Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-09-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Grand Army of the Repu bile
Encampmont.
Brilliant IlluminatiOnS and Magnificent
Parade-Interesting Relic.
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 23, '99.
From our Regular Correspondent

AoiN"ioN, D'S', ccpI. go, w.
Pleasures long anticipated have been
realized. Months ago, as soon as the
national encampment at Detroit ac-
cepted the cordial invitation from the
people to meet with them this year, the
rank and file of the Grand Army of the
Republic began to prepare for the ex
pected visit to the Capital of the Ma
ton, the most beautiful city on the
continent, the seat of the Government
which they had assisted in saving, and
which they had been told had grown
and blossomed as the rose. To many
of that magnificent grand army that
passed in review under Sherman and
Meade, the trip meant careful saving of
pennies and, perchance, p1vation and
sacrifice. But they were patriotic and
desired once more to march down Penn
sylvania Avenue, to grasp comrades by
the hand and talk over again that old,
old story that forms so magnificent a
page in the country's history.
Eighty thousand veterans in blue,
marching along Pennsylvania Avenue
twenty seven years after the close of
war in which they all took honorable
and heroic part, with the same patri-
ctic pride as ever, and almost the same
precision of movement, constituted a
scene that will live in the memory of
all who witnessed it as long as memory
lasts-a scene only once made possible
in the worlds history, and the after
glow of conditions which are never
likely to occur again. Especially was
the parade an object lesson in the ma
ture of splendid revelation to the
young men of the later generation that
has grown up since the laurels of their
fathers were won, and who can not fail
to gather from this imposing spectacle
ideas of the magnitude of the great
struggle, and of the character and
bearing of those who won the fight,
that no other source of information can
so vividly disclose. To the veterans
themselves it was also q revelation.
They had the qualification of realizing
as never before what their valor had
wrought for the National Capital and
for the Government, of which Wash
ington is the splendid seat, and for the
people of Washington, who will ever
hold them in grateful remembrance.
With the Massachusetts, Posts came
a most interesting relic-being the
original stars and stripes, which was
brought on by its owner, Mrs Stafford,
of Martha's Vineyard. The flag is the
first and original United States flag,
but instead of thirteen stars, as might
be expected from the number of origi.
nal States, it only contained twelve
stars, which is explained by the fact
that at the time the flag was made
Georgia was not yet entitled to vote.
the flag was made by the ladies OF
Philadelphia from the design of the es
cutcheon of the Washington family
and it is said Washington himself cut
out the five pointed stars. The flag was
presented to John Paul Jones, who
sailed with it up and down the Scuyl
kill, to show the people the appearance
of the flag of their country. After
ward it was adopted by Congress, anG
Jones carried it with him on the shiI
Bon Homme Richard. In his great
fight against overwhelming odds tn,
flag was shot away from its staff, ant
fell in the sea, and Lieutenant Stafford
leaped overheard after it and brought
1t safely to the ship and nailed it to tn,
masthead. The relic was afterwart
presented to Lieutenant Stafford b,
act of Congress, and his descendant
still retain it.
Hon. Albert G. Porter reached Wash