Omaha daily bee., 1896-09-03
GRAND OLD ARMY MEN IN LINE
Procession of the Country's saviors Almost
Two Miles Long.
VETERANS TOUCH ELBOWS ONCE MORE
Soldiers or the Late War Meet Again
ia Annual Encnmpmcnt and
March on Dress
Parade.

Fnrnue.
ST. PAUL. Sept. 2.-Nearly 10000 veterans
tramped the streets Of st. Paul for several
hours today, renewing the assurance OF their
youth and feeling in their veins the martial
spirit that animated them in the old days of
bitter sectional strife. The day was an ideal
one for marching. the warm rays Of the sun
being behind clouds and a slight breeze
making the tramp much easier for those in
line. The threatened showers held off and
everything went of according to program.
At 9:45 o'clock, not to exceed fifteen min
utes after the time set. the Communicating
chief and staff moved south on Western ave-
nue. and the various divisions fell into line
rapidly. 1t was just half past IL o'clock
when the head of the parade reached the
grand reviewing stand at Smith park, where
General Walker took his place on the plat
form, and the first division, headed
by a veteran signal corps, passed in review.
1t was 245 this afternoon when the last
post in the big eighth division, containing
Minnesota's veterans, had passed, and there
was scarcely noticeable a break In the line,
post following post and department coming
after department in almost endless success
sion. The enlivening music of many bands
and stirring martial sound of veteran drum
corps signaled the approach of each new de-
partment. and the crowd showed prompt APP
probation of the appearance of the various
favorites. Waves OF applause went up and
down the crowded streets and at times the
veterans themselves took up the refrain, for
the old soldier realized even more than
before that the city was his. Nothing was
thought too good for the marching men.
As they were lined up on the side streets
waiting for the signal to start the residents
Cprynd ice water and otherwise looked after
their comfort.
Taken altogether, the party was an un-
qualified success and the leading features
Of it touched the soldier heart as it has sell
dom been touched before.
In recent years it has been
thought necessary to shorten the length
of the parade of the veterans, but this years
parade was almost two miles long. and, as
it was over smooth pavement and easy
walking, no i'll effects were expected from
the tramp. Besides the meeting and re-
counting Of old experiences and renewing old
acquaintance there Is nothing that goes
ahead of this event, and to it many OF the
old vets looked forward through the en-
tire year, saving their strength for this
return to the days when, as comrades, they
carried muskets and touched elbows and
found themselves not so stif after a short
march as now. In the years that have
passed more have dropped out Of line, many
have Joined the silent majority" and the
81 ia AhAS NNe'' NA> 49,
than generation that has passed since these
were fighting men without equals.
The various divisions formed on the streets
that cross Western avenue and when the
final gun was fired, shortly after 10 o'clock,
the parade began to move south from Day
ton and Western avenues, moving south to
Summit, the various divisions falling In as
the column passed. General Walker and
staff headed the parade, the first division,
led by the Veteran Signal corps, and in
Gliding thn dpnartmpnfS UI Illinois Wis
consin and Pennsylvania, following. The
second division consisted Of the depart
ments of Ohio and New York. In the third
division there were the departments of Con-
necticut, Massachusetts,, New Jersey, Maine,
California, Rhode Island, New Hampshire.
Vermont, Potomac, Virginia and North
Carolina. The fourth division was made up
of the departments of Maryland, Nebraska,
Michigan, Iowa and Indiana. The depart
ments of Colorado. Wyoming, Kansas, Della
ware, Missouri and Oregon were in the
fifth division. The sixth division included
Kentucky, West Virginia, South Dakota,
Washington, Alaska, Arkansas, New Mexico,
Utah and Nevada. In the seventh were
the departments of Louisiana, Mississippi,
Florida, Montana. Texas, Idaho, Arizona,
Georgia, Alabama, North Dakota, Oklahoma
and Indian Territory. The department of
Minnesota closed the parade, comprising the
eighth division.
FLOWERS FOR THE VETERANS.
49, NHN ANa' Va NiN Bal ~ II uoNh
the broad Summit avenue the old veterans
Strengthened their shoulders and tried to
renew their youth, lining up as OF old when
they had been able to turn a corner in a
straight line. The avenue was crowded on
both sides with the spectators, who ap-
plauded ~favorite posts or ~favorite leaders,
and now and again a cheer went up for
the fine appearance OF some of the less
known posts. Opposite the residence of
Colonel R. NJ. Newport many white-haired
veterans uncovered and saluted as they
recognized the widow of their loved Black
Jack" and Mrs. John A. Logan carefully
returned every salute. AS the head Of each
division arrived at this part of the avenue
a group of pretty young girls stepped out
into the street and scattered flowers before
the oncoming veterans, who furtIvely picked
up the blossoms and proudly placed them
in their button holes. This scattering of
flowers. in tribute of the old veterans, was
done by twenty daughters Of old soldiers.
several of whom were also the descendants
OF the young girls who more than a century
ago scattered flowers before the feet of
General Washington as he was enroute to
New York to be inaugurated as first presi-
dent of the United States. This linking
of the hero of the first war of the nation
with the country's saviors in the latest war
was further emphasized Immediately after
when the little children of Thaddeus Maltby |
chapter of the Children of the Americana
Revolution saluted the veterans with their
waving flags and by singing a song es-
pecially written for the occasion by Mrs,
j. q. Adams of st. Paul.
The column swept on down the avenue,
past the residence where were
the women's headquarters, in front of the
big reception stand in Summit park and
under an evergreen arch erected at the
head Of Sixth street by the coIored citizens
of st. Paul, who thus neatly suggested
in their hearts the memory of the SOL
diers OF the rebellion would be ever green.
SAW A LIVING FLAG.
The long column of old veterans turned
Sixth street past the numerous grand