Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-22

Inc executive committee representing the
citizens Of Washington have had prepared and
will send out in neat form to members Of the
national encampment the following circular OF
invitation to the Grand Army of the Republic
to hold its national encampment in this city in
1892:
The citizens of Washington, the capital Of the
nation, extend to the Grand Army OF the
Republic hearty invitation to hold its
national encampment in 1892 in this city.
1t is needless to speak Of the welcome the
veterans OF the Union will receive when they
come to Washington. There is no city in the
world that would not be proud to receive them
and there Is no city in the land which Washing
ton would permit to outio it In honoring and
Washington were glad enough when the boys
In blue came there in 1861. They will make
them feel more than welcome if they will come
again In lSy2-come again and see a city that is
four times as large as then and thousand times
as beautiful. As an earnest Of their hospitsble
intentions an ample guarantee fund has been
subscribed to provide for appropriate enter
talnment OF members of the encampment and
for the usual expenses of such assemblages.
This invitation is extended with Q belief on the
part OF the citizens that. great is their desire
to welcome to their homes the men who fought
Tor the Union. there are many thousands OF
veterans who have a desire equally as strong to
visit Washington and the battlefelds in its
vicinity-ground consecrated by the vslor of
the soldiers of the Union.
Washington is the capital Of the nation. It
Is the most beautiful city on the continent. 1t
Is stored with objects Of patriotic interest, and
while the attractions Of its public buildings, its
beautiful streets, its parks and monu-
ments, Its museums and the presence of
the the government appeal strongly to all
classes, there are historic associations that
put Washington far beyond comparison with
other cities in the interest of the veteran of the
war. On every hill around it are the foot
prints Of the war. A few miles away Is the
field of Bull Run, where the soldiers Of the
Union got their first stern lesson in war.
1t is but pleasant days excursion to the
ield of Antietam: 1t is a short and easy jour-
ney to the great battle ground Of Gettysburg,
where the tide Of war was turned. Washington
is at the center of an historic region whose
towns and streams bear names that callup vivid
memories of battle. In this region, all within
the radius of days journey, lie all the famous
fields on which the Army of the Potomac fought
its great battles. from Bull Run to Appomattox.
An inviting steamboat ride down the river and
bay, past many points of historic interest, in
cluding Mt Vernon and the tomb Of Washing
ton, brings one to Hampton Roads, where the
Monitor and Merrimac fought and naval war;
fare was revolutionized.
Then the ground of all Of McClellan's opera
tions against Richmond in S62-Yorktown,
Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill, the seven
ii.
can all be easily reached and traversed from
Washington. Fredericksburg and Chancellors-
vile OF tragic memory are close at hand. Then
the men who were with Grant in 1864 and 1865 |!
They can visit again the wilderness where such
hot fighting was done-Spottsylvania Court
House, Cold Harbor, Five Forks and all the
fields where the great captain commanded, and
Richmond, whose fall signaled the death Of the
confederacy.
Near by is Harper's Ferry, teeming with its
war associations, and the Shenandoah valley,
quite as famous for its memories Of Sheridan
and his men as for its beauty, lies within the
limits Of days excursion.
The city itself. with Arlington and other
great national cemeteries, with its monuments
to great commanders, whose names are held tn
loving memory by veterans, is filed with me-
MORALS of the war.
Aside from these attractions which places
Washington beyond comparison as a place Of
interest to the soldier Of the Union, the city
offers inducements which no other city can
equal. Its famous streets and avenues, broad
and beautifully shaded, with 200 miles of
asphalt pavements, offer unrivaled facilities for
marching. Spacious and well-kept hotels pro-
vide an accommodation for vast army. There
are thousand objects of interest here, aside
from war memorials. which would make a visit
to the capital something to be remembered
with the keenest pleasure.
The railroad companies propose a series Of
note surrounding Washington and have agreed
to reduce their rates to the very minimum.
The hotels and boarding houses, with which
Washington is better supplied than any other
city in the country, have agreed not to ad-
vance prices beyond regular rates, 80 that no
fear need be entertained of any extortion or
imposition upon our visitors on the part of the
hotels, boarding houses or any one else.
The citizens offer hearty welcome to their
splendid city, and it can be safely predicted
that if the encampment is held here amidst
such impressive surroundings it will be the
most notable reunion of veterans of any war
ever held in any city Of the world.
John w. Douglass, chairman, John W. Ross
Henry NJ. Robert, Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
R; A. Parke, passenger agent, Pennsylvania
Railroad.
s. P. Hege,. passenger agent, Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad.
Orren G. Staples, director Columbia National
Bank.
John Joy Edison, secretary Equitable Build
ing Association.
B. H. Warner, president Washington Loan
and Trust Company.
George Gibson, Of Gibson Brothers printing
establishment.
Isadore saks, Of saks 4 Co., clothing mer-
chants.