The National tribune., 1893-09-14

WYNN VI years roll by and the
veterans join their
brethren across the wide river. Probably
nowhere will the dis interested bystander
| see and hear just the peculiar kind of things
at any other gathering that he does at the
| veterans grand Reunions. And yet where will
| he find more and better opportunities for the
! study of human nature in general, and that OF
| the American man and woman in Particular
For the ranks of the men who preserved this
| Nation, and without whom it would not to-day
have been able TO assume its peculiar and world
| superior greatness, were composed of men from
| every walk of life simple study of the
masses of people who throng the streets of any
| Encampment city will teach much that is worth
knowing. worth rejecting upon, worth being
| thankful for.
The love of the veterans for their cOlors is
| often remarked. An elderly Grand Army man,
| who served in the cavalry was heard talking
/ on this theme. Said he: This love for colors
| seems hard to explain to young people. have
noticed in battle that the flags rarely touched
| the ground when the standard bearer fell. They
| were up in an instant in the hands of others. /
remember seeing an Indiana color bearer die.
! He was a great, TALL heavy fellow, and had re-
| ceived an ugly wound in the stomach. When
| | saw him he had been laid under tree to
| die. He wasn't grooming, bat his fading eyes
! eagerly watched the charge of his old regiment.
| He lifted himself with the strength of dying
| man, and saying She is still up fell back
| dead.
| The United States Band, from the Soldiers
Home at Marion, by the permission of Gov.
Chapman, serenaded the Commander-in-C Chief
and the Connecticut delegation from the bal
couy of the Denison Hotel, Wednesday MORN
ing, and rendered a choice program under the
4 IF of IL
most efficient Bandmssters of the Regular
Army.
George II. Chapman Post, 209 indianapolis,
at regular assembly, adopted resolution,
sanctioned by 400 members, gratefully and
unanimously commencing and indorsing the
action of the Soldiers Monument Commission
in removing the Mexican war dates from said
monument
The Association Of American Volun-
teer Veterans in indianapolis is locally dubbed
the (which Tea-Kettles" from the fact that
Which, the Colonel of the 32d Ind, which
went from that city, would call every soldier
who made mistake during drill "tea-kettle"
This is BOW the password, and the notices
hang on the walls of the hall, reading: Even
if we were called 'tea-kettles' we did not run
before the enemy; and (which never got
mad even if he did call US 'tea-kettles,' he
meant it only as joke"
The O'Rourke Post Drill Corps, of Roches-
N. L
ments and elsewhere. 1t is composed of the
rank and file of O'Rourke Post. 1. The drill
CORPS was organized several years ago and is
fnlly equipped with breech-oading rifles and
accouterments. They distinguished themselves
at the funeral of Gen. Grant, also at the En-
campments at Boston, Detroit, and Washington,
and this year they accompanied New York's De-
partment Commander Col Joseph P. Cleary,
as an escort of honor to indianapolis.
A live eagle carried by an Indiana Post was
enthusiastically greeted along the line. The
remark of a spectator - Thank God, it amt
rooster" was likewise cheered.
Two old soldiers were walking around the
monument and one was heard TO say to the
other: "When you come on this place You
want to pick ont landmark, or you'll be goin'
round and round and never find home"
The souvenirs of the luncheon, compliment
airy from the Ladies' Citizens Committee to the
Ladies of the GAR and the N.R.C., are
embelished with picture of Indiana" and
the name and date in blue and gold on the first
leaf Those for the W.R.C have cut of Rob-
erts Park Church on the last leaf, and for the
Ladies of the GAR. have a cut of Y. M. c.
A. Hall, and the meeting places for the con-
yentions
In the parade was Detroit Post E. B. We'll
ton, Commander. This Post is restricted in
memb ership to $50, but such is the popularity
of the Post that applications for admission of
two years standing are on file. The Post came
in Gen. Ayers private car. There are ~
members here, and all marched ia the ranks.
Among them we're Mayor Pingree of Detroit,
three members of the Supreme Court, six mill
lionaires, and six Major Generals. The Post
was accompanied by the 18th u. S. Band.
The model of the old Monitor was one of the
sights of the Encampment. She WAS in the
parade and was curiously viewed aud heartily
applauded. The model was 45 feet long, with
11-foot beam.
The only adverse criticism on tho parade was
as to the location Of the reviewing stand. One
official stated that as the mass of people were
west of the stand the march should have moved
eastward. After the stand was passed hundreds
of the men broke ranks. Had the line marched !
in the opposite direction all would have been
seen in their best arrangement by the people
before reaching the stand Tor inspection.
COL Weissert was heard to say: g am charm
ingly impressed with the completeness Of the
arrangements made for the entertainment OF
the Grand Army. The welcome OF lRdianap-
oplis is abundant and pervasiye. If the Grand
Army has not had good time it canHot be the
fanlt of indianapolis"
Those of the visiting Veterans who CHANGED
to be attracted to the festivities at TOmlinsOn
Hall Mondry night found themselves on the
outside unless supplied with q ticket. The old
fellows could not understand why they must
be supplied with the credentials to gain admis-
sion to an event prepared especially for the
Grand Army men, and showed no little annoy
ance and were obdurate in their demands.
Finally, Police Captain Qnigly said: Men,
if you have ever been soldiers you know what
it is to obey the orders of your commanders.
We have our instructions from superior OH
GER. We cannot disobey them even IN the face
of battle You are soldiers aud true ones.
Help us do our duty" This flight of elo-
ouence on the part of the young officer was
happily appropriate, and the grizzled applicants
retired from the hall, voting the speaker true
blue.
Comrade Hopkins, 9th n. Y. Cav. in group
of aconaintances, was talking over war times.