Arizona republican., 1913-09-08
Preparation for the Semi Centennial Celebration at Chattanooga Next Week of That Great Battle of the Civil War
GRAY MEN AND BLUE
 MEET THERE AGAIN
National Encampment of Grand Army of the Re public Will Meet There on a Near-Anniversary of Carnage
Special to The Republican,

Special to The Republican, CHATTANOOGA, Sept. 6.-'I am coming to the national encampment. l may never attend another. I want to see old Lookout Mountain again and Snodgrass Hill and the battle fields of Nashville and Franklin. And I want to meet my old comrades. probably for the last time, in the shadow of Missionary Ridge, where we fought side by side in the battle above the clouds just fifty years ago"
 The above is but one of thousands
 of similar letters that have been re-
 ceived by the local committees from
 veterans all over the country and
 which indicate that the national en- campment of the Grand Army of the
 Republic soon to assemble in this city will be one of the best attended in the history of that organization.
 The encampment will be far broad CT in it's scope than mere reunion of the soldiers who wore the blue The indications are that thousands of gray-clad veterans who followed the fortunes of the confederacy will be present to greet their former foes and to join with them in saluting the starry banner that waves over north and south alike. As a demonstration of patriotism the encampment prom ises to be scarcely less notable than the great reunion held on the battle field of Gettysburg in the early sum mer.
 The activities of the encampment will begin one week from today, when Alfred B. Beers, of Bridgeport, Conn, chief of the c. A. R,
 
 headquarters at the Hotel Patten- For the seven days following there will be a constant succession of in teresting events The end of the en- campment will come on the fiftieth of the closing day of the great battle of Chicagmauga, where American met American on one ot the most hotly contested fields of the war where many thousands on both sides gave their lives or suffered from wounds fighting for that which they believed was right.
 Chattanooga expects to entertain 20O, 900 visitors during the week of the encampment The first two days will be given over entirely to reunions of army corps. brigades and regiments that participated in the many battles that were fought in this vicinity. T>-o of the most notable of these reunions will be held by the Society of the Army of the Cumberland and by the survivors of Wilder's brigade.
 The annual parade, always one of the most impressive features Of the G. A R. encampments, will take place Wednesday morning. Many of the old soldiers will be too feeble to march in the ranks with their
 T01 aT ments have been made to- furnish carriages and automobiles for those who wish to participate in the par ade. despite their inability to stand the severe strain of marching. Others will occupy seats in the reviewing stands. where they can witness the parade and cheer their comrades as they pass.
 The first business session of the national encampment will open on Thursday morning. The principal item of business will be the selection of a new commander-in- chief. The contest for the honor already bids fair to be one of the most spirited in many years. Five states. South Dakota, Michigan, New Jersey, lndi- ana and Nebraska have entered ia vorite sons in the race. South Dako- ta has indorsed Captain H. Ii. King man, who served through the war with the thirteenth Wisconsin regl- ment and has been one of the prom inent figures in the c. A. K since it's organization. The choice of Mich igan is x-Congressman Washington Gardner, who enlister in the union army when only sixteen and followed Sherman frou Chattanooga to At Ianta. New Jerseys candidate IS Col Ralph D. Cole, who is expected to have the support of many veterans of the east and the New England states. Indiana is campaigning for Comrade O. A. Somers, who counts upon the support of all who believe that the time has come when a pri- vate soldier should be hOnored. Neb- raska has entered the lists with Col. C. F. Adams. a banker and farmer of Superior. Neb., who has distin- guished war record linked with the history of the Fourteenth Army corps.
 But after all, the business of the will be of secondary The informal reunions.
 (CoptiDuad ou Pape TweIveN