Omaha daily bee., 1892-05-22
In A REMINISCENT MOOD
Veterans of U. S. Grant Post, G. A. R.,
Recall the Memories of War Times
TALES OF THE CAMP AND BATTLEFIELD
Devotion and Patriotism Characteristics OF
the Union So.dier-ReverendG Gentlemen
who Wore the Biue-A Campfire
That VIII BE Remembered.

Comrades with their joys and sorrows got
together. not in verse, but in olden time
camp fire life last night at Grand Army hall
In the Continental building. 1t was a camp
fire kndled by the U. S. Grant post, No. ITO,
the flame of which was fed and famed by
men who in bygone days were the "boys in
blue" ana who had been thr ough the times
that tried mems souls. They were Meth
odist ministers and delegates to the general
conference. These individuals of divinity
unmasked themselves for the night and were
comrades of the Omaha veterans.
Grand Army hail was tnronged as IL has
never been before. Hundreds wero there
and hundreds were obliged TO stand on their
feet. Distinguished, scholarly men were
there on all equal with the Grand Army
chap TO whom belongs the everlasting credit
and the triumphant victory of the boys in
blue. They were glad TO get together, be-
cause thev were comrades They graSped
each others hand with tnnt cordlality that
implied they were without saying it. But
comrades was what they were called, and
it was a brilliant array of the now talent
that once tramped the country for its preser-
walton.
Remembered the Old Time Stories.
To see these ecclesiastical looking gentle
men around a camp fire you would not have
dreamed they had 'any connection with a
"reminiscences in such an amusing manner
that the 'old yet' was taken back in
memory to the late revolution. Camp tre
life was portrayed in VIVID and realistic
story telling OF war times.
The stories and "reminiscences were inter-
spersed with music and negro plantation
songs and dances D. a quartette composed
of coored boys.
DR. Edwards, editor of the Chicago
Christian Advocate in his "reminiscences
"A hah nj htZtn hiatt tlnQ
aud had himself beef in the battle of Bull
Run. He loved and cherished every man
who wore brass buttons II those buttons
signitied he had been in the war. Every day
IN the year. no said, fifty veterans were
dying and he would pity this grand republic
when they all had passed away.
DIR. Grandson, a colored man and presi-
| dent of South Carolina college, was intro
| duced and related many amusing anedotes
| of the war it was a pleasure for him 10 ex
| press his gratitude for the "boys in blue,
| Tor they had accomplished what the colored
| man now enioys-freedom ana liberty
| Though the black man received no protection
| from the stars aud stripes he was ami always
! had been loyal to the faT. In negro's
| bosom there never puisated the traitors
| heart. The D!ack man always had friend
| In war times in the boys in blue and vice
versa When the Yanks, tired and hungry
| tramped through the south the negro gave
them chickens. 1t was not necessary to ash
| hln how they came by the fowls, but The
| Yanks got them just the same. The coloreC
| gentleman believed IN keeping green th'
| memory of those who gave up their lives fo
! the black MAJ, and in strewing their graves
| with flowers token OF appreciation o
their noble deeds and patriotism.
| They Had Accomplished Much.
| Dr. A. j. Palmer, in speaking of the vet
| erans, said they were somebody. They haI
done something, and IN glowing tribute L
l them he asked them to maze noble tinisl
| bv leading pure and grand lives. He wa
sorry for the young men of today. The.
were born too late, aud they will never kuoy
what the word comrade is only in liLera
| sense.
Colonel Frank Hardin, an aged gentlemen
who IS full of patriotism m and enjoys meetinI
comrades, said that tho memory OF the wa