The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-19
G. A. R. PARADE.
Once More the Veterans Keep Step
Side by Side.

San Francisco, Aug. 19.-The parade
today of the veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic in this city will
long be remembered by the thousands
of people who packed the streets along
the line of march to witness it. Not
few of them recognized that for them
this meant the passing of the heroes
of many bloody struggle in defense
OF the union for all time in a collective
body SO far this city is concerned.
Devoid of all the pomp aid panoply of
the warlike host which marched in all
the pride of strength and youth in yes
terday's parade, there was something in
the thinned out ranks of the 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 un-
quenching spirit this remnant of a
mighty host that had carved out victory
for the republic on the hardest fought
battle fields the world has ever known.
marched proudly along, the last of an
unconquered band of heroes Proudly
they marched with the battle flags way
ing above the Swaying rankS-hagS
which bore the marks of shot and shell
in many fierce fray, comrades togeth-
er now as they were then With mill
tary precision these old soldiers of An
tietam, Vicksburg, the Wilderness, Get
tysburg and Appomattox,swung into line
at the appointed hour, ready for the
command to march.
Headed by the detachment from Illi-
nois, commanded by Benson Wood, the
Grand Army detachments appeared in
full muster at their appointed stations
ready to move with the main column
which started punctually at 10 o'clock
on the route of march
The mounted staff of desartment
commanders and all the mounted
escorts were formed into Dlatoons of
eight files front. the distance being
regulated at four PAGES. This forma-
tiOn was well maintained all through
the parade. and the same can be said
of the different posts, which were pa
raded some sixteen PAGES apart with
double distance between the files. A
platoon of police led the column, COM
/ lowed by the drum corps of the ma
tional association of civil war musi-
clans. Next in line was Chief Marshal
/ Edward f Solomon and his staff The
personal escort of Commander-in-C Chief
Stewart was composed of George H.
Thomas post No. ,, department of Cali
| fornia A. d. Cutler commanding. Ac-
companying the commanGer-in- chief
were Quartermaster General Burrows.
Judge Advocate General Beers. Adiu-
tant General John W. Schall. Chaplain
/ in-Chief Shuey, and Inspector General
| Walsh, with members of the executive
of the Grand Army then followed with
as mentioned before, the department of
| Illinois in the van.
A distinguished trio rode at the head
of the Wisconsin division. They were
| General Macarthur. commander of the
department of the Pacific General Cobb
and Colonel Lyon, all three being at
tired in civilian clothing. All three of
these officers have won national re-
nown. General Macarthur was loudly
cheered as he passed with the column
Six survivors of the heroic Knapps
Pennsylvania battery of light artillery.
marched in the line and were warmly
greeted This is the remnant of the 130
men of this hard fighting regiment who
were mustered out at the close of the
war, and this is the first occasion the
battery has paraded since they appear
ed in the historic grand review of the
federal troops at Washington, in May
1865 This battery did efficient work at
lChancellorsville. Fredericksburg and
all through the Shenandoah valley con-
lcluding a brilliant record by marching
with Sherman to the sea, entering Rich
mond later with Grant Its most his
toric feat was the firing of the shot that
killed General Polk before Resaca.
Throughout. the parade was strictly
military, no women, children nor gro
| tesque costumes being permitted in the
column. Only a few carriages were al
/ lowed, not exceeding two to each de-
partment and these were occupied by
disabled veterans driven in all cases to
the left of the column of their reSpec-
tive departments.
A hearty greeting was extended to the
old soldiers along the line of march.
each of the departments being cheered
as it filed past
The reviewing stand was on Van
Ness avenue. and there the departments
marched past after long and tiresome
march for many of the older veterans,
showing up in brave style until dis
missed by the grand marshal
1zrrrrDc rCTEn