Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-07
PATRIOTISM IN THE AIR.

Double Quarto-CentennIal of the Organiza-
tion of the Grand Army-Receptions
and Banquets-Some of the Speeches
Renewal of Old Acquaintanceship.
Patriotism permeated the very air last
evening. The Quarto-centennial of the Grand
Army of the Republic was the opportunity
that offered and the veterans of the war and
their friends made the occasion one long to be
remembered. During yesterday afternoon a
large reception was held at the parlors of the
Monongahela House by the committee in
charge of the celebration in this city. A great
many distinguished citizens took advantage of
the gathering to become better acquainted
with each other, and to form new friendships.
That all thoroughly enjoyed themselves is due
to the untiring energy and unfagging atten-
tion paid the guests by Colonel W. II. Reed,
Colonel Thomas J. Hudson and comrades
Homer L. McGaw. j. n. Taylor, William Hall,
George w. McCutcheon and L. W. Wallace,
who composed the Executive Committee, as
well as TO Major j. f. Denniston, Colonel A. S.
Nj. Morgan and others of the Reception Com
mittee. In the evening the G.. A. r. of the
city assembled in Old City Hall, while those of
the sister municipality of the second-class
congregated in Carnegie Hall, both meetings
De1ng for the purpose OF listening to pro-
grammes of entertainment, in pursuance of
United States, to observe the twenty-fifth an
niyersary of the inception of that grand and
patriotic order. whose principles and deeds ex-
emplify the spirit as well as the letter of the
fundamental law of the land-the American
Constitution.
The Meeting In Pittsburg.
The Pittsburg meeting was presided over by
that gallant soldier. General A. L. Pearson. and
it was very largely attended. The order of
trae TO NV bnt ipta
not permitted to flag. The musical numbers
were furnished by the Post G. A. r. Band,
the Amphion Quartet. Miss Annie Finney and
Bert Kirk. cornetists, and Mrs j. Sharpe Nc
Donald, who has never once failed to sing at
every Grand Army event where her services
have been required. The invocation was offered
by Rev. w. P. Shrom. D. D., of the East End,
and then, at $3.50, the hour appointed by general
order, Comrade w. H. Lambert read the orders
OF the day issued by Commander-in-C Chief
Neazey, all standing After that Rev. W. II.
Cowl made prayer, following which General
Edwin s. Osborne, of Wilkesbarre, ex-Con-
gresham at Large. delivered lengthy address
on THE Grand Army of the Republic" ex-
tolling its many virtues and enumerating the
great number of philanthropic, charitable and
patriotic deeds of the order. Colonel W. A.
Heron made very pleasing speech under the
caption. Our Friends at Home" which re-
terred to the record made from August, 1861,
until January, 1866 by the Subsistence Com
of almost 100000 Federal soldiers, en- route
through the city, including hospital care given
nearly 80, 900 sick and wounded.
The Young Men of '61.
"The Young Men of '6l," was Comrade
Frank E. Brownell's subject, and he told that
well-known story of the days when men weut
to the 'front.' in way that gave his audience
the greatest satIsfe ction. He is a ready and
delightful talker. He spoke eloquently of the
deeds of the Federal troops, but of the one great
act of his life he made but brief and modest
mention. The speaker was member OF the
New York Fire ZOuaves a celebrated regi-
ment organized and recruited from the firemen
of the Metropolis by Ephraim Elmore Ellsworth
as Colonel. in 1851, and which became part of
the Union army about Washington in May of
the same year, being stationed at Alexandra,
Va. IL was there that one of the most dramatic
incidents of the war occurred. Colonel Els
worth before he became the commander Of his
superb regiment was a Second Lieutenant in
the army prior to that time having been law
student in the office of Abraham Lincoln, at
Springfield, ILL.,, and before that Captain OF the
Chicago Zouave Cadets. a crack military body
drilled after the French Zouave tactics used in
the Crimean War. He travelled through the
Eastern cities with his company giving exhibi-
tion drills, and to that he owed his great popu-
larity and national reputation.
When Colonel Ellsworth took his regiment
into Alexandria the secession spirit there was
high. On the Marshall House, the proprietor
of which was James w. Jackson, was floating
Confederate flag: Colonel Ellsworth accom-:
panied by a squad of his men, went to the roof
of the hotel tore dawn the flag and while de-
scending the stairway Jackson suddenly aD-
preached armed with a gun with which he shot
and killed the idolized officer. Private Francis
S. Brownell who was q witness of the act, i'm
mediarely shot jackson dead.
When the next speaker. Colonel w. ID.
Moore, arose to respond to the sentiment, 1.-The
Women of the War;" all were on the qui ylve
RI ann nfad fnr
if his hair is silvery. so is his tongue, and his
beautiful diction and eloquent peHods many
times enthused his audience
Rev. M. B. Riddle, on THE American Flag" and
John s. Lambie on THE New Republic"
Taken altogether, the celebration was an occa-
sion long to be remembered.
A Rousing Reception in Allegheny.
The meeting in Carnegie Hall was presided
over by Thomas G. Sample, Post 128 who was
decidedly patriotic in the introductory remarks
with which he prefaced the various numbers
on the programme. The hall was filled to
overfiowing, and the galleries were packed; one
side gallery being reserved for the members of
the Grand Army Band, the music of which
aroused vigorous and prolonged applause. The
platform was very beautifully draped and
decorated with the national colors and his
torical flags and arms. The address of welcome
was made by comTade W. A. Stone
who was very hospitable in his greeting to
those who had assembled for the Grand Army
Following the welcoming adj
dress was 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner"
rendered in stirring manner by Messrs. Dan
gerteld, Christy. Gross and Householder.
An Entertaining Programme.
The remainder of the programme as out
lined consisted of an address by Major E. A.
Montooth, Post 8; whistling solo, "Swiss Echo
Song" Mrs Leah Dicklnson; recitation. Battle
Records" written for the occasion by Prof.
Byron w. King, and recited by Miss
Dora MarshalI: address, Past Department,
Commander Thomas ]. Stewart; music
Grand Army Band; I'll Trovatore;' whisrling
solo, Mrs. Dickiuson; address, Judge Collier,
Post 3S; vocal solo, Miss Irene Sample; address,
Past Department, Commander Denniston;
music. Grand Army Band; male quartet, "Auld
Lang Syne:" benediction, Rev. w. r. CowI,
who also invoked the divine blessing at the
beginning. On the platform were seated be-
side the performers and speakers the surviv-
ing members eff the Pittsburg Sanitary Fair
the residue of whose efforts dur
ing the war time in the form of interest a
fund is donated to the West Penn
Hospital for the care of invalid soldiers, and
soldiers widows or children.
Social rhaffar