The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-05
ARE GOING INTO CAMP
All the Barracks Are Now Well
Filled with Men.
Camp Wilder Formally Opened with
Speeches and Other Exercises
Yesterday.
GEN. HARRISON'S FIRST TALK
Men Pouring Into Camp Lew
Wallace and Camp McGinnis.
List of Most Of the Posts That Took
Quarters Yesterday-Many
Incidents.
GEN. HARRISON'S FIRST TALK

@-gILgo ~ 'lsiting veterans. AT
49, o'clock. after q few ap-
~ propriate words by w.
A. Ketebau. y ho is the cam q commandant.
the American flag was run up at the mast
and the ceremonies were begun. Camp
Wilder is located in Military Park. n spot
that has a history. Ii was there that the
men who were recruited for the war of the
rebellion IN this State were qusrtered. and
there that they were drilled. Nearly all of
the many troops that went to the front from
this State at one time pitched their tents
there. and che name given it. The Camp
of Reunions" is we'll chosen. There will
be many veterans who will be upon 1t this
week who were there thirty years ago. but
the scenes will be vastly different. Martial
now, but not so martial "a then. and now
stories of the war will be told. while then
but anticipat:ons could be expressed. A
speakers stand had been erected near the
east side OF the ground. and there gathered
around II. long before IL was time for the
ceremonies TO begin. @ large crowd. Ii had
been advertised that one of the speakers
would be General Harrison. and that
brought many there.
A few minutes past 4 o'clock the stand was
occupied by the speakers. First came Gem
ersl harrison. who was greeted with 9 con-
tlnued cheering. He had been In the head
quarters tent for a few minutes before, but
only q few had found him. General Wilder
was next. It wac for him that the camp
was named, and for his brave men,
who. with him. won everlasting
renOwn at Chicamauga. AS his
old boys" as he calls them. re-
cognized him they threw their hats in
tha air and JAVA IhraR Cn0d haarfv ehaara
The others VINO occupied the stand were
Col. Eli Lilly and Mrs. Lilly, Gen. Horace
Clark. department commander OF illinois,;
Ct. A., q. Miller, of Lebanon. Ind: Mrs.
Beach and Mrs. Brown. OF WorthIngton,
Ind. A band of the Secoqd Wisconsin
Regiment furnished the music for the Occa-
w. A. Ketcham was first to speak. After
bidding the veterans hearty welcome 10
the city. he reminded them that they were
standing on historic ground. and gave a
brief history of Camp Sullivan during the
time of enlistment.
de said that the people OF this country
were o people of peace, but that when &c
came time for them to fight TO save the
honor of their country they did so with as
good q will ana with as good effect as they
pursued the svocations of citizens.
He said that Indianapolis had given all
OF her energy and oil OF her heart TO make
their stay In the city a pleasant one. lie
continued. and said:
And now that this camp may be under
thc protecting folds of the American flag.
Hing the banner to the breeze lat this point
huge tag was IN urled from the top of a
tall staff. and the assembled veterans, men
who had never seen n battle. women. and
even little children joined In one reyerber-
Ating cheer that died and rose again until
the speaker was compelled to motion for
silence that he might cOntinue). let the sun
fold IL In It's warm embraces. let the soft
winds OF heaven woo and kiss 10. and let us
teach our children and children's children
TO love and revere &c even as We have
learned at other times and under other
circumstances what o wealth of love We
have for it,
Mr.. Ketcham then introduced General
Wilder. saying that for every occasion there
was a man TO meet 10, and that General
Wilder had met his most Dobly. The
speaker was greeted with the most gener-
Gus applause. His remarks were few. He
said that he did not think for a single in
slant that the camp had been named for
him alone: but that IL was because the men
nous were there. He then gave n
tie said that never in its history had there
been a time when it had not done it's dnty,
and all its duty; that there never had been
atime when II went into q light that 1t had
been compelled to retreat. and that there
never bad been a time that it's men had not
borne all hsrdshIps cheerfully, ard with
no complaint. He said that he would not
make q long speech. but that it was not
because his heart was not in 1t. In closing
Bo otU Nv way 10 hnCLueT speaker.
snd ALL have to say 10 you. my boys, is
God bless yon."
Mr.. Ketcham then introduced General
Harrison. He told how. that when the call
came from Abraham Lincoln for a second
levy of troops. n young lawyer in INDIAN
spolls had heard of IL. and, leaving his
home and his business, went TO the front
In command of the Srventieth Indiana. Il
no nos need to tell you who he is. You all
know him" General Harrison rose. and
advanced 10 the front of the stand. There
wes q furore of applause. Men climbed
over one another TO get a sight of him, and
pushed and jostled on the outer edges of
the crowd that they also InIGht get q
chance to see.
Ny Friends: Ihave felt, during the last two
months. as / rested by the seashore. that was
IN some degree a shirk. The Indianapolis pa-
pers that came To me from day TO day told me
OF the predictions work that was being done by
some OF my fellow citizens in organizing for the
reception at indianapolis OF the Grand Army OF
the Republic. was not here TO share those
who have borne the hrnnt of This
great work. Having escaped the hard work.
when these frequent invitations 20 address my
comrades came 10 me I felt that l could not re-
Fuse 10 respond. Indeed, my sympathy with my
comrades, my fellowship with ana friendship for
then ali, Is such that | can never refuse 20 ex-
press my deep. hearty interest in all that con
Germs them. Mr.. Keteham has said this is n
historic place remember when IL was a fair
ground; when the stalls along this east.
ern side were filled with prize bulloeks:
when yODder stood the horticultural
hall. In which the florists of the state displayed
the triumphs OF their art; when yOnder, stood the
Noman's building in which the deft and tasteful
work OF her fingers was displayed in kindly COM
petition; while yOnder the products OF the farm
and OF the garden were heapei up 10 our admir-
ing gaze. That WAS the time of peace. Our vo-
cations had then To do only with peaceful things.
and our competitions were the friendly competl-
tons OF skill.
The vision changes; the bullock has given up
DIS stall To the man; the products OF the soil have
given place To the best product OF the American
eoN-lts vigorous, brave. patriotic manhood
lapplanse.l The flowers have given place tn gun
ana bayonet. the contests OF speed about this
track 10 that bloody contest Ia which the stake
was a nations life. II remember how the
crowd OF eager men poured into the city of
Indianapolis tn fl Camp sullivan in
response 10 Lincoln's call. saw them
pouring out from the trains as YOU
have done to-day. only with a quicker step. 1
saw them cO.de into these fields and put them
selves under camp restraints aud discipline. take
guns into their hands. and on these dusty fields
anu In the Fcorcbing sun or suu mer learn 20 be
soldiers. that they might serve their country
efficiently. How little we unde-stOod the char
acter OF the struggle that was before us. 1 re-
member when Capt. Chris Miller. of
Lafayette, came, with q crowd OF
eager. sxulting. impatient boys in
nj. company among tba first 10
march though our streets after Lincoln's first
sAu Tor 10000 men-how they went into camp.