The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-01

national review the country had ever
seen. The nation had had its wars, but
no pageant had marked their successful
termination. The flag had been planted
upon the heights of Mexico and then
the army had gone home separately
like folks from church. When our
boundaries were saved from British
grasp, it was thought useless to do any
congratulatory parading, and after re-
deeming our gauge of independence our
forefathers melted steadily away with
only little sunburst of Washington's
farewell to his officers. Fortunately,
however, at the close of the war there
were two armies in and near this city.
All of the soldiers composing them dwelt
at the north and Washington was n
better place than any other for their
dispersion. The fortitude of the men
and the struggles in which they had
borne SO brave part deserved commem-
grafton, and out of this sentiment grew
the march which was repeated yester-
day. In many respects 1t will probably
stand cut as equally remarkable in the
country's history.
Nearly half as many old soldiers were
in line as passed up the avenue on the
historic day of 1865 trod in their feeble
steps. The conditions of the two occa-
sions were widely different and al
though age had somewhat weakened
the physical powers of the survivors,
they were enabled to cover the distance
with not much more fatigue than then,
not being ef=--.nbered with arms or ac-
coutrements e-d baving smooth, firm
roadway for their feet, instead of a
dusty, rough highway. The surround
ings, too, were inspiring. Never did
Pennsylvania avenue look so transcend
emily beautiful-with it's clouds of
bunting floating in the bright sunshine,
masses of color punched on stands and
along the sidewalk, relieved by the
borders of green foliage of the tree
rows on the sidewalks.
The procession moved under the or
ders of the commander-in-chief in
double column rows of twelve, one on
either side of the car tracks, platoons
being twelve PAGES apart, and between
departments twenty-four PAGES. This
procession was, as far as possible, strict
'ly G. A. r. organization, the first and
last divisions containing the only non
soldiers. Heading the procession was
the citizens committee on parade. They
were mounted and, with the aids APP
pointed by the chairman, numbered a
hundred or more.
Following them came the escort OF
the ander-in-chief-the Old Guard,
of Washington, and the Albany, N. Y,
Grand Army battalion. Gen. Palmer,
commander-in-chief; Henry NJ. Duffield
Detroit, senior vice commander, ard T.
S. Clarl1son, Omaha, junior vice com
mander, accompanied by the officia
staff of the commander-in-chiefa anc
his aldes-de-camp followed.
The Grand Army escort, a post o.
honor, was accorded to the survivors o.
the famous Sixth Massachusetts regi
mcnt and the first defenders of Wash
ington.
The United States Signal corps, vet
eran association, which is holding it,
seventeenth annual reunion in connec
tion with the G. A. R. encampmen
closed the first part Of the procession.
Then came the G. A, r. posts by de
partments. The old soldier was appar
ent in every step and the proudly, mar
tial-bearing of the veterans wa!
strengthened by the plaudits of thu
multitude which rang continually il
their ears as they passed. The post
marched in the order of their seniority
beginning with Illinois, where the G
A. r. was organized.
The rear of the procession was brough
up By the naval veterans association.
A pleasing feature of the march, and
one that the veterans greatly enjoyed
was the choral tribute to their presence
by school children of the district They
were located at two points-300 colored
girls at the corner of Third street anC
the avenue and 500 white girls at the
corner of Fifteenth street.
The line of march of the procession
was from the foot of Capitol hill along
Pennsylvania avenue, past treasury
building, the department of justice, th'
white house, the state, war and navy
departments to Twenty-third street
where the parade disbanded.
OF the larger states Pennsylvania de-
partment occupied the longest time il
passing the commander-in-chie tiftI
minutes. Ohio was a close second, re
quiring forty-fve minutes, and New
York third, with thirty minutes.