Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-31
Grand Army Encampment.

xEze ~s{zss--~
 stormy Day i'm sCamp-Reunton of
 the Seventh Regiment O. V.-Business
 Meetings and speeehes-The Order for
 To-day.
 The opening day for the semi-annual en- campment of the State department, Grand | Army of the Republic, and the reunion of the l Seventh regiment CIV, was most inauspi- l cious one. The morning opened with driz- 1 zline rain, but notwithstanding this fact | there were considerable delegations that as- sembled at the Union depot to take the sos train on the Shore Line road for Mantle. Among them were representatives of Admiral Foote Post of this city, Merriam Post of Meriden, Kellogg Post of Birmingham, and other Posts in this immediate v1- cinity. At Guilford a squad from Parmelee Post was taken on board, and few ''stragglers" were also picked up between Guilford and Connecticut River. Among the notable persons who boarded the train were General l.. A. Dickinson at Bran ford and General Joseph R. HawIey at Say brook Junction, the latter having come down from Hartford on the early morning train over the Valley road. On reaching Mantle, Sedgwick Post, with the Norwich City band, was found drawn up in line to receive their comrades from the eastern part of the State. After the customary military salutes the line of march was taken up for the camp, about half a mile distant, Junior Vice Commander Ira E. Hicks, of Meriden, acting as marshal. On the march to the camp the rain continued stgently flaling," but the "boys" were in ;-;Go haTnv the prospect of once more meeting and greeting old comrades The "vets" of the Seventh C. " were also in line under escort of the Grand Army On reaching camp Assistant Quartermaster General Kellogg, of North Manchester, speedily assigned the veterans to quarters in the tents left standing as occu- pied by the Third regiment at their recent encampment. Acquisitions for blankets, cups, chairs, candlesticks, etc., were made by quartermasters of Posts, and soon the old soldiers were comfortably provided for, and under the shelter of the waterproof tents were again having mild sample of life on the tented field.
 Soon after reaching camp it was learned that General Wagner, of Philadelphia, the commander-in-chi of the Grand Army would not De III Cdulp uuG11 GO-udy 1O Ao'AS" the Posts. At 1 o'clock the dinner call was sounded and the hungry veterans repaired to the dining tent where substantial hot dinner was served, which every one appeared to en- joy most heartily. By the afternoon trains came large delegation from Robert Q. Iy- Ter Post of Hartford, the Post at Manches- ter, Perkins Post of New London, and small delegations from Nathaniel Lyon Post of Hartford, the Middletown Veteran Assoela- l tion. and an addition was also made to the ranks of the Seventh Regiment Veteran Asso- ciation After quarters had been assigned to ! the new corners they were furnished with l ''rations'' at the dining tent, and after they ! had dined meetings were i'll order. That o1 1 the Seventh regiment was called ln the Colo | nel's tent, and that of the Grand Army en 1 campment in the Generals tent.
 There were about fifty veterans Tn attend 1 ance at the meeting of the Seventh regiment l which was presided over by Captain Ira E. Hicks, of Meriden Captain Hicks reported that the minutes of the last meeting, wh1cf was held on Battle Flag day at Hartford, were lost, and the reading would have to be dis pensed with.
 l A committee to present officers for the en ] suing year reported the following Fo president, Captain Ira F. Hicks; for vic l presidents, Colonel D. c. Rodman; E. E termaster, Capt William If. Augur. Capt Hicks returned thanks for this honor con ferred for the third year upon him, and prom ised to do all in his power to advance the ID I terests of the association. In closing he urge
 the veterans to enjoy themselves in the bes
 manner possible, notwithstanding the raj ! storm prevailing.
 The death roll was then read and it wa found that since the last meeting (two year ago) Walter D. Cook, Frederick Sanderson l Charles A. Buttricks and William A. ChaI l man had died.
 | The place for the next meeting was left t the executive committee, consisting Of tn officers of the association, with an e e1presse , opinion that they should meet with the Gran Army provided they held a similar encamI , ment next year.
 A very interesting letter was read frol Chaplain Wayland of Philadelphia, in whlc he expressed his regrets that he was unab
 to be present and asked Gods blessing upo l the surviving members of the regiment an l also upon the widows and orphans of the d.
 ceased comrades.
 5 This concluded the regular business of tn
 l meeting, and then speeches were ln orde
 General Hawley was first called upon and r
 sponded briefly. He said he had no speed to make and could not put his thoughts mi
 1 shape to make them fascinating to the outslc
 l world Continuing, the General said: The
 1 reunions are always pleasant to me, and e l presume they are equally enjoyable to tho J. who fought side by side in the late war. q the years roll on the struggles of the pa e grow dearer to me, and the same IS true 1 1 those who have taken part in them. | 1t then referred to the rapid growth of o1 if country, and predicted that some of tl r. sons of the soldiers now prese :. would live to see it increased " l one hundred million inhabitants. I'll l. immense war debt of foreign countries W
 referred to and the great cost of sustalnl1
 ! their standing armies as compared to u
 l that cinoa the "
 the debt had been reduced $1 ,O00 900, OO
 while the war debt of foreign countries W
 increasing to vast proportions. It needed
 argument to show the world that l
 publican form of government was t
 hest and as these foreign gover
 ments get more educated and moral tn
 1 will find themselves stepping quietly in
 1 republican forms If we had allowed t IS country to have been divided, we should T = long have had peace, but we would have be 50 split up into small and insignificant powe h. But thank God we showed the world that G. would be free and independent people,
 the great mass of those who fought to atts
 tbis result. thank God that they had a lit
 speck to do in achieving the blessings r. now enjoy.
 If Colonel D. C. Rodman was next called C
 l and responded briefly.
 t. Captain Chamberlain said 1t gave hIm gr * pleasure to meet his comrades at these annl in reunions. It gave him pleasure to think, be it did others, that he had something to = with saving our country. Words could as express the feeling there is among old S at diers one for another. We can clasp hal re here and hope for better reunion In no 1 world to come.
 After an amusing story by Secretary Wa ley, in which he gave laughable exporter at- of a battle, singing was in order Copies D. old camp songs were produced and circula n. by General Hawley's directions, and tn
 were sung as only soldiers can sing ther m Marching Through Georgia Tran n. Tramp, Tramp Rally Round the Fla ut ssWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home" 6 rd s'Benny Ravens O."
 ra ,a Captain and Judge Beers, of Bridgepc ~ -, formerly of the Sixth regiment was then '+ troduced, and he made short but most int o o esting speech When he had concluded "a and his regiment were cheered to the eel ns ra and he responded by giving three cheers
 the Seventh ha This concluded the after-dinner exerci n @ l of the Seventh's reunion, which was m h. enjoyable. |
 ad At the encampment meeting of the Grs - W Army in the Generals tent, Department Co ho mander George s. Smith, of Norwich, F Se .e sided. and nearly all of the department C J,,,J cko kto1