The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-05

erected by the citizens In different parts of
the city, marked the line OF march. Peace
arch at Fort and Griswoid streets. through
which the procession first passed, bore the
inscription, "Cheerily on, courageous
friends. to reap the harvest of perpetual
tss sister ana
brought us peace; undying be their fame"
Another arch bridged Jefferson avenue, but
the magnificent lower and war arch at the
intersection of Wood ard and jefferson
avenues was the monumental piece.
MONUMENTAL ARCH.
1t was built upon the plan OF the famous
Eitfel tower of Paris and is double arch,
looking through from either avenue. The
first thing to strike the eye on this arch
was the fluttering flag held by the erect
figure surrounding the tower-a white flag
with a square of red In the center. IL 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 from the code Of signals. An ex-
cellent picture is given of the firing on
Fort Sumter; in the foreground q covered
signal mortar battery is represented as
firing on the confederate national flag by
ing from a staff planted near by. A broad
reach of water to the fort is wreatbed in
smoke from the guns. On the other sides
are represented the surrender of Lee and
the famous march down Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in Washington on the occasion OF the
last review in the war of the rebellion.
"Triumphai arch." as it is called, is an
other excellent piece of art. 1t displays in
wood the insignia of the various corps of
the Union army. Crowning the structure
are tieId-guns unlimbeTe aud in position,
and on the caps of the lateral supports of
the TANKS are stands of arms.
Slowly and majestically. IN measured
tread to martial music. the procession
nues. with Commander in chief Veazey and
his staff in the lead. until the reviewing
stand was reached. The stand from which
the Commander-in-chief and his giittering
Campus Martius," on the east side of
Woodward avenue. On Illinois, the home
of Lincoln. the home of Grant and of Lo-
gan, was conferred the honor of the right
of march. But 1t was not because of these
illu strious names that the Prairie State
was so honored, but because of one whose
service to the veterans of the State aud
Nation dates since the war-Dr. b. +.
Stephenson, the founder OF the ". A. X.
DR.. Stephenson was born in Wayne county,
Illinois. In 1912. and died In MeDard coun-
tv, Aug. 80. 1871. aged forty -nlne years.
His remains lie in the soldiers'tlOt OF Rose
Hill Cemetery. Petersburg. III. He organ
ICED the G. A. K. in 1866, and few months
later j. n. Coltrin and Joseph Prior were
joined with ten others in forming the first
post, which was instituted at Decatur.
April 9. 1896. under q charter granted by
Dr.. Stephenson.
POST no. l WAS THERE.
The survivors of Poet No. were in a con-
spicuous little group in the Illinois delega-
ton. and their appearance was the signal
for tribute of cheers. Department Com
mander Horace S. Clark led the command,
and three thousand representatives of the
loyal sons Of the sucker" State were N
line. Among the prominent ones were Gen.
Post. General Psvey, State Auditor; COL
Sexton. postmaster of Chicago. and Colonel
Cochrane. An umbrella corps. three hun
dred strong was q feature of tho Illinois
division. In the corner square of blue
umbrellas represented each State In stripes
OF red, white and blue In column. As each
division marched beneath the trIumphal
arch little girls appropriately decked In
the national coiOrS showered the veterans
with bouquets.
The enthusiasm which greeted the second
or Wisconsin division, seven hundred
strong, was unbounded. In the front rank
and borne high II she AIR on the
top Ma sss ssnttd ssos pe rhiSh
became part of wisconsin, history a
quarter of century ago. Cheer after
cheer arose from the multitude in tribute
To the war bird. Many q civilian could
only divine the cause of all this enthusi-
asni. but to probably every G. A. K. man In
line to-day the strange history of that bird
Is q firesIGe story to his children. In 1861.
when the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment en-
tered the war, q tame eagle. captured in the
Wisconsin woods, accompanied the reRi-
ment south. Taught to perch upon stat,
1t was allotted to q color bearer. and in a
few months the bird became the blem of
the regiment. With q strange devotion
that SO partook of the mysterious as to en-
gender superstition In many minds the
eagle chung to his regiment with unwaver-
ing loyalty. Amid the roar of cannon and
the shrek of battle the eagle Ot the Eighth
Wisconsin maintained his perch, at
times. too, soaring briefly above the
heads of the brave boys, shrek
ing shrill defiance. to the enemy.
hand sa sRsn h1 perch p. No
christened. and in many bloody battles the
soldiers of the Eighth seemed to share the
good fortune of the noble bird. In 1865 "Old
Abe" was mustered OUT with the Eighth.
legged bird In the public park at Madison.
He survived the war twelve years. and at
his death his funeral was conducted with
military honors. But he was never buried.
skillful taxidermist perpetuated the form
and shape of the glorious bird. and the
Eighth Regiment still bears "Old Abe" in
| the front rank.
In line with the Wisconsin boys were
| Gen. Lucius Fairchild, Ex-Governor of the
| State and ex-commander-in-chief Of the
| q. A. r., and Col. A. q. Weissert, present
| candidate for commandments chief De-
partment Commander w. H. Upham was in
| command. and Past Department Command
| or Colonel Brayan and Colonel Griffin, who
| was breveted brigadier- general at the close
| of the war for gallantry, were among the
| familiar figures that tramped to the music.
The Pennsy lvana division came next,
| 1900 strong, marching in good order to
| sprIghtly music furnished by the post
bands. Department Commander Boyer
| rode at the head with ,Adjutant Town and
| Quartermaster-general Abraham lowering.
followed by the aids. Pittsburg posts led
the delegation.
| oHIO'S BIG TURNOUT
The Ohio delegation was vast army of
itself. No less than $4,000 veterans tramped
to the music of the bands. Besides Depart
ment Commander A. M. Warner marched
Gen. S. II. Hurst. Ohio's candidate for CON-
msnder-in-c chief. A conspicuous figure was
Gen. Manning F. Force. who enlisted as o
major In the Twentie tn regiment and was
made q full msjor-general year before the
close of the war. Col. a. l.. Conger. Gen.
| p. II. Bowling and Gen. X. b. Brown were
among the past department commanders In
| line.
New York, 2.5oO strong, came next and
| was the recipient Of an enthusiastic greet
| ing. They were headed by Department
| Commander c. III. Freeman, Adjutant- gen.
eral w. w. Bennett and Quartermaster-
general A. r. Penfieid. William Van