Morning journal and courier., 1882-08-17
The Grand Army.
The State Department Meetimg-Genera1
 Vandervoort Afternoon Festivities -

The State Department Meeting-Genera1
 Vandervoort Afternoon Festivities -
 The Evening Gathering.
 The semi annual encampment of the State department G. A. R. was opened yesterday 1 morning at the hall of Admiral Foote Post, | Benedict building About one hundred visit ] ing delegates and members were present in uniform. Nearly all the posts in the State were represented. General Vandervoort, of Nebraska, the grand commander of the na- tional department, who was expected, arriv- ed, and enthusiastically greeted. He was accompanied by I. $. Bangs, of Water vile, Me-, junior vice commander of the national department. The visiting officers were met at the depot by Commander F. H. Wa1dron, of the Admiral Foote Post. Upon their arrival the doors were closed and the encampment went formally into session, which was private.
 The officers of the State department pres ent yesterday were Commander Ira E. Hicks, of New Brirain Senior Vice Commander 2 Isaac B. Hyatt, of Meriden Junior Vice 1 Commander John Saxe, of Waterbury As- sistant Adjutant General H. E. Taintor, of Hartford Quartermaster General William H. ! ing Officer John T. Cleary, of Norwich In- spector Frank D. Sloat, of this city and Chaplain Rev. James w. Davis, of Water
 bury.
 The following members of the council of
 administration were present l.. G. Logan,
 Post 3, Bridgeport; George Robbins, Post l 49, Waterbury Henry M. Durfee, Post ?, 1 Norwich; Robert Kellogg, Post 4, Manches-
 ter; John McCarthy Post 17, New Haven.
 There were also in attendance Post Depart 1 ment Commanders A. B. Beers, of Bridge port, and c. E. Fowler, of this city.
 In the morning work was finely exempli- fled by General F. D. Sloat of this city as
 commander, F. H. Waldron of this city as
 senior vice, John T. Cleary of Norwich as
 junior vice. l.. G. Logan of Bridgeport as ! chaplain, Comrade Emery as surgeon, Post
 Commander Robbins of Waterbury as quar- ! termaster, Post Commander Higbee as adiu-
 tant, D. w. Sharp of this city as officer of
 the day, and Leander Parmelee of this city as | officer of the guard.
 Following address was delivered by
 General Vandervoort and Junior Commander
 Bangs. General Vandervoort spoke of the
 value and usefulness of the organization
 chiefly. He is fine speaker.
 In the afternoon Chapel and Church streets were lively with the boys in blue hastening '
 embark on 8 pleasure trip on the oyster dredging steamer Gordon Rowe, rendered by
 Mir. R. for the occasion. About fifty of the boys took in the trip and came back highly ; pleased with their excursion and view of the methods of dredging oysters. The boat stopped at the Cove where the visitors tool
 dinner. Yesterday morning Post Comman der Fred. H. Waldron and John Mccarthy gave their visitors 8 ride about the city Whitney Lake, East Rock Park and other ! places of interest were visited.
 Last evening at the reception in the Athe
 neum Commander in Chief Paul Wander
 voort commanding the national department
 was welcomed by the comrades of the State
 department and those of Admiral Foote Pos and Henry c. Merwin Post Fred. H. Wal dron, commander of Post r, who presided introduced State Commander Hicks, who ir | few well chosen remarks introduced the
 commander in-chief. Commander Waldror . then delivered an able address of welcome tt the commander in-chief, and in closing in troduced acting Governor Bulkeley who welcomed Commander in Chief Vandervoor on behalf of the State.
 Mir. Vandervoort, in reply to the address
 of welcome, made an eloquent and able ad
 dress, and then followed general handshak
 ing with the distinguished guest. Following came an address of merit by Junior Vice
 Commander in-Chief Bangs, of Maine 1 George M. White, junior vice commander O.
 Admiral Foote Post, recited a poem entitled ''The Old Canteen." An address by Judg, ] A. B. Beers, of Bridgeport, followed reef
 tation by ''Parson" lsoell and an address b, Pest Commander Frank D. Sloat.
 } Refreshments of ice cream and Lemonade
 were next in order, and an hours dancing ! concluded the exercises