The National tribune., 1883-09-06
MICHIGAN.

The first annual Encampment of Jefferds
Post, G. A. r.. Department of Michigan, took
place at Nashville, Mich, on Thursday, August
g. The morning dawned gloriously. The
camp was astir at an early hour. A sunrise gun
was fired and reveille sounded Wagon loads
of people from the rural districts kept con-
stantly pouring in, and by 8 o'clock the streets
resembed an old-time 4th of July celebration.
About 10 o'clock the procession was formed on
Main street. A martial band headed the col
umn; then came Jefferds Post color-guard
Post members and comrades of visiting Posts.
Next in order of the procession marched the
fire company; then speakers in carriages and
citizens in carriages and wagons. The latter
filled 129 vehicles, by actual count. The rail-
road for an hour was lined by stream Of Pc
desrrans moving towards the eamp-ground
Exercises at the grounds commenced promptly
at IL o'clock. AT this hour it was estimated
that fully 5000 people were before the speak
ers' stand. President of the day, III. w. Hewes,
called the meeting to order. The choir select
ed for the occasion sang Star-Spangled Ban
ner," and then followed fervent and appro-
pirate prayer by Elder j. S. Harder. After an
eloquent oration by Ex-Governor Blair the au-
dience adjourned for rations, which consisted
of pork and baked beans, broiled beef, tea,
coffee, sugar, light bread and hard-tacb. The
first mentioned articles were dealt out upon tin
plates in liberal quantities. and were enjoyed
by the old vets, and Governor Blair seemed to
enjoy the hard-tack and beans as well as the
boys.
Soon after l o'clock order was called from
the speakers stand, and toasting began with
John A. Potter as toastmaster Speeches and
songs consumed the rest of the day. This con-
cluded the exercises A photographer took
view Of the camp, thepeople quickly dispersed,
and by z o'clock the camp was deserted. A
military ball took place at the opera house in
the evening, and was largely attended.
Sunday, August 25, was a gala day for Frank
fort and the old soldiers of Benzie county,
Mich. About seventy-fve ex-soldiers and
sailors participated in the exercises of the day,
which passed off without any accident A
large number of people were in town. and all
expressed themselves pleased with the pro-
gramme and the way it was carried out. The
boys marched to the park to the sound of the
fife and drum, with guns baskets canteens, tin
cups, mule trains ETC., etc, went into the camp,
drew rations of coffee, sugar, hard-tack and
pork; cooked their dinner; were surprised by
reb pickets, who captured their camp and ate
their dinner, but were themselves captured in
return, and then marched back to the Post
headquarters and dismissed.
Comrade Lewis Marvill, Parkville, lsich..
writes us that Ed. M. Prutzman Post, No. ~,
which was organized at Three Rivers, Mich,
in September, 1882 with twenty-one charter
members now numbers eighty-nine, and is in
a fourisling condition. The officers are as
follows: Commander, III. FL. Pumphrey s. V.
c., ]. p. hickey; J. V. C., F. A. BeIlman; o.
D., S. T. Street; Chap, Rev. A. Mclaughlin;
Adj't, n. IL. Horsington; Q, NJ, J. Bouton; o.
G., T. ]. Secor; S. NJ J.. Marvill; O. NJ S.,
Comrade Arnold. An open Campfire was held
on the evening of the 23d of July, at which
there was good attendance. The Post attend
ed the Reunion at st. Joseph in a body, and had
o very pleasant time.
Murry Post, No, 16S was organized at EN-
pire, Mich, August IL, by Colonel A. B. Car
rier, Past Assistant Adjutant- General Depart
ment of Michigan. The Post starts off with
fifteen charter members and will soon be
strong organization, as there are large num-
Der of ex-soldiers and sailors in that vicinity.
The following are the ofiicers Commander,
John Dorsey; 8. V. c., N. G. King; j. " c.,
George Stetson; @. NJ, VIM. Houghton Surg,
r. I'll. Monroe Chaplain, VIM. L. Sheridan;
0. D., Marvin La Core; o. G., JAS Mccormick
Adi't. Samuel Berry; S. NJ, Geo. Cook; @. M.
S., David Mclaughlin.
Comrade A. NJ. Holt, Chief MASTERING Officer,
Department of Michigan, Detroit Mich, writes
us under date OF August &C. as follows: "On
the 18th of the present month, Fairbanks Post,
No. II, OF Detroit, was incorporated under the
law passed by the Legislature at its last session.
and / think it would be well for the rest of the
Posts in the Department to follow its example
Farquhar Post, No. 1872, of Detroit, gave an
entertainment at Arbeiter Hall, on the Goth
ult being just one month from the time the
Post was organized, and cleared 800. Fair