The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-04
THE MILITARY PAGEANT.
Arrangements for the Great Encamp.
ment Being Rapidly Perfected
A Prize offered for the Largest Post of the
@. A. r. in NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
for the Troops.

The preparations for the military eneamfment
are keeping apace with the approach OF the
great occasion, and every thing Will be in perfect
readiness for the day of the opening. The work
at the Exposition grounds is being conducted
under the general supervision OF General Carna-
han, and the plan of arrangement will be very
much of an improvement over that OF last year.
An amphitheater twelve tiers high, extending
1000 feet across the north side of
the drill ground, has been erected
and besides the grand stand, 500 feet in
length on the south side, 200 feet additional, ad
joining it on the west, have been built, giving
seating capacity which will comfortably accom-
modaJe 10000 people. The seats extend across
the north and the south sides of the drill ground,
and the space between, to the east and west,
win all be open. The drill ground will cover
area of about 500 feet square. An embankment
about three feet high will be thrown up on the
east and the west sides, and Notifications will
be put mp one hundred feet east OF the en-
bankment enclosing the military headquarters,
which will be situated as they were last year.
In the sham battle the troops will march on the
grounds from the west side, and, passing over
the entertainments about the drill grounds, will
make their grand charge on the Notifications.
The artillery will enter the field from the south
east corner, while the skirmshers will pass
around the seats on the north and make their
appearance from the nor beast side. The bat
tie picture which it is intended to present Will
be more perfect in detail of execution than ever
before attempted in mimic warfare. Thofact
OF the engagement of four-gun mounted bat
terry will lend such realism to the scene that
only the actual shedding of blood will be wanting
to perfectly duplicate the tumult and terror of
battle. Sufficient cavalry will also participate TO
warrant the statement that this feature will
meet the antcipations of the most sanguine.
The work upon the grounds is still in progress,
but Will be completed in ample time. The
seats are being built in the most sub
ufa nv.6h nFz
Will be very carefully inspected by City Civil
Engineer Shearer and Architect Dsggett, who
will officially certify to their safety under pres
sure of any weight to which they are likely to
be subjected.
The conmissary and quartermaster depart
ments will he i'll state of readiness TO meet any
demands The needs Of the troops in the matter
OF ratiODs have been provided for on the most
liberal scale. In addition to the regular
abes, fresh meats, soft bread, and
the like will be furnished. The executive
committee, in making their contracts, provide
for ratiuns for 1000. Each company will be re-
quired to do its own cooking. The camp quar-
ters will be situated in the southeast part of the
Exposition grounds they we're last year, and
tho cooking will be done in the open buildings
which are being erected for that purpose. Most
OF the companies will bring their own blankets
and will provide their own cots, but, at the order
of the encampment executive committee, the
Womens Exchange is making 1000 bed-ticks
for the use of the soldiers.
The correspondence which is daily being re-
ceived indicates that there will he no dlsappoint-
ment in the matter Of attendance of organized
bodies There can be no question that the 10Th
inst. will witness the greatest old soldiers re-
union since the close of the war in Indiana,
circular was issued yesterday by General
George F. McGinnis, chairman of the committee
on "old soldiers day." stating that "Nordyke
Marmon Company, of this city, with view to
stimulate attendance of mem ers of the g. A. R.
on odd soldiers day, Aug. 10, at the National
Military Encampment, will award an elegant
silk banner to the post which shall turn out the
largest number of its actual members, in body,
on that occasion. Posts from Marion county are
barred. The banner is twenty-seven by forty
light blue silk, fringed and laced in
gold suspended from cross-bar repre-
seLting musket with bayonet the
diverse side shows the G. A. r. badge In full
length, in c0lors, painted In oil. The reverse side
contains the inscription in gold letters with
blank space to I'LL in name of successful Compel
itor The banner is original in design, aud a
very handsome and valuable trophy. COM
mittee to make the award has been appointed
from the general committee having in charge
the details of the old soldiers day part OF the
programme of the eneampment. The COM
mander and adjutanu of each post will certify to
this committee the number of bona tide mem
bers in attendance, by which the committee will
muster fled in the office of the adutant-general
OF the department, which post is entitled to the
award"
TO put quietus upon the questions which are
being asked. the executive committee author
ize the announcement that the price OF
general admission at the gate entrance will be
fifty cents, and the admission for children will
he twenty five cents throughout the week.
The following line of march for the industrial
parade has been finally agreed upon:
Starting from the corner of Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania Streets south on Pennsylvania to Wash
lngtuu; east on Washington to Delaware; north
on Delaware to Market; east on Market TO New
Jersey; south New Jersey to Washington,
west on Washington to Meridian; south on Me-
rdian to Georgia; west on Georgia to Illinois;
north on Illinois to Maryland; east on Marylan
to Meridian; north on Meridian to Washington;
west on Washington to Mississippi; north on
Mlssissippi to North street.