The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-14
TO THE ATLANTIC.

In my last left you asleep, rolling
along toward Portland, where we
found ourselves when We awOke; and
we at once started for the city, looking
for barber shop. Portland is beau
tiful city of about 10000 inhabitants.
1t certainly has the appearance of a
western city of hundred thousand.
Its broad, irregular streets, with splen-
did granite pavements overhung with
mammoth elms: its beautiful residen-
ces and substantial business houses,
all combine to make a favorable inn
preston upon the visitor, and our
western comrades were at once capti-
waited by its fresh, cool appearance.
We had no trouble in securing quar-
tiers at private house, where we were
treated with that generous New Eng
land hospitality that has become prov
erbial.
The city was alive with G.. A. r.
Posts, bands, militia companies. and
every one was astir, for this was the
''big day" of the encampment; the
parade was to take place and every
body was getting in shape. Long be-
fore the hour for the parade some of the
streets were blocked with a mass of
humanity which was restlessly NOV
ing about or frantically endeavoring to
find a comfortable place to view the
parade. The rain which had fallen
Monday had laid the dust and cooled
the atmosphere so that the weather
was simply perfection. Ry Q o'clock
one could not without much difficulty
get along Oh the walks at all in the
lower part of the city. By 10 o'clock it
was impossible to navigate at all I'M
less you took to the middle of the
street. Since early morn the different
organizations that Were to take part i'm
the parade had been forming, march
ing and countermarching and taking
up the positions assigned them, and
with little friction every one was in
his proper position and awaiting the
signal. A few minutes after ii o'clock
the signal gun sounded and promptly
the first division started.
l cannot. OF course, attempt to go
through even a partial description Of
the grand parade. Following the usu-
al platoon Of police came "Chandler's"
Band-Portland's pets-followed by a
platoon of 18th U. s. Artillery, escort
ing Gen. Beal and staff, then followed
one brigade of Maine Militia, and 1
might remark that few states have a
finer militia force than Maine. Fol- |
lowing this came Gov. Robbie and staff
finely mounted, and tile Governor was
Justify cheered all along the route.
Following the Governor was more
militia. For about twenty minutes
after this came invited guests in car
riages. The general crowd probably
knew but few of these distinguished
and extinguished individuals, but
among the number was one that every
body knows at sight, and it requires
only the one word Logan" to be Ut
tered; and cheer after cheer went up !
with such deafening roar that even /.
the bands were drowned in its mighty .
turmoil.
Following the carriages came the ::
Union corps of Dahlgren Post No. 2, .
South Boston, followed by that Post
Commander-in-chief Kountz. !,
Dahlgren Post marches with the pre-
;isIon and step of a crack militia COM y
)any. rather than of old veterans; i'm
act all the Massachusetts posts that 1 6
Jaw were neatly uniformed and show -
II discipline and drill that was simp- /.
: wonderful. wish the posts in our II
department. could see them aud be
more like them. Then followed a long a
Inc of carriages containing veteran u
generals. Then followed the veterans
# Maine. and for nearly an hour these
I'D veterans who were boys 20 years
lgo, marched briskly or limped pain
nlly along. They were headed by
General James A. Hall. Deputy Com
uander. Who of the old Army of the
Potomac but remembers Halls Bat r
cry" the I'd Maine; certainly not our :,
'Oys of the 9TH Indiana. 1t was one
4 the ''crack" batteries of that army.
nd 1t owes its good name to the fact
haiti had for commanders such young
hen as Capt. Hail, who was an intel r,
gent officer and brilliant, reckless
ghter. The Maine veterans had :.
yar horse with them that did duty sc
1 the Shenandoah and up Red River. W
fame of course turned out the largest to
lumber of any department. s,
IT called up many memories of the ty
ar to see those old veterans, many -.
no perhaps are now for the first time W
nee they were mustered out, away ] liz