Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1907 — MARCH OF THE G. A. R. [ARTICLE]

MARCH OF THE G. A. R.

VETERANS PARADE THROUGH SARATOGA N. Y. Lend Line through Blase of National Colors and Then Review Ranks—Flan Draped Grant’s Bier. Martial music, the old war-time tunes to which the soldiers of the Civil War bad marched in luftiiy awakened Saratoga at an early hour Wednesday—the day of the parade of the veterans who attended the national encampment of the Granu Army of the Republic. expected that 15,000 paraded v.culd be in line and the weather, which was unfavorable in the early nio: ning,_gave promise of brightening before the hour scheduled for the AtarL—Significant of the failing strength of the veterans was the fact that the parading distance was reduced to one mile—the shortest ever fixed for the national encampment. '“‘For the first time the parade was limited to members of the Grand Army instead of being open to all survivors of the war. The national colors covered the fronts of buildings, were festooned at every convenient point, strung in rows a't short intervals across the streets and completely covered the interior of the great convention hall, where the sesslons of the encampment were held. Flat; Recalls Gen. Grant. One of the features of the parade was the presence of a big flag which covered the body of Gen. Grant on its way from Mount McGregor to the tomb. In custody of the grenadier guard, commanded by Col. F. M. Sterrett of St Louis, of which every man was over six feet tall and each representing one of the forty-five departments of the G. A. R., this 014 flag brought up the extreme rear, escorted by the whole parade and being 'carried at last along the whole line of review. As planned, the national officers in carriages with Gov. Charles E. Hughes led the line, the chief of staff in command being J. Cary Winans of Toledo, The department of New York State, although entitled seniority to fifth place, selected as hosts the left of the line, which included a representation of every department, including Alaska, and of every branch of the service. The parade was reviewed by Gov. Hughes and jibe national officers of the G. A. R. The day’s program began w’ith a reception at Congress hall, the New York State headquarters, In honor of Gov. Hughes at 11:30 a. in. At 12:30 luncheon was served by the department of New’ York to the Governor, Commander in Chief Robert B. Brown and his staff, past national officers, department commanders and the other distinguished guests. Meanwhile there had been reunions of the various organizations. The real business of the convention began Thursday with the annual address of Commander Brown, reports of officers and committees and election of officers.