The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16

OFFICERS IN THE CITY TO ARRANGE
FOR SEPTEMBER ENCAMPMENT.
Ranks of the Heroic Band Rapidly
Thinning, but a Notable Meeting
Is Anticipated.

H
n. T. Ogden. of Cincinnati. president of
the National Association of Mexican Vet
Grams, James c. Carlton, of Bedford. ma
tional secretary, and DR.. Jere. Wooden, OF
Gosport, assistant national secretary for
Indiana, are in the city to confer with the
local committee on arrangements at 3
O'Clock this morning at the Grand Hotel. to
complete arrangements for the meeting OF
the national association in this city on the
18th and 18th of September next.
This year the national association will
meet in dual convention-the Transrocky
Mountain Veterans will meet at San Fran
cisco the 18th and 10Th OF August, the an
niversary of the battles of Contreras and
Cherubusco. under the auspices of the Cali
fornia veterans; and the Eastern and Mis-
sissippi valley veterans will meet in Indi-
annapolis in September, on the anniversary
of the battles of Moline del Rey, Chapulte-
pee, Garita Belem. Garita San Cosmo and
the entry into the City of Mexico, the 14th
day of September, 1s47, of General Scott's
victorious army. The Eastern division will
be under the immediate management of the
officers of the national association. The
transmountain division will meet at the
same time of the National Encampment at
San Francisco of the Grand Army of the
Republic in August.
the Indiana State Association will meet in
the hall of the House of Representativ es
and reorganiZe. In the afternoon OF the
same day the national association Will be
called to order, and will continue its sit
tings until the evening Of the nth. and az
night it is suggested that the convention
the celebration will be decided on to-day.
MAY BE LAST MEETING.
On account of the feebleness of the large
majority of the old Mexican soldiers and
their general impecuniosity there is a de-
cided disposition to dissolve the national
association after this year and substitute
state organizations instead. and the In
dianapolis and San Francisco meetings will
probably be the last of the national meet
ings of the old heroes. Secretary Carlton
has taken steps to obtain through the Pen
sion Bureau the names and postoffice ad-
dress of all the survivors of the Mexican
war in order that he may reach practically
every Mexican soldier and send postal card
invitations TO them all TO come TO Indian
apolis. Low railroad rates are now being
arranged for by the committee trans
portation. The survivors number some
thing less than 1000. the remnant of the
grand army (for those days. of $4,000 vol
unteers and regulars engaged in the war.
Indianapolis will surely give these old SOL
diers an exceptionally cordial greeting. for
largest number Of volunteers of any State
in the Union in that war
Men who study the military achieve
rnents-the battles and campaigns OF Alex
ander. Caesar, Hannibal. Cromwell Ma
poleon, Washington, Wellington, Grant,
Sherman, Lee and Won Motke-find records
of great events in military history. but
they do not find record of victories more
remarkable than those which the Ameri-
can army achieved in the Mexican war.
In many respects this army was the most
effective for its size that the world has
ever produced. Nearly all of the renowned
leaders of the Union and Confederate
armies in the subsequent civil war were
veterans of the Mexican war. When the
event is recalled that the City of Mexico.
containing at that time over. zoo, 900 inhabi-
tants and held by Santa Anna with 5000
of Mexico's best troops. was captured by
the odds against the invading force may be
comprehended. AT Monterey, Buena VISTA
Cerro Gordo. Contreras, Churubusco. Mo-
bino del Rey and Chapultepec overwhelm-
ing forces confronted the American SOL
diers. There can be no controversy touch
ing the discipline. fighting quality and en-
durance OF the men who served under
Kearney in the Chihuahua campaign
The old army is vanishing. The years
of the youngest soldier Of the illustrious
band have passed beyond the allotted age
of three score and ten. The ages of the
great majority of survivors range from
eighty to ninety.
Used. will extend TO these old white haired
veterans such a welcome as they have
never experienced in any city which has
hitherto entertained them More than 100 :
coo of the old Mexican soldiers have crossed
the Styx, and they waiting on the
other shore for the few laggards to join
them; and
''On Fame's eternal camping ground
Thair ell fn.tc
And Glory guards with solemn round
The biyouac of the dead"
THOSE WHO ARE EXPECTED.
Among the distinguished Mexican veter-
ans who are expected TO attend and ad-
dress the meeting are Gen. Lew Wallace
of Indiana, Gen. James Longstreet, of Geor-
gia, Col. w. F. Cloud, of Missouri, Mai. s.
! p. Tufts, of Illinois. and Gen. Simon Boil
var Buckner, of Kentucky. all of whom
served in. the civil war on one side or the
other.
Such Mexican veterans as may be In the
city to-day are invited to be at the Grand
Hotel at 9 o'clock this morning
Mr.. Carlton, who is thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with the stitistics of the association,
says there now alive in the whole
United States barely 1900 veterans of the
Mexican war. In January last accord
ing TO the figures in the United States
Pension ONCE. there were only 276 in In
diana, but Mr.. Carlton says many have
died since then and that the real number
OF Indiana survivors is between go and
2i0. In the six New England States there
are only leo living.
The business OF the officers who are here
and who will meet at the Grand this morn.
ing will be to complete arrangements for
the national meeting. Transportation re.
auctions will be sought and IL will be ascer.
tanned what financial assistance NAV be
depended on. AZ the national meeting in
Cincinnati the Board or Trade of that CITY
gave the association 500 10 assist in de-
fraying expenses. $500 OF which was re-
turned unused. Some such help may be
given I'm this city.