The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02
THE NEW OFFICERS.
Commandment Chief Beath, S. V. C. Warner and
j. Y. C. Holmes.

General Robert B. Beath, the new Com
mander-in Chief of the Grand Army is q ma
tive of Philadelphia, aud was educated in the
common schools of that city. He was one OF
the first at the outbreak of the rebellion to re-
spond to the call for volunteers, existing in
April, 1861, as private IN three-months'
regiment. Upon the expiration of his term OF
service, in the summer of 1861, he joined the
Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteer in
fantry, which had just been organized, and
took part in all its campaigns and battles. He
was promoted by successive steps to corporal
sergeant, and first lieutenant. At the second
battle of Bull Run, shortly after his last promo
ton. he was wounded, but was not permanently
disabled, and in August, 1868, he was commits
stoned captain of company A, Sixth United
States eol0red troops. September %, of the fol-
lowing year 1854, during that one of the en-
gagenents of the Deep Bottom campaign
which is called, indifGrently, New Market
Heights, Chapin's Farm Laurel Ill., Forts Har-
rison and Gilmore, he fas again wounded, and
SO badly that he was inpelled to undergo an
amputation OF a leg. pom his recovery he was
commissioned heute ant colonel, and assigned
to duty at Camp William Penn, at Philadelphia
Since the close of the war he has occupied
many responsible positions, which he has in
variably filled with honor and credit to him
self. He was for a time sub postmaster at Sta
ton Is, Philadelphia, and afterwards removed
the Anthracite Mining Exchange. In 1871 he
became the Republican candidate for Surveyor
general and his candidacy proved successful.
Three years later Gen. Beath was renominated,
but in the election of that year the Democrats
carried the State. Upon retirement from Office
he again re-entered civil life, and is at present
secretary of the Firemans Insurance Company
of Philadelphia one of the leading insurance
companies of the country.
General Beath'S Grand Army record is one
of conspicuous brilliancy. He was enc of the
committee of three appointed to organize the
first Grand Army Post in Pennsylvania, and
was the first Commander of Post No. s. of Phil
adelphia, of which he was charter member,
In 1857 he was elected first Junior Vice Com
mander of the Department of Pennsylvania,
and upon his removal from Philadelphia to
Pottsvilie, already noted, he was for two sue
eessive terms the Commander of Post No %, of
that city. He also served for four years as AS
sistant Adiutant General, under Department
Commanders Hartranft and Wagner, of Penn
sylvania, and was then unanimously chosen
Department Commander. General Beath has
attended every National Eneampment for the
past seventeen years, and for two years served
as Inspector General on the staff of General
Burnside, and ever since the expiration of his
term as Assistant Adiutant General, under De-
partnent Commander Wsgner, has been a
member Of the Council of Administration. He
is held in the highest esteem, not only by his
Pennsylvania comrades, but by the Order gen.
orally, as an earnest and most enthusiastic
member, and wise and prudent counsellor.
In personal appearance, General Beath is
gentleman of medium height and slender form,
active in movement and quiet and digniied in
manner. His eyes like his hair are dark, and
he wears his beard closely trimmed. He has
very bright and pleasing expression of coun-