Evening star., 1895-09-16
SONS OF VETERANS
Knoxville Decorated in Flags to Re-
ceive Them.
Gene OF 4 DESPERATE CONFLICT
Preparations Made to Entertain
the Boys.
ToMoRkow's GRAND PARADE
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, September 49,
Knoxville, the queen city of the east Ten
nessee mountains, is wrapped in flags and
bunting. The occasion for this patriotic
display is the meeting of the national en-
campment of the Sons of Veterans of the
United States. The encampment begins to-
day and lasts until Thursday. Fully 20,00O
of the old veterans, their sons and visitors
from every state IN the Union are expected
to flood the city. The meeting has been
designated as the battlefield encampment,
from the fact that there were more battles
fought upon Tennessee SOL than any other
state in the Union, and again from the
fact that Knoxville and east Tennessee
was a disputed territory from the very
start to the finish of the late civil war. 1t
is a region of Furthermore interest from
the fact that east Tennessee was the fun
mel through which all the confederate troops
were transported from the south into the
Virginias and the east, ard also from the
fact that Knoxville was a place of con-
tention between the two great armies, BE-
ing captured and recaptured by the federals
and .confederates alike. 1t was upon this
soil where the Sons of Veterans are going
to camp that the charge of Fort Sanders
was made This was one of the bloodiest
battles of the war.
Where Gen. Sanders Fell.
Gen. VIM. P. Sanders, for whom the local
camp Sons of Veterans is named, was
mortally wounded while on duty one and
half miles west of Knoxville, on the
afternoon Of November IS, 1868. The spot
where he fell is marked by 4 tall cedar,
which stands on a prominent eminence
north of the Kingston pike, and near the
nf Chanae11pr TipISav From the
field Gen. Sanders was borne 20 the Lamar
House, now the White House, where he
died the next day. His remains were re-
moved to the headquarters of Gen. Burn
side in the Central House, and that hight
were buried in the Second Presbyterian
Church yard.
The services were of the simplest yet
most pathetic nature, and the body of the
Christian soldier was laid to rest without
any of the usual pomp accompanying the
obsequies of an officer in the army.
Admiral Farragut, who was the chief
naval officer during the war. was born in
Knox county, few miles below, the city.
A movement is now on foot to erect a
monument to his memory, and some of the
old logs from the house in which ne was
born are still to be seen.
The remains of Andy johnson, the tailor
President, lie buried, wrapped in an Ameri-
can flag, at Greeneville, seventy-five miles
east of Knoxville. There also stands a
handsome monument erected to his men,
oEyp anu lue Oiu tt1iol SltOp, yet III du "a
cellent state of preservation.
Tie people who are coming south are
beginning to understand more of this sec
ton Of the country. The people of the
south today are not rebels, but are as
loyal to the flag as the people of the north,
and if a call were made today for volun-
teers to ward off encroachments from for
eign powers the south would be the first
flag aside, and with Gen. John B. Gordon
are saying: There is no longer north.
south, east or west, but it is all one grand
country-America.'
Another reason the thousands are COM
ing is that this is the first time the Sons
of Veterans have held their national en-
campment in the south. which is an evil
dence that the lines of demarkation are
fast crumbling away.
- The Preparation
The Sons OF Veterans come to Knoxville
to hold Aheir ninth annual encampment at
the Invitation of the Ed. Maynard Post,
G. A. R.; w. P. Sanders Camp, Sons of
Veterans; mayor and aldermen, chamber
of commerce, Young Mems Business League
and prominent citizens.
For more than three months encampment
headquarters have been open and the vari-
Gus committees have been hard at work.
The encampment has been well advertised,
over $4,000 personal letters have been writ
ten and over 100000 circulars have been
issued. An entertainment IunQ OIL $lU,UUO
has been raised by popular subscription.
Homes have been arranged for all who
come and the entertainment will bespeak
true southern hospitality
Twelve military bands have been engaged
for the parade. A magnificent display of
fireworks will be sent heavenward. many
public and private receptions will be given
and other things will add to the occasion.
All the public buildings and places of busi-
ness will bo gaily decorated with the ma
tional colors, also many private residences,
while Gay street, the leading thorough
fare of the city, is spanned by twelve
arches, surmounted with vari-colored
globes, which will be gorgeously illumi-
nated.
The Grand Parade.
Tomorrow will occur the grand parade
which will be fully five miles long. It will
he participated in by the Sons of Veterans,
G. A. R. pests, local militia, State Univer-
sity cadets, 1000 school boys, brass bands
and local lodges and orders.
Among the prominent men of national
Importance who will be in attendance are
Cnmmander-in-chef Bundy and staff of
the Sons of Veterans, Commander-in-chie ief
J.awler and staff of the G. A. r., and the
following governors of states, accompanied
by their StaffS.
Mckinley of Ohio. Morton of New York,
Werts of New Jersey, Upham of Wisconsin,
Woodbury. of Vermont, Hastings of Penn
Sy ylNdHld, vi icy VI IeIIeSSee anu Evans
oe South Carolina. Perhaps the most dis
tinguished party will be headed by Gov
VIM. Mckinley of Ohio, who will be ac-
companied by the famous Cleveland, Ohio,
troops. The party will bring their own
horses in five Bruton stock cars and will
arrive this evening in two special trains
Many other special trains are expected to
arrive Sunday and space has been assigned
to 100 sleepers III the railroad yards.
Location of Knoxville.
Knoxville is a healthy city, 1000 feet
above the sea level. 1t Is situated be-
tween two ranges of mountains, the Cum
berland on the north and the Smokes on
the south. I. is the center of the iron
coal, marble, zinc and timber of the south
and throws it's gates wide open in well
coming the Sons Of Veterans and. the
thousands who will come with them.
Nearly Every State Represented.
The encampment assembled this morn