Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-11-14
BLUE-GRAY JUBILEE
REUNION AT THE OLD HISTORIC
BATTLE FIELD
COmrade Sallander and Wife Attend
description of Their Trip
and Impressions


savanna for CHICAGO. and left there on the
I sEeeiai train at II 80 D. m. We expected to
arrive in Corinth at ,. m. Sunday. the 14th,
but all trains were behind time. we did not
arrive till after dark. The people Of Corinth
hac prepared a reception for the old veta.
The street and the town hall were elaborafpIv
trimned With flags and bunting. and q speak
I er was on hand to address them. The train
stopped oniy 30 minutes, there was .isap-
/ pOintment all around. There ~ t Rev.
Jones. former resident % Viola When he
heard we were from near Virosua he inquir-
cd about Tate, Pollard. Fred Eeskart and
ether ViroQuaites We stopped at Jackson.
Mississippi, about two hours Some went cut
/ % sec the town The street vsgs on looked
ike the street in Madison that rams north
Z from the capital 20 the lake.
We arrived in Nieks5urg at the military
park NJ z 10 y. ~. MONDAY, the 18th. The
/ opening Of the reunion Was TO he Tuesday. 0c-
tuber 18th, but the constant arrival Of vet
Grams all during the day Sunday and uonday
forced the officials 10 throw the camp open to
/ them two days in advance OF the scheduled
/ date. The veterans who had arrived. amused
| themselves in various ways small groupes
could be seen in different parts of the park
| explaining various points of interest and GO
| ing over the grounds on which they fought
over fifty years ago. Some remained around
cam discussing various topics, others relat-
| ing , rms; SINE sang old-time songs. while
others N-ept fhe Boy Scouts performed ex-
cellent sers:>.. taking up their headquarters
at the veterans camp. where they sta
| toned until after the close Of the reunion.
Some kept at the bureau of information
| located at the board Of trade rooms, and as
sisted in the handling of the large number of
/ persons who applied there for information,
the Scouts having been used TO direct visitors
! The messing facilities consisted of two large
kitchens, each of which have tables to ac-
! commodate 10000 veterans at one sitting.
| One of these kitchens / had the privilege to
| inspect There ten large ranges with
| ten barrels for cooking purposes. These bar
rels were supplied with hot water and steam
| from tank of water just outside of the kit
chen. The barrels had a troly overhead for
quick service in handling bags of cereals.
/ tee. Near the kitchen was large trough
4 thirty or forty feet long four feet wide and
| two feet deep, heated by steam from the boil
| or for keeping the food hot that it could
| be served hot throughout. food being cut Up
before being taken from the kitchen. There
were several double barrels for making French
dripped coffee; it was fine The meats were
| roast pork. roast beef. mutton and fish, pota-
/ toes, rice. prunes and molasses, bakers bread
/ and good creamery butter. The first two days
i ladies' were not allowed TO eat with the vets.
/ After that W all ate az the same table. All
the cooking and serving was done by colored
people
There was plenty Of music by the big color
! ed band and l55th Mississippi Infantry band
| and others. The soldiers had charge of the
! traffic. Army trucks arrived at intervals
| bringing more veterans from railroad stations
| 70 the camp. Transportation was free 20
| every body. to the city aud to the cemetery.
| Water for drinking purposes was provided by
| pipes direct from the city main TO all parts
| of the camp. Convenience We're provided
/ through the park for the veterans as well as
1 for visitors. A line Of faucets and basins
| were PLACED at intervals where the veterans
| could wash. The great amphitheatre at the
| central part Of the camp accommodating
| probably ten thousand. decorated 10y flags
| of all Allies and Union and Confederate flags.
/ Electric lights strung throughout the
| camp, hundreds of oriental lanterns electri-
| cally lighted. There was speaking and amuse-
ment for the vets morning and evening.
/ Necessary protection was taken against FIRE.
There were fire hydrants every % ieet real
| carts. tee, and each tent was provided with
| one or more fire extinguishers. There were
| on duty day and night regular hremen who
| were in charge OF that.
| The tent city was an inspiring sight The
| largest white tent. formerly owned by Billy
SUNDAY. housed the Illinois veterans. There
| were 1925 cots in it. The Wisconsin tent was
/ dark tan with black top and in it there were
| 99S cots, all supplied with comforts and good
| pillows The Wisconsin veterans held their
| camp fire with Former Governor Upham.
| Chairman II. w. Rood, from Madison, was
! present. Enthusiasm ran high. This Won
| derful eneampment was located one and one
| half miles from Vicksburg. The city proper
/ is a neat city Of 10000 inhabitants The big
| parade vs. claimed to be the greatest IN the
eity's history. II was headed by the police
/ in uniform General Whitney and his staff
| came next, followed by the l55th infantry
/ bard. The soldier boys made a splendid i'm
| preston The Boy Scouts had their own
drum corp and a large silk flag. The old vet
! Grams passed in trucks and shouted to by
| ISLANDERS. who yelled messages of good will.
| Included in the parade were several truck
/
| tending the reunion. They drew their quota
| of cheers the parade kept in motion. The
| ladies in the automobiles and distinguished
visitors in the automobiles, fifty or more being
| in line, decorated also attracted attention.
| Other cars held city officials, Red Cross repre-
! sentatives, food administration and liberty
! loan committees
| We left Vicksburg at p. m. Friday, De-
| tober 10. The last night we were on the train
| there was an accident. it was upgrade.
| All at once the train stopped. The boiler had
| sprung aleak and put the fire out. They sent
| for another engine. It could not move the
| train. They sent for a bigger engine, We
were detained two hours. This necessitated
| leaving the dinner ear behind so there was ne
1 breakfast for the old vets. We arrived in Chi
| eago just in time to board the Burlington and
| arrived in DeSoto at p. m. feeling none the
| worse for our trip, but having had splendid
| time. Ny husband, like all of the old soldiers
! who participated in the memorable seige of
| Vickshurg, had most enjoyable time greeting
| old comrades. and probably for the last time
joining in one big peace reunion, the Blue and
] the Gray uniting their tears Of sorrow and
| joy There was no anmosity, but greeting
Of love, very much like the promised reun-
| ions Vouchsafed by Heavenly Father for
| the great reunion above. 1t a generous
| act on part of good state of Wisconsin, TO
means so that every old soldier who fought
| at Vieksburg might attend this Blue and Gray
jubilee. The gTouds and monuments are
1 beautiful to behold Wisconsin IS well re-
| presented in becoming markers for her heroes
| who fell that ground consecrated with hu-
| man blood
| Mrs NJ J. Sallander. Retreat Wis