Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-02-23

was a decade or so ago The firm tread
Of the soldier has left the men who fill
the ranks of the Grand Army now.
and a tottering, hating march to the
strains Of music and the beating of
drums has taken its place.
The veterans of the great Civil war
are being called to the last MUSTER
with rapidity that is appalling. Last,
year nearly 5000 Of the gray-haired
men who compose the Grand Army
lied, and it is estimated that because
Of the enfeebled condition of so many
members of that great organization,
these figures will be doubled when the
roll call is read next year. In ten,
years, say men who have given the!
matter careful study, there will not bel
enough able-bodied men in the ranks
to fill a good sized hail.
This estimate is based on the pres-i
snt membership of the Grand Army
Of course If one in figuring takes the
pension list as a basis there will be al
different result There are on the penn
sion roll at Washington about 6OO,OO0i
lanes Of men who fought for the north
Turing the Civil war. These are dying
1t the rate of $4,000 yearly, about four
IN hour ,9eAs s}AFas %:
More than half Of these though ELI;
sible are not members Of the Grand
Army, probably because they do not;
eel themselves vigorous or active
mind enough to Join.
Commander in Chief Van SAINT, adj
dressing the veterans at the recent|
| sncampment gave the number of menu
oers at the beginning Of the present.
year at 2213,0O1. One year ago the;
number was 100000, while in January.
1908, there were on the roll of the1
Grand Army 225,570 names. Thus I'll
can be seen that the great organiza-,
ion is rapidly and surely approaching
The day when an earthly reunion of its;
members will be no longer possible. u;
At the present death rate the G. AL
r. will be able to keep up It's annual!
gathering and parades for about ten
years. After that the aging army IS;
likely to become as are the Mexican
War veterans, loath to. leave their,
homes and irresponsible to the sum-
mons to assemble.
1t Is certain that there will never
again be parade like the one re-,
Viewed few weeks ago at Atlantic
City by Vice President Sherman.
Many of those who participated in this
feature of the encampment this year
have reached their homes with this
thought uppermost in their breasts.
They will look back to the affair as an,
occasion when they babe farewell to-
pne another forever on this side of the.
eternal bivouac.
Almost all of the great generals are
gone. Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
long ago We're laid away to rest. Only.
:hree corps commanders are left. Gem
sral Sickles, approaching his eighty.
seventh birthday, is still hearty; Cen.
eral Dodge has given up none of his;
activities, while General Wilson mi.
Delaware is writing history and enioy.,
Ing life Aside from these there ia,
scarcely a Union officer who was gen.
orally known when the conflict ended
who is alive today.
No officer is more loved and reyered
BY the rank and file of the Grand Army
han is General Sickles. When the old,
war horse" made his appearance at
the recent encampment and hobb,ed
with the aid of his crutches toward
the speakers stand it was the signal
Tor an outburst of frenzied cheering
that issued from the Threats of the vet.
Grams for half an hour after thew had
] bsrne him on their shoulders to tba
| dag-hung platform.