The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-08-31
|G. A R. ENCAMPMENT.
Veterans and Visitors From All
Parts Of the United States.
Ranks of the Heroes Gradually. De-
cressinE, ~ shown In the Naval
Parade q old Friendships Of
the War Renewed.

Chicago. Aug. 2s.-The saith annual
encampment of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, which was formally
opened Sunday night by the monster
meeting in the Coliseum. is in full
blast, and in all respects IL promises
to be the greatest and most success
ful encampment the army has ever
held. Train after train loaded down
with veterans and their friends rolled
into the various depots in the city,
and il is estimated by railroad Off
eials that fully $4,000 old soldiers
have arrived and that 100000 other
eXcursionists have come with them.
II is expected that there will be
$4,000 additional arrivals within the
next ten hours. The veterans have
come from all parts of the republic,
and every northern state has sent a
strong contingent. The New York
delegation is one OF the largest the
Empire State has ever sent TO an an
nual encampment. New Jersey. Penn
sylvania and the New England states
are all represented by large numbers
of old soldiers. Iowa. Ohio, Indiana
and Wisconsin have sent larger num-
bers than TO any enqfmpment of re-
cent years.
The first day of the encampment
was devoted TO the heroes OF the river
and sea Of the civil war. They are
small band now. OF the $4,000 men
enlisted in the navy in the early days
OF the war. less than ! 900 marched
here. and IL is agreed by the old sail
ors that their number was greater
In the march than il will ever be in
any parade TO come.
liut one battle flag was carried by
the naval veterans. IL was one that
fluttered from the monitor Winnie
bago when Farragut sailed into Mo
bile bay 10 gain his browning victory.
II was borne by Seaman +. ID. Wood
run. Of Rockford. ILL.,, and beside him
marched eN-iioatswain's Mate J. X.
Lynn. of Chicago, who made the flag
while serving on board the Winnie
bago.
The late Afternoon feature of the
days celebration was the naval pa
rade on the lake. The revenue cut
ters Morrill, and Fessenden. towing
"A string of barges filed with detach-
ments from the Illinois naval reserve.
and caily decorated with flags and
strcamcrs. and the excursion boats.
loaded with sightseers. made an inn
posing appearance as they slowly
steamed out of the harbor and head
ed toward Lincoln park. The MT
arrived of Lincoln park about 1880
p. m, and then. in sight OF tens Of
thousands OF spectators gathered
along the sea wall of the park, with
the revenue cutters, with their blue
iacketed crews working the rapid-fre
guns Of the two vessels, went through
some beautiful maneuvering in the
sham fight for supremacy. The evo-
buttons. exemplifying the workings Of
two fighting ships in battle, lasted
for half hour. and at their conclu-
sion the fleet slowly steamed back 10
the harbor
The end OF the naval fight of Lin
coin park closed the official pro-
gramme of the encampment of the
day. but all over the city. in various
halls and in all the hotels. there were
reunions of regiments almost with
out number gatherings of comrades
who had not met since the days of
the war. and fraternal gatherings OF
all sorts and descriptions.
One OF the leading affairs of the
night was the banquet of the Iron
brigade. which was held at the club
house OF the Athletic club at $3.50.
A meeting of the National Associa-
ton Of eN-Prisoners of War was held
in the Coliseum, which drew a large
crowd, an attractive programme De-
ing rendered.