The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-13
Colonel Lilly ard His Aids Have Com
pleted the Work of Organization.
Public Meeting at the Grand Opera House
Last Night, at Which the Nature Of the
Undertaking Was Outlined.
Citizens Urged to Do Their Best To-
ward Entertaining the Grand Army.
Full List of the Committees Appointed to
Work Under the Direction of the
Executive Board.
TO ENTERTAIN THE VETERANS.

Public Meeting to start the work-Col.
ELI LTly's Address.
The meeting at the Grand Opera house
last night of citizens interested in the per-
lection of plans to make the G. A. II. en-
campment of next year q success, was
well attended considering the inclemency
of the weather. The lower floor Of the
house was comfortably filled and the live
liest interest was taken in the PROCEEDINGS.
Col. Eli Lilly was chairman of the
assemblage. and seated on the
Bement Lyman. w. A. Ketcham. b. A..
Richardson, DR.. Elder. Secretary Fortune
and several others. In thea audience, among
others, were Governor Chase. Judge Mar
tindale, Department Commander of Indi-
ana Cheadle, Colonel Holloway, Captain
Many, National Commander of the u. V. L.
Turner, X. r. Shiel. w. +. C. Colt, General
McGinnis. NJ. b. Wilson, Rev. Dr.. Lucas.
Mr.. c. c. Foster, r. NJ. Smock. w. II.
Lester and George Tanner. Colonel Lilly
read an address which he had prepared,
and which outlined the policy to be par
sued, when order was called. 1t was IS
follows:
COLONEL LILLY'S ADDRESS.
Fellow-citizens-we are here to inauguratc
the greatest undertaking of its kind yet at
tempted by our people. The Governor OF the
State OF Indiana, standing i'll the midst of more
than sixty thousand comrades OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic IN the capital OF the Ma
veterans to hold their twenty-seventh annual en-
campment In the city OF Indianapolis.
The National Encampment wac SO well In
formed through the delegates from Indiana OF
our desire to have them pitch their tents with us
and SO we'll assured OF our ability and determi-
nation to care for the encanpment that the ac-
ceptance was unanimous and without cOntest-a
proceeding unprecedented in the history OF the
Grand Army of tie Republic. With our patriot
Ism and our hospitality thus appealed to, the
event shall be worthy OF the earnest invitation
and the cordial acceptance. AS a natural Sc
quence. this acceptance brings with the Grand
Army those great patriotic bodies. the Woman's
Relief Corps, the Ladies OF the Grand Army of
the Republic and the Association OF Naval Veter-
ans.
It Is difficult at once to comprehend the vast
ness OF this undertaking.; Ii Will grow upon us
gradually as we come to the work. Will say,
however, that having given 1t almost undivided
Thought FOR nearly three months, the problem
presents no difficulties to my mind which may
not be overcome 10y intelligent and earnest effort.
To begin the lesson the proposed organization to
care for the twenty-seventh annual encanp-
ment OF the Grand Army OF the Republic Will
consist or thirty committees, besides the officers
and executive board. Each one OF these COM
inittees will have to do with affairs more than
equal In MAGNITUDE to our recent Columbus
parades. These committees will embrace an az
grcgate OF nearly three thousand members.
Each committee will be- divided into proper sub
committees, and each member assigned a GER
tain duty. This is the organization, equal to an
army brigade, and III the result of its work is to
crown the end 10 our credit, each individual
must perform the assigned duty punctually and
conscientiously. The chairmen of these oom-
mittees have accepted the work freely and with
full understanding OF the responsibility. Each
hind and above all this is the duty OF the citizen
TO hold up and make strong the hands of this
How many people are to he provided for dur.
Ing the encaInpment! Not less than fifty, posi-
bly, eighty, thousand veterans VIII require quar-
Army there will be q daily arrival and departure
OF from forty to fifty thousand people. or a prob
apse hsiisysH To q hs v yssSon iob .ne ,, Me1s: iT The
official railway statement Of arrivals in WASH
ington during the encampment was 100000.
and everything now indicates q larger gathering
here. The arriving bodies must be properly re-
ceived and escorted to the quarters assigned
them. Public receptions and entertainments
must be arranged, and on such occasions proper
official cOurtesies will be extended by the State
and by the city. Reunions Of regiments, bat
held by the hundred. Great camp+fres are to be
kindled, around which our guests will gather III
thousands to meet and greet each other and
listens 10 Old stories. always new, Of the camp,
the biv0uac, the picket line, the march and the
field of battle.
And what shall 1 say Of the grand parade and
VIZ Suh VIC complement tudb IN SIiB
ton the with his staff, stood
from 10 O'Clock in the morning until q O'Clock in
the e~vening-eight hours-while a solid column
OF IS, 900 veterans marched in reviewi Can we
grasp 1T Can we duplicate that march heref
Why noti Indianapolis is the Washington OF the
West. Here the Grand Army of the Republic was
born. indianapolis Is it's mother. The boys are
coming home. Within less than a days ride Of
where we stand there are 100000 members OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, and this is the
center of the membership OF this, the greatest
patriotic organization of men on earth. There
diana, 25. 900 being members OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic. The arrangements for re-
unions OF every Indiana regiment and battery. as
well as for the naval veterans, will be o c0nspic-
uous feature OF the occasion.
This brings us to Indiana day, Thursday of en-
the Indiana soldier. though he may have strayed
10 the end OF the earth; the day upon which will
be unveiled the noOlest shalt ever erected by
man TO commemorate the heroic deeds VI the
sons OF any state or nation. At the sound OF
the assembly the remnants of over $50 regi-
ments and twenty-six batteries, with the ship
mates OF the navy. Will fan into line. Wheeling
into column, they will march and touch the
elbow as they did thirty years ago. The men
who led In battle will again command while
above will float, and float for the last time, the
bullet-riddled fragments of the same old flags
they followed through every battle for the
Union. and at last placed on the bills of victory
"a nation SAVED, and the cause OF human lib
erty secured for all time.
For these events our city must and will be
decorated beyond anything We have ever
dreamed Of, much less attempted. lt must be
on q scale OF magnihcence and harmony which
can only come OF wise plans accepted aud ad-
hered TO by all. 1t night the streets will he IL
Illuminated with thousands of electric lights
worked i'll the most beautiful designs and colors.
the greatest effects being massed around the
monument OH the rim OF the Circle, while the
State and city squares Will blaze with displays
of natural Ras. a roaring gas-weil forming the
center OF each. One night of aerial fire. works
will be arranged and IL Is proposed another night
shall be devoted 10 a pageant OF the wars OF
America, a subject unequaled for this kind OF
illustI alton.
Now you are ready to ask how is this vast
throng TO be cared for. The question will be
largely answered by the plan or organization
and details OF the duties OF the committees 10 be
announced later In the evening. In a general
way, however, the meetings of the encampment
ever has been, in Tomlinson Hall. The same
place will also accommodate the evening camp
fires. Large tents may also be used for camp
fires. Reunions will be held In churches and in
such halls. court rooms, etc.. as are not adapted
for sleeping quarters. The medical corps will
have charge OF a hospital service OF five hundred
beds besides the usual sick calls of the camp.
sanitary inspections, etc. The great war ship
Kearsarge Ia now In this port and during the en-
campment Will be partly manned ny vet
erans who fought and sunk the Alabama.
The ship will be headquarters of the navy
whore all shipmates as we'll as landsmen will he
received. The official business headquarters of
pected To establish IN the various rooms of the
etate-house. The social headquarters OF these
will he al the hotels. The WOmaH's Relief Corps
and the ladies OF the g. A. r. Will he assigned to
the Propyieum for social and business purposes
Their business meetings will be held In the halls
near by. As TO sleeping accommodations. every
private and public roof III Indianapolis and Its
eulnvhs will hava A iufv IN perforsu In addi-