The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-20
,SGUice-P Pension Bill!

~ eAsSS A+SNAA-4aEs AeL 81 gDAAestA tos
1t is speaking with moderation, however,
to say that the most ardent comrade could
not have hoped for larger and more en-
thusiastic gathering, for a more whole
souled welcome from the people, or for a
more harmonious Encampment. Everything
was precisely as a well-wisher of the Order
would have had it. The attendance was
unprecedented in the history of the Order.
Never since the war-seasoned veterans of the
Army Of the Potomac, and those who had
followed when Sherman marched down to
the sea" swept through Washington in re-
sistless tide Of armed power had there been
seen such a gathering Of citizen-soldiery.
To say that there were 100000 old soldiers
in the city, and 10000 Of their wives, chill
dren and friends does not seem a high esti-
mate to those who were there and saw the
immense throngs which filed the acres of
tents, The streets, the hotels, the private
houses and public buildings Of the city of
Columbus. The railroads reported 100000
tickets sold up TO the Saturday night before
the Eneanpmentr met, and this did not repre-
sent the attendance by many thousands.
There was a constant surprise at the num-
beTs which had come from great distances. 1t
naturally expected that there would be an
immense turnout from the country within
easy reach Of Columbus, for nearly !, 900, 600
soldiers went to the front from the region
within days ride Of the Ohio Capital.
But far-of California, Oregon, Montana,
Dakota, Texas. Florida and Maine We're rep
resented by strong battalions.
The people Of Columbus entertained all
corners with a generous, far-reaching hos
pitality that left nothing to be wished for.
They comprehended in advance the z1agni-
tude OF the occasion, and made their provis-
ions with wise hberality. The result showed
how much better it is to trust small city,
which gives itself up to the work, to properly
entertain the National Encampment than a
larger one, only portion Of which takes an
/ interest in the matter. Virtually every
/ house in Columbus was placed at the dis
posal Of the Encampment. The most ex-
elusive families in the city gladly opened
their residences and entertained all the com
rades their houses would hold. The great
institutions Of the State, located at Colum.
bus, were thrown open to the comrades
the splendid State House was used as Ma
tionaI and Department Headquarters
churches and schoolhouses were given fo
headquarters Of the Womans Relief Corps
and for corps, division, brigade and regi
mental meetings; the court rooms were con
verted into sleeping apartments and s.
every roof was made to do duty. In thi
way a city Of $4,000 people furnished a
ample entertainment to say the least, a
could have been gotten in one of half a mil
lion inhabitants. A happy augury is give
ofwhat we may expect when we go to Mi
waukee next year. We cannot anticipat
that the Milwaukeans viii do better tina
the Columbus people; no people could d
better. We can only hope that they wi
do as well. Then our content will /
supreme
The weather had much to with the succei
Of the Encampment. Like everything els
it could not have been better. septemb
and October are the loyeliest months Of Il
year in Ohio, and brighter sunshine an
balmier skies never were known than shol
and bent over the National Encampmer
The parade was a pageant, the like
which has not been seen since the Graz
Review in 1865, and probably will not
seen again in this generation. The lowe
l. estimate by competent observers of Il
II number Of veterans in line was 10000, al
e from that the estimates range to 1000
i The lowest figures make a host more hume
% Gus than the army which Grant command,
n at Shiloh, or Rosecrans at Stone River.
d was nearly four times the men that Scott i
o in triumph from Vera Cruz to the City
&c Mexico. Hosts much smaller in number
and inferior in warlike spirit, have frequent