The National tribune., 1893-05-11

In the year following it was again opened as
/ a prison and until the close of the war was in
charge of the Federal Government, the num-
! Der of prisoners in confinement varying from
! 5000 TO 5000. This was the prison camp in
| which Dr. John A. Wyeth was confined from
! 1863 to 1865, and against the management
of which he has made grave charges. The
I site OF Camp Norton then far beyond the city
limits, is now covered by houses.
Camp Burnside was south of Camp Morton,
on Tinker (now SEVENTH street. 1t was occu-
/ pied first by the list regiment, and later by
! the Veteran Reserve Corps. Camp Darlington,
the largest and best arranged camp in the State,
/ lay mile to the northwest. Camp Noble was
! the artillery camp and was located TO the lest
| of Camp Burnside, on the northern limits Of the
| city. 1t was occupied by the 231 battery.
The artillery practice ground was five miles
! southwest of the camp. The camp of the 2d
| Cav. was two miles north of the city on the
bank Of Fall Creek. The 18th regiment while
recognizing for the three-years' service had a
camp on the west bank of White River, north
west of the city Col. Charles RusselPs colorcd
regiment occupied Camp Fremont, several miles
to the southeast
SOLDIERS HOME.
Early in 1862. for the purpose Of establishing
a Soldiers Home, the Federal Government
erected on West street near Georgia building
capable of lodging 800 men and having dining
accommodations for 5000. The building was
fitted up by the State, and the rations were
furnished by the Government. 1t was after
ward so improved that it was one of the most
complete institutions Of tho kind in the coun-
try, and regiments, as well as individu als were
furnished with warm meals and lodging at
almost moments notice. Here the thousands
of soldiers who were continually arriving and
departing, some route to JOIN their regi-
ments in the field, others returning discharged
or sck-leave or furlough were provided for
In December, 1863. a Soldiers Families Home
was opened in building near the Union Depot
| There the wives and children of soldiers in the
hospital here or elsewhere were taken care of
during their stay. From its establishment
until the close Of the this institution cared
| for an average of 100 women and children
daily. The City Hospital was converted into
| a military hospital in 1861. 1t was so used
! until July, 1865. when it was made u Soldiers
Home.
INDIANAPOLIS TODAY.
indianapolis to-day has six timessthe popula-
ton it had when the war broke out. IL was
| then railroad center. but the great increase in
| the number of its railroads since, comprising
now is lines entitle it more truly to the term
to-day. With the growth of population has
come a corresponding increase of wealth and
prosperity. which, in turn, has brought about
demand for metropolitan conveniences aud
amusements.
Those who knew Indianapolis in war time
would never know it now. 1t has become a
| city since that happy day at Appomattax. Two
| companies furnish the city with natural gas.
brought by pipelines from the gas. fields, %
miles away. The city's supply of water is
shown by chemical anal sis to be the purest in
| the country. Broad streets, pleasant resi-
dences, and fine public buildings make Indian.
apolis delightful home Probably in no other
city of its size in the country do so large pro-
portion of the inhabitants own their residences.
The climate is healthful, drainage good, and
the death-rate low
Indianapolis is 80 miles from the center of
population of the United States, RS shown by
the census of 1890. 1t is about the center of
membership of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Three-fourths of the surviving Union soldiers
are within radius of 500 miles of it. Chicago
is 183 miles away and connected by seven lines
OF railway. IN order to accommodate the vet
Grams. Worlds Fair railway tickets, giving stop
over privileges at indianapolis during the
GAR. Encampment, will be ON sale at all
points.
THE GAR. ENGAGEMENT OF 1893.
On Nov. 90, 1866, a convention OF soldiers of
the late war was held at Indianapolis. There
and thsn was born the Grand Army of the Re-
public. Now, q years later, strengthened by
growth as powerful and far-reaching as the
most sangune of its founders could have hoped
for, the Grand Army is again to gather its
hosts in the city Of its birth.