Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1895 — THEY MET IN PEACE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THEY MET IN PEACE

Mammoth Gathering of the Blue Gray. G. A. R. AT LOUISYTLLE One of the Most Successful r - Encampments.— Matchless Hospitality of the City—■ .Enormous Crowds Well Cared For, and the Whole Town Inspired to Enthusiasm—Over 40,000 Veterans PaList of State Departments Appearing—Barbecues and Catn p-Fires the Scenes of Many Reunions. Monday was the opening day of the twenty-ninth annual encampment G. A. R-, held this year at Louisville. A warm Invitation to assemble there was extended to the members by Mr. Henry Watterson. Many of them entered the State over thirty years ago bent on a very different mission, and much against Mr. Wat-* terson's wishes. About tiO.OOO old soldiers attended this encampment. This is only a melancholy fraction of the men who came out of the four-years’ struggle with their lives, _ and yet it is a great number when one reflects that it is thirty years since that contest ended. These gatherings are better attended than were those held ten years after the war closed, when the number of veterans was so much greater than now. This is not because railroad rates are cheaper pr the old soldiers are any

better able to stand the expense and the wear and tear of travel, but because as the ranks: are thinned out the survivors feel more strongly drawn toward one another. Each of them feels more keenly than ever before that this may be the last time he will be able to foregather with his comrades, so he goes himself, if it is humanly possible; and, if he can, he takes his family along, so that his Children may see the men side by side with whom he fought. "'"-•'-"Dra-winji to a Close. • But the day of large gatherings is slowly and surely drawing to a close. Each year depletes the ranks. This was not bo perceptible at first because the Grand Army has kept on growing long after the war was over. The men who did not join it at first, either because their attention was absorbed, in earning a living or because the war was still so near them that its memories had not ceased to be disagreeable, one by one joined that organization. So it grew while the number of old soldiers was decreasing: That period of growth is over now, and gradually these annual encampments will dwindle till tens meet where thousands meet now. First South of the Ohio. This encampment was a notable one, as it was the first held south of the Ohio River. The “boys” marched in a familiar direction and near to-the locality of stirring scenes in their lives, but they went down there with different feelings from those of thirty years ago. The events in Chingo’s Oakwoods Cemetery on Decoration Day, as well as the cordial invitations from Atlanta to Northern soldiery, go to show that the era of complete reconciliation is at hand. This year’s encampment will expedite its fruition. The men of the blue and the gray will get better acquainted with each other, and will be better friends hereafter for this meeting. The extraordinary preparations which Louisville made and the cordiality of welcome all pointed to the same result. The encampment naturally attracted large numbers of the ex-Confederates also, end the commingling of the old-time enemies under the standard of peace added Its influences also toward the cementing of kindly feelings.

Louisville's Hospitality. Though many of the veterans during the year have replied to the last muster call, the encampment was one of the most successful the Grand Army has ever had. Certainly under the circumstances it was 'one of the most interesting. Kentucky is closely allied to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and thousands of its sons have settled in those States. The ties between them are strong, and to large numbers of these veterans the welcome was like a family one. Louisville did its best upon this occasion. Mr. Watterson and his etarry : eycd girl did their best also, aiWR If the blue invasion had threatened to be too much for the city the whole Blue Grass region would have come to the rescue. There was room enough, however, for all. Louisville never was known to get too full. The people of the city secured concessions from railroads and hotels, and even for free sleeping quarters ih schoolhouses and other buildings, with the additional provision of tents and barracks. The schools for the week were dismissed. Fully 300,000 strangers were in town during the encampment. While the influx from the Northern States was tremendous, yet that from the South kept pace. All the roads ran trains as close together as possible, and the most complete arrangements prevailed for receiving the visiters. Ovation to Lawler.*? The arrival of Commander-in-chief ugwler was the signal for the opening of the encampment His specie I train bowlsd Into the tJnion Depot on time. As soon as the Commander appeared at the door •£ his car the members of the Be-

ception and Invitation Committees gave him a rousing cheer. The Louisville Legion was the feature of the parade. At the Halt House crowds were awaiting the Commander's arrival, and they kept him busy for a long time shaking hands. At 6 p. m. General Lawler and staff dined with Colonel H. S. Cohn, and at Bp. in. »vere formally presented to President Shirley, of tne Citizens’ Committee. Ransom Post of St. Louis and the Clncinnati posts serenaded the party at President Shirley’s Louse, where a brilliant social event was in progress. At night camp fires were held in New Albany and Jeffersonville, as Well as in Louisville, while receptions were given Commander Lawler, Admiral Allen, Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Wallace and others. At Camp Caldwell, where twelve State departments and tbousands of unattached veterans were quartered free in tents, there was singing' 'an3 story-telling and many informal camp fires. Most of the Indiana veterans were quartered at New Albany and Jeffersonville. The regimental reunions were held in the State headquarters Tuesday. = ■ '■

Distinguished Guests. Among the distinguished visitors were: Corporal Tanner, S. D. Burdette, Gen. R. A. Aiger of Detroit, Mich:, Inspector General Pond of Lansing, Mich., J. C. S. Blackburn, W. G. Bradley, General S. B. Buckner and Colohel J. A.'Buckner of Louisiana, Col. W. E. Bundy of Cincinnati, J. C. Burrows of Kalamazoo, Mich., General H. B. Carrington and General J. S. Clarkson of lowa, General Cassius M. Clay of Whitehall, Ivy.; J. M. Coney, Judge Advocate for Massachusetts; Captain T. Davis Cunningham of Blairsville, Pa.; W. H. Derby, Senior Vice Commander, of Massachusetts; J. I. Dorsey and N. S. Dudley of Flemingsburg, Bishop Samuel Fallows of Chicago, Rev. James P. Foster of Geneva, N. Y., General John B. Gordon of Reynolds, Ga., Rev. T. H. Hagerty of St. Louis, John M. Harkin and General Warren Keifer of Springfield, Ohio, J. Proctor Knott of Lebanon, Ky., William Lindsay of Frankfort, Ky., John A. Logan of Chicago, United States Senator Manderson of Nebraska, Governor Claude Matthews of Indiana, James 'Whitcomb Riley of Indianapolis,‘Adjutant Joseph W. Roberts of General D. E. Sickles of New York, John W. Thayer of Lincoln, Neb., General John G. Underwood of Chicago, Governor William H. Upham of Madison. Wis., Rev. T. D. Walker of Chicago, Colonel M. D. Wickersham of Mobile? Ala. The New Commander. The tread of the feet of the boys in blue had hardly begun before the contest for the office of Commander-in-chief was well under way. Every State represented seemed tofiavelts favorife so n;bu t the" two men most prominently considered for the high honor were Major Thaddeus S. Clarkson of Nebraska and Colonel Ivan Is. Waiker of Indiana. The friends of these two veterans and of the other candidates were quickly hard at work. The opposing factions got together, and the result of the conference was the decision that Colonels Walker and Clarkson should be the only nominees. Then an lowa,delegate was to move the withdrawal of Col. Clarkson's name and the' unanimous election of CoL Walker. This would serve to give Col. Clarkson prestige at the 1896 convention. Ivan N. Walker. Colonel Ivan N. Walker is a native of Indiana, and at the breaking out of the war, at the age of 21, was holding ap important office, which he resigned to raise t a company for the Seventy-third Indiana, of-which-he was ohosen-Gaptaiu. He was with his regiment in all its engagements, and for gallant conduct on Stone River’s contested field won the rank of Major, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in March, 1863, and on the death of the colonel became commander of the regiment. For a year he endured the horrors of Libby prison, and escaped through the historic tunnel in

February, 1804. Afterward he rendered important service in the Army of the Cumberland, protecting the line of supplies between Stevenson and Decatur, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and Tennessse River, during the advance on Atlanta. At the battle of Nashville he received the personal thanks of General Thomas. After the war, owing to illhealth, arising from confinement in Libby, he resided in Nashffflc, Tenn., for six years, but returned to Indianapolis in 1871, where he has since lived. lie became a member of the G. A. It. in 1807, and on the reorganization of the Department of Indiana served as Commander of George H. Thomas Post, the largest post in the department. He was appointed assistant adjutant general of this department in 1887, and reappointed three times. In 1891, declining a fifth term, he was chosen Department Commander, and at Indianapolis, in 1893, was chosen Senior Vice Commander-in-chief. He possesses in a high degree executive ability, and is : 'taevery way fitted to fill with ( honor the jrtJtßJpn of Commander-in-chief.

Naval Veterans’ Parade. In the naval veterans' parade Tuesday morning thirty-seven different associations were represented and they made an imposing column. At their business meeting the following officers w.ere elected: Rear Admiral, Samuel Allen, of New York; Commodore, E. C. Farquhar, Zanesville, Ohio; Captain, Geo. Frltschner, Louisville; Commodore, W. J. Ferguson, Philadelphia; Lieutenant Commander, E. ,D. Bliss, Brooklyn; Senior Lieutenant, D. B. Ungay, Rockford, 111.; Under Lieutenants, James Stanley, New York; F. I* Ferguson, Thomas G. Henos, Cincinnati; Paymaster, E. F. Duston, Providence; Fleet Engineer, G. L. Heavy, Chicago; Judge Advocate General, Charles Cowley. Chicago; Chaplain, the Rev. A. S: McWilliams, Detroit. Wednesday’s Great Parade. At least 40,000 men were in the great parade of Wednesday, and It was watched by over 800,000 people. Several circuses had sent their blue board seats,

and there were review stands on the line of march to accommodate over 150,000 persons. The route of THHTCirtooked like an immense amphitheater. '‘Many hnndreds of the boys had become worn out, and watched their comrades in the line of march. The following were among the State departments appearing: Department of Indiana, with 124 posts, the largest number of any department; Kentucky, Delaware, i; lowa, 2; Kansas, 5; Louisiana, 11; Maine, 1; Maryland, 2; Massachusetts, 8; Michigan, 1; Minnesota, 2; Missouri, 10; New Hampshire, 1; New Jersey, 2; New York, 5; Ohio, 90; Pennsylvania, 11; Vermont, 2; West Virginia, 2; Wisconsin, 3; Oklahoma, 1; Washington, D. C., 3; Oregon, Idaho and Washington, 1 post each. The crowning feature of the encampment was the great Kentucky barbecue --and--burgoo teas;, at which over 200,000participated. Notee-of the lincamnmeiit. When the citizens had put the finishing touches to the street decorations and the : triumphal arches, both the residence and the business districts presented a beautiful appearance. The lowa boys took along the A. O. U. W. band 'of thirty-five pieces from Cedar Falls, Col. J: K. Thompson, department cominandeiywith his staff,’was with the delegation. Two special trains were necessary to take Wisconsin’s delegation. Maryland sent a good crowd, and they had a cracking band which played with much vim “Maryland, My Maryland." One of the most pleasing incidents of the encampment was the presentation to Cpmmander-in-chief Lawler by the aides de camp on his personal staff of one of the finest diamond badges ever made in this country. More than $4,u00 was thus collected and the order for the badge was placed in the hands of one of the most famous jewelry firms in the country. The badge is said to be one of the handsomest pieces of work of the kind ever made. It is solid gold and imbedded in the metal are several large diamonds and other precious stones. All of the emblems of the order are engraved on it, and on the reverse side is an appropriate inscription giving the date of presentation and other data. At different times during the week six national conventions were in session. These Comprised the nauonal—eaeampment of the Grand Army and the national sessions of the Woman’s Relief Corps, Ladies of tho Grand Army, National Association of Naval Veterans, National Association Daughters of Veterans, and National Association of Union ex-Prlsoners of War. In addition to these events there were a score or more of campfires, at some of which cx-Presi-dent Harrison, Gov. McKinley, ex-Speak-erJ.Warfdi'Keifer and othermen of national reputation delivered addresses. Eaeh mcrnber from North Dakota carried some sort of weapon fashioned out of wheat straw in the big parade. About 1,000 Chicago veterans attended, while the State at large sent 4,500 more. Michigan and Indiana boys went down together, much as they did thirty-five years ago,—They had their own hands and drum corps; and mustered a big crowd. „ At the big Jeffersonville, Ind., campfire Gov. Claude Matthews, Corporal Tanner and Gen. Lew Wallace spoke to 7,000 persons. In the chapel at the Indiana prison south forty-five convict veterans held the most unique camp-fire of the wees by special permission'-of Warden Hert. The coat lapel buttons of the United -.Veterans ..were to be seen on every band, but their wearers acted as guides, philosophers and friends to their guests of the week. That latchstring concerning which the brilliant Watterson talked so eloquently before the members of the Pittsburg encampment was very much in evidence. Not one alone, but a hundred of them, hanging on the outside. It is doubtful if the city ever before entertained so many guests. Certain it is, the town never before had within its limits so many battle-scarred soldiers. The reception by the Woman’s Relief Corps to Commander Lawler was the leading social event of the week. Thousands of both the biue and the gray attended. -For two hours veterans and their wives paid their respects to the receiving party. It is said by veterans who have attended every encampment that the reception surpassed anything of the kind over held. - In the big parade was the old war horse Ned, aged 40 years. His present owner, B. F. Crawford, of Northeast, Pennsylvania, got possession of him thirty-two years ago and says Ned was then 8 years old, according to liis mouth. Until five years ago Ned did his share of the work on Mr. Crawford’s Pennsylvania farm. Ned was captured from Gen. Jubal Early’s corps near Washington, and was given to his present owner to replace an animal which had been shot in a skirmish. At the close of the war Mr. Crawford left Washington on Ned’s back. Ned has been conspicuous at former encampments. He gave out at Pittsburg last year, and in the Louisville parade he rode on a float. =» The Chicago ppsts took the city by storm. The famous Columbia, that post so loved by Southerners, marched at once to the Galt House, and were wildly cheered as they passed through the streets. When they reached the hotel scores of exConfederates bid them welcome to Kentucky, and the Chicago men were toasted and feasted to repletion. It is estimated that the Illinois visitors numbered 10,000.

THOMAS G. LAWLER, Commander-in-chief G. A. R.

COL. IVAN N. WALKER.