The National tribune., 1882-09-16
DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA.
Some Very Interesting Facts About Its Remarkably
Rapid Growth ReeentIy.

bSliu NtoHtIi Elttfhtts'
| Special Correspondence National Tribune.
| FRANCIsvILLE, Sept. 4.-The Department oil
Indiana is a rapidly growing one-coming to
the front" as first-class in an incredibly short
space of time considering that when the thlru
annual Encampment convened in indianapolis
February p, current year, Department In
spectOr-General w. II. Armstrong; (of Morton
Post, No. L, of Terre Haute) report showed
some thirty-one Posts in good standing, two III
arrears-one dropped and one that charter %
recommended surrendered-and n membership
aggregating 2,000 in good standing. General
Order No. 10 from Department headquarters
show an increase since last Order to ninety
three Posts with applications still coming in,
and the prospects are that before the term OF
the present Department officers are out that
there will be at least one hundred and fifty
new Posts, with membership aggregatinS
10000.
What is the cause of this awakening of the
dry bones, and this unparalleled prosperityol
this hitherto slumbering Department? Mainly
due to the revival of the military spirit and the
e-awakening to q new life of the boys" and
now they are gathering themselves beneath
Republic" joining this noble association OF
men, and becoming united in the bonds of " Fra
ternity, Charity, and Loyalty" Another cause
is the unparalleled zeal, energy, and activity
given to the cause by Department Commander
Brigadier-General J. L. Carnahan, Adjutant-
General State Of Indiana and Judge-Advocate-
General Grand Army of the Republic, attached
to Commander-in-Chief's staff, and a number
Of active co-wOrlzers in the Department.
Ever since the immense military Encamp-
ment held at Indianapolis July 1st to 9th, tho
Encampment of some fifty-eight crack military
companies from all parts of the United States
and tho Reunion of the Indiana Legion and
Veteran regiment, and the success attending,
applications have been pouring in for the forma-
tion of new Posts, and musters have taken
place as above stated, showing an increase OF
upwards of 300 per cent. Recent General Order
No 10 announces important changes, among
which is the relief of Colonel J. B. Shaw, as
Chief Mastering Officer, and the appoint
rnent of +. S. Robertson, of Post No 40, Fort
Wayne, as his successor. This has occaSiOned
considerable surprise, surmise, and comment
throughout the Department, as the gallant Lit
tIc SHlN ttS ilt l5 tGbElllIdiIA hHbNh III tii4S
Department--has host of friends, and quite
sensation has arisen theTefrom As our
comrade was ono of the best workers, and was
instrumental in raising and mastering up
wards of twenty new Posts, it is thought
that there are other things at the bottom of it,
among which is: Can any one of the rank
and file" dare aspire to be Department Com
mander? At least, this is what Post No. ,,
Lafayette, and other Posts think, though the
motives and action of the Department Com
mander / dare not question.
However, the good work goee Twenty
six new Posts, numbering from 67 at auburn
to 9S at Spencer, Und. are duly announced. . q
the General Order, among the new Posts recently
organized, is the Henry S. Lane Post, No. 70
of this place. If there is anything in name,
or any signifcation of number then this
Post is extremely fortunate Henry S. Lane,
(the legislator, Representative, iurist, Governor,
United States Senator, statesman, known as
the cold Man Eloquent" whose strong arm
and wise counsel stood by the Nation in It's
dark hours of trial, but VINO is now gathered to
his Fathers-hiS deeds and memory remain 10
be gratefully remembered by a band of soldiers
VINO lOVeu him SO WcllJ anu NO. 40, bNaG
thrilling number in our Nations history-these
two combined, furnish an episode that precedos
a prosperous career. Henry S. Lane Post, No.
76, Department of Indiana, was organized June
10, 1882, with q charter membership of 81
names, and mustered by Colonel J. B. Shaw,
then the chief mastering officer. Itnow numbers
Al, and expects an increase Of over 100 before
the year is out. 1t is ofiicered as follows:
Commander, Moses NJ. Gordon; S. V. c., Ste
phcn Thrasher; j V. c., S. F. Vose; Adj, J.
w. McMurray; Q. NJ, D. Engel; Surg, c. II.
Garligus 0. D., S. Polk; o. g., &. Fitzpatrick;
G. NJ. s., Augustus Geer; S. NJ, J. VI. Stephens
The boys meet semi-monthly. To Commander
Moses Gordon is the credit due of their organi-
zation, who is also raising military company
to be mustered into the State service.
Yours, in f., c., and L., "SILEX."