The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-11
TIE GRAND ARMY.
What is Being Done by the Veterans
for the Good of the Order.
LOUISVILLE IN 'o5.
Earnest Efforts Being Made by Blue-Grass
Comrades.

Earnest Efforts Being made Dy Diue-Oraes
Comrades.
At meeting of special committee, com
posed of representative members of all the
GAR. Posts in Louisville, Ky, the accompany
ing letter was drawn up and has been sent to
members of the G. a. r. throughout the country
TO emphasize an invitation aud appeal for sup
pore, previously sent out by joint committee,
composed of tho Railway, Mail and Telegraph
Committee of the Commercial Club and COM
mittee of three from each of the GAR Posts
in Louisville. to all members who are at pres
eBt known 10 have a vote at Pittsburg in ga
DEAR CoMRa AIDES: In the gloomy days OF the
civil war the citizens of no section OF our couu-
try suffered 50 much as did those of the Border
States. Kentucky, which gave TO the Nation
Abraham Lincoln. remained neutral-an ocean
between the North and the South-untIl those
OF us who believed the Union was one and in
diyjsible had girded on our armor for the fray.
II was then that KentuCkians rallied around
Old Glory, and il was not until the soil OF the
grand old Commonwealth had been drenched
with the blood of her sons at Richmond Perry
vile. Wild Cat, Cynthiana, MnnfOrdville and
other places that the COnfederates ceased to
menace Indiana Ohio and Illinois, aud were
driven back into tennessee.
Seyenty-fve thousand Kentuckians served
in the field tor three years. They were with
Grant from Fort Henry 10 Vicksburg; with
Sherman from Louisville 10 the sea; with
Rnsecrsns AT Chickamquga; with Mcclellan at
Antietam. the blooliesl battle of tie war; with
Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley; with
Butler "a New Orleans and Candy at Mobile.
From the beginning 10 the end of the war
there were but few battles in which Ken
tuckians did not participate with honor.
Thousands Of them served under F"ote aud
Porter in destroying the blockade of the Mis-
sissippi River while those who were unfit 10y
reason Of physical condition TO enter the active
service remained at home. armed aud equipped
and at all times ready to defend their bresideS
We are reminded daily of those trying times
by the gTass-coyered notifications which yet
remain about this city and at many other
plares ia the Stale; by the thousands OF graves
of our comrades who sleep on Fame's eternal
camping ground" in our National Cemetery;
by the mention of the name of Lincoln. the
greatest of all Kentuck ians. born within so
miles of Louisville. and by the story of Fort
Sumter. commanded by Maj. Anderson, Ken
tnck ian, who summoned a Nation to arms by
his gallant defense of its flag.
For the first time in its history the Grand
Army of the Republic is invited TO hold its
National Encampment south OF the Ohio, in a
State TO which all States are indebted for the
preservation of the Union; for standing,
stone wall on the border. north of which the
enemy never passed; il this city, the home of
the Louisville Legion, the nucleus around
which Michigan. Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Wiscon'
sin, and Illinois patriots rallied, until the pha-
lanx grew into the invincible Army of the
Cumberland.
We Join with the citizens in their invitation
to you to make Louisville the place of meeting
in 1875; the old COufederates are as eDthu-
siaslic in bidding you welcome as are your
comrades who wore the blue; LOuisvillians
have put the latch-string on the outside door
of Kentucky hospitality; all, irrespective of
political creed, ask you TO come in
As comrades, we say TO you, the beroism and
suffering of the men of the South, whose 10y
atty aud love for united country divided
families have never been fully appreciated by
the North. never properly recognized by all of
those who fought under our flag
We ask you as comrades TO Join as in this
effort of our lellow-cil zens TO secure Tor Louis
vile the National Encampment of 1895.
Yours, in F. {. & L..
J. w. PFLL,
Past Commander W. T. Ward Post, s..
]. w. HAMMOND
Past Commander Whitaker Post rs.
c. w. ERDMAN,
Past Commander Aug. Which Post, l32.
JoHN FOWLER,
Past Commander w. T. Ward Post 50.
p w. HAGER,
Past Commander Post IS.
ALBERT ScoTT,
Past Commander w. T. Sherman Post, ls5.
ROBERT z. PAYNE.
AdjutaDt w. p. Boone Post. 17o.
GEORGE A. JONES,
Chairman,
Senior Vice Commander G. II. Thomas Post, g.