The National tribune., 1882-02-04
Grand Army Matters.

The Annual Encampment of the Department of
New York, G. A R., in Syracuse, Wednesday and
Thursday, was gratifying success Between hf-
teen hundred and two thousand veterans of all
grades and commissions were present. The sessions
were held in Shakespeare Hall. The reports of the
assistant adjutant- general and other department
officers show the present membership of the Order
to be ID, $780, gain of 4,0O0 members since the
beginning of the year. Sixty-fiv new Posts have
been organized during the year, and the whole
number of Posts at present in good standing is $50
The sum of $13,5S9.S1 has been expended in the
State for charity of which HOLES Post of New York
disbursed $1969.19. There are seven counties in
the State in which G. A. R. Posts exist Follow
ing is synopsis of the public business transacted
Officers were elected as follows Department Com
mander, James S. Fraser of Post Rice New \ DIRK
S. V. c., Robert Keith, of Post 81, Troy; J. V. c.
Edward Goodrich, of Post 129, Tonawanda; Medical
Director, W. II. Hall, of Post Wheeler 90, Saratoga
Chaplain, E. F. Egerton Post liz, Sing Sing.
Council of Administration William E. Wharton,
New York city, C. w. Cowton, Brooklyn; J. w.
Jacobus New York city; w. c. Booth Brooklyn;
Herman F. Fox, Geneva.
Delegates to National Encampment- General John
B. Murray, Seneca Falls at large; William H.
Warner Syracuse; Henry W. Slocum, Brooklyn
John E. Slavery, Auburn; Willard Billiard, New
York; E. w. Birmingham, New York George +.
Taft, Brooklyn; Dennis Sullivan, New York; JOS
eph Lowery, Utica John Parks III. IL. Havens
Albany; J. NJ. Foster, Newark; J. NJ Tregaski,
Brooklyn.
Akernates-George A. Cantine, at large; n. J.
Swift, j. 81. Brady New York; H. A. Glassford,
Frank d. Clark, Brooklyn; w. D. Jaynes Auburn
4. D. Limburger, Brooklyn; William D. Lacy,
Brooklyn; T. c. Rowe, Albany; A. Harrington,
Warsaw A B. Pearce, John Gray Boyd, New York;
r. w. L'Hommedieu, Brooklyn; J. 81. Cunning,
Nyack.
A resolution was adopted memorializing Congress
to pass bill increasing the pensions to soldiers and
sailors who have lost arms and legs and requesting
senators and Representatives from this State to use
their influence in favor of such measure. 1t was
a1c int anfH
to the Legislature for law requiring the adutant-
general to furnish honorably discharged soldiers,
who have lost their discharges with certificates of
discharge By vote the Department resolved
to increase the salary of the adjutant- general
from $500 to 81 200 Col Blasie, who retires from
that office was voted the $500 additional pay. Com
nAader Fraser announced the appointment Of Geo.
F. Hopper Post No. "a, New York city, as assistant
adiutant- general The of $500 was voted to aid
the John H Starin library at the Soldiers Home
The National Encampment was announced to meet
r. in Baltimore in May next The headquarters for
the coming year will be in New York city.
Ga Wednesday evening the citizens Of Syracuse
gave the Grand Army men banquet which was
really q grand affair Commissary Louis Windholz
set tables and supplied materials for 1000 plates,
sndeach plate was faced by veteran. Behind each
half dozen of veterans Of at least three hum
= zIred representatives of the wealth. beauty and
fashion of Syracuse. The toasts and responses were
as follows:
The President of the United States-Judge Will
liam J. Wallace, Syracuse.
The Army and Navy-General H. W. slocum,
Brooklyn.
The Grand Army of the Republic-Corporal Jas.
Tanner.
The Department of New York-Commander
The Ladies-General James McQuade, Utica.
The Defenders of the Unon-Msjor William Bal
lard, New York.
Our Dead Comrades-Chaplain ]. N. Foster.
The Friends at Home who Sustained the Soldiers
in the Field-Rey A. F. Beard ID, D.
The American Soldier-Col. E. L. Cole, Troy.
The Press J. Flanagan, Utica Herald
General Barnum oficiated as POSTMASTER in the
happiest manner possible. To add to the din and
the perplexities of his Office at least 1000 persons,
not veterans, took positions between and around
the tables standing The reporters of the press had
earthly chance to do justice to their duties, but
in spite of all this the banquet was brilliant joyous,
and merry Next year the speakers will write out
their pieces deliver all that they have to say in
three minutes, and let the newspaper men deliver
the remainder If the soldiers had not all been
sober they never could have reached their hotels.
The streets were lakes of ice and rain. No intoxi-
eating beverages were given out and all were glad
of it. The people of Syracuse deserve great credit
for their hospitality. At the close of the business
proceedings resolutions were unanimously adopted
by the Encanpment expressing the thanks of the
comrades TO the citizens of Syracuse for their kindly
attentions to Lilly Post, No. &C. and Root Post, No.
ISL and to the press, after which the session was
adjourned sine due.
The Annual Encampment, Department of Conn,
G.. A. r, was held in New Haven Wednesday
and Thursday Of last week. At the closing session
several matters Of minor Importance affecting the
interests Of the organization were discussed and
acted upon. The committee on the annual report
of Assistant Adjutsnt- General George W. Keller, OF
Bridgeport, made report, complimentng his work
on the records for neatness thoroughness and accu
racy. In accordance with q recommendation in the
annual report of Department Commander Beers, a
standing com mttee, consisting of Ira Hicks of New
Britain A. B. Beers of Bridgeport, William c. Aiken
of Norwich L. A. Dickinson of Hartford, and Frank
d. Sloat of New Haven, were appointed to visit
Fitchs Soldiers Home at Darien, and tender them
the services of the organization in the care and
support of disabled soldiers. Among the business
transacted on Wednesday was the reduction of the
per capita tax upon members from 10 to cents
quarter. On Thursday resolution was passed
thanking Admiral Fo0te Post and the citizens of New
Haven for the entertainment given the delegates al
Peck's Opera House Wednesday evening. Depart
ment officers for the ensuing year were elected as
follows: Department Commander, Ira E. Hicks, New
Britain; 8. V. c., Isaac B. Hyatt Meriden j. V. G..
William Berry, Hartford Medical Director, A. T
Douglass, NJ d., New London; Chaplain, the Rev
J.W. Davis, Waterbury; Council of Administration
John Mccarthy of New Haven, III. w. Durfee o.
Norwich, George Robbins of Waterbury, Lewis G.
Logan of Bridgeport, and Robert H. kellogg of Hart
ford; Delegate at Large, John Mccarthy, New Ha