Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-01
THE GREAT ENcAMpMEnr.
MTNNKAroLIs, MINI. July %, Is

MINNKApoLIs, MINI, July %, 1891.
EDITOR EAGDE:
AT Kansas City our party numbered forty,
divided. one division taking the Council
Bun route, the other the Rock Island.
Four trains, loaded iowa with excursion.
lists, pulled out W thin an hour and half
after our arrival ON the latter route. The
former took out five cars well filed. Both
parties met at the depot here on Tuesday
morning. having arrived in the night, and
remained abroad until daylight Having
attended the eneampment at Denver last
year, comparison OF the two
would be largely In favor of the
present one. The arrangements in camp
are better rs well as the facilities for get
ting there. The immense ampitheatre
and the speaking and music stands are all
that could be desired. No one need 90
hungry or thirsty and the tents and build
ings adjacent furnish ample sleeping ac-
commoda;ions even this immense army for
the crowd OF people here is always up Ia
the thousands. The newspapers say they
will leave behind them in Minneapolis, at
least one million Of dollars. The hotels
were full be fore the crowd commenced to
come. Many OF the private houses are en-
iertaining guests and the boarding houses
are all chuck full. The balance are out at
she camp. Among the notabilities here
are Generals sherman, Logan,
Terry. Fairchiid, Negley, Gibson
and Grosyenor. Logan takes
the cake. say this without political bias,
for, say what you will, John A. Logan is
nearer the hearts OF the veterans through
out the west than any other living man
This morning, before the procession had
formed, Logan was passing on horseback,
attended hy an escort. Suddenly the way
was blocked up by men rushing upon him
10 take him by the hand, and thought as l
stood there aud watched this spontaneous
movement. OF what that man must have
endured, even for u brief spell, TO have his
arm almost wrenched from the shoulder in
this abominable practice Of Misunderstanding
on great occasions Of this kind. All along
the march he was greeted with cheers. and
for two miles or more his hand was in
constant motion. Raising his hat
to the two hundred thousand
people who lined the sidewalks and places
OF observation. Uncle Billy Sherman rode
in the procession In baroucbe. His figure
was not so conspicuous as Logan's, who
was mounted on \ superb horse, in u neat
fitting suit Of black, and he sat on his horse
as jauItily as when l-sding the boys in
grand review twenty years ago. These
twenty years have not whitened nor
thinned h.s raven locks. whilst the short
beard covering Shermsn's face Is white as
snow, and gives him an appearance Of age
which his actions belle. or course cheers
rent the air As the OLD hero went by, and
there were thousands there who would
have taken fendish delight in wringing
his arm from the socket out OF
pure love. had they dared. The procession
itself was the biggest thing Of the kind 1
ever beheld, and was two hours in passing
the point where stood, for like one half
OF the grand army men it was not my day
for marching. and so I witnessed il from
under n shade tree. The day has been q
fearful hot one. and the heavy rains last
night left the IT. eets in muddy condition.
l did not count all the bands in the process
sion, but then there was not less than
thirty. The Minnesota veterans carried the
iattered flags they had fought under twen-
~ years ago. The state militia was well
represented, also a battery of artillery and
a battalion of colored troops from Fl. SHELL
ing. Tonight the Topeka fian,beaux
club gave n Demonstration at the
camp. Three thousand dollars
worth Of fireworks will be expended and
there will be such n crowd to witness il as
has never before been seen in the west on
any occasion. Tomorrow the boys will
begin TO scatter. First to the various
places of resort aud thei: name is legion
thence home, singly. in pairs. and by
squads, some well pleased with the trip,
others damning it with only faint praise,
but rs the years go by have no doubt ii
viii be pleasant reminise nee 10 dwell up
on. NJ. STEWART.