Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-09-13
HOSTS ARE ON The WAY
Indications Point 20 the Largest Gather
ing OF Old Soldiers Since
the Civil War.

taking time by the forelock. and for the
last "a hours they have been pouring
into the city on regular and special
trains. The citizens are putting the
finishing touches to the street decora-
tons. and the triumphal arches. and
by dusk tomorrow both the residence
and the business districts will present a
beautiful appearance. At different
times during the week no less than six
national conventions will be in session.
These comprise the national encamp-
ment Of the Grand Army and the ma
tional sessions of the Woman's Relief
Corps. Ladies Of the Grand Army, Ma
tional Association of Naval Veterans,
National Association of Daughters of
Veterans. and National Association of
Union ex-Prisoners Of War. In addi-
ton to these events there will be score
or more Of camp fires, at some Of which
ex-President Harrison. Governor Nc
Kinley, ex-Speaker ]. Warren Keller
and other men Of national reputation
have promised to deliver addresses. The
ubiquitous Private Dalzell" of Ohio
Is early on the scene. and is booming
himself as a candidate for commander
in-chief
LARGEST IN HISTORY.
Visitors poured Into the falls city to-
day, from the south as well as from the
north side Of the river. Veterans who
attended former national encampments
OF the @. A. r. say they never saw such
large attendance on the first day of
the great reunion week. All the rail-
ways had extra trains which were
heavily loaded.
Many Sons Of Veterans are here, en-
route to their national encampment at
Knoxville. There are others here who
are now en- route to the reunion of the
army of the Tennessee at Cincinnati
the first Of next week, and to the dedi-
cation of the National park on the bat
tlefeld Of Chicamauga the last of next
week.
This is the first national encamp-
ment ever held south Of the Mason and
Dixon line. There Is no doubt of the
fulfillment of the general prediction
that there will be more Union veterans
together this week than ever before.
The losses by death yearly increase, but
the desire to visit the battlefields and
confer with confederate veterans who
are doing everything to entertain their
northern visitors. attracted thousands
who have not heretofore attended a ma
tional encampment.
The confederate veterans are here in
force. The Union comrades hunt up
members of their old regiments and
brikades, and then meet confederates
belonging to regiments and brigades
that opposed them, when they confer
about how things went on both sides
and have such reunions as have not
been seen since the service of 30 years
ago. The decorations may have been
richer in triumphal arches and other
designs at one or two other encamp-
ments. but never was a city so profuse-
ly or generally decorated with American
flags as in Louisville today. Its bust
ness blocks and private buildings are
literally covered with festoons of red.
white and blue. with the American flag
as the center piece of every conceivable
design. The flag is the thing that is
displayed everywhere and no city ever
had more bunting than this city shows
today. The distinctive features of the
decorations is the use Of red, white and
blue to the exclusion of every other
color, even the evergreen arches. The
portraits of all Union generals are dis
played in unlimited profusion. The
confederate veterans participated in all
this decorating as well as in the en-
tertaining.
Ample accommodations have been
provided for those of the visiting vet
Grams who. for one cause or another.
will not avail themselves of the facil-
tiles OF the hotels, boarding and lodg-
Ing houses. Hundreds of tents have
been erected in each of the city parks.
while all the city school houses, and
number Of halls and other meeting
places, have been cleared of their fur
niture, and will be used for temporary
sleeping quarters. The largest Camp
Is located on Oak street, and consists
of $50 large hospital tents which have
been loaned by the war department.
These have been arranged in rows, and
the space intervening in each row has
been variously designated as Lincoln.
Grant and Sherman streets. Strict mill
itary discipline will be enforced and
guard duty will be done by United
states regulars. Twenty-Five hundred
men had been assigned to this camp up
to noon. and accommodations remain
ed for that number additional. The
posts quartered here come from a dozen
points In Michigan, AS well as from
Chicago. Philadelphia, points in Wis
consin, and 20 cities In Ohio and Indi-
ana. Commander-in-Chief Lawler and
staff, under escort Of Columbia post of
Chicago, arrive here tomorrow. On the
headquarters train are also Mrs. NJ. r.
M. Wallace. national president of the
Woman's Relief Corps. and the MEM
bers Of her staff. Both delegations will
be received by the reception committee
and escorted to their headquarters at
the Gait house by long procession of
local posts.
The sentiment of the delegates to the
encampment already on the ground
seems to favor the selection Of Colonel
I. N. Walker Of Indianapolis as the
next commander-in-chief. Colonel
Walker was senior vice commander
from 1898 to 1894. and would have been
promoted to the highest office in the
gift Of the order at Pittsburg last year
but for the unexpected fight that was
made by the friends of Colonel Lawler
of Illinois, and who carried everything
on the ground. 1t Is understood, how
ever, that the delegation Is not prepared
to give any definite assurance as to
how much the people of st. Paul are
prepared to raise to provide for the nee
essary purposes of the encampment.
There is considerable doubt. moreover,
concerning the ability Of that city to
provide for any great number of visit
ors. In fact 1t is conceded that from
one-haf to two-thirds of the total num-
Der that are encamped In the north
west might be expected to attract
would be compelled to look to Minneap-