The National tribune., 1883-09-06

thronged from sunrise until far into the night |
with vehicles of every description, from the |
comfortable family carriage to the springless |
hay wagon, drawn. by horses of all ages, con-
ditions and colors carrying passengers to and |
fro. The ride was through one dense cloud of |
dust. and, though a short one, no matter how |
clean one might be when starting, all traces OF
neatness were completely obliterated before |
reaching the destination. Even the green sward |
around headquarters had, through the tramping |
of feet and the raysof an August midday sun. |
lost all its freshness and beauty and commenced |
to add its share to the dust around us. When, /
therefore, about daybreak on Wednesday |
morning, the patter of rain was heard on the |
tents it was welcomed as blessing that would |
soon relieve us of the discomforts OF the dust, |
and would impart freshness and coolness to |
the heated air of the day, but as the morning |
wore on and the rain kept coming steadily |
down, our pleasurable feelings were somewhat |
dampened, and by noon we prayed eagerly Tor
IL to clear off, but down it continued to fall
until way into the night The business meet |
ing of the Encampment had been fixed to be
held at 10 O'clock on Culp's Hill, where it had
assembled in previous years, but the rain put
an end to any such arrangement, and the
courthouse in town was secured for the pur-
pose. At the appointed hour the comrades
formed in line, headed by the Department
officers, and with the Weccacoe band playing
lively air, marched into town, the rain falling
heavier than at any time yet Many of the
comrades were sheltered by umbrellas, but
where so many came from is mystery to me;
they sprang up like black mushrooms.
THE DEPARTMENT MEETING.
Arriving at the courthouse, the comrades
were at once called to order by Department
Commander e. P Osborne and the meeting
opened in due form, Department inspector
Thomas G. Sample acting as officer of the
day. After prayer by Department Chaplain
r -, ,f ,JCf..
called and large number of absentees noted.
Considerable time was spent IN securing
substitutes from among the comrades
present for the Posts not represented by
their regularly elected delegates, after which
Commander Osborne made stirring address.
He said it was idle to think of preparing an
elaborate address to an aSsemblage of that
character gathered at such historic spot,
where he could to-day see living monuments
| of "reminiscences of the grandesb battle the
world ever saw. On this field was caused the
ultimate downfall of the Confederacy and its
| armies. When General Lee organized his at
| tacks on Cemetery Hill and Round Top, it was
| with the firm belief that he would capture
them aud thus become master of the situation,
! but he was defeated. Commander Osborne
! further said that he was satisfied Lee intended
/ to settle at that place the result as to the con-
/ tinuation of the war, and for that reason,
! fought a fight of desperation, knowing that
either victory or defeat meant the end of the
war, for or against his cause. That was what
caused the terrible charge of Pickett; it was his
| last hope and it, too failed. Referring to the
present condition of the Grand Army of the
! Republic, he was glad to be able to say that
there was a most harmonious feeling peryading
! the whole Order and the comrades were work
| ing hand-in-hand in spirit of true fraternity,
| their only anxiety being to push forward the
| lines. He felt the time was soon coming when
| if any soldier wanted to be recognized as q
| veteran he must belong to the e. A. L. They
! who are not within the ranks of the Order must
be made to feel that it is their duty to come in !;
! that they should now stand shoulder-to-shoul-
der with their comrades as they did in the
| past. Comrade Osborne concluded by saying
that if all present felt inspired by the ridges of
Gettysburg as he did, each one would turn
himself into recruiting officer, until, at the
next Eneampment, the increase would be
25,090 instead of 5000 He hoped the Encamp
ment had proved pleasant and beneficial to the
comrades, that all would feel the better for
coming TO it, and that they would not cease in
| their efforts to make the Department of Penn
sylyania in the future, as she had been in the
past, the great beacon light to all the country.
A. A. G. STEWARDS REPORT.
/ Assistant Adiutant General Thomas J. Stew
art then read his report, which, after referring
to the highly prosperous and satisfactory con-
dition of the Department. says:
A greater number OF new Posts have been mus
tered during the past six months than in any cor
responding period in the history OF the Order In
addition to the accessoils TO ranks from the
gaHization of new Posts, good work has been
and is still being done by the older Posts in recruit
ing From reports received TO June so, 1888, our
total membership is ,5S5. Four hundred and sew
enty-fof persons have been relieved and SIG 6di 40
expended for charity during the quarter. have
every to believe this does not cover ali the
expenditures for charity, as many Posts disblEse
money for that purpose that is not reported to
Headquarters Ihe discipline OF the department is
excellent, Which cannot be better shown ttan IN
the fact that for the quarter ending June 50, 1855,
the reports We're made more promptly than ever
before and out of $50 Posts at that tinIe but thirty
were delinquent July 10, and the delinquency
of many of these has since been satisfactorily
piained, and was owing entirely to circumstances
beyond the control OF the commanders. Our pres
ent Encampment under canvas has been very
successful and pleasant; the attendance has been
large and included visiting comrades from the De-
partEents of Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana
| and New York.
The report concludes by thanking CoInrade
p. n. Guthrie, Adjutant- General of PeGnsylya-
MIA, fer the use of State canvas, kindly loaned,
and to Comrade d. Stanley HassingeT, A. A. g.
National Guard of Pennsylvania, under whose
direction il was so promptly shipped TO its des-
J tination from the camp at Williamsport.
Assistant Quartermaster General Smith d
, Cozens reports matters in his Department as
also being highly satisfactory. The per capita
tax of the various Posts for the first and second
> quarters has been returned with degree oi
: promptness scarcely equalled in its history,
The marked increase in membership and Post
J funds is a matter for congratulation. Many
Posts have established relief funds
The report of the Council of Administration
congratulates the comrades upon the unparal
, leled prosperity of the Order during the pas
| six months, and recommends the increase o.
the salary of the assistant adjutant-genera
from 81 200 to 81 500 In support of the recon
! mendation the report says:
Eighteen months ago we numbered 232 Posts nnt
20,500 comrades. We have 374 Posts and 81 ON
comrades, being an increase OF ls2 Posts and 10 5
S comrades, 90 per cent in number of Posts ant
s 30 per cent ia comrades. The greater the mem
+. bership the greater the income and labor, hence
: compensation should be III proportion therewith.
! The report of the soldiers orphans commit
: tee merely referred to the preparation and sub
v sequent passage of the bill extending the time
3 for closing the Soldiers Orphans Schools unit
I May 81, 1890.
9 THE NEXT ENCAMPIENT.
! After the reading of the reports, the meeting
4 | proceeded to select place for holding the mex
: summer Encampment. Three places wer
placed in nomination-W Williamsport, Bellefonte
!, and Gettysburg-and, upon being bailoted for
4 received twenty, seventy and sixty three votes
1 | respectively. Owing to some misunderstand
ing as to those present who were entitled t
q vote reconsideration OF the vote was had
. when the name of Williamsport was withdrawn