The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-23
A BlvOUAC or PEACE.
GRAND ARMY MEN AT THE
CAMP FIRE.
Last Nights Reunion Of the Federal
Veterans and Their Wives and
Friends

No. as G.. A. R. last evening fought
their battles over again with the spirit
and vim OF yourg volunteers. 1t is
nearly three decades since the war
closed but the recollection of the bat
ties and dangers they had passed by
field and food was almost as fresh as
it was on the day of the grand review.
Once more the old men lived on the
picket line, at the bivouac and on the
stormswept slopes Of Gettysburg and
Malvern Hill; and they told the story
of the times that tried mems souls with
a simple eloquence that went to the
heart
The camp fire was held at the
charming home Of Comrade J. N.
Wright at Little Britain. When the
STAR reporter arrived there a blazing
heap of logs threw the glamor of the
tented field over the scene. On the
wide versndahs Of the dwelling large
number of comrades and their friends
Of the laity sat enjoying the evening,
the men smoking their hosts cigars
and the ladies making themselves and
everybody else comfortably at home.
Now and then a def touch on the keys
Of the piano woke responsive hand
clippings.
Some time after o'clock the guests
gathered in the dining room, and good
cheer in the shape of better coffee than
the old army ever saw; beans that
would have tempted the men of 81 to
prolong the war another year if they
could have been fed upon them !;
pumpkin pie that had the unmistakable
flavor of New England; cold ham,
with just the right proportion of fat and
lean, and lots more of solds-all these
were passed about with liberal hand
that disdained the presage of nightmare
when the sufficlency of the evening
would be trampled down by the iron
hoofs OF indigestion.
After the feast came the pow-wow.
r. J. Greene, quartermaster of the
Post, was the master of ceremonies, and
he performed his duties in crisp,
soldierly way which fitted the occasion
to T. His first call was for song,
"The Battle Cry of Freedom" which
was sung with Miss Rhodes at the
piano. Comrade Van Houten of Iowa,
who is spending a few months here
then responded to the toast "Our
Order" with a succinct and interesting
story about the origin, purpose and
achievements of the G. A. R. "Our
Infantry" was described in humorous
way by Ccmrade N. B. Emerson, who
left little show for the horsemen and
the cannoneers-the men of the yellow
and red stripes. Post Commander
Wright took up the gauntlet for the
cavalry, however, and in answer to the
war-worn jest of an infantry Officer
that no one had ever seen dead
cavalryman, explained that the cavalry
marched so far ahead of the foot
soldiers that it had time to bury it:
dead before the infantry came up.
At this point Miss Rhodes again
took her seat at the piano and SANG
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
in voice full of feeling and pathos.
The artillery branch of the service
was discussed by Comrade Rhodes
who drew graphic picture of a fight il
the West when Ben McCulloch's Texas
infantry was shattered by the grape anc
canister of the Federal cannon.
Mr.. Murphy, guest of the ole
soldiers, read new poem under the
old title of "Annie Laurie" and wa.
followed by Adjutant j. V. Simonsor
who won much applause for pictur
esque story of his own experience ir
taking prisoner and being made one
himself while helping guard the sleep
ing army in front Of strong rebe
position.
Mr.. Luther, who represented thu
"Sons of Veterans" gave brief anc
cogent account Of the order to which
he belonged. Miss Rhodes then cam,
on with a recitation which everybod,
appreciated for its sentiment and tn,
manner of delivery. She was succeeded
on the floor by Mrs. Paltison Of thu
Women's Relief Corps, who gave som,
account Ct that auxiliary bldy. Mrs
Pattison reused prolonged chez
when she closed with the prediction
that the flag which the boys in blu
had fought for on those distant South
ern fields would yet wave over them, a
1t had before, on these Hawaiian Isl
ands.
The press was represented by DAME
Logan of the Bulletin, Frank Godfre,
of the Paradise Of the Pacific ant
Walter G. Smith of the STAR. All O
them spoke. Mr.. Godfrey, after SOM
reflections upon the power and infuenc
of the press paid an eloquent tribute Il
the navy, that branch of the servc
having been neglected by the othe
speakers owing to the unavoldabl
absence Of Comrade Duncan. MI
Logan also made happy address il
which he told of his boyhood sympathy
as Canadian, with the northern caus
and recounted the services of tn
Canadian contingent in the Federa
ranks.
The literary programme came to
close with an amusing and spirited re
citation by Comrade Van Houten an