River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-09-07
HEROES OF THE WAR.
Veterans Who Fought on Land and Sea
During the Rebellion Gather for Their
Encampment at indianapolis History of
he a. a

veterans Who Fought on Land and Sea
During the Rebellion Gather for Their
Encampment at indianapolis History of
the q. A. r.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Sept. 5.-'They
are coming, a hundred thousand
strong" That is the refrain on every
lip, and the home of ex-President Har-
rison has arranged a royal welcome for
the @. A. r. 1t is its twenty-seventh
annual gathering, and in no year was
the interest deeper or the attendance
more fiattering.
The question of most importance TO
come up for debate is that relating 20
recent developments in pension legisla-
ton and department decisions, and
under this head win probably come the
appeal of the disbanded Farnham post
of New York.
There was an unusual scene at the
Tabernacle Presbyterian church Sun
day morning, and one in which ex-
President Harrison, much to his sur
prise, was made a central figure. A
special patriotic service had been ar
ranged for the delegates to the conven-
ton of naval veterans over 100 of whom,
headed by Rear Admiral b. 5. Osbon.
occupied seats in the body of the edi.
fee. The audience still fingered after
the benediction had been pronounced,
and several of the old salts in the rear
pushed to the front and grasped the
ex-president by the hand. See
ing that an impromptu reception
could not be avoided, the pastor in
vited Mr.. Harrison to the trout of the
platform, and for over an hour men,
women and children filed by. each
taking him by the hand and many ex-
pressing in few words their pleasure
at seeing him amongst them.
In accordance with the usual custom
the naval veterans held their
celebration before the rally of their
comrades of the army, and Saturday be-
ing the second and final day of their re-
union they were up bright and early,
and at eight bells every man of them
had gathered at the flagship Kear-
sarge on the capitol grounds to wit
ness the ceremony of putting the
counterpart of the time-honOred craft
into commission. The festivities al
the man-of-war were concluded barely
in time for the veterans to make
their way TO North Meridian and
St. Clair streets, where the line
of march was formed for the grand pa
rade.
1t was in Decatur, Ill, on April g. 1885, thai
DR.. Stephenson formed the first post of the
Grand Army OF the Republic, and on October
81 1865, the first national convention was held
in this city where now they are gathering In
twenty-seventh reunion. The second session
was held in Philadelphia in January, 1888
1t was during this session that the
rule was established abolishing the use of al
mill ary titles in connection with grand army
proceedings, with the result that in the posi
room the major general and the private from
the ranks stand on precisely the same tooting
no rank grade being recognized except those
of the grand army itself and derived directly
from that body.
The third annual session of the national en-
campment was held in Cincinnati May ~ 1869
! Gen. Logan presiding, and he was reelected
commander Ia chief for the following year, and
the fourth annual encampment was held In the
city Of Washington on May 81, 1870 For the
third time Gen Logan was elected commander
in chief 10 succeed himself, and the NTH annua
meeting of the national encampment was
held in Boston on May 10, 1871 The
sixth annual encampment was presided over by
Mai teen. Ambrose +. Burnside, as commander
in chief, meeting in Cleveland. May s, 1872
Gen Burnside was reelected commander in
chief. and the seventh annual encampment was
held in New Haven Conn, May IA, 1873. The
general declined 10 serve third time, and Gen
Charles Devens, Jr., OF massachusetts, was
elected in Harrisburg, Pa, May i3 1874
Gen Devens reelected commander IL
chief for the following year, and the ninth an
nual session was held Ia Chicago May H. 1875
The tenth annual meeting, Gen. John r. Hart
ranft commander in chief, was in Philadelphia
on June So 1875, the centennial year, and was
largely attended
on June 26. 1877, the eleventh annual meeting
was in Providence, X L. Gen Hartranft hav
ing been reelected. On May 10 preceding, Gen
Grant was mustered in as a comrade of tn,
grand army and a member of Gen. George
Meade post No. /, Philadelphia Here was
spectacle; the commanding general Of The
greatest army known TO history-the ex-presi
dent Of the republic-Quietly taking his place IL
the ranks CT the army OF citizen veterans
among his men who carried the muslxet
On June 4. 1873, the twelfth annual meeting
took place in Springfield, Mass, with Maj. Gen
John c. Robinson as commander in chief The
thirteenth year zen. Robinson succeeded him
self commander, the meeting occur
ring at Albany, on June II, 1879 The fol
lowing year Chaplain William Earn
shaw, of Pennsylvania, was commander
/ in chief; the fourteenth annual session
/ being held very appropriately at the soldiers
/ home at Dayton o., June g. 1880, where there
were living over 1000 veterans. The fifteenth
/ yearly meeting with Gen. Louis Wagner a,
/ commander in chief, was held in indianapolis
Ind June IS, 1881. The sixteenth an
nual session held in Baltimore
Nd, June 81, 1882 with Maj. Georg'
/ 5. Merrill in command. On July %, 1883
/ the seventeenth annual session took place \
/ Denver. with Sergt Paul Van Der WORT, o
/ Ohio as commander in chief who was under 1
years of age when he enlisted The eighteenth
/ annual session was held in Minneapolis MINI.
/ July % 1884 Col Robert d. Benth, commander
/ IN chief. The nineteenth meeting was at Port
land, Me, June "a. 1855. The commander il
chief was John s. Kountz, OF Ohio The TWEEN
tieth meeting was held in San Francisco Au
| gust 4 1886 and Capt $. $ Burdett was chosei
commander.
The twenty-frst annual session was held a
St Louis, Mo, September 2S 1887 Gen Loui:
Fairchid OF Wisconsin, presided as the com
mander in chief The twenty-second annua
session was held at Columbus, O., on Septembe
~. 1858, Mai John p Rea. of Minnesota, com
mander in chief. The twenty-third annua
| encampment was held in Milwaukee, Wis.
on August 2s % and 30, 1889, Commando
| in Chief William Warner OF Missouri
| presiding. The twenty fourth annual session
| with Gen. r. A. Algcr as commander in chief
| was held at Boston, Mass, on August l3 aud IA
| 1890 The twenty-fifth annual meeting a
Detroit, Mich, on August ), and Z, 1891, witt
Gen. W. c. Veazey, OF Vermont, commando
in chief The twenty-sixth annual meeting wa
held in Washington, Commander in Chief Johi
Palmer, OF Albany presiding.
Commander in Chief Weissert OF Milwaukee
succeeded him and is in charge OF the lndianap
oils encampment-