The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-05
DELIGHTEDl
Read Commander Whitney's Signed
Remarks if You Don't Think the
Soldiers Liked It.

Department Commander w @. Whit
ney of the C. A. r. has issued the fol
lowing congratulatory order:
desire to congratulate the Grand
Army of this department upon the
splendid outcome of our reunion just
closed; in point Of numbers in attend
ance and general good feeling it has
never been equaled in this department
The comrades accepted the situation in
good humor and while everything
might not have been just to their lik-
ing, they made no complaints. Never
in this state has there been so many
people, so much to interest and more
satisfaction. than has been crowded
into this week
At the camp we had the governor and
several ex-governors, and on one day
there was a galaxy of noted comrades
which viii probably never be excelled-
National Commander Clarkson, Cen
eraI Prentiss, the hero of Shiloh, Cen
eral Howard with one arm, General
Siekles with one leg. Corporal Tanner
with no legs. General Alger, General
Caldwell and many others whom the
comrades delight to honor, all on the
platform at the same time. There were
thousands of comrades, many of them
with families, and the Kansas National
Guards Bradford's Zouaves made up
and whose soldierly bearing and good
conduct was not excelled by any, and
the greatest of all came six companies
of United States infantry, four troops
of cavalry and one six-gun battery of
light artillery, who gave exhibition
drills each day and wound UP with an
exhibition which closed the reunion in
smoke Of battle and a blaze of glory
J. Y Niles assistant adjutant gen
master of the camp is entitled to fav-
orable mention for the courteous and
efficient manner in which he performed
the arduous and difficult duties of his
position. Also to Ed B. Jones, senior
vice commander. D. s. Elliott, junior
vice commander, A A. Raub, medical
director, Chaplain Fisher and A NJ
Fuller. chief of staff, who were prompt
and efficient in the performance of their
duties. and by the assistance of many
others of the staff and comrades too
numerous to mention The young men,
the Sons of Veterans should all re-
ceive the thanks of this department.
The Committee of Fifteen are entitled
to the thanks of the people of Topeka
and also of the comrades for the man
ner IN which they performed their du-
ties. For five months they have labor
ed hard some of them giving almost
their whole time holding meetings each
Week ana never Id4lGQ TO nave a quo
rum. No person, who has not been in
it, has any conception of the amount of
labor this committee has performed,
and the ladies should receive their
share of the praise for their part in this
work. The bicycle parade on Tuesday
was brilliant. the floral parade on
Wednesday was grand and far beyond
anything ever produced in the west
The ladies may Well be proud of their
success and the people OfTopeka should
be proud that they have ladies of such
good taste and Industry
The parade on Thursday with Uni
ted States soldiers, the Kansas Nation
al Guards, the veterans battle SCARED
and bent with weight of years. with the
old light in their eyes touched elbows
and marched to the music of the union,
While their memories Went back to
those days of long ago And then came
the children the hope of the future
light step. every one with flag and
gathering Inspiration of loyalty and
love of flag. a thousand pass and an
other thousand. and still they come, !
and we wonder if there is no end
Thursday night the Dragon of the
Ages winds his way, followed by a be-
wildering display of floats and red fire /
and closing with a sea Of fire by the
falnbeaux commanded by the prince
of f1ambeaux A. NJ. Fuller
Friday night, "Oh, N.Y. it cannot be /
described. six blocks of asphalturn !
streets upon Kansas avenue, had been
washed as clean as floor, not a team
was allowed to enter and then came the
merry makers with music and gorgeous [
floats, and red fire and blue fire, tin
horns and pandemOnium let lOOSe-the !
Karnival was on-the curfeW does not
sound its warning this night but as
the merry makers boone tired they re
tire and all are gone. and I feel like
one who treads alone some banquet /
han deserted the din ha2 ceased. the /
lights are out, and all but me departed, /
and the Topeka Festivities are over, but /
hoy viii H.
brances-
w. G. WHITNEY,
Department Commander.