Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-09-08
The Grand Army Encampment

The twenty-seventh annual encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republic, which
has been held at indianapolis this week,
possesses a )ecial interest from the fact
that 1t was at indianapolis 27 years ago
that the order was organized, and from that
time up to the present it has continued to
increase in membership. Its present total
membership is 407, 7S1. This is conceded
to be the high water mark. A gain in
numbers of about 1900 was reported last
year, but this was found to be an error.
There are still many thousands of veter-
ans who have never joined the order, but
in years to come the losses are likely to ex-
ceed the gains.
Tuesday was the great day of the en-
campment, and it was estimated that the
grand parade brought not less than 200,-
900 people into the city. The parade be
gan at 10 o'clock in the morning and, in
cluding an hours delay at noon, 1t was af-
ter 4 o'clock when the last post passed the
reviewing stand. The number of veterans
who marched was estimated at more than
10000 and there were many more who did
not enter the ranks. Ex-President Harri-
son occupied position in the reviewing
stand with Commander-in-C Chief Weissert
and was warmly greeted by the veterans.
| One of the correspondents, in describing the
old time spirit and enthusiasm shown by
the ''boys" during their long march, says:
Lem Wiley, who served as bugler in
the Seventy-seventh Illinois regiment,
softly blew "Marching through Georgia"
upon his bugle. Captain Jack Crawford,
| the poet scout, who, clad in buckskin from
head TO foot, was the most picturesque fig
ure present, sprang to his feet, and sang
| in loud, clear tone, the first stanza. Like
magic the refrain was caught up, and ex-
| President Harrison, the man who has been
accused again and again of coldness, for
getting the reserve which usually charac-
terizes him, sang with the abandon and
spirit of the moment. Over and over
again sung that dear old air, these men,
forgetful of rank and person, forgetful of
the crowds which listened, forgetful of ev-
erything but that a song dear TO the sol
dier hearts was beating the air and carry
ing them back into the past. AS the last
re6chO of the air died away the dense mass
broke into applause, ending in prolonged
calls of Harrison, Harrison" and again
the ex-president was compelled to step to
the front and return greetings"
A reception was given by the people of
Indianapolis to their visitors Monday night,
when the Grand Army and Relief corps
delegates packed the largest hall in the
city. A chorus of 800 voices sang patri.
otic hymns, and ex-President Harrison de
livered the address of welcome.
Wednesday afternoon John G. B. Ad-
ans of Massachusetts, was chosen com,
mander-in-chief, Colin Walker of Indiana
senior vice commander, and j. c. c. Big
ger of Texas junior vice commander, prac
tically without opposition. The new com
mander-in-chief is one of the most popu
lar veterans in New England, having been
for years an active and influential member
of the department in Massachusetts,. He
enlisted in 1861, before he was 20, serving
through the war and rising to the rank OF
captain. He has been postmaster at Lynn
and deputy superintendent of the Concord
reformatory, and is now sergeant-at-
arms of the house of representative o.
Massachusetts.