National Republican., 1880-03-05
TIE GRAND ARMY.
Presentation of a Badge to Com
mander Dingman.
Handsome Compliment to a Retiring oGcer
An Eloquent Address by tho New
Department Commander Growth
and Aims of the Grand Army
of tho kcpublio-.IIonors
to Comrndc, sc,
Commander Dingmnn's New Badge.


large number Of the members Of tho q.
A. r. in this city met with Lincoln Post, No.
3, last evening, tho occasion being an official
visit by the ncwly.elcctod Department Com
mamder and staff, aud also the presentation OF
a badge to the late Department Commander,
Harrison Dngman, by his successor Comrade
G. G. Royce. Commander Royce after refor.
ring to tho excellent condition of tho order in
this District when he assumed command,
said
An organization like ours from the clrcum.
stances which give rsr tO It's birth from the nObil
ily OF ts objects and from the great good itarealy
has and Is stil capable OF accomplishing should
commend Itself to The approval ana patronage not
only OF ovcry linton veteran OF the late war; but Of
every loyal community in tho land Into this order
mo man npUn whom the stain Of treason rests can
come but into this order every man who holds
his badge Of loyalty n the shape OF an honorable
discharge from the Union army or navy may come;
and comrudcs It Is your business ani my business
to see that they nro Induced TO come. Letu one
who is eligible plead ns his excuse Ignorance ofthc
objects, aims aud purposes OF our organization. II
the roar Of artillery tho rattle of inuskeiry and tho
gle1nl OF Tho b0yonet, thoro was CHRIST |
euod with tro and blood an organization
which, II measured by tho standard OF spOu-
nnoous aud disintcrescd patriotism, love Of
liberty and hatred of oppression in all It's fprns has
never been cqualed among men. II is now nearly
hNcuu years since the broken, exhausted mud dis.
united fragments OF that orgunz cation retired from
the fields Of their victorlou, yNor to the peaceful
pursuits OF civil life. \ wear later and il had be-
come manifest that the great wor, OF that orgauizi.
ton had not been completed; that its lab0rs In the
field had cntGilcd upon It the duty of assuming
other and not less important and responsible bur
dcnS at home. The interests and welfare Of COM
rudas needed protection and promotion. the disU.
| bhiliCs and sulluringS OF the malmei required
practical treatment and alienation and the mouui-
lug hearts and empty hands OF tho widow and
| ftlhorlcs demanded thnt warmcst sympathy ana
most Hpetb Ch0rlty whlCh ever chAtncirri2cs lie
true soldier. Out of these stronghold necessities
there was CryStallizel, born again, 1t were
tailed with new conditions of life and animated
different 4
Republic. It's mission IS peace and love
not war ana hate 1t exists to supply, in Us
large q measure as may be- the strong love
ana fostering care Of the departed husband,
father and brother. IL lives TO pcrpctuuc the mem
DRY Of their heroic deeds and to pUy an annual
| tribute Of respect through the omOlcmltic love
| buds and blossoms of May, TO their departed but
unorgOttcn yalor lt lives not TO aggrnVutc per-
! petuale animosities; not to stimulate or encourage
| further blOOdShCd, but with charity which COW
croth multitude OF sins, md Loyalty true and
as constant to free government Us the pole Star to
the mariner it establishes its right TO exist and 10
| demand the appreciation, encouragement and pa
| tronage Of every lover Of his country and OF muu
| kind. In this age which to many seems 50 mrr.
cenury and so mean, you, comrades, and those who
lie OH yondcr hills lot your friends and families
and all the comforts, refnemeuts aud luxurics of
| American homes 10 march with bisterins feet be.
meath burning sun 10 battle; 10 bvouac amid the
| deudly malaria Of Southern swamps. TO starve
| and rot in Southern prisons to waste away with
| fever in camp AMI hospital: 10 become an evcry.
| day companion OF hunger aud cold and wearincss
| and want, disease and wounds and death in their
| most fearful forms. And why? IA order tRt the
government of the people, Tor the people aud By
| the people should not perish from among men.
But great aS was the sacrifice the benefits II has
| brought to us are commensurate in magnitude.
| We have country one aud undivided. We are u
| Nation, and no longer coutedcrGcy of States,
| bound together by constitutional ropo Of sand,
| which any member Of the cOnloderacy might break
| at pleasure.
Speaking of the struggle to keep up tho
organization in years past and how the crisis
was safely tded, Commander Royce said IL
| was not his object 10 give the entire credit to
any particular cOmTade, for that could not bU
fairly done, but
There was one, who, rs the representative head Of
our order; as the one who organized regulated and
guided its official conduct; as one who was always
found giving the announcement Of his presence
and lending the weight OF his influence to increase
the enthusiasm and promote the gathering strength
and proportions Of the boom; rs one whose heart
has been always filled and whose pocket has been
often empcd in his enthusiastic love for the Il. a
X. aud It's ptuCiplCS-l sny there Is one in whom
oil these qualities have had an abiding place; who
but recently retired from the position oIDcpartment
CommanIer and whose presence hero Tonight
renders II almost unnecessary that should pro.
nonnco the name Of Comrade Harrison Dngnian.
Believing that the earnest Rnd dsinterestel lubOrcr
in the cause Of fraternity, charity and loyalty is
| peculiarly worthy and deserving of the gratitude
and recognition OF his Co-labDrers, YOU comTudcs
felt 1t 10 be your duty, rs well your pleasure
| evince some slight token OF your regard for the
| lantry q soldier and his services as a comride
and officer of the q. \. X. In fulhll mcut Of the
sentiment of regard thus felt and expressed by
YOU, and as your representative, now take tho
sinccrcst pleasure in presenting to Comrade Ding
man, IN the name Of all the comrades of all tile
Posts In this Department this badge, symbolic Of u
principle more ancient than the pyramids Of
| Egypt, more honorable than the stamp Of royalty,
principle OF loyalty or love OF country.
The badge is Of gold and of beaut.
ful and appropriate design. At the top
is an eagle with widespread wings,
casping in its taons miniature Rank
Badge of Department Commander, which
consists Of gold mOlding or border nlHid with
black enamel aud containing two diamond
stars. In the centre, botwesn the stars Is tho
monogram sc. A. RI To the left aud right
Of the Rank Badge" on white enamel, in
gold letters, are the words, "Dcp't Com'l'r"
Immediately beneath is, "1579-Potomac."
Pendent from the centre, in gold and black
enamel, hangs a miniature Grand Army badge,
on the back of which Is engraved tho number
~ of Comrade Diugmaus post. By gold
Chain, pendent from each ond Of the Rank
Badge Isl massive gold and enamel fac Sinils
OF the Fifth Army Corps badge, on the face Of
which appears III ~ Y. w." being the regi.
ment aud corps in which Comrade Dingman
served. On the back Of tho corps badge is the
following inscription Presented 10 Harrison
DmgInan, Commander Department of tho
Potomac, G. A. r., by his comrades as a testi
mOnial Of their regard for his worth as q man.
his gallautry rs soldier aud his services as II
comrade and officer of the q. \. r."
Commander Dlngman was completely sur
pTsed, he not having heard Of the handsome
present up to tho moment IL was referred to
BY Comrade Royce in his speech. He replied
briefly, saying that words could not express
his gratitude, aud retired amid Three cheers
aud q tiger"
Comrade Fred Thomson, tho late Assistant
Adjutant.General of the Department of the
Potomac, was then presented with Grand
Army badge and clasp, and thanked his com.
radss for the present. Speeches were made by
several OF those present, aud il was nearly mid.
night before tho meeting closed.
Job Lot solid silver watches
at $50, Jacobs Bros, 1920 Pennsylvania
avenue.