The National tribune., 1895-08-08
TIE GRAND ARMY,
What is Being Done by the Veterans
for the Good of the Order.
Chaplafa-in-Chief Hagerty Again Calls At
tention to the Encampment

ChaplaiR-in-Chief Hagerty Again Calls At
tention to the Encampment
To comrades of the g. A. r. who are thinking
of marching on to Louisville in September the
phrase "On 10 Louisville" will sound familiar,
in form. if not in name, as the cry WAS On TO
Richmond" How changed the scenes since
those DAYS. Then, the march was accompanied
with huge siege-guns, long lines OF military
stores and men clad in implements Of warfare
TO the teeth. Destruction was in that path
and bleeding forms and burning cities IN the
front Now the march is made mp of peaceful
men clothed in smiles and good will IN every
look and gesture No instruments OF death are
TO be iound in the long procession. No pur-
poses but those of friendship and amity are
breathed by any one of the thousands on The
march.
These men 60 to meet friends of FORMER
wears and form the acquaintance OF those
against whom they went out to measure swords
on the bloody field Of war. In the path of
these marching thousands only hope swelis the
heart OF the gathering throngs, and little chill
dren, young men aud maidens, old men and
matrons cluster around and bid them a hearty
God bless you"
Richmond trembled before the ponderous
tread OF the coming line in 1865 but now Louis
vile has put on her gsyest attire, killed her
oxen and fstings. aud has come out to meet
the incoming hosts with extended hands and
shouts Of welcome, thrice welcome, veterans OF
1861 and 1865
hope that all who can possibly go will go.
and join in the gay and joyous lines OF men
who come marching into Louisville. L hope
kind Providence may give us good weather,
smiling heavens and nights of moon, and each
one of us bounding heart of thanksgiving to
the Giver of all good for the happy outcome OF
Marching on TO Richmond"
The old CARS do not go down there to
boast over the other fellows, but TO show them
that we are as anxious to meet and greet them
now as we were TO meet and whip them then.
Ii was not that we hated them in the sixties,
but that we loved our country, whose flag had
been torn down and her honor trailed in the
dust that no Nation of men ever were able TO
do before
We knew that our erring brothers were try
ing to pull the best Government under the
heavens down on their own heads. which
would have crushed them and ruined u.s. We
strove TO save them from themselves and pre-
serve unto ourselves and them a Nation. We
are proud Of the result. and are going down
now to kill The fatted calf aud be merry.
We have no occasion to boast OF the doings in
the war, for bravery Of the most memorable
kind was shown by them as well as by men in
the blue. Often did they thrash us till we were
in doubt as to the result and were convinced
we had met men of nerve and not pompous fell
lows out on dress-parade. The men in gray
also found to their full satisfaction that these
boys in blue could not be tr0ed with with
impuuity.
But years have now gone; they have invited
as TO come and see them. aud we are going more
than 10000 strong We viii march through
. the peaceful streets and carry the flag Of Bun
ker Hill and AppomattOX. and the thousands
of spectators lining the sidewalks and windows
will thank God for the victories of the war
that brought around such happy result. We
expect that Louisville will be as proud of our
presence ether cities have been in wears gone
by. While the National Encampments OF the
GAR. have been noted for their large gather
ings of old veterans and civilians, yet they have
been noted for their order and good decorum
manifested on march, IN home, or on the street.
We scarcely ever heard OF an old soldier being
arrested on these occasions. That cannot be
said of all bodies of men, if reports be correct.
Every comrsde OF the war will be on his good
behavior now as we 20 to Louisville. and cause
those men TO have another evidence of our
good soidierly bearing, from the manner we
conduct ourselves when off duty. We expect
to share largely in the gifts of the good people
Of Louisville aud of the hospitsble South.
We expect 10 enjoy their homes, sights Of
their beautiful city and surrounding country,
their halls OF art and msrts OF trade, houses OF
commerce, places of entertainer and pleasure,
churches OF worship, schools of thought and all
vile has 10 other places into which they would
for a moment think of inviting an old veteran
70 90 or even permit him to stray if be should
get out of line.
We meet TO cultivate friendships, enlarge &C
ouaintanceships, know each other better, and
part to remember our meeting at Louisville as
long az we live with the greatest OF pleasure.
am proud of being Chaplain Of such body
OF men, 365000 strong, every one of whom is a
man and deserves to have his name enrolled
on the scroll Of fame
not only gladly pray for these men, but
also for the men Of the other side and thank
God that they have shown themselves such no.
bic men, 70 tace-about and SO nobly help us
build up our formerly distracted country.
We hope and pray that "On to Louisville"
may contribute very largely to the cementing
our country with such bonds Of friendship
that it will be i'm posi- bic TO disrupt ii again
So let the column move forward, and all the
assembled multtudes shout their loudest huz-
zas, and let the heavens re-echo the increasing
sound.-T IL. HAGERTY, Chaplain in Chief,
St. Louis, Mo.