The Republican journal., 1904-08-25
The Grand Army Parade.


What a picture was that of yester-
day-the passing from the public eye,
before the gaze of the hundreds OF
thousands of people thronging the
streets of Boston as never before IN her
history, of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. Never again, in all probability,
will parade such as that, in the nobility
of its patriotism, in its pathos, be wit
messed in this city.
The 10000 old veterans of the great
struggle that kept the Union whole,
who marched through the same streets
in 1890, have in the IA years that nave
fled faded to 10000 able to march, OF
whom Massachusetts, alone contributed
very nearly one half. That in itself
tells the story. But they were there,
the same jolly, gay and bright old fell
lows as of old, ready to tell their his
tory with the directness of the soldier,
who never Celebrates when talking
about himself 1t was a day with the
old army, and everybody, whether
comrade or spectator, was irreslstlbly
drawn into singing the war time songs
that had not come to their lips Tor
years.
Let an old veteran but raise his cane
Yesterday on fremont street and start
'.Rally Round the Flag and there
came instant responsive chorus from
the grand stands, in which the Women's
voices blended in prompt and ready SYM
pathy. .
That and the immensely Of the con-
course that walled both sides OF the
line of march gave added inspiration to
that of the grand column OF blue itself.
That which could not escape the eye OF
the keen observer was that the slght OF
the old, faded, ragged coat OF blue,
what was left of the Burnside hat, the
decrepit knapsack and rusty canteen,
with old trusty over the shoulder as
borne in '65, never failed to draw out
the quick applause of the sympathetlc
throng on curbstone and IN grand
stand.
The appearance of Mrs. Fanny Brow
nell in company with her husDand IN
the Duryea zouave uniform, aroused
the highest enthusiasm when her story
was told. She enlisted as a man and
served in both the 1st and 9Th Rhode
Island regiments throughout the war,
without detection of her sex, and she
swung along to the same old army step
as did the boys.
Gen, John G.. Black, cOmmander-ln-
chief. was true to his promise to start
his command on the hour announced,
and. with his escort of E. w. kinsley
Post 113 of Boston, he passed Gov.
Bates at the reviewing stand before the
State House at 1880 sharp, though Tar
ahead of his main column.
The commander-in-chief and head
quarters staff had disappeared down
the hill for several minutes before the
idea was grasped that there was a
hiatus in the order of march. An aid
dashed back from the head of the col
umn and disappeared toward Charles
street. The crowd waited and wonder
ed and amused itself in trying the mus
cular exertions of the police.
After 80 or ~ minutes a lone horse
man came galloping back, and pretty
soon it was learned thai, by defectloD
of the right of the column, the whole
parade had stood in danger OF losing
itself in the devious windingS OF Bos
ton. Illinois had the right of the line
and apparently its guide had taken the
route of Mondays parade for that OF
Yesterday. The column had thus turn
ed directly off the line of march and
was only brought to halt when the
courier from its head arrived. This
matter righted, the veterans marched
on up the hill in excellent form.
Illinois made a magnificent showing
with her veterans. The National AS
ISOLATION of Civil War Musicians, led
by Chelsea Joe" as drum major, sup
ported by Boston's own, Inspector
sJoe'' Knox of the police department
created a sensation. The old drum
major, with lis long, snow white hair
barred to the breeze his army felt in
one hand, and staff baton, tWined with
the red white and blue, in the other,
executed one of the most striking sa-
lutes to Gov Bates of any rendered his
excellency. The old soldiers greeting
was responded to most cordially by the
Governor and the famous drum corps,
to the tap on the old Goldsboro rebel
drum captured by Knox himself, gave
the three rutties due an officer of rank
in the old army style.
The Pennsylvanians, with theirsquare.
of rs battle flags borne by color bearers
of the civil war, was the next touch
stone for rounds of cheers. In the
centre of the square marched Color
Sergeant Owen Jones of Post 49, Phila-
delphia, carrying the flag of the Penn
sylvania reserves, Sd division, 5th army
corps, representing the Is regiments
raised by Andrew G.. Curtin, the great
war Governor of Pennsylvania, which
fought in every battle of the Army of
the Potomac from 81 to '65.
Following this Post was the Lieut..
Lysle Post and its battery section of
two guns, made from shot and shell
picked up on the battlefield of Gettys-
burg. There was also all that was left
of the old guidon of Knapp's indepen-
Debt Pennsylvania battery, which
fought at Culp's and VOLTS hills in
the great battle of Gettysburg, and re-
pulsed and annihilated the Louisiana
Tigers. The latter were famous fight
ing corps of the c. S. A., who never
were heard of after Knapp's battery
got after them.
The march down Beacon street
through the densely packed throng
!, thrilled the sensibilities of the veteran,
from the very size of the crowd through
which he was obliged to thread his
way, since, in many instances, the po-
lice were powerless to give him any
thing more that the narroWest possible
way.
The presence of the throng badly
marred the formation in approaching
and passing Mayor Collins in review.
AT the corner of School and Washing
ton streets, time and again, the great
crowd ON the sidewalk surged complete
ly over the police and threatened to en-
pnlf the ma rchinp column