Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-09

Washington, Aug S.-The Grand Army
encampment will hold many honors for
the Civil War veterans but apart from
the Grand Review to be held here Sep
terhcr 2,-October IAN historic echo
of that other review Of 50 years ago-it is
doubtful if any plan will exceed in emo
tional value a visit to the :<ational Mu-
seum's exhibit of flags, weapons, uni
forms and other relics of the great war.
For every veteran who marches along
historic Pennsylvania avenue, a link in
the chain which connects his twilight
years with the immortal army of his
youth. there will be some predominating
memory of war days to keep step with
him to the call Of Gfe and drum.
And over in the National museum the
big moment Of his life may again vision
itself in memory, that, sparklike, will
flash out its glimpse of long ago SOL
der boy who was daring enough to fol-
low wherever a flag led the way. From
Sumpter to AppomattoX the museum
sketches the war by means of many rec
ords. the most unusual of which is a
bulle; -riddled stump, which tells the
story of Spottsylvania Court House.
To the old soldier who had his share
in that battle. the stump means some
thing more than SO much dead wood,
He sees it a giant oah. spreading its CEN
turtles of leafy shade over those Confed-
crate intrenchments. But he can see it,.
by enemy musket balls during an at
tempt to recapture the works. The bat
tered chunk has bridged the gulf Of a
half century.
Ulysses s. Grant will live in their
memories until the last pulse beat of
the last boy in blue, and the belongings
of the commanding general of the army
der who fought under him in the Civil
war.
Shoulder straps, buttons, hat ornaments
and epaulets, grouped in the order in
which they were earned, serve as SO
many stepping stones to the heights of
military glory to which the hero at
tanned, and there is war-grimed uni
form which looks as if it had gone
through more than enough to earn the
"gold-fringed epaulets of the general of
the army" which blaze in a gorgeous
heap nearby. The Grant collection is
large enough to fill four great cases, and
so varied in character as to represent al
most every quarter of the globe. The
smallest exhibit is a jade cup, the size
and color of a wild ducks egg, and not
much thicker than its shell. 1t was a
gift from the regent of China at the
time of General Grants visit to the
Orient. The largest specimen is mag
nifcent buffet, composed of cloud-tintesl
onyx, veined with dozen colors, and
mounted in dull. carved brass.
The citizens of Pueblo. Mexico. took this
method of expressing their appreciation
of their warrior guest"
Though the equestrian statue of Grant
will not be completed in time for the en-
campment, a bronze Sherman on bronze
steed will figure in the coming review.
The museum also recalls the valiant
Sherman with his service sword used at
Shiloh, and a breastpin made of but
tons from the uniform worn by him on
his march to the sea.
There are war flags that carry thrill
In each frayed stripe ana tdrnlSneQ star.
from the garrison standard, lowered at
Fort Moultrie in 1860. when Major An
derson and his command evacuated that
post to occupy Fort Sump,er. to the flag
raised at Richmond in 1865, each powder
marked, bullet-torn emblem represents
chapter of national history written in
indelible red, white and blue.
And there is another flag. 1t is such
long flag that it's length stretches the
course of several cases. Its four stripes
are each a yard wide and its nine stars
are larger than any starfish that ever
came out of the sea. From end to end ii
is incased in a honeycomb mesh of Irvine,
precaution taken to preserve it's glory
for the coming ages, for this is the gar
sison flag that so proudly waved over
Fort McHenry during the bombardment
of the British in 1914, and which inspired
Francis Scott Key to write the 'Star
Spangled Banner The flag was placed
in the museum by relative of Col.
George Armistead, commander of the
fort, who with his men won victory for
the standard in 1.-The dawn's early light"
The Grand Army veteran will live
forever in song md story b1ft the uea-