Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-20
IN CAMP ON THE POTOMAC
Reunion of Union Veterans
at Washington.
The City Crowded With the
Nations Defenders.
Largest Gathering Of Old Soldiers
Since the War.
Dedication OF Grand Army Place by
Vice-President Morton-A Parade
of United States Soldiers
and Sailors.

WAsHINGToN, Sept. 19.--Twenty-six
years ago the loyal organization known
as the Grand Army OF the Republic was
formed with B. F. Stevenson, Of Illinois,
as the first commander. Since then
reunions OF the men who fought to pre-.
serve the union have been held, but
never did the veterans meet in this city
since the close of the war of the rebel
lion till today. For days grizzled COM
rades have been gathering from every
part of the union, until the attendance
surpasses anything ever before seen in
Washington. All the hotels, tented
camps, school houses and large num-
of private residences are thrown open to
them, and are crowded with the men
who defended the capital against inva-
eion in the dark days of fraternal strife.
Every available resource has been drawn
upon, and in spite of the vast throng,
everybody is cared eor, sheltered and
fed.
Yesterday, as the hours of night wore
on, the hustle and stir which character
lied the day and evening subsided, and
the statement, "All quiet on the Poto-
mac" became as true as in the days
when some OF these same patriotic men
slept on their arms in the open air upon
the banks of the historic river.
Today broke pleasant, and as the sun
came out with the genial warmth of
early autumn or of belated summer, it
was just the day for going about and en-
joying life out of doors. The camps
were astir early, and ablutions and
breakfast attended to, the visitors were
ready to enjoy the day.
The decorations of the city are elabo-
rate and tasteful throughout, but along
the historical Pennsylvania avenue,
from the capitol building to Twenty
second street, along which the Union
army marched with service-worn uni
forms and battle SCARED flags at the
close Of the war, they are particularly
| brilliant. The public buildings have re-
ceived special care in this regard, and
the White House and treasury depart.
ment are conspicuously beautiful and
elaborate.
The feature of the day was the inaug-
uration and dedication of Grand Army
place, as it is called. 1t is a magnifi-
cent stretch of green sward, lying just
south OF the White House grounds. On
this, by arrangement, tents and stands
have been laid out go as to form a repro
duction of the closing campaign of the
war, with Richmond in the center, sur
rounded by groups of tents representing
the various army corps which assisted
to wind up the war.
A prominent feature in the grounds is
model Of the old war vessel Kearsarge.
some portions OF it, such ae the rudder,
| post, port holes and dead latch, being
from the old vessel itself.
The dedication of Grand Army place
was preceded by parade of the MEM
bers of the regular army and navy, and
was OF special interest to the veterans,
| afording an opportunity to contrast the
arms and accoutrements now in
use, with those carried during the
late war. The procession consisted of
| five brigades, including a troop of the
regular army, naval batteries and ma
rines, district national guards, posts of
the department of the Potomac, G AR.
and Sons of Veterans. The procession
marched from Second street up Penn
! sylvania avenue to the treasury build
ing, where it was reviewed by Vice.
President Morton, thence to Grand
Army place.
After the parade, Vice President Nor
ton was escorted TO Grand Army place,
where he received salute from the guns
of the Kearsarge, and took his place on
the stand beside Commander-in- chief
Palmer.
Prayer was offered by Chaplain.in
Chief Payne of Florida. Then General
Palmer delivered the Introductory ad.
dress.
He dwelt on the glorious record of the
Union armies, referred feelingly to the
absence of the beloved dead command
ers, spoke regretfully of the enforced
absence of President Harrison, paying a
tribute to him as soldier and presi.
dent, and introduced Vice president
Morton, having first read the presi.
dents telegram of regret at his absence,
a copy of which follows:
Loon LAKE, N. Y, Sept. 10.
Gen. John Palmer, COMMANDMENT. Chief G. AR
Ihad looked forward with great pleas
ure to the great rehearsal in Washing
ton, next Tuesday, of the victors' march
of 1866. would have esteemed it one
OF the highest honors of my public life
to have welcomed to the national capi-
tai, and to have received in its historic
avenue, this representative assembly of
the men who not only saved the city
from threatened destruction, but made
it the worthy political capital of the un-
broken union. 1t would also have been
one of the most favored and tender incl
dents of my private life to have taken
these comrades again by the hand. But
all this has been denied me by the inter-
vention of sad, imperative duty, and I
can only ask you to give to all my cor
dial greetings and good wishes. Accept
my sincere thanks for your very kind
and sympathetic message.
(Signed) BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Vive-P President Morton then delivered
the formal dedication address. He be-
gan by referring in sympathetic terms
to the domestic reasons which caused
the absence of President Harrison, and
prayed God to give him grace in his
need. He also had sslately been stand
ing at the gates Of the nation to chal-
lenge the entrance of an implacable
enemy that must be confronted at our
! ports."
Turning to the matter directly in
hand, the speaker continued: IT see