The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-07
SOLDIERS REUNION !!
Grand Re-Union of the
Soldiers of heNorth
West at Rock
Island.
TIE PROCESSION A MILE Love.
$4,000 Persons In Attendance
The 0rcwd-Zhe Day Decoration
Dinner at the CTove-0rs-
tion-Speeches- Etc.

The Orcwd-Zhe Day Decoration
Dinner at the GTove-Gra-
tion-speeches-Etc.
As dawn gave place to full daylight it be-
came evideat that the ubio uitous "clerk of
the weather was - so far as Rock Island is
concerned-not only patriotic, but more
than usually propitious, and those of our
dear brave ''boys in blue" who arrived last
night saw that they would be able to con-
grstulate fresh arrivals of holiday veterans
on the prospect of lovely day for their re
union. 1t was lovely, though of course,
much cooler day when our ears first heard
ten years ago, the dread news that the flag
had been struck, insugurating that most
! fearful war Of Rebellion 1t is a matter Of
history to us, now, how the very men, who
assem- bled here to-day, then met, in excited
groups here and there, talking the matter
over, pale with indignation, and with the
determination to participate individually, in
putting down the rebellion swelling in each
stout heart until it eliminated in sn outburst
of military enthusiasm, such ss the world
never before Witnessed unless when Wash
Ington was amongst US The plough, the
Office, the store, and the mutitudinous other
avocatious Of daily life became all at once
minor considerations, and nothing was to be
heard on all sides but earnest competition
for active service, accompanied by the
sounds of hfes and drums add the deep
toned booming of guns; whilst from all
points streAmed the glorious stars and
stripes looking down upon the scene OF
stern excitement over which they waved in
the breeze STILL even then, no one dream
: ed of the magnitude into which the rebel
lion would develop, snd indeed, for some
time at the first it did not appear q sight,
and probably temporary disturbance in com
parison with what followed afterwards, 1861
g. were but the opening acts Of the awful
play OF strife and sickeniBg carnage; the
dogs of war were but just let loose, sud
slaughter in its infancy. There was one
! thing of which Illinois was to boast proudly
ia future days which, then, was but fierce
| glow within her bosom, and not as yet the
accomplishment of her hand. She was to
, occupy a niched pedestal in the patriotic
heart of the shrine of Fame as being the
only loyal State, who, by her voluntary ex-
hibitiou Of patriotism, poured forth her fear
, less boys IN such OVERLOOKING abundance as
to escape the draft, to say nothing of the
! fact that the valor, endurance, prompt ODE
dience, noble daring, and brilliant achieves
! ments of those, her soldier sons were uusur-
D passed by any other State. Ii boots not to
attempt TO psrticularize the admire bic CON
duet of the Illinois soldier through each
phase of that rebellion which was put down,
as bulky volumes alone would suffice for the
, task. But we cannot refrain from proudly
calling to mind at this moment how our
gallant boys never fsltered; how they in
trepIdly faced what they felt assured would
; eventuste in uuspesksbly sgonizing suffer
ings or death 10 many of them, none knew
to whom and this ont of sheer pluck, often
successfully holding in check vastly prepon
derating odds But, whether it was q call
to simple drill or parade, or whether il
B. was the summons to face the belching fire
vomit of opposing artillery, 'hOy we're equally
on hand all the time, for love of their re.
vered State and their country.
THE CROWD.
The evening trains brought great crowd
and the morning boats and trains were
crowded with the brave boys in blue. Many
= of them were accompanied BY their wives
D and sweethearts, aud spirit Of enjoyment
seemed to prevAde the very air. The NORTH
b. Western came down with an excursion from
{ Clinton, this morning, having on board som,
300 persons. The evening train On tn
Chicago Rock Island road brought a
children-76 boys and Ga girls-from to-
Orphans Home at Normal. The Freepor
Zousves were taken TO Turner Hall and Rob
ert Kehler played their host to perfection
Veas' Grand Light Guard Band arrived
from Chicago this morning. The farmers
!, their wives, daughters and sweethearts, il
the od.fashioned schooners, commences
coming in at break of day, and from tina
time until high nooa, a stream of living
moving bodies was seen entering the city
Our citizens seemed to psrteke of the ger
. erRl feeling of excitement, and very littl
work was done in the city. Our merchant
drove brisk trade with the crowd. Han
organs, candy, fruit and other pedders wer
numerous, and from daylight till dark tn
q the crowd kept moving and stirring up on
street and down an other with ceaseles
y vigor they tramped Pickpockets wer
ID numerous and emptied many pockets.
THE DECORATION.
10 On Orleans street, the stores and resi
re denoes of James Kelly, Emil Knhler and J
D Wolenhaups were most beautifully an
deliberately decorated with festoons, wreaths
lr aags, and "Welcome boys" Madison 81
n was profusely decorated with luxuriant oal
lie foliage and flags of every size. But Illnoi
Al street was the greatest display of all. From
one end of it to the other, tokens of grea
IT gala day were to be seen on both sides
d Principally noticeable were the flags ant
q Rreenery Of the Harper House. Coe ant
r Strong (of the 18th corps, llth Iowa,
Hengster & Stengel, Ernst Wol!man, Henri,
G Darts Sons, Walter s. Gates & Co, Hoyt'
s Music Store, Julius Umhalt, the Union OF
d Gee, L. Kiesow, (tri-color festoons.) Across
Q the street, in front Of Mitchell l. Lynde
block, was erected splendid arch, bearing
f on the east side in blue and gold, the suita
e BILE admonition, Honor to the Brave" apc
on the west the one hearty word of greeting
g Welcome :" the whole beautifully decorat