Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-20
G. A. R. PARADE
Called Out Countless Thous-
andS at San Francisco.
The Thinned-0ut Ranks of Veterans
Brought Off Every Hat.
Cheers for the Battle Scared Warriors
and Tattered Flags.

San Francisco, Ang. 19.-Ten thous-
and survivors of the Civil war nassed
in review, today, marching to the mar
tiai tunes that inspired them to en-
deavor 40 years ago. Above the ma
tlohal colors borne by every marcher,
proudly noated torn and tattered
flags. These, with empty sleeves and
lmping gait were eloquent reminders
OF the sorrow and glory of the war.
Unlike the parade of yesterday with
the quick marching line of youth. this
procession was the measured and
steady tread of age AS the different
divisions marched along, waves of SEN
timent passed over marchers and spec-
tators. There were many still vigorous
in line but they waited for their weak
er comrades and the column halted
often on its two-mile course In the
ling line We're men from every corner
of the nation.
The afternoon was devoted largely
to receptions and reunions.
San Francisco, Aug. 19.-The parade.
today, of the veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic in this city will
be long remembered by the thousands
OF people who packed the streets along
the line of march to witness it, Not
rev of them recognized that for them
TINS meant the passing of the heroes
of many bloody struggle in defence
of the Union for all time in a collective
body as far as this city is concerned.
Devoid of all pomp and panoply of the
Warlike host which marched in all the
OFT Of
terday's parade, there was something
pathetic in the thinned-out ranks of
veterans who marched, today, which
touched the hearts of all who saw
them. Bowed with the weight of years.
worn out and weary, but animated by
the fires of an unquenched spirit, this
remnant of a mighty host which had
carved out victory for the republic
on the hardest fought battlefields the
world has ever known marched proud
ly along, the last of an unconquered
band of heroes. They looked the part
they played as makers of history in
this country of their birth or adoption,
as the case might be. Proudly they
marched with the battle flags waving
above the swaying ranks-hags which
bore the marks of shot and shell in
many fierce trays, comrades together
now as they were then.
With military precision these old SOL
diers of Antietam, Vicksburg, The Will
derness, Gettysburg and Appomatox.
swung into line at the appointed hour
ready for the command to march.
Headed by detachment from Illinois,
commanded by Benson Wood. the de-
tachments appeared in full muster at
their appointed stations ready to move
with the main column. which started
at 10 o'clock on the route of
march. The mounted staff of depart
ment commanders and all the mounted
escorts We're formed in platoons of
eight files front, the distance being reg
ulated at four PAGES.
This formation was we'll maintained
all through the parade and the same |
can be said of the different posts which
were paraded some 16 PAGES apart with |
about double that distance between the |
A platoon of police led |
the column, commanded by Chief Witt |
man. and followed by the drum corps |
of the National Association of Civil |
War Musicians. Next in line was Chief |
Edward T. Solomon and his |
staff
The personal escort of Commander |
inChief Stewart was composed of |
George II. Thomas Post, No. 2, Depart |
ment of California, A. d. Cutler, COM |
Accompanying the COM |
in chief was Quartermaster |
General Burrows, Judge Advocate Gen |
eral Beers, Adjutant General John w. |
Schall Chaplain Chief Shuey, and |
Inspector General Walsh. with MEM |
bers of the executive committee. The |
several departments of the G. A. r. fol-
owed with, as mentioned before, the de-
partment of Illinois in the van. Follow
ing came Pennsylvania, commanded by |
Edwin Walton, then Ohio, Commander
Yenling; New York, Commander Nos
er: Connecticut, Commander Bulkeley; |
Commander Judd; New
Jersey Commander Long: Maine, Com
mander Chamberlain; Rhode Island, |
Commander Huden; New Hampshire,
Commander Parker; Vermont, Com
mander Penfield Potomac, Command
err Kimball; Virginia and North Caro-
lima, Commander Octas; Maryland,
CONTINUED on page 81