The National tribune., 1882-10-05
GRAND ARMY AFFAIRS,
Frightening Prospects in Every Sec
tiOn of the Country.
HOW THE POSTS MULTIPLY.
Our Haversack Again Loaded
Down with Rations.
specinl Correspondence National Tribune.

specinl Correspondence National Tribune.
BOsToN, Oct. 3.-When the Grand Army
was first instituted here, it went up with
boom. Posts sprang up in day, men joined
by the hundred, and Massachusetts, soon became
the banner Department of the Il. a. IL
III a short time those who had only Joined for
selfish ends began to drop of, until number oi
Posts surrendered their charters, and the mem
bership was reduced to those who had the real
objects of the Grand Army in their hearts.
Then the boys began to come in, not with
boom, but one or two at time, so that they
could be assimilated, until to-day we number
over ten thousand comrades in our ranks.
Suffolk county (Boston and Chelsea contains
fourteen Posts, containing over seventeen hun
dred comrades, and all growing.
Eleven of these Posts are organized as the
Suffolk County Association, G. a. L.
The objects of this association are TO increase
the fraternal feeling between the comrades of
the various Posts, and to bring the united
strength of all the Posts to bear for the accom-
plishment of any object Of general good.
Last Memorial Day, after decorating the
graves of our dead, the Posts Joined in parade
and memorial service.
This fall the Posts unite in a fair. Commit
tees of each Post will run the table of that
Post, but the general management will be by
general committee, appointed one from each Post
of the association.
Thus far Massachusetts, has six county organi-
cations, and they are doing good work. The
comrades of the various Posts are becoming ac-
quainted with the comrades of all the Posts,
vic Nv 70 qrai in
sreasing, and all are benefited, and the way is
being prepared for the time when our member
ship is barely large enough for one Post in
county to make that Post out Of the remnants
of all.
The headquarters of this Department are here.
Comrade George II. Patch, our present Depart
ment Commander, has been one of the workers
in the Grand Army since its organization.
He was private III the Nineteenth MasSachu-
sets infantry during the war. A man who can
honestly say he served with the Nineteenth Mas
sachusetts during the war needs no higher title
todistinction. Department Commander Patch is
enlisted in the Grand Army, heart, soul, and
body. He has worked like beaver TO build up
the Order, and thinks about hardly anything
else night or day; so much so that his wife says
he installs the officers of new Posts in his sleep
Comrade James II. Mech is the man who is
paid to hear all the growing of the Depart
ment. His official title is Assistant Adjutant
General. He bears it well, smiles as sweetly
and serenely as ever, and offers to take more
growing for more money. l give you below
the gossip for this week.
new Post, No 137, was instituted at East
Douglas last week by Aide-de-C Camp Cushing
and Judge-Advocate Monroe. George II. Wal
ker was chosen Commander. Post 137 starts
Off with twenty-seven comrades. Post 135, of
Shrewsbury, exemplifed the work of the Order
during the evening.
William II. Smart Post, No. 80, of Cambridge
port dedicated thcirnew Hall Thursday evening,
September 28. The officers of neighboring
Posts were there, and good time generally
was experienced.
Lyon Post, No. II, of Westfeld, had a Camp
fire Tuesday evening, September 26.
Beverly will dedicate her soldiers monument
October 18th next. Department Commander
Patch and staff are to be present, and big turn
out of the militia and G. A. r. is expected.
The Twenty fifth Massachusetts infantry
Colonel Edwin Upton) celebrated the twenty
first anniversary of their going into camp by a
parade at Worcester, and dinner at Lake Quin-
sgamond on Tuesday, September 20. The
Twenty fifth contained in its ranks the
pride and flower of Worcester county's young
manhood. The regiment left this State October
81, 1861, Joined Burnside's expedition to North
Carolina, and served until the close of the war.
The Second Massachusetts, b1in's) battery
have their Reunion at Young's Hotel, Boston,
November Sd. Every man who served in the
Department Of the Gulf knows Minis battery,
and none ever speaks of it but to praise its SER
vices.
The Twenty third Massachusetts infantry
Colonel John Kurtz) had their annual love
feast at Marblehead September %. The
Twenty-third left home November II, 1861, was
Joined to Burnsidc's expedition, and afterward
became part ofthe Red Star brigade, Heckman's
Eighteenth Army Corps and served to the close
of the war. Resolutions of sympathy for her
great loss were passed to be sent to Mrs. Kurtz.
the widow ofthe ewell-beIoved and gallant colonel
of the regiment who died during the past year
The Independent battalion, Massachusetts
Cavalry Association, held their Reunion at the
Revere House, in this city, and, owing to the
inclement weather, but forty members were
present. The men Of this battalion were very
valiant, which was appreciated by the corps
commanders, as they were detailed as scouts,
&c, almost all the time.
The Augusta soldiers monument was for
malIy dedicated on the 2lst of last month, in
spite of the severe storm which beat down upon
the city. About 1000 men were in the pro-
cesson and there would have been double the
number had the day been fair. Thousands of
strangers were in the city, and the storm was a
bitter disappointment to them. A great audi
ence gathered in Mconian Hall to hear the
Grafton by Ex-Governor Connor, president of
the day. He made a graceful address. He
was followed by General John /. Swift, of
Boston. CAPTAIN SKINNER.
The Reunion at Cherokee.
The ex-sOdiers of Northwestern Iowa held