The National tribune., 1883-08-02
COLUMBUS REUNION.
A Great Gathering of Eeterans---Its
Principal Features.
Special Correspondence National Tribune:


The soldiers Reunion. which opened on
Tuesday last and closed yesterday, was grand
success. On Tuesday, from early morning
crowds of citizens and veterans poured into the
city. Among the arrivals were seventeen men,
bers of the Fifty-fOurth Virginia infantry. c.
S. A., who were the guests Of the Third Ohio
V. l., having shared each others inequalities
during the war
The decorations on High street were lavish,
displaying national cOl0rs, corps badges, ever
greens, banners with names of prominent bat
ties inscribed upon them, and, at nearly every
inteTseeting street, there were decorated arches,
devoted TO recording the battles of various
corps and brigades. In the evening the various
regimental associations held an enthusiastic
meeting, and INDUCED in many hearty hand
shakings
On Wednesday morning the public reception
was held at the courthouse at 10 o'clock
Among the prominent personages on the speak
ers' stand We're ex-President z. 3. Hayes, Gen
eral j. Warren keifeF Ex-Governor Moves,
Congressman Mckinley. General Bucklaud of
Fremont; Hon. George HOadlv, Democratic can
| dldate for governor, and DR.. Scott, of Warren.
II. VI. Neil, President of the Franklin County
Soldiers and Sailors Association, gave all pres
ent hearty welcome on behalf of the assOcia-
ton, assuring them Of the wish to render their
stay pleasant He was followed by Governor
Foster, who said
Upon me devolves the duty Of welcoming YOU
upon this interesting occasion to the State of Ohio
The citizens of this State and especially Of this
city, have made the most ample arEang enents for
the comfortable accommodation of the great throng
present, to the end that you may be able to re-
member your visit to the capital city Of the State
as among the most enjoyable occasions OF the kind.
He spoke of the sacrifices that all had en-
dured, and the great results that had followed
all our wars, and declared that in this meeting
ALL the blue and the gray alike, rejoice that we
are American citizens. In conclusion as the
chief executive officer of State that sent more
than 100000 men to battle. he babe them thrice
welcome to 0hio's capital
| After short address By Mayor Waleutt, the
meeting broke up, many of the veterans attend
ing the meeting at the City Hall OF the ex-pris-
oners of war On the walls of the CITY. Hall
were hung small banners, bearing the names of
various prisoners, while at the back of the stage
was an allegorical painting representing the
Southern prison-pen and its frightful work of
death. On the upper part of the picture are the
words: " In memory of the $4,000 comrades
who persisted in Southern military prisons. We
can forgive but never forget"
| Various addresses were made by the officers of
the association and others present, giving per-
sonal experiences in the rebel prisons. Mrs.
Rebecca Stedman McCann, widow of a private
soldier, and niece of Old Chickanauga Sted-
man." appeared amid applause andrepeated, in
| dramatic style, =" Hooker at Lookout"
Mrs. Mary J. Reese gave vivid account Of
her brothers prison experience, which brought
tears to the eyes of many present.
At the annual meeting of the Third Ohio
volunteer infantry, the members of the Fifty
| fourth Virginia were present, and shared IN the
+ good time which all present had. The following
officers We're chosen by the Third Ohio Presi-
| dent, Charles BeatOn; Vice-President, J. g.
| Blue; Secretary, ]. Warren Frazier; Assistant
4 Secretary, VIM. O. Munson; treasurer, W. II.
| Foy.
| GRAND AR,rY DAY.
| Thursday-Grand Army Day-proved to be a
/ surprise to all the members present, far sur
/ passing the expectations of those having the
! Reunion IN charge. 1t was estimated that over
| $4,000 persons were present. There were over
| 125 Posts very fully represented IN the grand
/ procession and the display was very fine.
/ The pensioners of Ohio formed SEate asso-
| citation in the evening, at which Daniel CARRIER,
4 OF Butler, was made temporary chairman.
After an interchange of views constitution
| setting forth boldly the just claims of dis
abled soldiers Was adopted and the following
/ officers were elected: President, Major J. W.
| Chaplin; Vice President, Captain J. P. Stem
mons; Secretary, A. S. Felch. Comrado J. O..
| Murdoch, Of Malta, presented the following
preamble and resolutions which were adopted ::
Whereas the measure of the second decade is
nearly filed since the close Of the late rebellion,
and the evidences of physical disability are multi
plying every hand 10 extent never before
Whereas the increased disabilities of many are
pressing them to that point where pGuperage can
only De averted by prompt and exact justice IN
meeting the claims Of applicants. therefore i'm
/ plore the Government in the name of cur common
humanity to act with q pronptness in adjusting
| their claims. and them from prolonged and
| multiplied suffering snd want; therefore.
ReS9tred, That we hold the gratitude OF the Na-
ton ID high esteem, but we uaOrta and hunger
can only be appeased with nIateriltIizeI aid which
we respectfully ask as a justly earned reward sor
services rendered
Rssolvcd, Thai the passage of the act Of Congress
| reducing the Internal revenue of the country was
an act Of Injustice to the defenders Of the Nation
IT was IN fact adding 20 the wealth Of the wealthy
and putting of the day of relief to the suffering
soldier to whom the country owes its hFst and
| highest obligation.
gress shall Teenact the law allowing arrearsges OF
pensions and thus place all disabled soldiers the
same plane.
Res6;ved That the interests OF the manned and
| disabled soldier has been nG-s by the persistent
and disioyal howl OF many Of the newspapers of
our country, whose constant cry Is that frauds are
being perpetTatsd upon the Treasury in the name
OF doing justice to the deserving. To eli such we
would affirm that for every fraud upon the Treas
ury, il Is settled conviction that ten-fod that
| number have been suffered by the pensiOner.
ReSoiysd, That when contrast the present
| financial condition Of the country and its vast ae-
eumulations of wealth with its Impoverished and
almost bankrupt condition at the outbreak of the
rebellion, we overw heimed with establishment,
and lnvoiuntarily ask the wealth. the national
honor the Christian integrity and All that eOnssi-
tute the grandeur and glory of our beloved country
can you disregard the cries OF those who dieged
deep the trenches and laid adamantine foundations
upon which rests the glorious superstrueture Of n
free, a prosperous and happy PeOple-the model
Republic OF The world.
FRIDAYS PARADE.
The grand parade of Friday was attended By
even greater crOwd-shan that of Thursday.
The procession moved down High street in TIE
| following order:
Squad of police, the police patrol wagon,
Commander-in-ChiefH Henry M. Neil and staff,
members of the Grand Army.
First division-COlonel George D. Freeman,
Commander, and staff; Fourteenth regiment
Pioneer Corps; Fourteenth Regiment band
and DRUM corps; regimental staff companies
A, Il, c, F, and II, Fourteenth Ohio; Palmer
| Guards, Captain Payne; Alexander Guards,
Captain Ned Brown Born cadets Captain
B0rehers; Governors Guard, Captain George
Estabr00k.
Second division--COmrade S. s. Peters Com
mander, and star; Dresden cornet band; car
riages containing widows OF Revolutionary SOL
ders aud survivors of the war of 1872; Thir-
teenth cavalry with band, under command of
| Major Andrew SclIwarz; members Of different
cavalry regiments of Ohio; carriages containing
| representatives ofthe Mexican and Iadian wars.
Third divisien-General John G. Mitchell,
Commander, and staff; United States barracks
band; G. A. Il. drum corps; ex-So!diers and
Sailors Association, Of Franklin county. and
unattached soldiers; ex-scldiers and suuboat-
men, under command of Commodore Symmcs
| e. Browne; the gunboat Mound City" drawn