The National tribune., 1883-09-06
AWEEK CAMP GEARY
Tie Eneampment Of the Grand army
al Gettysburg.
A JOLLY GOOD TIME.
Regimental Reunions, Con-
certs, Camp-Fires, &c.
JOLLY GOOD TIME
special Correspondence National Tribune:

C.
AGO to-day. This is the fifth year II Las been
held on this battlefield, and surely nowhere in
our State could more appropriate place for it
be found. The arrival OF trains from all
directions On saturday brought IN the COM
Tsdes and their families from Pittsburg, Al
i0ona, Lancaster, York, Reading, and other
places. SO that when the special train 0! four
teen heavily laden passenger cars from Phlla-
delphia reached here IN the evening the old
town gas 9airlv swaImiug with men who wore
the blue Unfortunately this tram was over
an hour behind the time fixed for Its arrival
and il was long after dark when il rolled into
the depot ln consequence Of this delay the
usual reception aud parade ont TO the camp
had 10 be dispensed with, and every one ct once
commenced hunt for accommodations An
unusually large number OF the comrades brought
their wives and daughters with them, and II
has been The subject Of frequent remark that
never before were there so many Of the gentler
sex present at any 2ncampment. They were
provided for at the hotels. such as they are,
and The many boarding houses-eyery other
house IN toEn appeared 10 be one for the time
while the comrades VINO come with the in
tention OF making their homes for week IN
camp struck cut the Baltimore pike for their
destination. where they found everything pre-
pared for baea. The tents, SIX hundred and
fifty IL number. had been pitched during the
week by PGSt g. OF Gettysburg, under the super
vision OF A. A. G. Thos. ]. Stewart and Com
rSces An. BaTtram and T. u. Sellers, of the
Department staff Each tent was amply pro-
Vided vi1b fresh, clean straw, so that ali the
comrades had 10 60 upon arriving was TO spread
them blankets and propose 10 make themselves
comfortable Tor the night The camp IS situ-
ated on Cemetery Hill, the cemetery itself
being Immediately across the road with head
quarters directly in iront Of the observatory. A
beautiful view OF a large part of the battlefield
can he had from this point, and it has been
very enjoyable 10 me TO stand on the brow Of
the Hill and drink in the scene with all the
many stirring associations connected with it
cr0wdng on me- The name the Enesmpment
bears is given in honor OF our deceased COM
rade Maj0r-5eneTal John ". Geary, who SO
w0rthjiy upheld the credit of our grand old
Commonwealth IL war and peace.
THE FIRST DAY IN CAMP.
Sunday morning opened clear and bright
and long before sunrise the camp was astir; in
fact. il appeared as though many OF the comrades
had been oaI all night SO early could they be
heard moving around. At 10 o'clock the assem-
bly, was sounded, the comrades fell into line,
and, headed 10y the AeccacOe band, marched to
the rostGum in the national cemetery, where
regular religious services were held. This
r0stIUnl IS an open frame work OF brick, raised
about three fret from the ground, situated in a
beautiful shady spot near the middle OF the
grounds. and there, suFTSunded by the many
silent witnesses who FOR twenty years and over
have slept beneath the green sod, the de-
vUtiOnai exercises OF the day were held. After
singing the old familiar hymns Rock of A ges y
and Jesus, Lover OF Soul" ia which all
heartily united, accompanied by the band, a
1erVent prayer was offered by C0lnrade Rev. II.
Z SherEner, chaplain OF Post 100 and pastor OF
the Third Baptist church, Philadelphia, who
afterwards preached t3le sermon His text was
Judges. 9: 34-'.And Abinelech rose up and al
IL -T
they laid wait against Shechem IN four com
panies.H Chaplain SherTner vas very eloquent in
ms remarks, which he commenced by saving:
We SHAH seek inspiration for cur task this
morning from an old Jewish battlefield where
on more than three Thousand years ago. her
mailed forces met fer contest. Eheche-H is silent
new, hef warriors are taking their last sleep
but the lessons remain tie then gave tbe his
toricai narrative Of the battle and siege Of She
chem aT4N ing the following lessons theretFom
l. The power Of example: 2. The power Of con.
certed action; 3 The equality Of death 4. The
danger 81 false refGCes. The closing remarks o.
CemTade SherneE, in which he pleaded with hi
hearers 10 prepare for lhe final day when they
would be summoned by the bngle call 10 pas
in review i'etore the Grand Commander Of al
the armies Of earth and heaven. were peculiarly
touching and appropriate. The discourse VA
listeaed 70 with close and reverent attention
the eoinr4Ges being evidently impressed Wit
Aitb AceP Ca3HcStttSe Cl Tie speaker ana tHl
truth of las words. The exercises closed witt
the singing Of ano, her hymn, an earnest praye
by Department Chaplain Sayers benediction
and coE0i0gy. An afternoon service was q
have been held, but SO many after dinner has
gone Of 10 visit various POINTS of interest OF
the battlefield that ii was deemed best 10 omit il
DRESS PARADE.
Towards evening visitors from the town an,
the surrounding country began 10 pour int
camp; both sides OF the road were line,
with Vahieles Of every Imaginable description
from the comfortable family carriage to th
spriBg.ess hay-wagon, drawn by horses of al
ages and conditions. The great attraction wa
the dress parade, which was announced TO TAX
place al 6 O'Clock, at which hour fully 800
people, majority Of whom were women, la
assembled on the brow Of the hill at the foot {
which the ceremony was TO take place
Promptly on time over l.040 uniformed com
rades formed on the parade ground the guar
Of Post 10. :, OF Philadelphia, in their whit
coats and shakos, being on the extreme right
The parade was conducted by the I.epartmen
officers, and the manner In which the variou
commands were executed showed that moi
wlthstaading the years that have passed sine
their muster out OF service the comrades ha
not forgotten how 70 perform them. ParticJ
larly was this noticeable when the line brok
into column by companies and passed in II
view before Commander-in-Chief Beath an
Department Commander Osborne. The soft ray
OF the setting sun, the lluttering Of the man
coiOrs, the solid marching Of the comrades, an
the cool shadows Of the green trees formed
scene Of beauty from the hilltop not soon
be forgotten. Immediately following the dre
parade came a sacred concert of two hours |
the MeccscOe band, which was stationed on
platform in front of headquarters, and the
hcious strains Of music as they ioated out
the night air had peculiarly sweet and .
thetic sound. That the concert was thorough
appreciated was evident from the fact that Il
crowd of visitors remained until the last 10
had died away. During the evening Depal
meni Chaplain Sayers addressed the eomEadt
his subject being the fruitful one Of charit
dis plain. practical way Of explaining his vicl
are well known TO the comrades and he is Z
ways sure Of IA appguciGtiye audience 1t
ing Sunday night the usual wild fun and froli
Of camp were not indulged in, and at seaso
able hsIg the camp was quiet and all han
were enjoying a refreshing sleep
The following orders were read on dr.,
parade:
HEAD'Rs. DEPARTsTsT CT PENNSYLVANIA,
SIsAED Army or THE BEeUBIAc.
CAEP GEARV, GfTTssBUKe. Pa.
August 25. lss0
J. The Department Commander desires that
present Encampment shall prove one Of the IA
Interesting beneficial and enjoyable Ia the histS
Of tic Grand Army
With that view he would impress upon all %
nclpants The necessity of maintaining the utm
oecortiIn and keeping constantly IN mind our o.
f