The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-20
GRAND ARMY'S BIG DAY.
THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

ing and Decorations Bverywhere.
The National Colors Flying in Every
Direction-To-day's Parade.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 19.-when the sleep
log hosts awoke this morning and the
g. A. R. comrades had rubbed their eyes
and performed their ablutions, all was light
and life and gladness 1t was a perfect
early autumn day, rather like a belated
summer in hunt OF solar warmth, but with
a tinge Of autumn on the foliage, aud the
coming of the harvest suggested by the
mature glory OF the extensive gardens of
the white house grounds and the treasury
department It was just day to be up and
doing. to walk, to view the city or to march
to the strains of martial music, and the vet
Grams seemed to have caught It's spirit.
Early rising was the rule and.the camps
were like hives Of bees, humming
with activity. Everywhere we're blue
coats dressing and washing and brushing
up and making ready for the days pro-
gramme. The kitchen smoked, walters
hurried here and there, and the long tables
in the dining halls were filed with men eat
ing breakfast.
srROLLING ABOUT THE GARDENS.
This dispatched they strolled about the
grounds or went off in little squads to view
the gayly decorated city. The streets were
crowded at an early hour and most of the
people of the district appeared to have
abandoned all idea OF business in favor Of
the holiday. The feature Of the day full of
events as it was, and one of historic inter
est, was the Inauguration and
dedication of the grand army place.
as IL is called, which is a vast ellipse
known as the white lot Just south
Of the grounds Of the executive mansion. 1t
was one magnificent lawn. com mprising many
acres. The ground is covered with we'll
kept sod, and unbroken by a single tree or
bush. On this vast field. by a happy con
ceit, had been laid out representation OF the
closing campaign OF the late war. But in
stead of serried armies and parks of death
dealing artillery, the positions of the federal
armies been indicated Dy the arrangement
of tents and stands In the center OF the
field, representing Richmond, the capital of
the confederaoy, is a commodious grand
stand.
MYRIADs OF TENTS
Surrounding it are myriads Of tents set
apart for and representative OF the positions
OF the various army corps that wound up
the war. To the northeast OF Richmond
lies the Army of the Potomac comprising in
cavalry, che Iwenty-sscond, Ninth, Sixth,
Fifth, Third, Second and First corps and
artillery. To the northwest lies the Army
OF the Cumberland, cavalry Of the west,
Army of West Virginia eighth oorpsl +;
Army Of the Ohio (Twentv-third oorps) :
Fourth corps, Fourteenth, Provisional
| corps. Twentieth made up OF the One Hum
dred aud Eighteenth and One Hundred and
| Twenty eighth and the colored troops OF
the Army of the james; the Eighteenth,
Tenth, Twenty-fourth and Twsnty-fifth
corps: The prisoners Of war,
metal Of honor men and Shields division
| occupy the southeastern part of the field
| To the southwest Of Rtcbmond lies the
| Army of the Tennessee, the Thirteenth, Fif-
teenth. Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Seventh
| corps; the Army of the Mississippi Nine-
! teenth corps; Army OF the Gulf and naval
| forces. There were five great tents, known
as Grant, Sherman, sheridan, Meade and
| Thomas tents, separate from the great di-
visions
THE TENTS FOR THE REUNIONS.
In these tents, Of which the Grant tent is
| the largest, will be held the reunions of the
various corps. The smaller tents are laid out
in regular avenues, and bear large colored
| symbols Indicative Of the corps to which
| they are assigned. The novelty Of
| the ground is the place set apart for the re-
union OF the naval and marine veterans, on
which has been erected reproduction of
| the famous frigate Kearsarge, which sunk
the confederate cruiser Alabama after she
had made her unparalleled record as a de-
| stroyer OF commerce. The inauguration OF
the grand army place was preceded by a
parade of considerable proportions, and one
of great interest to the grand army men.
| os well as other spectators. be-
| cause Of tho opportunity it
afforded Of contrasting The appearance and
movements OF veterans with the precise and
modern methods OF soldiers OF Uncle Sans
| regular army and navy, for the principal
| part in to-dsy's parade was taken by the
regular soldiers, sailors and marines sta
| toned in Washington and the District of
| Columbia National Guard, which ranks
| high in points Of efficiency in drill and SOL
dierly appearance among the militia organi-
cations OF the country.
THE PROCESSION.
The procession consisted OF five brigades
commanded by Gen. Eugene A. Carr, u.
| s. A, as follows: A troop OF the regular
army, naval batteries, the district national
guard, posts Of the department OF
the Sons OF Veterans. The pro-
| cession started at 10 O'Clock from Second
street, west Of the capital, and proceeded
up Pennsylvania avenue 10 stand in front
| Of the treasury. where 10 was
reviewed by Vice President Morton.
The main body of the procession
COuIluu6Q On lbh hhJ OI 9ONCnbcbHbu bLTe9D
| into the grand army place. the cavalry
contingent remaining behind to form an eI-
| cort for the Vice President.
The proceedings were formally opened by
the dedication of the white lot as the grand
| army place with much formality and cere-
mony, in the presence OF a largo Gro
Commander IN Chief Palmer, Commander
Douglass and Vice President Morton deliy-
ering the addresses Of the occasion.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
At the conclusion Of Commander Palmer's
speech he read the following telegram:
LOON LAKE, N. Y, Sept. IS, 1892.
| Gen. John Palmer. Commander IN Chief q.
A. r.:
Ihad looked forward with much interest to
| the great rehearsal In Washington next Tuesday
| of the victors' march OF 1850 would have
esteemed it one of the highest honors Of my
public life TO have welcomed TO the national
! capital 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 ii the worthy political
| capital Of unbroken union. 1t would have
| also been one Of the most favored and tender
incidents Of my private life 70 have taken these
| comrades again by the hand. But all this has
| ana imperative duty, and | can only ask you TO
| give TO all my cordial greetings and good wishes.
| Accept my sincere thanks for your very kind
| and sympathetic message.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
VICE PRESIDENT MoRToE's ADDRESS.
The following is the address OF Vice