Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-29

As each contingent swung along ap-
plause broke out afresh and many of
the old soldiers responded to the Presi-
dents greeting by waving flags.
Tired by the march from the Capitol
to the White House. little more than
a mile, veterans looked exhausted
when they reached the Presidents
stand. Many leaned upon younger
and more robust comrades. A few
strobe forward with unfaltering steps.
The President stood throughout the
entire review. removing his hat each
time an American flag passed.
Veterans Marched Well
| The procession was headed by Lieu
tenant General Nelson A. Miles, re-
tired, who upon his arrival before the
| White House dismounted and Joined
the President In the reviewing stand.
Then came detachments of regular
soldiers. sailors and militia, Sons of
| Veterans followed and directly behind
them, led by the United States Marine
Band, came the first of the old sol
diers.
Considering the advanced age of the
men there seemed few exhaustions.
The marching distance had been
shortened as much as possible and the
weather was ideal, the heat from the
sun being tempered by a crisp breeze.
|
applause from the crowds. There
were times of course, when the shrill
tones from the fifer sounded a little
weak, but that made no difference to
those that heard. One corps was fol-
lowed by single old soldier marching
equipped just as he had marched fifty
years ago, his knapsack and blanket
strapped to his bent back. On his
shoulders he carried the same musket
he used throughout the war.
| The grand parade and Presidential
review was the crowning event of the
annual reunion of the Grand Army of
the Republic. 1t was in commemor-
alton of the grand review after the
close of the Civil war.
A half century ago President John
son from a grandstand in front of the
White House reviewed 10000 con-
querers of the Army of the North.
To-day President Wilson from the
same spot greeted the survivors. Esti-
mates placed the number of veterans
in line at from 10000 to 10000.
Pennsylvania avenue from the Cap
itol to the White House was thronged
with crowd of spectators that rivaled
Inauguration times. All departments
ments, the public schools and practiC-
ally all business houses were closed
| for the occasion.
March to White House
The line of march was from Peace
Monument, at the west entrance of the
Capitol grounds up Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and through a court of honor,
erected in front of the White House.
At the head of the procession was
Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles.
with distinguished army and navy Off
GERS as his aids. Colonel George A.
Holsey, chief of staff of the command
erin chief of the G. A. r., was the
active marshal of the parade. The
u. S. Grant Post of Brooklyn, n. Y,
acted as special guard to Commander
in-chief Palmer.
In addition to the veterans in line
there were Sons of Veterans. various
citizen military ORGANIZATIONS troops
OF the regular army, signal corps and
sailors from the fleet of warships an
ehored in the Potomac Veterans
marched in their respective Grand
Army departments the line being
headed by the Department of Illinois.
which was the first to be organized
after the war.
Signal Announces Parade
Lieutenant George G. Round. presi-
dent of the Veteran Signal Corps AS
sociation, gave the signal announcing
the start of the parade.
With President Wilson to review the
procession were members of the cab
met, other distinguished officers of the
| United States, justice of the Supreme
Court and members of Congress.
Other events of the days program
included a drill by blue jackets from
the warships on the white lot, a recep-
| ton in honor of the commander-in-
chief and national officers of the G.
A. r. by the ladies of the q. A. r.
and camp reunions.
President Wilson, accompanied by
military and naval aids, left the White
House to take his place in the review
ing stand when guns fired on the Mall
announced the start of the procession.
| The President was greeted with
cheers as he entered his box and took
a place on the spot President John
son reviewed the Union troops at the
close of the Civil war.
The Presidents Party
Secretaries Garrison and Daniels
occupied seats to the left and right
respectively of the President, and be-
hind him were grouped other members
of the cabinet. others in the Presi-
dents party were Miss Helen Wood
row Bones Col. David j. Palmer. com
mander-in-chief of the G. A. r.. Will
liam L. GUIDE. chairman of the general
citizens committee and Lieutenant
General Nelson A. Miles, grand mar
shall of the parade, who took a place
there after the head of the parade had
passed.
| At the Presidents reviewing stand
was a guard of honor of soldiers, sail
ors and marines.
! Directly over tho Presidents box
large American flag fiuttered and be-
side it were the flags of the Secretary
of War and the Secretary of the Navy.
| A part of his box was draped with
! flags used in the war.
Other boxes in the Presidents stand
were occupied by Civil war nurses.
! The court of honor in front of the
White House was decorated with flags
and green and white bunting and the
stands were packed with government
| officials members OF the diplomatic
corps relatives and friends of the vet