The National tribune., 1881-10-08
GRAND ARMY CAMP FIRE.

GRAND ARMY CAMP FIkEs
The following is furnished THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE by subscriber.
One of the grandest of gatherings that ever took
place at Nyack, on the Hudson River, n. \, oc-
Cured Monday evening, September IL, 1851, the
occasion being the Camp Fire OF Post Waldron,
No on Invitations had been extended to all
Posts located on the Hudson, from Albany to
New York and Brooklyn. Long before darkness
had SET in. arrivals by land and water began to
fiji nm This beautiful river town with strangers
and they continued to arrive as late as 9 o'clock
About $50 o'clock the line of march was formed,
and after traversng several streets to the music of
bands and drum corps, (forcbly reminding one of
the days of1S61 and 49, they entered Voorhs Hall
The streets were illuminated, rockets and coIored
lights flying through the air. and festoons of
lanterns dangling in the breeze, each Post in
uniform, and with banners and bullet-riddled
flags The old Vets soon filled every seat and inch
of standing room upon the main floor the gallery
being filled by ladies and gentlemen of the vii
lage; yet only about half of the old warriors
gained admittance.
Commander futile, in a few brief and we'll
chosen words announced the object of the meet
welcome, and set forth the purposes of the Camp
Fire-that it was intended to revive old friend
ship. by calling up incidents of the war; wherein
each comrade imperiled life and limbs on the
battlefield in defence of the flag of the Union
Commander Merritt, in happy vein, gave the
visiting Posts hearty welcome, and introduced
Commander-in-chief General Merrill, of Massa-
chusetts who dwelt principally upon the organi
zatiOn of the G. A. R.. after which Commodore
W. Voorhis Hon. David ]. Blauvelt and Others
gave short addresses. All the speakers teelingly
alluded to the veterans stricken cOmrade, Presi-
dent Garfield. Then General W. H. Barnum
arose, and commenced by saying "Well boys
and cheer upon cheer made the whole audience
aware that those soul-inspiring words had struck
fire. Corporal Tanner followed, in his usual
happy and eloquent vein, and all attention was
riveted while he stood before us upon two wooden
legs and pictured to US scenes of twenty years
ago. Songs and music were interspersed. among
which was one song by comrade Clyde, of Brook
Ign, which was the most mirth-provoking
composition ever listened to.
After these exercises were over the guests
formed in line and marched to Nyack Opera
House, where bountiful supper had been pre-
pared and where 800 old Vets stood up and par
took of camp fare consisting Of bread, baked
pork and beans, and the best Of coffee Several
Posts were obliged to leave before their turn to
enter the Opera House, and, fully satisfied that
they had been treated well, and that the only
blame to be attached to any one was the fact
that more visitors came to give their old COM
rades greeting than Post Waldron and State
Commander Merritt expected. 1t was too large
to handle, especially in the night time.
The following Posts were present:
Pratt, of Kingston; Armstrong, of Rhinebeck
Hamilton, of Poughkeepsie: J. III. Ketcham, Of
Wappingers Falls; Vosburgh, of Peekskill; Pye
of Haverstraw; Acker, of Tarrytown; Farnsworth
of Mount Vernon Rowland of Mattewan: Will
! liams, of Newburgh; Ellis of Newburgh Smith,
of Sufferin; Powell, of Sing Sing; McKeel, Of
Katonah: Stewart, of Mt. Kisco; Kitchin, of
Yonkers Rankin, of Brooklyn; and Silleman,
(colored,) Of Ayack.
1t was estimated that at least 1900 old Vets
were present, and they will never forget that
night for when some reached their homes in the
wee sma hours" they learned of the death of
their beloved comrade and chosen head of our
country, and then JOY was turned to sorrow, and
Nyack. which at night was blaze Of light and
echoed with joyous and happy voices, was before
noon enrolled in habiliments of mourning.