The Irish standard., 1906-05-19
Less Than Twenty Years Ago the Name
and Fame of Gilmore Electrified
North and South
The Famous Bandmaster Was of Irish Birth
and Loved His Native Land With
Much Devotion.

| of Independence Day celebrations at
the Hub. All the bands engaged for
| he parade were consolidated for this
open air presentation of Datioual melo-
dies. and the grand effect took the
popular heart. In 1858 Mr. Gilmore left
Salem t" return to Boston. where he
organized the musical corps :tfterwlrd
f"rn'ing til" nucleus OF the cvoluted
| and world famous l;lmorc's band.
At this time vital national issues
were pendinG. and in the greatest pub
lie events Mir. Gilmore participated
becoming prominent figure upon
more occasions of magnitude than any
musician on record. Among the mcm-
"rahc and now historic gatherings of
which his music and patriotism were
strkinsly effective features were the
never to- be- forgotten visit OF the DE
M"lay cnramrnrnt of knights remplar
I" Richmond. Virginia. and the last
national Democratic convention held in
Charleston. South Carolina. previous to
the war, which We're broken up by Gil
morcs valiant playing of the "Star
SpangIcd Eanncr." under fire of Rebel
yclls for Dixie" The national Re-
publican convention nominating Abra-
ham Lincoln in Chicago. the national
reception given to the Grand Duke
Alexis of Russia. the national Demo-
cratic convention nominating George
r.. Mcclellan in Chicago. and, in fact,
every great public function. from the
| time of Pierce down, WAS more or less
notably a Gilmore occasion.
When war WAS declared Gilmore's
band joined the Twenty fourth Mas
ShchuscttS volunteers, which was
transferred to the front, nccompuny-
ing Gen. burnside to South Carolina.
The taking of Roanoke Island and the
battle of N"wbcrn were among it's
martial experiences and meanwhile
| officers and men united in tribute to
| Mr.. Gilmore as patriot, musician and
gentleman. His reciprocal spirit con-
| ccvcd the volunteer series of concerts
| for the relief of the regiments pre-
vi"nsy mentioned in the Irish World
columns whose net receipts are on
record as Il national bcncfuction bring
i ing MIR. Gilmore official thanks. Later
Governor Andrews placed the rcorgani-
Zation of military bands for the field il
Mr.. Gimorc'S laids, and upon his ar
rival in New Orleans Gen. Banks, then
| IN command. created him bnndmaster-
general. which position he filled with
| lcNcr-ihcrrtsinE cmincncc ana success.
attaining his apex of national service
and honor when, at the inauguration
of Governor Hahn. of Louisiana, his
| magnificent achievement in Lafayette
Square. New Orleans, when ten thou
sand rebel school children accompanied
by six hundred Observation-Disclosures. bat
| t"ries of thirty-siX guns ana the fire
of three regiments of infantry, rose
| with burners in hand nt the command
| of his baton and in glorious unison
| gave tn" Star Spangled Banner"
| ''rhe Union Forever and other ma
| tiOnal and patriotic anthems The
| whole country rang with Mr. Gimore's
| praises, ana he was rendered a. com
plimcntary banquet ut the ST. Charles
| hotel by one hundred prominent repre-
| Scntative& of army, navy, national and
| city government. who presented him
| with an inscribed silver goblet contain
| ing five hundred gold pieces (when
| gold was at two hundred), and Il letter
| from Governor Hahn to President Lin
coin introducing Patrick S. Gilmore as
"a musician of the highest abilities and
| Il true gentleman" who had rendered
important aid to the nations cause by
his faithful and patriotic services"
1t was in June. 1867, when like an
inspiration, flashed upon Mr. Gilmore's
patriotic spirit the conception of ma
jestic musical celebration of the res
| toration of peace. A national peace
jubilee, so the great idea defined it
self, and the protector thus described
his colossal vision:
"a great coliseum will be erected to
hold at least fifty thousand people. The
president Of the United States, Con-
gress, heads of departments, foreign
ministers, state governors and all the
representative and leading men of the