Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11
Another Red Letter Day, for the
G.. A. r.
WARM GREETING OF THE OLD GUARD
Parade Under a Burning Sun at
Louisville.
FE AT RES OF THE DAY

LOUISVILLE, KY, September 1l-There
have been two occasions in the history Of
the Grand Army Of the Republic which
will hereafter be designated as red letter
days. One of them, the time when the
veterans marched down Pennsylvania ave-
nue. twenty-eight years after the grand
review upon that same thoroughfare at
the close of the war. The other. the day
when they strung their line of parade for
miles through Louisville. in peaceful re-
invasion Of the land that once they con-
Quered.
This second red letter day occasion was
scored today. 1t was marked upon the
Grand Army annals under circumstances
most interesting and unequal Heretofore
the thousands of onlookers who have
fanked the line of the annual march of the
Grand Army have been those who were
every whit in sympathy with the occasion.
The eyes that gazed upon the grizzled, Grip
Piled, limping old soldiers. frightened with
affection or dimmed with tears of senti-
ment. The hearts of the observers went
out to those surviving champions of the
Union. TO the onlookers in those northern
cities there were memories Of closer con-
There were empty places in heart and
home for them. which made the bond the
closer.
Today the conditions were different. The
marching hosts were aliens to heartfelt
sympathy to the veterans. 1t was Gu
riosity. not affection, which bent their
eyes on the ranks. The sentiment was
that with which the host regards the guest
who is welcomed, but not beloved.
With all this. however. the multitude
was often moved to enthusiasm. AS the
battalions advanced it was plain to see
that the crowd was catching more of the
spirit Of the affair. When some little
group of MANNED and battered warriors
trudged by the watchers would break into
a cheer. 1t was the Anslo-Saxon admira-
tion for the fighter that cropped out. They
forgot that the object Of their demonstra-
ton had once been an enemy. Today
he was remembered only as soldier and
brave man.
Greeting the Old Guard.
When the Old Guard Of Washington
swept down the street and the crowd be-
held the color guard of six men, each of
field, they had to "holler." You could
trace the progress of the '.Oid Guard" BY
the louder note of admiration swelling the
cheers in their immediate neighborhood.
If it was an unusually inspiriting yell you
could wager it came from a group Of ex-
confederates, who had known what It was
to meet a gallant foe and generous enough
to pay tribute to him now.
1t was interesting to watch the colored
people in the crowd. They have been in q
Army struck town. Today they were fair
ly carried away. Not one of them but knew
the full import Of the demonstration. They
took 1t all to themselves. To them there
was no question of preservation Of the
Union in the great event which produced
this body of men. In their minds 1t was
for their benefit alone that the war was
waged, and the sc men were their heroes.
Theirs was hero worship of the most ideal
ic kind, simple, unauestioning from the
bottom of the heart. Veterans of their
own race they greeted warmly, but there
was ecstasy in the welcome to the ranks
them.
The veterans found a specie of novelty in
the thought of parading in Dixie They
could we'll be pardcned for entertaining q
was the ground they fought for and re-
claimed. 1t might be said they felt a kind
of proprietorship in It.
Under n Burning Sun.
The start for the parade was made be-
meath a cloudless sky and burning sun.
1t was Dixie weather with a vengeance. It
made many of the veterans think of old
times. when they tramped weary miles
urder similar conditions.
We've marched in the south before:
guess we can do it again." remarked a one
legged old fellow from Kansas. as he
stumped into line with his wooden leg.
The day promised to be severe upon the
porthernerS, however
The Washington delegation turned out
tetimes. The "Old Guard" and the drum
corps were first on hand, and made a pre-
nminary formation on the street opposite
department headquarters, and were soon
followed by other posts. From there they
marched to their place in the main line Of
march, taking position between Vermont
and North Carolina.
The drum corps made a great hit The
boys were in good form. and the eighty-six
YOUNGSTERS, uneer Capt Churchill walked
the streets with bugle and drum. They
made nice show IN their new uniforms.
and outnumbered and outplayed any other
drum corps on the scene.
Sumner Post, consisting Of the colored
troops, made a good showing and stacked
up favorably with other delegations. Many
of the officers of the department were
mounted. and the soldierly bearing and
good drilling of the WashingtonIans made
q favorable impression all along the line.
Commander Anderson appointed Adolph
Gertman of Anacosti an additional aid on
his staff.
The Heat Terrific.
The Washington posts had long march
before they re ached their station in the
line of parade, but all hands stood 1t we'll
BY 10 o'clock the heat was terrific, and
everybody was glad when occasional halt3
were made TO break for the shady side OF
the walk. The Washingtonians were glad
to find that an ambulance corps had been
detailed to follow their march. This con-
sisted of an ambulance. with stan OF
surgeons and twelve mounted medical STU
dents, who secuted up and down the line
all the time. ready to go to the rescue OF
stricken man or to dash OF for the ambu-
lance in the rear. The service for the
whole parade was excellent, being On par
with this arrangement. The mounted sur
geons patrolled the streets in every direc-
ton, a large force being detailed for this
purpose alone.
The streets were well roped off and Wig .
liant policing was maintained. Commander
Anderson of the Department of the Poto-
mac being unable to walk far on account
of his old wounds, rode at .he head of his
department in light buggy, and his
mounted aids, under the direction Of Col
Carter. kept the line in order.
The people who viewed the parade were
not computed by thousands, but measured
by miles Every inch of available space
alcng the long line Of march was occupied
by sightseeing throngs. OF course he city
turned out IN a mass, and this attendance
was doubled by the visitors who poured in
during the early morning on excursion
trains from neighboring towns.
1t was a southern audience. Many OF
them had not seen the bluecoats since the
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