Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-31
Grand Army Of the Republic.

partment Of the Grand Army Of the Republic
opened in due form at Grand Army Hall, In Bur
lington, Wednesday, January "a. The hall had
been tastefuly hung with the United States col
and flags of the various army corps and
stacks Of arms, and piece Of artillery, decorated
with two Of the old tatteredarm fags-viz. Cen
eial Wells headquarters flag and the flag of the
Third Brigade Of Clusters Division Of Cavalry
were among the appropriate military decorations.
Department Commander r. 5. Peck was In the
chair. Thirteen Posts were represented.
The following Post Commanders were also pres
ent: Commander Henry, Of Post Stannard Jo-
doin, Of Post Cummings; Coffey, Of Post Brooks
Sneden, Of Post Sampson; Maynard, Of Post War
ner; Goodrich of Post Ellsworth Wilson, of
Post Hall
About twenty comrades were also present as
spectators.
At the opening Of the Encampmeut the dele
gates marched into the Hall, where they were re-
ceved by members of Post Stannard with ga
Lutte, and Commander Henry, in brief address,
welcomed the delegates in behalf Of Post Stan
nard and the citizens Of Burlington.
In the absence Of Senior Vice-Commander L.
Wales, the Department Commander appointed
Junior Vice Commander G. d. Williams to act rs
Senior vice-Commander for the occasion; Com
rade r. =. Pitkin to act as Junior vice-Commander
and Comrade J. II. Gouldng as Chaplain.
On motion of Comrade Goulding, the Encamp-
ment adopted the rules Of order of the National
Encampment as the rules for this Encampment
The committee on credentials reported and the re-
port was accepted.
The annual reports were then presented.
The annual report of the Department Com
mander mentioned the establishment of four new
posts during the year, viz Posts Eaton, Rochester,
Hall, Worcester; Sampson, Weybridge; Pike
Readsboro; Fletcher Walllngford, and additions
of three hundred and twenty-one members TO the
membership Of the department Post Brooks was
the banner post, having made the largest increase
The soldiers graves had been more generally
decorated throughout the state than ever before
and several posts had erected headstones over the
unmarked graves of fallen comrades The report
showed in general, a noticeable increase of inter
est and efficiency in the department
Assistant Adjutant- General Taplin reported a
total increase of three hundred and twenty-one
members loss of one hundred and fifty-three by
suspensions and removals, and a total member
ship of eight hundred and twenty.
The report of the Assistant Quartermaster-
General was read by Assistant Quartermaster-
General T., L. Greenleaf and the report Of the
Assistant Inspector General by Assistant Inspector
General l.. j. Smith
The report of Medical Director c. p. Thayer
showed ninety-nne men ON the rolls suffering
from disabilities from wounds received in the SER
vice, seventeen of the number having suffered
amputation.
The reports were accepted, and the Encamp-
ment then adjourned to two o'clock p. NJ
In the afternoon Comrade Coffey, chairman OF
the committee on reports Of officers, reported COM
mending the various reports; also recommending
that the department do not meet at the Benning-
ton Centennial as a separate organization. After
some discussion, the report and recommendations
were adopted The following resolution was in
troduced by Commde Root: Whereas, One of
the chief objects of this order is charity therefore,
ReSOiUed, That n committee of three comrades be
appointed inquire into epracticabty OF found
ing n soldiers and sailors home in this state so
that needy and deserving men who have served
the country shall not wander about without a
home, and said committee To report at the next
encampment"
The resolution was amended by increasing the
number of the committee to six, and was adopted
and the following comrades were appointed as
such committee: Geo. H. Bigeow, p =. Ptkin,
A. G. Watson j. II. Dyer II. c. Lul Stephen
Thomas
ON motion of Comrade Dyer it voted that
the matter of education of needy children OF
soldiers in the state be referred to the above
mittee.
The Encampment proceeded to the election OF
officers for the year ensuing, and the following
were duly elected officers for 1877. Department
Commander, r. S. Peck, Burlington: Senior Vice
Commander, c. d. Williams, Mortified; junior
vice-C Commander, II. S. Hard, Arlington; Medical
Director, c. p Thayer, NJ. D., Burlngtoni Chap
lain, Rev n n. Glazer Montpelier. Council oil
Administration, j. H. Goulding, Rutland; p. =
Pitkin, Montpelier; A. j. Noyes, North Bennng
ton; j. II. Newton, st. Adams; T.. Wales Brattle
| boro Representative at Large to the Nationa
Eneampment, Comrade G. G. Benedict, Burling
ton; Alternate Comade Fred +. Smith, Montpe
lier. Delegate to the National Encampment Com
rade j. II. Goulding, Rutland Alternate, Willard
Holden, Arlington
In the evening" the delegates met with Pos
Staunard and number of citizens, in the Hall Of
| the Post, for Campfire Comrade Lull,
Montpelier, gave the paper of the evening, beinI
an account of his experiences and observations il
Andersonville and other rebel PRISONS the har
rowing details of which were recounted will
strong and graphic interest.
Ex-Post-C Commander Gibbs added a few word
of testimony to the truth Of the pictures. Song
were sung by the Post Glee Club, and the occa
sion passed off pleasantly.
At half-past nine o'clock, the delegates wer
the guests Of Post Stannard, at supper at tn
Van Ness House. Some eighty veterans sat dow
to the long tables and did full justice to tn
boned turkey, pate de .foie gras, game, oysters
and other decaces of the elegant repast
Commander Henry presided, with Departmer
Commander Peck, and Generals Wells, Pitkin an
Barstow, on either hand, and called up the speal
ers with apt introductions.