, Saturday afternoon. On Sunday the Naval Veterans attended the First Baptist and Tabernacle Presbyterian churches in a body, but the buildings failed to accommodate the people desiring entrance.