River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-23

ICXaS ................. al
Georgia $1,000. .s.......s Il
Alabama ................... IA
North Dakota ...............-.. zoo
Oklahoma and Indian Territory. SO
Naval Veterans ............ oil
minnesota ................... S,o1S
Iotal ................... .1o,14S
The march told on the old soldiers.
The day could not have been better
had it been ordered straight from The
storehouse of Providence. 1t was per-
feet. The shower Of the evening be-
fore had laid the dust and cooled the
air. During most OF the parade it was
cloudy, so that the veterans We're saved
the fatiguing effects of hot sun.
Many fear that this will be the last
G. A. r. parade. From all sides the
sentiment was that the strain is too
much for the veterans and that If only
one succumbs to the exertion 1t is
enough to condemn the continuation
of this feature of the encampment.
1t was the same spirit demonstrated
at Vicksburg, Antietam, Chickamauga
and on a hundred other battlehelds
which made many of the old veterans
stick doggedly to the line of march
yesterday, even refusing to be re-
freshed by a drink of water or assisted
on the way by kindly arm. 1t was
no uncommon sight to see the soldiers
waive away assistance as they tottered
to the end of the line OF march, there
to fall faint into the arms of the Red
Cross attendants or to be FASTENED
off in relief automobiles in order to be
revived at the hospitals or Red Cross
stations.
The sweet, lingering notes of a bat
tered army bugle were heard on the
lawn of the central high school as the
reductive strains of mess" drew the
attention of hundreds of passersby to
one of the interesting and inspiring
scenes of the encampment, "the field
quarters" of the Minnesota regiments
of the G. A. r. Here in the study
rooms of the central high school Min
nesota's veterans are spending their
nights and spare time during encamp-
ment week living again the scenes OF
81 and rejoicing that they have been
spared to attend the fortieth encamp-
ment of the nations defenders.
CHARTERED throughout the large
building bunking on ticks spread out
upon the floors, for the boys are still
campaigners and do not mind few
hardships, are to be found what is left
of the gallant regiments which almost
half century ago marched from the
borders of the state to fight for the
Union. Camped on the floors in true
service fashion, each man possess
ing his somany square feet of floor
space wherein he treasures all his
camp outfit, Minnesota's first soldiers
are enjoying themselves to the utmost
and nowhere in the country is there
happier or more contented gathering OF
men. They have met old comrades
once again and are going over the joys
and sorrows of the year.
None of the soldiers eat at the school
for the simple reason that there Is
nothing there to eat, but by foraging
through the immediate vicinity it is
possible to collect three good meals
daily. Much of each day is spent III
looking up old comrades and compar-
ing notes, and to one passing through
and about the grounds many interest
ing scraps of conversation are heard.
And then as the summer stars peep
upon the fortieth encampment and the
glow of the fires and lamps cut small
circles in the darkness the grand old
UdLLl0 HyLlIlS VI TIC lcllOll cJLC ouLS
to the accompaniment of the roll OF
an old fashioned drum and the silver
notes of the army fife.
Perhaps at the forty-f1rst encamp-
ment, when the Minnesota camp is es-
tablished, there will be many vacan"
cies in the ranks, but this is only tho
fortieth encampment and the boys ara
making the most of II.
NhiIa tho 1onoe limo Of fadad hI1Ia
squads slowly filed past the reviewing
stand yesterday, the idols of tens OF
thousands, two of the members of the
Grand Army who had fought her
battles faithfully answered the last roll
call clad in the. faded blue Of the Army
of the Potomac and with the flag OF
'61 floating DER them. A score OF other
battle-scarred heroes in the ranks
marched until they dropped and were
taken care of by the ambulance corps,
The long march and the heat proved
too great an enemy to withstand.
Col Thomas Fl. Martin senior vice
commander of the department of the
Potomac, was killed by a fall from
his horse on Hennepin avenue between
Third and Fourth streets.
Robert B. Brown, of GAINESVILLE, Ohio.
was elected commander in chief OF the
Grand Army of the Republic by &C
clamation.
When the nomination for the office
had been made seconds for the nomi-
nation of Comrade Brown came so fast
that it appeared to be a landslide and
Judge G. G Burton, Of Nevada, Mo-,
withdrew in his favor. A moment Ia
ter Capt P. H. Coney, of Topeka, Kan,
also withdrew from the race and
amidst the greatest excitement Adju-
tant- General Tweedale was instructed
to cast the unanimous vote Of the en-
campment for the Ohio candidate.
The Grand Army encampment, I'M
der the influence Of the oratory of the
commander chief, passed resolu-
ton calling upon the confederate vet
Grams to use their influence with the
Daughters Of the Confederacy to pre-
vent the erection Of monument to
Captain Henry Wirz Of Andersonville
prison notoriety.
On the question Of the canteen, the
encampment took opposite action. 1t
laid the canteen resolution on the table
without debate.
Saratoga, N. Y, is the 1907 encamp-
ment city.