The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-21
ARRIVAL OF THE CLANS.

HOW THEY CAME INTO THE CITY YESTERDAY
Ill 900 SOLDIERS IN ALL ON THE GROUNDS
IS GOO STRANGERS IN THE CITY.
The expecl atoms of the most sanguine
were exceeded yesterday, as regarded the
success of the reunion, numerically speak
ing. Never before, probably, with the ex-
ception, of course, ofwar times, we're there so
many soldiers aud strangers in the city.
Early in the morning the special or ''soldiers'
trains began arriving in the city on the
different roads. each train consisting OF at
least seven or eight coaches, and invariably
crowded. Until after 1 o'clock in the after
noon the down town streets were alive with
men who had come to eight their
battles DER" and the sounds of music
from excellent bands, down to the
6te and drum, were TO be heard In sill d.
rections. Early in the morning this firing
of cannon began. and by the time the trains
began arriving all the business houses down
street were decorated according to pro-
gramme. The city regiment or ba. TALON fully
equipped was on hand to greet their fellow
soldiers from throughout the state, and 10
escort them To the down town headquarters
In the state house yard. At this point there
was jam all morning and at times a perfect
pandsmonium. If there was anything
amiss IL the management of the regiments
and companies Yesterday, it was owing
TO the fact already stated that the number
was much larger thsn calculated on. AS
fast as the delegs ions could be arranged In
marching order at the state house, they pro-
ceeded north on the principal streets lead
ing to the fair grounds. Along those thor
ougbfares there was q continual stream OF
marching men all morning, and as a resi-
dencs handsomely deco -ated was ssed
cheer sf-er cheer was sent up. Along
Meridian street particularly was this the
case. Often. too, when a carriage filled with
erfnnlod aoldiara VV0uld naoa along the
hurrss were deafsning. Arriving at the
camp, the reunion began 10 earnest.
Everywhere some old soldier was
shaking hands with a comrade, M any being
the cases where the separation had lasted
since the war. Often a group became en-
gagged in general conversation which, in
few moments, would develop the fact that
she apparent strangers had fought many
battles in tae same company aud regiment
Then some one would k know a friend present
on the grounds hat was in the same COM
pany with the person he was cOnversing
WITH. A search would ensue, and that old
mutual friend being found he would re-
member another who WAS over at such a
tent, and so the comrades were brought to-
gether. These proceedings were, of course,
GREAT DRAWBACK
to the those attempting to organize the
camp, bat, of course, could not be helped.
1t was Hoped that by 2 o'clock a full
list of the regiments and their quarters
would be made out, but up to supper time
the difficult undertaking was not half
through Those in charge of the dinner
were also short in rstiOns. They assert,
however, that instead of having the
rations passed to them the men came
up to the long tables in the EXPOSE
ton Hall, picked up all they could
carry, and in that way a large amount OF
food was waited. However, there was not
sucn great lack of tood rs TO cause any
serious compl4int. BY o'clock the grounds
were literally filed with men, women and
children. and hs delegations were still COM
ing. IL Is almost impossible 10 estimate the
attendance within = thousand or two, but it
IL sale 10 say hat dnrirg ma day there were
between $4,000 and q 600 persons on the
grounds, 81 which numbers about ii 600
were soldiers. Taking 1900 as the number
on the grounds at hslf-p.-t two, IL Is esti-
mated that tnrra were uily 80. 900 strangers
In the city during the day. Aiter dinner the
D0gle calls could be heard over the camp,
tut h. effort To gst the dele cations together
again proved failure, snd the crowd kept