The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-07-06
TIE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments.
ELEVENTH NATIONAL CONVENTION.

plSdSaub TeHecUi0nS ana anIiClpaLlOuS.
1t was at indianapolis, in 1879, that the
Grand Army of the Republic passed the
enabling act authorizing Woman's Relief
Corps, and giving it the official right TO organ
ize as an auxiliary to the Grand Army.
1t was to an indianapolis comrade, Judge
Advocate General Carnahan, that the Relief
Corps turned, upon it organization in Denver,
in 1883, for the governing rules of the Order,
as expressed in Decisions and Opinions,
GAR" in everything wherein their own
rules were Inadequate for National associa-
ton of such wide scope and character. as-z
There is strong and useful Department of
the Woman's Relief Corps in Indiana, with the
head-center in indianapolis, and extensive
preparations are going forward to make the
Grand Army and Relief Corps conclave of 1893
one of the most enjoyable as we'll as enthusias-
tic in the history of these Orders. Following
are the committees of the Woman's Branch of
the Citizens Executive Board charged with
arranging accommodations for the Woman's Re-
lief Corps and such other bodies of women
identified with soldier charities as may visit
Indianapolis in September:
Executive Committee - Mesdames Flora
Wulschner, Chairman; Hannah c. Haughey,
Vice Chairman; Ella d. Zinn, Secretary Thos.
L. Sullivan, Frederick Baggs, Edward f.
Hodges, Joseph S. Jenckes, Nettie Ransford,
Anna l.. Walker, Charles A. Walker, Juliet L.
Wood.
Reception Committee-Mesdames Thomas L.
Sullivan, Chairman; George r. Sullivan, Secre-
tary.
Accommodation Committee-Mrs. Nottie
Ransford, Chairman Miss Lillian Reeves,
Secretary.
Committee on Courteses Badge and Invita-
tion)-Mesdames Joseph S. Jenckes Chairman;
Josephine McGinnis Secretary.
Decoration Committee-Mesdarnes Edward
+. Hodges, Chairman; John G. Dean, Secre-
tary.
Entertainment Committee-Mesdames Fred
erck Baggs, Chairman; William N. Carlin,
Secretary.
Information and Public Comfort Committee
-Mesdames Juliet r. Wood, Chairman; Ro-
maine Armstrong. Secretary.
Music COmmittee-Mesdames Anna L. Walk
er, Chairman; Alexander MEG. Stewart Secre-
tary.
Press Committee-Mrs Charles NJ. Walker,
Chairman; Miss Grace Alexander, Secretary.
HISTORIC INDIANAPoLIs
When the old National Road was built from
Washington City west early in the century,
its course was made to pass through Indanapo-
lis Capital of Indiana. This was the old stage
and mail-route between the Atlantic seaboard
and the Mississippi.
The one-remaining link between the old
town of Indianapolis and the present beautiful
city to recall the days Of the "pony express"
is the wooden bridge at the west end of Wash
ingtOn street, crossing White River, built in
1882, 81 years ago. Just south Of the bridge,
on the western bank of White River. is the
level stretch of ground where DR.. Richard J.
Calling tried his famous Gatling gun in the
experimental stages.
The old macadamized National Road Is now
a fine asphalt boulevard. stretching for more
than mile through the heart of the city, and
near the center are the State Capitol and Court
house, surrounded by handsome grounds.
There the paviions of the 9th National En-
campment GAR, will be erected, the review
ing-stand in the Capitol Grounds.
Between the Capitol Building and the Court
house. in the circle now known as Monument
Place, stands the recently unvailed Indiana
State Soldiers and Sailors Monument, 2S0 feet
in hight. Here it was the 18th Ind. stood
April. 1861, and with uncovered head and
lifted hands swore ito stand by the flag and
remember Buena VISTA"
At the base of the Soldiers Monument stands
a statue of Oliver P. Morton, the heroic war
Governor of Indiana, and long conspicuous
figure in the United States Congress
Indianapolis was laid out by the same engi-
neers who planned Washington City. There
are the same broad streets, running east and
west and north and south, with diyerging ave-
nues These are lined with fine buildings,
public and private, among which the City Hall,
with seating capacity of 5000, and the Com
mercial Club Building, are among the finest in
the country.
indianapolis women are noted for their &C
tivity and zeal in all movements for the COM
mon veal. This city is the home of May
Wright Sewell. at the head of an institute for
young women, and leader of the great Con-
crosses of Women which have proved so fine a
feature Of the Worlds Fair. She Is an author
of distinction as well as educator, and sue
ceeded Frances Z. Willard as President of the
National Woman's Council in which the W.RC.
should have part.
NATIONAL CEMETERY.
At Crown Hill National Cemetery, covering
400 acres of ground three and half miles from
the city, is beautiful spot where the Union
soldiers who died in the camps and hospitals
of Indianapolis lie buried, as we'll as the bodies
of many whose remains were brought home for
burial.
War cannon, pieces of shell, and other re-
minders of the great war for National unity
are found there.
PRISONS AND CAMPS.
The first six Indiana regiments enlisted uni
der the three-months call went into camp In
Military Park, and later were reviewed bv
Gen. Mcclellan.
Camp Morton, covering 30 acres was founded
later in the war. Feb. 90, 1862, it received
the 300 prisoners captured at Fort Done-
son and Fort Henry, and became one of the
great prison camps of the North. From 1864
to 1865 the number of prisoners confined there
was from 1900 to 5000
Camp Burnside, Camp Darlington, and Camp
Noble were, among other famous camps of the
old war days, in the vicinity of Indianapolis.
THE SOLDIERS HOMES.
As early as 1862 the National Government
erected building in indianapolis capable of
holding 1900 men. indianapolis was a great
soldier rendezvous, as it was a railroad center.
and her discharged soldiers, or soldiers on sick
leave, or otherwise unable to care for them
selves, were provided for, as they were passing
g.