Omaha daily bee., 1886-09-04
THE WILD ROAR OF BATTLE.
Camp Grant the Scene of a Hot Engagement
With the Greasers.
TWO MEN SHOT THE CONTEST
ola Veterans Enthususiastic over the
Powder Picture Of the War-Nc-
braska's New Railroads
Van Wyck Enthusiasm.


| Telegram to the BEE. The most interesting
camp fires of the encampment were those Of
| last evening. At one stand T. 5. Clarkson
presided, and addresses were made by num-
Der of comrades, including General Thayer,
Henry c. Russell, and a rouslug speech by
| Wilcox, the Mendoza carpenter. After sing
ing Marching Through Georgia." Major
Carkson announced that he hada letter to
| read to the encampmcnt, and thereupon paid
warm tribute to the valor efficiency and
| genial qualities of Mr.. Brad Z. Cook. He
then read the letter, as follows:
| JoHN NJ. THAYER, Department Com
mander My Dear Sir ana Comrade: 1t is
| with feeling of deepest disappointment that
| inform you and all of my comrades in reun-
| ion assembled that owing to return of army
| disabilities am unable to report for duty.
| Please assure the comrades that although
| absent on my bed of pain am with them in
| spirit and hope each and all may enjoy
| week of unalloyed pleasure. May God bless
uall. l. am yours in f. {; \ IT,. c
A resolution expressive of sympathy for
this most loyal comradc was adopted; also,
| one by the Women's Relief Corps for Mrs.
| Cook and they were directed to be tce
graphed at once to Mr. and Mrs. Cook. Res
| olutions were also adopted by the veterans
| expressing the thanks of the encampment to
| the regular troops for their attendance and to
| the reunion committee and citizens of Grand
Island for the admirable arrangements that
| have made the reunion pleasant and success
| full.
At another camp fire Paul Nandervort pre-
| sided. splendid address was given by Sen
ator Mandcrson VINO, in his graceful and elo
quent way gave pictures OF camp me- night
| marches and a vivid description of the battle
of Chattanooga General Morrow also gave
n thrilling address lie said that this nation
had the sra odest govor"mont @ ir IN ''t the World
and the grandest soldiers; that while their
| achievements on the field of battle were
grand, the grandest thing he could recount
for them was their ability to control them
| selves in peace, and that in this camp where
| 10000 people were assembled their conduct
had been admirable and bameless. Congress-
man Laird spoke of the unity of states, made
so in fact by the results of the war.
The Prisoners of War association held
| meeting and elected the following officers:
| President, j. w. LeveringhouSe, Grand
| Island; secretary and treasurer, j. G. Knapp
Merrick These officers were instructed to
| select a third comrade and form an executive
committee, and Were directed to procure a
book for registry and to frame a constitution
| and bylaws.
| The Wisconsin association selected the fol-
lowing officers this morning: j. ii. Culver
Milford, colonel George W, Honeysett,. Bur
Platte, major; Dir. A. J. Wizard, Silver
| Creek, surgeon; A. w. Patterson, st. Paul.
adjutant, 1: o.. Westcott, Swanton, quarter
master. IHlS JuPa Oh selecting military,
life than that of president etc.
Nebraska association officers: Major Tom
Majors, Peru. president; III. G. McMaken,
| Plattsmouth, secretary and treasurer; James
l. Shaw, Adams, color bearer. The officers
were directed to procure a book for registry.
The State Band association selected the
following officers. this morning: Drum
major N. l.. Remtleton, Wanoo; president,
c. f. Pierce, Pawnee City; secretary and
treasurer, j. $. Dickman, Mlnden; fife
major }. 5. MGGl0Ss9n, Cameron; musical
director, ct II Fred W. Webber Hardy; r, chaplain,
w. w. Webster, Broken Bow. The officers
were directed to advertise for bids from
towns, and cities for inducements for holding
offered tor most proficient bands. At the
hour appointed for the band contest, one of
the officers OF the association stated to the
BEE reporter that the contest had been in
definitely postponed because no money had
been raised to offer as prize
union, 10 many. was the sham battle on the
grounds this afternoon; Great crowds came
hundreds OF miles to witness 1t, and the spec
tators exceeded in numbers by one;third those
of previous days. 7 he battle was planned by
General Morrow, who assigned TO the two ar
mics the following commanding generals:
10 the MeXicans, Colonel Daggett, of the Sec
ond United States infantry; to the Ameri-
cans, Major Boyle, Twenty-trst United
| engaged: Second United States infantry,
Colonel Dasgett commanding; Iwenty.irst
| Unlteu StitcS lnlaItTy. Mal0r w. IL. BOyle
commanding; battery +, Second United
States artillery, Colonel Woodruff; a detatch-
ment battery, By Captain e. COrbin, OF Grand
Island: tho Shelton Iouaves, under COM
mand of Captain Hedges; the veterans
representing the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie numbered about one thousand men, di-
yided into two divisions, one commanded by
Colonel Dudley. y. S. A., the olher by Major
I'll. g. RUSSELL of Schuyler These veterans
were placed on the right and left of the regu-
lar troops The battle, as General Morrow
explained it to a reporter of the BEE, was not
meant as the representation of any particular
battle, but" as the general said 1T is bat
tie that was to have been fought ii there had
been a war between the United States and
Mexico"
| The battle opened with a spirited artillery
duet between battery +, Second United
States artillery, on the American side, and a
tour-gun battery on the part OF the Mexicans.
| This battery was commanded by Captain
Dorrance. AS discharge after discharge
sounded and the smoke rolled in heavy
folds over tho field the scene was so realistic
as to elicit tremendous cheering
from the thousands of old soldiers
who stood on the outskirts of
the field as spectators. The next scene in the
drama was the appearance on the field of a
light battery, heavily supported by infantry.
| The rush of this battery to the center of the