The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-27

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, halting 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 a rapidity that is appalling. Last
year nearly 6,OOO of the gray-haired
men who compose the Grand Army
died 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 be
enough able-bodied men In the ranks
to I'LL good sized hall.
This estimate is based on the pres.
ent membership Of the Grand Army
OF course If one in figuring takes the
pension list as a basis there will be
different result. There are on the pen.
sion roll at Washington about 100000
names of men who fought for the north
during the Civil war. THESE are dying
at the rate of $4,000 yearly, about four
an hour.
More than half of these though ell
gible are not members of the Grand
Army, probably because they do not
feel themselves vigorous or active
minded enough to Join.
Commander in Chief Van SAINT, ad-
dressing the veterans at the recent
encampment gave the number of mem.
bers at the beginning of the present
year at 213,001. One year ago the
number was 100000, while in January
1908, there were on the roll of the
Grand Army 225,57O names. Thus ii
can be seen that the great organiza1
hon is rapidly and surely approaching
the day when an earthly reunion of its
members will be DO longer possible.
At the present death rate the G. A.
R. will be able to keep up its 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 theiI
homes and irresponsive to the sum
mems to assemble.
II Is certain that there will never
Rgain be a parade like the one re-
viewed a few weeks ago at Atlantic
City by Viee-President Sherman
Many of those who participated in this
feature of the encampment this yeaI
-
thought uppeFmost in their breasts
They will look back to the AFFAIR as an
occasion when they bade farewell ia
one another forever on this side Of the
eternal bivouac.
Almost all Of the great generals arc
gone. Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
long ago were laid away to rest. Only
three corps commanders are left Gen
eral siches, approaching his eighty
seventh birthday, is still hearty; Gen
bral Dodge has given up none of his
activities, while General Wilson id
Delaware is writing history and enjoy
ing life. Aside from these there ia
scarcely a Union officer who was gem
orally known when the conflict ended
who Is alive today.
; No officer is more loved and revel
by the rank and file of the Grand Army
than is General Sickles. When the old
war horse" made his appearance al
the recent encampment and hobbled,
with the aid of his crutches, toward
the speakers stand It was the signal
for an outburst of frenzied cheering
that issued from the throats of the vet.
Grams for half an hour after they had
borne him on their shoulders to the
fag-hung platform.