The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-08-13
THE GRAND ARMY.

AA1o4SoAIh i : AOOOOl
l., THE GRAND ARMY.
Proceedings Of the Silver Jubilee
In Detroit.
TIM Grand Parade Washing on Gets the
| Next Recommendations Chosen
| Commander - Other Ofcers
| - Elected, Etc.
| S THE BOYS IN BLUE.
DETROIT, Mich. Aug 5.-Tuesday was
day which will be long remembers
by the grizzled veterans of the Grand
Army OF the Republic. AS the open.
ing day of the twenty-ffth annual en-
campment, it marks quarter of a
century in the growth of the
organization, and every soldier re.
alizes that it must also mark
the apex in the prosperity of that great
order, which, year by year, has envel.
oped in its fraternal fold every state of
the great union from Maine to Texas
and from Florida to Washington.
as the tried and t-usty soldiers of '65
were ever eager for the battle, 80 the
veterans of '9l were eager for the grand
parade which was to recall SO many
"reminiscences of former days. Before
the morning sun had kissed the spangled
arches and emblazoned in glory the
golden decorations that marked the
line of march, the grand army bands
were abroad, and the measured tread
of the veterans preparing for the march
resounded through the streets
Not less than 40, 600 men followed in
unbroken columns the flags which they
had borne to victory in days of war.
Grayer and more feeble, they disdained
the use of carriages and cheerfully
trudged through the streets, re.
ceiving the applause of thousands
who thronged every point of vantage
to witness the marching and add to the
volume of cheers. Windows and bal
comics, housetops, tree branches and
telegraph pole arms bore their living
freight and served as reserved seats
from which excellent views could be
had
Promptly at the hour indicated, and
with a military precision which showed
the volunteer soldiers had forgotten
none of their early training, the posts
assembled on the line of march.
-Four magnificent arches, erected
by the citizens in different parts OF
the city, marked the line of march.
Slowly and majestically, in measured
tread to music, the procession started
from Woodward and Adams avenues,
with Commander in Chief Veazey and
his staff in the lead, until the review,
| ing stand was reached. The stand
from which the commander in chief
and his glittering staff reviewed the
parade was situated on Campus
Mortinus," on the east side of Wood
ward avenue.
On Illinois, the home of Lincoln, the
home of Grant and of Logan, was con.
ferred the honor of the right of the line
of march. But it was not because of
these illustrious names that the Prairie
state was SO honored, but because of one
| whose services to the veterans of the
state and nations dates since the war,
DR.. B. F. Stephenson, the founder of
the Grand Army of the Republic. DR..
Stephenson was born in Wayne county,
Ill, in 1922. and died in Menard coun-
ty August 80, 1871, aged but 40 years.
His remains lie in the soldiers lot
of Rose Hill cemetery, Petersburg, Ill.
He organized the Grand Army of the
In ~, I'd 70 H., l.,
J. N. Coltryn and Joseph Prior were
joined with ten others in forming the
first post, which was instituted at De-
catur, April 8, 1866, under a charter
granted by DR.. Stephenson.
The survivors of Post No. 1 were a
conspicuous little group IN the Illinois
delegation and their appearance was
the signal for tribute of cheers De-
partment Commander Horace s. Clark
led the command and 5000 representa-
tives of the loyal sons of the Sucker
state were in line.
The enthusiasm which greeted the
second or Wisconsin division, 700
strong, was unbounded. In the front
rank and borne high in the air on the
top of a flagstaff perched ''Old Abe, -
the stuffed eagle which became part
of Wisconsin's history quarter of a
century ago. In line with the Wis
consin boys were Gen. Lucius Fairchild,
ex-governor of the state and command
er in chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic. and Col. A. &. Wissert, can
didate for commander in chief. Depart
ment Commander w. II. Upham was in
command.
The Pennsylvania division came
next, 1900 strong, marching in good
order to sprightly music furnished by
the post bands. Deputy Commander
Boyer rode at their head, with Adjt
Gen. Town and Quartermaster-G Gen.
Abraham lowering, followed by the
aides. Pittsburgh posts led the delega-
tion.
The Ohio delegation was a vast army
of itself. No less than 13, 600 veterans
tramped to the music of the bands. Be-
eide Department Commander A. M.
Warner marched Gen. s. H. Hurst, the
Ohio candidate for commander in chief
A conspicuous figure was Gen. Man.
ming f. Force, who, enlisting as q
major in the Twentieth regiment, was
made a full major general a year be-
fore the close of the war.
The spectacle of an ex-president OF
the United States marching in the
ranks is so unusual that the applause
rendered ex-President Hayes was
hardly surprise. Mr.. Hayes was rec.
ognized by all as he marched with his
post from Fremont, o.
Col. A. L. Conger, Gen. P. H. Bowling
and Gen. r. B. Brown were among the
past department commanders in line.
The strains of Virginia's martial
music was dying in the distance as
Maryland, some 300 strong, rassed the
stand.
As the Nebraska Grand Army OF
the Republic, 500 strong, with
Department Commander Teeter
and Gov. Thayer passed the
grand stand it was impossible to
tell whether the cheers were for the
governor, the soldier boys, or that ven
erable figure which always proxies
the cheers of the volunteer soldiers