Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-02
VETERANS In LINE.
The Old Boys Marched Once Again
to the Music of Drum and Fife.
FLAGS DRAPED FOR CAPT. JONES.
Some Of the Patriotic Features Of the An
nuai G. A. R. Parade.
INCIDENTS OF THE ARMY CAMP FIRES


Although the sun OF yesterday beamed
none too brightly and the streets were none
too dry, yet 1000 old soldiers of the Repub-
lie may well be congratulated on the favor
able weather which greeted their reunion.
Grand Army Day of 1889 was ushered in
with lowering skies, and many of the
veterans trembled for their war-worn uni
forms. But the threatened rain cleared of,
and long line of boys in blue-gray-haired
boys, boys with trembling limbs and
wrinkled brows-marched through the
streets with 70 unkind showers to damp
their martial ardor. There was just enough
wind to hutter the honored flags, just
enough sunshine to light up the faces in
the tramping files.
Every coign of vantage was full of eager
sightseers. Black swarms of people hung
around the business houses, and pretty
faces smiled sweetly down from amid the
waving flags that hung at every window.
The parade was justly declared to have been
the best for many years, and although King
Death has thinned the ranks considerably
during the last II months, yet there are
plenty left to insure a long life To the an
nual Grand Army celebration in Western
Pennsylvania. The memory of one dead
comrade was honored by each and every
post, and the sad tale of Captain W. R.
Jones' untimely end was forcibly recalled
by the long black streamers which hung so
mournfully about the hagstaffs. Captain
Jones was member of Post 181, and was
also one of the department inspectors
Custer Post showed special mark of re-
spect by leading in their midst bay
charger draped with a black mourning
cloth and bearing the saddle, bride, boots.
cap and sword OF the deceased captain. Two
members of Post 3S led the horse
CHEERS FOR THE OLD FLAGS.
The rent and shattered flags which were
borne in line evoked many hearty cheers
from the assembled populace. Many of the
posts carried three, and even four, of these
old relics of the bitter struggle which was
fought out % years ago.
Hayes Post 8 carried % corps flags. The
first one, the red and white diamond, Phil.
Kearney made out of shirt in the seven
days fight. Post 128 carried all the corps
flags, and had with them their "pony gun,"
made of shells from Gettysburg field.
Allegheny county's war record is a splen-
did one, no other county in the State coming
near it.
Prominent in the line marched East Liver
pool Colored Post a, headed by Don Ham,
mond's colored drum corps, of that town.
The Fourth division consisted of the Sons of
Veterans, an order instituted in 1881 by
Major A. P. Davis, of Pittsburg, and which
now numbers $4,000 members throughout
the country.
Throughout the day the many bands
awakened slumbering recolleetions OF the
old war scenes, as they rent the air with
the ancient marching tunes. As the long
line deployed into Fifth avenue, at least
4, 900 men must have followed Commander
Bradberry.
SOME COULDN'T WALK.
Many could not follow theis leader on
foot, but they put in an appearance in the
carriages. One veteran, determined to play
the soldier, marched among his comrades
on crutches. His sturdy progression with
one weak leg reminded one forcibly of the
brave Widdrington in the old ballad of
"Chevy Chase" of whom it is said:
"For Hiddrington we needs must wall
AS one in doleful dumps.
For though his legs were shotten off
He fought upon his stumps."
Along the sidewalks the good-humored
crowd pushed, and jostled and craned their
necks, and stood on their neighbors' toes
and otherwise enjoyed themselves. The
small boy was there in full force,
and indeed the extraordinary amount of
children present made good many rusty
old bachelors extremely disagreeable, and
indicated the fact that there was big holi-
day yesterday afternoon. The loud explana-
tory remarks Of the urchins filled up the
admirably, and were decidedly !
comic. There was one luckless performer
on the big drum, down whose red face the |
hot streams of perspiration poured profuse- |
lv. The man was working most creditably, |
vet he was greeted with caution not to |
damp the sheepskin with sweat" as the |
drum wouldn't play no music if it got |
wet"
There was the usual young gentleman |
with the usual big market basket, who |
plunged madly through the crowd in the
dear old-time manner, and succeeded in dis
turbing the equilibrium of good many |
sight-seers. There was the lovely maiden |
to whom the front rank men were only too |
happy to concede their places, but then |
was the attendant "dudes" who |
insisted on getting front place too.
EVERYBODY IN A GOOD HUMoR.
But the occasion was too memorable and |
the scenes too pleasant for anyone to lose |
his temper. Besides the waving colors, the |
quick tramp OF the soldiers, and the grand |
old airs which succeeded one another so |
rapidly gave one but little time to criticise. |
The whole parade was grand historic |
it would be well il |
some of Pittsburg's rising artists were
to try their hand upon a mighty can
vas commemorative of Grand Army Day,
for the old forms and faces are passing all |
too rapidly away. The veterans are march
ing one by one past the last reviewing post,
only to be mustered out forever. II the
picture of the great days parade is to be
painted, it should be painted speedily.
Everything in the broad picture had a
meaning. The brilliant hues of the stand
ards were symbolical of the happy hearts of
the old "boys," while the black Grape
which hung from the stats, was an image
of their deep regret for those who have
sunk down and died in the line of life's
great march.
And SO with music and gladness. another
Of these great reunions of the survivors of
the war was over and done.