Morning journal and courier., 1886-04-24
FROM THE PACIFIC SLOPE.

Preparations for the Forthcoming Ma.
 tional Encampment. G. A. R.-A Call
 For Connecticut Rattle Flags-The
 Golden Gate to be Opened Wide to Re-
 eefve the Veterans.
 E. w. Bushnell, president of the Benton Coal company at San Francisco Cal, writ ing under date of April 16 to COURIER rep resentative, has the following to say regard ing the forthcoming National Encampment. of the Grand Army of the Republic at San Francisco in August next: Say to the ''boys" of Connecticut that every man, woman and child here is waiting and watching for them. They are looking forward to the time when they can do honor to them, and have the privilege of seeing and shaking the hands of the nations defenders in time of trouble Every word, look and action shows that their hearts are in the cause and beat in uni sion to give them such reception that every conrade or friend of the same will ever after feel glad that they crossed the continent and came to the garden spot of America, and the Eden of the world, in my estimation.
 You can tell the comrades of the G. A. R. and all the members of the old Twelfth Conn.,, of which I was a member, and am so proud of it's record in those dark days of re- belIion, that if they come to California they will receive that welcome sound that time or age cannot blot from their m emery and will ever ring in their ears like the booming guns of Port Hudson, Vicksburg, Mobile or Richmond.
 By the way, do hope your valuable pa per will encourage the movement being made to have the battle flags of the differ ent regiments in the line of march on that eventful occasion through the streets of San Francisco. What unbounded pleasure it would give our boys who are so far from on that faded and torn relic of other days that has been consecrated with blood and riddled with shot, railroad iron and shell on many battle fields. I believe it would be the proudest day of my life if I could have the honor to carry on that occasion, three thousand miles from it's home, the flag I followed to Ship Island where so many of our brave boys bones lie bleaching in that southern sun. The first regimental flag that passed up the Mississippi river to New Orleans-and all honor to General Butler for courtesies at that time-the flag then was always on the front ine-wherever it was-at Georgia Landing, when it's first volley discharged against treason and General Weitzel exclaimed, "My God what volley," Franklyn, Red River, Port Hudson, Fortress Monroe, Winchester, Va, Fisher Hill and Cedar Greek, its shat tered rags were always Haunting in the rebels faces
 There are 8 great many of our citizens that did not go to war during the dark days of rebellion that are now sorry for it, as, for instance, in conversation with prominent "hay man" a few days ago he said q would give all the hay in California if could wear the Grand Army badge" And comrades of Connecticut, after the encamp- ment has been held here and those who avail themselves of the opportunity to be here shall have returned to their homes and firesides to tell of what they have seen-how they were received, cared for-and of the trip with all it's varied attractions, methinks 1 hear voice that did not go say, Would to God that had gone and could wear the badge of the twentieth national encampment at San Francisco" An expression l heard few evenings ago at a social shows the feel ing that is manifested here. A lady claimed that the family would sleep,if neces- sary, on the floor and give all the beds to the visitors and put up all the extra beds the house would hold. That is the way we will do it, and don't you forget it. And now let the song come from the Atlantic that we are coming to the Pacific one hundred thousand strong, and prepare to move on. your coast i'm mediately and we will hoist the flag of F., c. and L. and open wide the golden gate of welcome