The National tribune., 1882-06-24
THE COMMaNDER-IN-CHIEF.
Arrival Of General Merrill and Adiatant- Genel
GI.n-A Cordial Reception.

Arrival Of General Merrill and Adiatant General
GIin-A Cordial Reception.
General George S. Merrill, Commander-in-
Chief of the Grand Army OF the Republic OF
the United States, and Adjutant- General
VIM. M. Olin, arrived in the city ON Monday,
and were enthusiastically received and
warmly welcomed by the members of the
Order and distinguished citizens. They
came quietly, without escort, it being Gen
eral MerIills desire to arrange certain pre-
liminaries before the various delegations
reached the city.
General Merrill is genial gentleman, in
the prime of life. Hc is Journalist, the
proprietor Of the Lawrence DGiiy american,
and has been postmaster Of Lawrence for
twenty-four years. During the war he re-
signed as postmaster, recruited company
for the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment and
commanded it until it was mustered out, o
year afterward. lie earned fine record for
bravery and pluck. Returning to Lawrence
he WAS again appointed postmaster and re-
tains the position still. lie is now major of
artillery in the Massachusetts Volunteer
Militia.
In conversation General Merrill expressed
his delight at the manifestations of welcome
shown by the bright bunting and decorated
buildings. He remarked that a cordial vel
come was anticipated by the reports received,
and evidently the hospitable reception ac-
corded himself, the officers and staff of the
Grand Encampment and the zouaves were
the sincere and heartfelt expressions of
"hospitable Baltimore" General Merrill
said that as head of the Grand Army of the
Republic he had visited, during the past
year, every State north Of the Potomac and
east of the Rocky Mountains, and that this
has been the year OF greatest gain the Grand
Army has ever known, having added $4,000
names to the roll, and it now has 4 round
hundred thousand ex-Union soldiers upon
the roster. Tho largest gain in any previous
year was $4,000. In the Posts he has visited
politics and religion are steadily ignored,
and the Posts in the East, North, and West
are composed of Democrats, Republicans,
Greenbackers, and everything else. In his
own Post five OF the commanders have been
Democrats, and are held in as high esteem
as any other members He thought the well
come was hearty, cordial, and enthusiastic
The members of Dahlgren Post, No ., of
Boston, which is Gen. Merrill's personal es-
cort, arrived at Philadelphia Monday, en-
route to Baltimore. They were met in
Philadelphia by Post No 2, of that city, and
rendered formal reception at 1ndepend-
encc Hall. The streets along the line of
march were gaily decorated. The Philadel
phia Post carried twenty battle flags. Mon
day night the Boston visitors were given a
banquet at Belmont Mansion, and Tuesday,
in company with Post No. 2, of Philadelphia,
left for Baltimore. Gen. Merrill went to
Bayview Tuesday morning, where he met
his escort of honor and formally entered the
city. The official staff of the commander in
chief are Adiutant-Gcneral William NJ.
Olin, Boston, Mass; Quartermaster- General,
William Ward, of Newark, N. J.; Inspector
General James L. Carnahan, of Indianapolis,
Ind; udge-Advocate-G General Geo B.
Squires, of Brooklyn, Assistant Adjutant-
General Alfred c. Monroe, Brocton, Mass.
and Senior Aid John &. B. Adams, of Lynn,
Mass.
Adiutant-Ge General Olin enlisted in the
Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, Coils Bowman
and Draper, at Worcester, Mass, in 1862, at
the age of sixteen years. He served enc
year. He was military secretary to Gov
ernor Long, and is now private secretary to
Collector Worthington, Of Boston. The
business of the adiutant-generaps Office is
very heavy, involving great labor.