Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-08-31


The second national encampment. held
in Philadelphia in 1855, was uudouht-
eily the most important Of the earlier
gatherings Of the veterans. for then We're
fixed the character and scope Of tie new
movement, but that encampment was
made possible by the sendoff given ut
indianapolis The deliberations at Pill
adelphia decided what the veteran order
should be; the enthusiasm at Indiana.-
oils declared that there should be an
order Of veterans, 80 there is little rra-
son to fear but the Old soldiers who
muster in the western city 100. 600 strong
will know what they are there for and
acknowledge III hearty fraternal spirit
the claims Of the IIoosicr capital upon
their good will. Thousands Of com
rades who had the best change to know
these things, because they We're pant cf
them as workers in building up the or
der have gone to join the grand army
above" for the ranks are thinning by
Times unsparing hand almost as fast as
the bullets thinned them in the war
days. But what the founders knew
their Juniors have learned
Tradition is strong where sen.imen. is
concerned, and what is the fraternal idea
if not sentiment: That was the discov-
cry made at indianapolis. The war was
over, and everybody weary OF it and Of
everything which echoed its thunQers
and its passions. w hat good;' cried
the practical ones when asked To join
the new army. | have never forgotten.
lean upon. tie setback which received
from a veteran Of distinction in civil
and social life when | asked the use Of
his name to call together body OF vet
Grams and agitate tine establishment Of a
post Of the Grand Army. He had been
q splendid war man and comrade and
was a believer in progress in every good
work
Said he: 'Old soldiers can have no in
terests not common to all citizens; hence
l do not see the need of veteran organ
kation." Since then the wave Of com
radeship set moving in indianapolis has
drawn him within the magic circle. and
he finds enough interest in the order to
be won from the coveted retirement of
old age to an active official position. He
is an old man now, ana it is not rash 10
predict that he will be borne to his last
resting place on the shoulders Of Lis
Grand Army comrades.
And the enthusiasm for comradeshiD
| is not transient one to flash brilliantly
! and suddenly die ont. An old hero was
| buried in New York city the other day
| who was among the very first to catch
| up the ringing watchword sounded by
| Stephenson in 1866. refer to General
| Edward Jardine, the martyr of the draft
riot He was active in rallying old sol
| diers into the Grand Army ranks 90 to p
| years ago and was commander of the
| department early III the seventies. HIS
injuries compelled him to withdraw from
| prominence in Grand Army affairs, and
| for 90 years he has been lost to view ex-
cept among the members of his own
| post. But at his death the comrades Of
| the city united to give him a military
burial. A guard was placed over the re-
mains, and the services Of the order were
| read in the presence Of large body of
comrades, who made up a worthy cor
tege to follow the well nigh forgotten
hero to his tomb. Who in the rushing
metropolis would stop in the excitement
of financial panic and brave the swelter-
ing heat to remember a veteran, although
he shed his blood to prevent pillage and
destruction of the city in 1868? But for
comradeship to hold vigil over the ebh
| and flow of life and death and revive old
memories ten line obituary would be the
ignoble ending of glorious career.
Nor has the enthusiasm for cQmrade-