The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-05
THE G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT :
Monster Parade of the Vete.
rams at Washington.
Details of the Orders Twenty
sixth Reunion.

The trst day OF Ine G"enty'SiAIa GILL uoi
encampment Of the G. A. R., held this year
at Washington, opened with fair weather,
crowds of veterans and visitors and many
interesting ceremonies.
The feature Of the day was the dedication
of Grand Army Place. the old white lot,
just south OF the Executive Mansion. The
ceremonies were preceded by parade.
The procession consisted OF i've brlgades,
commanded by General Eugene A. Carrusa,
as follows: Troop of the regular army, ma
val batteries and marines. District Nation
al Guard, Post OF the Department OF the
Potomac, G.. A. R. and Sons Of Veterans.
It started ut ten o'clock from Second street
west Of the Capitol and proceeded up Penn
svlvania avenue to stand in front or tne
Treasury, where it was reviewed by vice.
President Morton.
At neon Commander Palmer, in short
address from the grand stand, declared the
encampment opened. He then read the fol-
lowing telegram from President Harrison:
LOON LAKE, N. Y, September is, 1892.
General John Palmer, Commander-in-Chlet
G. A. r.:
/ had looked forward with much interest
to the great rehearsal in Washington next
Tuesday of the victors' march OF 1860. l
would have esteemed it one of the highest
honors of nv public life to have welcomed
to the National Capital and to have received
in its historic avenue this representative as
sembly Of the men who not only saved the
city from threatened destruction, but made
it the worthy political capital OF an pnbroken
Union. 1t would also have been one OF the
most favored and tender incidents of my
private life to have taken these comrades
again by the hand, but all this has been de-
MED to me by the Intervention OF sad and
imperative duty, and I 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.
General Palmer announced that he had
received word from the President that he
was compelled with great regret to with
draw his invitation to the Grand Army to
a reception in the White. House. but
open. The formal dedication address was
then delivered by Vice President Morton.
The programme was closed with brief ad-
dresses BY Secretary Noble. Attorney Cen
eral Schofeld and General J. W. Keifer.
Second Day.
The second day of the encampment was
devoted to the grand G. A. R. parade.
Tarough dense lanes Of thousands Of peo-
pie who lined the pavements and side
Streets, past buildings whose lavish display
of fluttering banners, flags and streamers
attested the coriiality Of the welcome or
their owners, cheered on by the fresh voices
of hundreds Of school children singing pa
triotic airs.
So the Grand Army of the Republic, many
thousand strong, marched up the broad,
smooth, asphalted Pennsylvania avenue,
along whose rough cobblestones, as members
of the greatest Of modern armies, they
had marched twenty-seven years ago.
The entire line of march was decorated
with banners, bunting, corps insignia and
flags until each side OF the long stretch be-
tween the Capitol and the Treasury De-
partment was as picturesque and gay as the
decorators skill could make it,
The weather was perfect at the begin
ming, one Of those rich autumnal days for
which Washington Is famous.
At 10:40 o'clock the head Of the procession
swung around Pennsylvania avenue, up
Fifteenth street, past the Treasury Build
ing. Their wheel around the corner was
signal for the 800 young school girls on the
neighboring grand stand, led by several
conductors blowing cornets and flutes their
young voices burst forth. fresh and strong,
and In unison, singing America"
The District Old Guard and the Albany
Battalion, which formed the escort to the
Commander.in- Chief, presented fine ap-
pearance. After General Palmer and hti
staff came the Carter Band, Of Boston,
First Defenders, Of Pennsylvania, who, al
the first corners, had the right Of line OF all
the Grand Army posts. They marched IN
double-line formation, which avoided any
dispute over precedence.
Toe Illinois Department Of the G.. A. r,
headed the State posts. The State was very
well represented and they presented an at.
tractive appearance. Secretary Rusk was
one Of the leading figures Of the staff Of the
Wisconsin Department, which followed.
The Keystone State was the banner State
Of the procession in numbers, and thirty
five of her crack cavalry men rode past at
who took up the whole Of the avenue at one
time. There were probably 10, 600 of them in
line, and it took an hour and q half FOR
them to pass one point.
Ohio's marchers were distinctive In every
way and were probably absolutely unique as
a marching body, for in their ranks step.
ping briskly along like the plainest citizen,
was ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes.
President Hayes received great cheering
along the whole line Of march. He marched
afoot, and his hat was In his hand most OF
the kindly greetings be constantly received.
There were 5000 Ohio men in line.
The Empire State posts followed close upon
the Ohio veterans, and in one OF two car
riages at their head rode Generals Sckles,
Slocum and Rosecrans. The New York City
and Brooklyn posts led the New York de-
tachment.
New York also had many battle flags in her
procession, and one collection OF about
eighteen carrie in body, was everywhere
greeted with applause. It tooS New York
just one hour to pass, and the Empire State
representatives would have been much
longer tbd in going BY SsFs SS drecton 3s
of the Commander in chief orders had been
given to close up the ranks wlich thereto
fore had been rather open. There were ap.
proximately 5000 of the New Workers.
Connscticut's troops, about 2 100, were all
neat and flne-looking men, with gooi large
bands.
Finally, at Cos O'Clock, the last veteran
had passed by, the grand parade OF the
twenty sixth anaua encampment OF the u.
A. r was over, and was ready to be written
an unqualified success in the page OF
9. A. R. history. In every way 1t had
eounlled the expectations of its projectors.
More men were in line than at any other
Grand Army parade. An estimate close on
20 10000 men would not be far from the
mark. The appearance of the men was
highly creditable to to the organization.
Third Day.
Soon after eleven o'clock Benjamin Palmer
opened the encam pment in due form. After
PRAYER by the Chanlaiu-in- Calef, Rev. s. B.
Paine, Of Ocean Grove N. j., the Com
mittee on Credentials reported the delegates
present; then the Commander-in-Cnief be-
gan reading his annual address:
The frat mart of General Palmer'S address