The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25
AT THE RENDEZVOUS.
Fifteen Thousand People Visit Chick
amauga Park Sunday.


mense national park where are now en-
camped nearly 5000 of the United States
regular troops was the loadstone which
drew thousands of people from all the sur
rounding country and for the day nearly
depopulated Chattanooga Even before sun
rise the streams of humanity had started
toward the park and by afternoon fully
1900 people were scattered through the
vast grounds watching the incoming sol
diers unload and march to their assigned
camping places and noting with interest
the different phases of soldiers life on
the field. Kodak fiends by the scores were
there and took snap shots at every oppor-
tunity The long government road leading
from Chattanooga out through Rossville
and Ross Gap to the park was fairly
choked with vehicles all day. Excursion
trains brought in thousands from Nash
vile, Memphis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Hunts
vile, Alabama, and all the immediate
towns and villages, and the trains which
ran to the park as often as the prompt
handling Of the soldiers would permit were
crowded to the platforms at every trip. 1t
being Sunday, all drills were suspended and
the soldiers, who were fairly settled in their
camping places, had little to do but lounge
around. Around the railroads yards it was
a busy scene. The arrivals of troops during
the day were heavy, but few delays oc-
CURED on this account. Part of the troops
which on account of the blockading of the
tracks by a slight collision had been COM
PEELED to spend the night in the railroad
yards, marched out to the park early in the
morning over the road These were light
Battery f, Fifth Artillery, seventy-five men
and four guns, from Tybee island, near Sa-
xannah, -Gssss-Csntain Tayfof, and Com
panies and d of the First Cavalry, III
men. from Fort Reno, o. T., in command
of Captains Tutherly and Galbraith. The
Eighth Cavalry from Fort Russell. Wyo.,
500 men. under Colonel Van Horne, which
was also among last nights arrivals, was
switched out to the park about noon. They
were followed by the full eight companies
of the Seventh Infantry, which arrived over
the Southern from Fort Logan, Col This
regiment consisted of about $50 men, and
was commanded by Colonel Benham. With
the Eighth Infantry, it was assigned a
camping place in the big field to the east
of "Bloody pond,' around which little body
of water some of the fercest fighting of
the battle Of Chickamauga took place. Late
in the afternoon another regiment of col
ored cavalry came in. This was the Twen-
near Salt Lake City, $40 men and officers,
in command of Colonel J. F. Kent Many
troops are expected tomorrow morning, in
cluding the First Infantry from the Pre-
sidio and Benicia Barracks, CAL; the Sec
ond Infantry from the Montana posts and
Batteries and F, Third Artillery, from the
Presido BY tomorrow night it is expected
that close to 10000 soldiers will be located at
the park.
Nearly the entire colored population Of
Chattanooga and the country around was
apparently gathered around the camping
places of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and
the Twenty-fifth Infantry. The latter was
the special object of homage. The Twenty
fifth had religious services during the after
noon in the open air. The chaplain, Rev.
Theophilus Stewart, preached short SER
mon to the assembled sable-colored
warriors, the regimental band furnishing
the music. A striking incident occurred at
the close of the services. The band struck
up my Country, 'tis of Thee" and instant
ly every soldier was on his feet, with his
hand raised in salute, while from hundreds
of dusky throats the grand words of the
American national song poured out. The
throngs of people lingering near took up
the refrain.
The staff of Major General Brooke is now
complete and by tomorrow all depart
ments will be located at the park. The
staff as now composed is as follows: Ad-
iutant general, Colonel Sheridan; chief
ouartermaster, Colonel Lee; chief surgeon,
Col. H Hartsuff; chief commissariat, Major
Sharpe; aids-de-camp, Captain Richards
and Iieutenants Dean and McKenna. Col
Hartsuff arrived from Chicago to-day and
Immediately took up his quarters at the
park. The First Brigade of infantry has
practically been decided upon by Major
General Brooke. 1t will consist of the Sew
enth, Eighth. Twelfth and Twenty-t1fth
Regiment, with the senior officer, Col.
ANDY" Burt, of the Twenty-fifth, in COM
mand. The Second Brigade is as yet unde-
cided, but will in all probability be COM
manded by Colonel Bates, Of the Second.
Colonel Van Horne, of the Eighth Infantry,
as ranking officer, viii command the di-
vision.