River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-09-18
YANKEES INVADING
SOUTH ONCE MORE
FoRTY-SEvENTH G. A. r. ENcAMP
MENT OPENS IN
CHATTANOOGA.
ARE GIVEN GLAD WELCOME
First Time the Veterans of the North
Have Held Meeting South of Ma
SON and Dixon Line-Reunion
on Chickamauga Field.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. 15.-Held
for the first time in real southern ter.
ritory and in close proximity to some
Of the most famous battlefields of the
Civil war, the forty-seventh annual ma.
ional encampment of the Grand Army
Of the Republic was officially opened
today with a reception at the Hotel
Patten. At the reception, the veterans
who wore the blue were welcomed to
Dixie by the citizens of Chattanooga
This second invasion of the Sunny
South" evinced far different spirit
than that which actuated the norther'
ners half century ago. This time
their mission is one of peace and
friendship. The old animosities are
forgotten, and on the reception com.
mittee, which welcomed the boys in
blue as they arrived from various
parts of the country, were many men
Of prominence in the Confederate
army.
Three Important Battles.
Not only is this the red letter en-.
campment of the G. A. r. because it is
the first meeting south of the Mason
and Dixon line, but the present year
also marks the semi-centennial of the
battles of Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, all
within a short distance of this city,
In fact, the exact anniversary OF the
battle of Chickamauga falls on the
last two days of the encampment
September 10 and 20. Adam Foust
president Of the Chickamauga Surviv
ors' association has issued a call for
all survivors of the battle, whether
they fought under the stars and
stripes or the stars and bars, to as.
semble on the battlefield on Saturday
morning, when appropriate exercise,
commemorative of the battle will be
held.
Elaborate Program Prepared.
The Chattanooga encampment asso.
citation has arranged an elaborate pro.
gram of entertainment for the griz.
zled veterans and their friends. Chief
among the events will be a sham bat.
tie between two regiments of United
States troops on the field of Bloody
Chickamauga." 1t is intended to re.
produce the battle as closely as pos
sible and the climax will come at
Snodgrass Hill, where on September
20 1868, the battle ragged the fer.
cest.
Another spectacular feature will be
''The Battle Above the Clouds" done
in fireworks on Lookout Mountain
This spectacle will be visible for miles
around and can be viewed from four
states.
Reunion on Battlefield.
Survivors of the battle of Mission.
airy Ridge, fought in November OF
1863, will also meet on the scene OF
battle and hold appropriate exercises.
The battle of Missionary Ridge, was
the closing battle of the Tennessee
campaign, for the Confederates re
treated to Georgia and General Sher.
man began his famous march to the
sea.
Another interesting feature of the
encampment will be the huge veter>
ans parade, in which it is expected
that between $4,000 and 10000 Union
veterans will participate. For many
of the old boys, this will be the last
march as the heavy hand of time is
rapidly devastating their ranks. With
step not quite so firm and eyes dulled
by time these aged heroes will again
tramp through the streets of Chatta.
nooga, most of them for the first time
in half a century.