Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-10-10
THE GRAND REUNION
The Soldiers and Sailors Of Kansas Hold
Their Fourth ANIMAL Reunion
Topeka
Fully 20, 900 Veterans Present From Var.
ioas StatS---FstaraRs From the S8V-
eral States Held Rsunion.
And Perfect Permanent OFganiEaEions-.-l
Grand Parade Had On Thursday
---Eotes, Ets.

Fourth annual reunion Of the soldier
and sailors OF kansas vas held st Topeka
September -, so, and October LIST. For the
fourth time the brave and valiant defend
eTs of the flag and the Nations honor, met
on Kansas soil to relate the incidents and
anecdotes Of days gone by. Such an coca
sion Is was this, IS always one Of Joy 60 the
veteran and eeoa year they attend them,
never firing.
The encampment was held st the Fair
Ground, Just outside the city, and the
camp was named Camp Grant, in honor Of
the dead hero.
In all 1900 tents we're pitched, but q
considerable number Of these were allotted
to the Kansas National Guard, which en-
campment was held IN conjunction with
the reunion.
Fully 5000 veterans and their families
tented on the ground. it is estimated that
the re-uniOn brought $1,000 strangers to
Topeka.
The decorations of the business houses
were elaborate and beautiful. Most notice
able Of all was the arch extending across
Kansas Avenue, in front of the Windsor
hotel. 1t bore the inscription WELCOME
Veterans" while the faces OF the pillars
supporting It bore the inscription Lincoln
Post No. 1" and Lincoln Corps No. g."
Camp Grant was divided into seven
divisions, each congressional district OF
the State constituting a division. AS fast
their respective divisions, and TO them
the adjutant Of that division would assign
tents.
FIRST DAY.
Tuesday was the first and opening day of
the reunion. The hours between eight
and ten q. m, were spent in the reception
Of posts and assigning them to proper
tents.
At 10 a. m, formal reception was Civ
en- the Kansas National Guard by the
commander in chief, Governor John A.
Martin and staff.
An the four regiments of the K. N. G.
passed in review. Their sVOlutiOns show
ed good and thorough drilling.
At two p. m. the first general campfire
was held, Major T. J. Anderson presid-
ing.
Governor J. A. Martin delivered the adj
dress of welcome, and Colonel Stewart,
COmmander-in-chisf,r responded.
General J. @. Black, commissioner OF l
pensions, was next on the program for an
address, but, on account Of the sudden /
death of his daughter at Elmira, New 1
York, he was absent.
The following resolutions were passed /
Resolved, By the veterans Of the west /
assembled in reunion at Topeka, Kansas, /
September 20, 1885, that, having learned 4
the sad cause which prevents our COmrade, \
General John O. Black, from being present /
with us to-day, as both he and ourselves i
had confidently anticipated, we do hereby !
most teuderly and earnestly extend to cur
colnrads and his family tins expression Of
our sincere sympathy in their sore a1lictiOn
of the death of their daughter.
Resolved, That while We, as soldiers, are
poWerless, when the mailed hand Of the .
Tesistless warrior, death, is raised to smite, /
yet we, as soldiers, recognize in this in
scrutabls dlspensatiOn Of the commander
in-ohief Of the universe, an order, which
sooner or later must come to all the living,
and which none may disObsy.
Resolved, That the veterans here pre-
sentin token of the reversnt earnestness Of
of the daughter OF our friend and COmrade,
John O. Black, do hereby notify and con-
firm the proceedings of the special commit
tee Of the committee Of 50, and as a farther
mark Of respect to our stricken comrads,
do adopt these resolutions by vote, standing
with uncovered heads. sndin silence.
Commander in Chief, Burdstt, Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic Of the United
States, was then introduced, and for over
an hour, held the vast audience spell-bOuud
by the power Of his elOquencs in reCiting
the many objects and achievements Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic. Commander
Burdett is a gentleman of perhaps 50 or go
years Of age, Of hne appearance, a clear so
nOrOus voice, and possessing many Of the
elements Of true orabory. Sentiment, mirth,
pathos and history were intimately COM
mingled in an address that no report can do
justice to. Suffice 1t 90 say that the old
veterans GnGlE u4OLn6IB5 wives ana sweet
hearts were duly remembered; that the in
huencs of the members Of the Grand Army,
ia shaping the current history of the COun-
try, aud the hopes and aspiration Of the
coming generation, were all appropriately
and el0qusntly referred TO. Commander
BurdeGt, by his address, has amply proven
the wisdom Of his selection as commander
in-chief, and those who missed hearing
him, have failed to enjoy one Of the chief
attractions of this grand reunion We only
regret our inability to reproduce his address
in full, IS We feel confident that the thoughts
and arguments put forward would not only
be in the interest Of the g. A. R., but from
strumental in promoting the best interests
Of the republic
STATE EUuEIGUs.
In the evening. at 7:So arrangements had
been made for the soldiers Of the VariOu
states to hold their reunions, and perfeCy
permanent organizations.
The veterans from Kentucky perfected
an organization by sleCting ". B. Shock
ley, Fort Scott, president; John Collins,
PaOIa, vios-president; David MCGEE, score
tary.
The Ohio veterans met at their head
quarters Of the army of the Potomac. Col.
T. w. ButterfsLd, Of the 9Th Ohio vas
elected temporary president and J. g.
MohleE vice president and Fred j. Close
55th v. 7 secretary Inc temporary or
ganizseon was made the permanent.
The New York veterans met IN the west
wing of az ficultnrsl hall. After some lit
lie pEeliu1inGEies Patrick u. C0ueV, Of To-
peka, was chosen president. q. x. DsVen-
U u