The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-08-06
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
THE GLORIOUS P0MP AND CIRCUM
STANCE OF HAs-BEEN WAR.
A Magnificent Procession With Bullet
Scared Battle Flags-"0ld Abe" on
Stick-The Colored Comrade
Threatens to Smash the Order

by the grizzled veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic. AS to the
opening day of the twenty-fifth an
nual encampment it marks q quarter
of century Of growth of the organi
zation. Promptly at 10 o'clock, with
military precision, which showed the
volunteer soldiers had forgotten none
of their early training, the posts as
sembled on the line of march to par
ticipate in the grand parade. Foul
magnificent arches, erected by citi
zens in different parts of the city
marked the line of march. The
Peace Arch at Foot and
Griswold streets, through which
the procession passed, bore the
inscription: "Cheerily on, Comrades
and Friends, to Reap the Harvest OF
Perpetual Peace;o and on the opposite
side was read the sister inscription;
"Their Prowess Brought Us Peace,
Undying Be Their Fame" Another
arch bridged Jefferson avenue and a
magnificent tower was erected at the
intersection of Woodward and Jeffer-
son avenues and was veritable work
Of art. 1t is built upon the plan of the
famous Eiffel tower of Paris and is a
double arch looking through from
either avenue. The first thing to
catch the eye on this arch is the f1ut-
tering flag held by the erect figure
surmOunting the tower-a white flag
with a square of red in the center
1t is one of the numerous designs
used by the signal corps attached to
the armies of the Union by which
messages were sent long distances
by a code Of signals. An excellent
picture is given Of firing on Fort
Sumter. In the foreground is single
mortar battery engaged, with a Con-
federate national flag flying from the
staff, planted near by broad reach of
water to the fort which is wreathed in
smoke from it's own guns. On the
other sides are represented the sur
render of Lee and the famous march
down the Pennsylvania avenue in
Washington on the occasion of the
last review in the war of the rebellion
Slowly and majestically the pro-
cession started from Woodward and
Adams avenue with Commander-in-
chief Neazey and his staff in the
lead. When the reviewing stand
was reached his glittering staff re-
viewed the parade. 1t was situated
on the "Campus Martius" on the
east side of Woodward avenue. On
Illinois, the home of Lincoln, home of
Grant and of Logan, was conferred
the honor of the right of march, but it
was not because of these illustrious
names that the Prairie state was so
honored but because of one whose SER
vice to the veterans of the state and
nation dates since the war, DR.. B. f.
Stephens, founder of the G. A. r.
The survivors of Post No. l, were in a
conspicuous little group in the Illi-
nois delegation, and their appearance
was the signal for tribute of cheer.
Department Commander Horace S.
Clark led the command, and 5000 rep
resentatives Of the loyal sons Of the
Sucker state were in line.
The umbrella corps, 300 strong, was
a feature of the Illinois division.
The enthusiasm that greeted the
Wisconsin division of 700 strong was
unbounded. In the front ranks and
borne high in the air on top of the
Flagstaff was perched cold Abe,n the
stuffed eagle, which became part of
Wisconsin's history a quarter of a
century ago.
The Pennsylvania division came
next, 1900 strong, and marched in
good order to sprightly music fur
nished by the Post bands. Depart
ment Commander Boyer rode at their
head with Adjutant Toun and Quar-
termaster General A braham Lavering
followed by aides;
Irhe Ohio delegation was a vast
army of itself. No less than $4,000
veterans tramped to the music of the
bands. Beside Department. Commander
w. M. Warren marched Gen. S. II.
Hurst, OhiO's candidate for COM
mander-in-chief.
New York, $500 strong, came next,
and was the recipient of an enthu-
siastic greeting. They were headed
by Department Commander G. H.
Freeman, Adjutant-General w. w.
Bennett and Quartermaster-G General
A. r. Penfield. VIM. Van Keuren,
an Octogenarian member of the post
and veteran of the Mexican and civil
wars, was dressed in a suit made of
patriotic red, white and blue.
Then came scores of battle flags,
scanned, shot through, in shreds and
tatters, proudly carried aloft by their
bearers.
The Connecticut Division came
next and following Connecticut was
Massachusetts, $500 strong. Their
grand display and soldierly appear
rance caused the greatest enthusiasm
as soon as they hove in sight headed
by Department commander A. A.
Smith, Adjutant General H. o. Moore,
Senior vice-Commander j. X. Church
hill.
Forty new Jersey veterans were ac-
by j. r. Mullikan, COM
Post Department Comman-
der HI. n. Stevens and Post Depart
ment Commander Chas. Burrows.
One hundred eX-union soldiers, led
by Department Commander Samuel |