The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-08-20
Friday.

Friday.
AT early morning the streets wer
alive with people, intent upon seeinI
everything and losing sight of moth
ing. A staff officer told your report
er that fully 1000 people were unabl
to obtain lodgings during the night
At any rate, twas a tired and dust,
crowd that gathered to witness tn,
prize drill this morning at 9 o'clock
So many delays occurred to hinde
the preparations that it was not unit
after 10 o'clock before the "a mer
chosen from the w. H. Borden Pest
OF Ionia, were ordered out to drill
Many of their evolutions were vel
rendered, but their general perform
ance was marred by a number o.
costly errors.
FL members of the G. E. Grisson
Post, St. Johns, uniformed as Zou-
ayes were the second to drill. Their
bright red turbans and pantaloons
and black coats, trimmed with red
braid, formed a pretty uniform and
rendered them quite conspicuous.
They carried muskets, and with these
went through many difficult move
ments, eliciting great applause.
They were followed by about the
same number from Grape Post No.
I45, of Flint, which arrived this
morning. The Post representation
is about 10, all well uniformed and
each man wearing linen helmet.
Altho' they had never contested for a
prize under the present Commander
(Col. Lockwood now being in Cali
fornia) yet after they once got down
to business the most intricate move
ments were executed with ease and
accuracy.
The Grand Ledge Post was in line
but did not compete for any prize.
But the best was reserved till the
last, and many war scared veteran
said he "never see the beat" and yell
ed until he was hoarse at the magnifi-
cent performance of the Broom Brig
ade, of Bancroft, escorted on the
field by the S. of ", led by the R.
]. band. The appearance of the
young ladies was the signal for bursts
of applause from the Threats of those
who had never seen such fair war;
riors. The young ladies were 3I.in
number, and their general good form
was made all the more striking by
the fact that all were of about the
same height. They were costumed
in red and white-basque of white
canton flannel, trimmed with red;
skirt of red calico, trimmed with
white; white gloves and turban of
flaming red. They went through
such difficult movements as the cross,
square, maltese cross, maltese cross
in wheel, right and left counter
marches, rallying by tours, about
center and by sections with the ut.
most precision and without single
error.
The S. of v, Joe Hooker Post No.
I22, of East Saginaw, were the next
to drill, after which the hungry null
titndes came down on the hotels and
eating houses like the Assyrlans of
old on the hosts of Zenechareb.
The arrangements for the sham
battle at 1890 were greatly delayed
owing to the extent of the crowd.
People would force themselves on the
parade grounds in spite of all the
guards could do. They took posses.
sion of the new road bed built by
the Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad,
which runs through the grounds, and
much time was consumed in clearing
this, as it was intended to be used tor
breastworks in the engagement.
About thirty thousand people witness
ed the battle. At three o'clock vol
unteers from all the Posts took up
their station on the north Of the road
bed and also in the adjacent thicket.
These were to represent rebel troops.
The heavy artillery was planted near
them on rise of ground close to the
river. On the south side, the Union
army was formed by the Posts of
Ionia, LYONS, Ithaca, Grand Ledge,
St. Johns and Owosso--the St. Johns
Zouaves doing skirmish duty. Hard
ly had the first firing began when the
wiper of ramrod flew over the field
from one OF the cannon and struck
on the ground not three feet from the
crowd gathered in front of the grand
stand. A moment later a signal was
waved from the gunners position and
the stretcher corps was at once dis
patched from the hospital. Its de-
parture was watched amid applause,
but its slow return occasioned many
After hasty examina.
ion by Surgeon Jennison and DR..
Perkins the injured man was carried
o the field hospital tent on the camp
yrounds. where his arm was dressed