Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-04
MASTERING FOR CAMP.
The Old Soldiers Gather at Detroit in
Large Numbers.
WARMLY WELCOMED BY CITIZENS.
Preparing for the Grand Parade and Review
This Morning.
RELIEF CORPS LADIES OUT IN FORCE

| encampment OF tne Granu Army OF the he
public formally opens in this city at 1O:3O
| o'clock tomorrow. at that hour Com
mander in Chief veazey will head the line
| of march, and after an hours parade will
| review the 10000 or $4,000 veterans as they
| pass before the magnificent reviewing
| stand.
To-day has been the reception day of the
! encampment. 1t has been the initial day,
| devoted by the citizens of Detroit to the
pleasant duty of waiting upon the various
| bodies of the defenders of the Union, as they
rapidly arrive from all parts of united
| country. There Isl committee of represent
ative citizens whose duty it is to come into
| immediate contact with the men and women,
| the old soldiers and the ladies of the
| Women's Relief Corps, and give them all a
| cordial welcome to the city and escort them
to their chosen headquarters.
1t is estimated that there are sc, 900 visitors
| in the city tonight, but the great crowd is
not expected until tomorrow morning. To-
morrow is the day of the grand parade and
! review-the day on which the grizzled
veteran lis a soldier once more, and it is be-
lieved the multitude of strangers will then
aggregate 10000 or more. If so, 1t will
characterize the twenty-ffth encampment
as the most successful in the history of the
organization.
THE RACE FOR CHIEFTAINSHIP.
There is strong rivalry in the race for the
position of National Commander in Chief of
the G. A. R., but thus far it has been in the
nature of friendly competition and is un-
marked by strife or acrimony. There are
numerous candidates in the field for this
great honor-an honor which it is now the
lot of no man to hold but once. The most
prominent candidates are Colonel William
Il. Smedburg. OF San Francisco, Cal; A. G..
Weissart of Milwaukee, Wis; Brevet Brig
adler General Samuel II. Hurst of Chilli
cothe, o., and Colonel c. P. Lincoln, of Wash
ington. Besides these, New York has three
candidates for Commander in Chief Cen
eral II. A. Barnum, of New York City, Cen
eral John Palmer, of Albany, and General
Ira H. Hedges, OF Haverstraw. 1t is thought
the vote of the Empire State will be ultt-
mately cast for Hedges but there is strong
belief that the next Commander in Chief
will be Western man. The leading candi-
date of all those in the field is acknowledged
to be Colonel Weissart, of Milwaukee. He
was formidable candidate two years ago,
but Withdrew in favor of General Neazey.
In return NeaZey's friends are now for
Wcissart and this fact, coupled with his
great strength in the West, seems to insure
his election. A combination of the other
candidates in favor of one of their number
would possibly effect his defeat, but such
combination is not probable.
The fight for the location of the next en-
campment is a peculiar one. The city named
after "The Father of His Country" vies
with the city christened in honor of the
",
rivalry is sharp between Washington and
Lincoln. The capital of the nation has many
influential friends on the ground, but the
energetic little city of Nebraska has entered
the fight with Western vim and hiIarity,
which is winning many friends.
WASHINGTON IN THE LEAD.
Still it is no injustice to Lincoln, but
rather justifiable statement of facts, to
say that from present indications Washing
ton is in the lead and it will gain the honor
unless the delegations to arrive tomorrow
from Illinois, Missouri, and some of the
Western and Southwestern States cast their
influence for the capital of Nebraska.
No arrivals at the Central Depot created
more excitement to-day than the Georgia
and Florida departments. There were l50 in
latter delegation, and nearly all were be-
decked i'll hats OF not only curious conStruc-
tion, but made of natural seaweed. Their
train was filled with the products of Florida,
from live crocodile ten feet in length to
bunch of seaweed. They had waterlnelons
in great profusion, banana trees in blossom,
olive ana orange trees, sea oats, and any
quantity of Florida's new product, phos-
phate.
Governor Carroll II. Page of Vermont, and
his staff, composed of General Iheodore S.
Peck, Adiutant General; Genera William
Ii. Gilmore, Q. NJ. G.: Colonel w. n. Slack,
Adjutant; Captain Emerson b. H. Leisum,
Captain Herbert S. Foster. Twentieth United
States Infantry, aides de camp, arrived to-
day.
MANY POSTS ARRIVE.
Among the posts that arrived this morn
ing was the Tyrell Post, of Lapeer, Mich, 80
strong and it was conspicuous because it
was headed by the Hadley Ladies' Band.
Colorado and Wyoming are here in force
and have two boy Zouave drum corps with
them. General Fairchild, Ex-Governor of
Wisconsin, former commander in chief of
the G.. A. R., Is also here. The General
achieved O national reputation four years
ago when he denounced in sensational Ian
guage Cleveland's famous order for the re-
storation of the Confederate flags,
Three special trains brought the United
States Old Guard of Washington the Depart
ment Commander and his staff. 1t has
color guard OF II men. six of whom lost their
right arms in the war, and another six who
lost their left arms.
John A. Andrew Post, of Boston, 15O strong
is the only armed battalion in the Grand
Army, being uniformed as cavalry men and
equipped with sabers.
Ex-President Rutherford B. HAYES Com
mGnder in Chief of the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion, arrived from Ohio to-day. He
was met by local delegation of the Loyal
Legion and escorted to the home of Colonel
F. j. Hecker. Commander Hayes was ten
dered q reception at Colonel Hecker's resi-
dence this evening, and all members Of the
Loyal Legion paid him their respects.
LOTS OF LOYAL LADIES'
About 70 ladies belonging to the Potomac
Relief Corps arrived on the train which
brought the Washington party. These
ladies include Mrs. Nellie Prentice, the
President of the corps; Mrs. Maria H.
Weisher, Senior Vice President: Miss Clara
Barton, President of the Red Cross Associa-
ton; Mrs. Nancy f. Burdette, wife of Past
Commander in Chief Burdette; Mrs. A T.
Chapman, of Baltimore: Miss Lavinia Chase
superintendent Of the Soldiers National
Temperance Homo; Miss Harriet P. Dame
President of the ARMY Nurses ASsocia tion.
Mrs Nora Edgar, wife of the Captain of the
Old Guard of Washington; Mrs. Rose E.
Ferree, Past President of the Potomac Corps:
Mrs S. B. Jennings, of Chautauqua fame:
Mrs Sarah La Fetra, President OF the W. c.
T. U. of the District of Columbia; Mrs NJ L.
Lincoln, President of the Women's National
Association, and Miss Clara G. Quint duugh-
ter of DR.. A H. Quint, First Chaplain OF the
G. A Il.
Among other arr, ais are the Rhode ISL
and contingent of 200 men, $50 Iowans, with
Z. L. Davidson, of Hull, as commander, and
40 fair comrades; South Dakota veterans, |
mander.
Governor Page, of vermont, and number |
of his staff are in the city, and Governor |
Thayer, of Nebraska, Congressman Hender. |
son, OF Iowa, eX-Congressman Smalls of |
South Carolina and A. p Davis, OF Pitts |
burg founder of the order of Sons of Veter- |
ans, are also among the recent arrivals.
COLOR FIGHT RENEWED
The New York delegation, 2,G0O strong, ar |
rived late this evening. A 500 diamond |
badge was presented to General Alger to- |
night by his admirers of the G. A. r.