The daily star-mirror., 1915-09-29
BATTERED BLUE
In Big PARADE
GEN. MILES WRITES HIS IMPRESS
SIONS OF THE VETERANS AS
SEEN IN LINE OF MARCH
Acted as Grand Marshal of the Parade
Of the Grand Army of the Republic
at Washington Today

aU FVdShIA6tOA
te:-General Nelson A. Miles,
Grand Marshal of today's review, who
joined President Wilson on the re-
viewing stand when he and his escort
had passed before the Executive,
wrote for the United Press this de-
cription of the event and tribute to the
men who marched)
BY GEN. NELSON A. MILES
(Written for the United Press)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Wash-
ington- looked today through the eyes
of fifty years ago.
It's populace and visitors joined with
the nations executive in reviewing the
battered blue battalions of the Grand
Army of the Republic-all that is left
of the stalwart legions, 10000 strong,
who marched with youths firm step
before the White House in review with
Sherman, Meade, Sheridan, and Han
cock at the close of the war that call
ed the army into being.
Celebrated in the most beautiful
capital, among the people of the
strongest, most prosperous republic in
the world, the 50th annual grand re-
view of the Grand Army of the Re-
public epitomized and symbolized the
spirit of our nation-Unity; and
mighty influence on all humanity
through unborn ages.
There in the vanguard of this body,
unique and filled with the essence of
tragedy and romance, marched the
remnants of Logan's men-the troops
from Illinois, John A. Logan is dead,
but can it be l saw his shadow strid-
ing on beside them
Handful of Leaders Left
Few of the handful of old leaders |
who are left from the days of 81 and |
'65 passed here today. Wilson of |
Delaware, Dodge of Iowa, Brooks of |
Pennsylvania, and Pennypacker and |
Sheridan; Osterhaus of Illinois,
Andrews of Minnesota, Connor of
Maine, and Louis Grant who fought
with Andrews; Gregg, that grand old
Pennsylvania cavalryman; Hardin of /
Chicago, Nickerson of Somerville,
Paine of Massachusetts, Pierce of
Michigan, Seward of Albany, Medford
of Oregon-all still living, but not all
here.
Their boys trooped by, though, rig
id as the dragging chains of time per-
mitted; and with them, in fancy any :
how, if not in fact, their generals went
marching on before.
Fifteenth in line marched what re-
mains of the men who fought with
George H. Thomas at Nashville. "The
Rock of Chicamauga," we called him;
9tThe Noblest Roman of Them ALL" In
Swinton's history you'll read that his
army's Nashville campaign plan turn
ed vanquishment into victory for us.
A naval banner streaming free
above the stumbling ranks brought
back the memory of John Ericsson. He
is not here, but the small group which
flew the ribboned ensign well could :
tell you about him; how he dream
ed the Monitor and heard it scoffed at;
how Lincoln overruIed the navy and
him to build the armored
ship; and how at last it saved the
Union craft the Merrimac was now =
ing down; and revolutionized all nav
al warfare.
Lines of Wonderful Story
Far down the line were the boys n
rom Delaware; and still among them n
was their gallant general, James H. e.
Wilson, leader of one of the largest il
commands during the civil war and it
who rendered important service again Ii
n the war with Spain. 81
Then there were the Pennsylvania 81
Joys, once led by the youthful gener-
il, George A. Pennypacker, who, still tt
live, carries in his person two con-
ederate bullets. m
In this parade of the Grand Army pc
f the Republic, decaying through de
ime though it is, there lie the lines TT
f wonderful story; story which w
ew of us in this day of rush and
ustle have time to pause and contem- in
late. tn
The Grand Army of the Republic or
vas the outgrowth of circumstance th
nd necessity Political problems Of SO