The National tribune., 1883-05-31
held Campfire short time ago, upon which
occasion the old boys had first-rate time.
CALIFORNIA.

From letter Just at hand from Comrade A.
l.. POunstOne. Adjutant the past two years of
Lyon Post, No 5, Oakland. who has kindly
sent us several squads of subscribers we quote
as follows Less than two months ago w. r.
Thomas, of the One Hundred and Fifth Illinois
infantry; Truman III. Allen, of the Twenty
second New York cavalry; J. Frederick. OF the
First and Second California cavalry, and ThOs.
Todd of the Second New Jersey infantry, met
together in Oakland and determined to recruit
new Post. Five days later, with their full
quota OF recruits, they applied for a charter
requesting as name for their Post, 'Appomat-
tox' They had their papers dated on one
of the last days of March. When this was done:
Comrade Thomas promised Department Com
mander Staples that AppomattOx Post, No. so,
should have fifty members on Memorial Day
recently visited this double-quicll Post ands
witnessed the mustering-in of seven recruits,
and also learned from Comrade Thomas, the
Commander, that his promise to the Depart
ment Commander was even then more than
fulhlled-that the roster showed ffty-three
comrades. The Post, so to speak, is q very
fraternal one Fraternity and true comrades
ship mostly abound among soldiers who have
mingled in the actuahties of war NV expert
ence inclines me to the belief that man must
be born again. as it were, in the front rank of
q terrible battle before he can actually feel the
true inwardness of Grand Army eomradeship.
| This line of thought recalls 10 mind the san
culinary five days battlefield of Stone River
The mistaken but brave men from the South
were after the earl worm on the morning of
the last day of December, 1S52,-the hottest
day of the conflict. Their reveille of musketry
called us into line before the break of day, and
before we had our breakfasts. | was a private
then in Captain b. B. McDonald's company G,
One Hundred and First Ohio volunteer in
| fantry. There were just forty -four of our COM
pany in that action, and when we had finished
~ u
rebel bullet from among my shattered hard
tack in the haversack, which had carefully
worn over my abdomen, / fervently thanked
God for having spared my life, and Joined with
my surviving comrades in caring for the dead
| and wounded OF our cOmpany-twenty-two In
| all! There Were forty -four of US in the morn
| ing, but only twenty-five in the EVENING" If
belonged 90 a Post composed of those remain
| ing twenty-five comrades, | could not help
sticking by them, individually and collectively,
/ closer than brother.
Commander-in-C Chief Van Dervoort was re-
Gently rendered public reception in Oakland,
under the auspices of Appomattox Post
Last evening | attended meeting of Geo.
| 81. Thomas Post, No. 2, San Francisco, and
heard the reading of the Commander-in-C Chiefs
General Orders, No. II, the same as appears in
| IHE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of May TO- received
| to-day May 49,. This General Order an
nounces the appointment of Truman H. Allen
! 1.-THE same comrade named above) to the exalted
position of Assistant Inspector General for the
| Department of California, but it is an error in
locating his Post in San Francisco. 1t should
| be Apponattox Post, No. 80 Oakland, Cal.
Having spoken of Commander Thomas of
App0mattox Post, there is another Thomas /
wish to speak of-Comrude r. p Thomas, of
Geo. II. Thomas Post-an organization of up
ward of 400 comrades, the largest Post on the
coast. COmrade Thomas owns a 32-acre tract
of Mo lo-A nod Of ADn
the foothills across the Bay of San Francisco,
directly opposite the Golden Gate When re-
Gently he got his eyes wide open to the fact
that the Veterans Home Association was in
Strengthened circumstances, the true spirit of
comradeship so bubbled up within him that he
wrote his willingness to give his 32-acre tract
for the purpose of Veterans Home and that
he would also build thereon SO, 900 house for
the boys. The conditions named were so favor
able that prominent members of the Associa-
ton informed me that Comrade Thomas propo-
sition would gladly have been accepted had
not the purchase OF another tract been made at
the time and the building in process of erec-
ton"
Commander-in- Chief Van Dervoort, accom-
panied by DR. Azen Ames, Jr., SurgeOn-Gen-
| eral; COmrade Allen, of the National Council of
Administration, and COmrade George MeCarty
Assistant Adlutant-General of the Department
of California, visited San Jose ON the 18th inst
The party reached the city at 5 p. m. and were
received at the depot by the Commanders of
| Phil Sheridan and John A. Dix Posts, by whom
! they were escorted TO the Auzerais House.
| They were then driven on the Alameda to
| Santa Clara, and were much impressed by the
beauty of the valley. At night they were ten
dered reception in the California Theatre
which was beautifully decorated for the ocea-
| sion. In front of the drop curtain and taking
| its place were two large Union flags, Topped
| back in imitation of the entrance TO tent, and
| suspended in the center was floral representa-
/ ton of the badge of the Commander-in-C Chief
about seven feet long, the pendant star being
/ SIX feet in diameter. 1t was composed wholly
of roses of various colors and formed a magnifi-
cent center-pieee. The prOseenium boxes were
decorated with the banners and flags of the
| Posts bordered with wreaths of flowers, while
| distributed in profuSiOn along the foOtlights
/ and flats were floral designs. In the center of
/ the gallery railing and facing the stage was
| the word /" Welcome" in large letters worked
out of choice flowers, while on each side, and
reaching the stage, flags were draped, they in
| turn being prOfusely adorned with flowers and
| palm leaves formed into an exquisite design.
| Stacks of muskets, swords and other parapher-
MALTA of war occupied the ends of the stage and
were covered with garlands of flowers. The
comrades of the Grand Army were seated on
! the stage, while the families of the soldiers
occupied seats in the parquet. The Phil Sheri-
dan Ladies' Society were out in force, their
red, white and blue badges presenting very
handsome appearance. As the national officers
| took their seats on the stage they were greeted
| with enthusiastic applause by the audience
| which filled the house. The City band played
an overture consisting of a series of old army
| airs specially arranged for the occasion. The
| boys, assisted by the audience, then sang
| =" America" after which COmrade More made
an address of welcome and introduced the
| Commander-in-C Chief, who spoke nearly an hour
in manner which stirred the audience TO en-
thusiasm. An address by Surgeon General
Ames and other exercises followed.
Comrade J. D. Fyke, Los Angeles, writes US
that Frank Bartlett Post, of that place, had q
rousing Campfire on the 18th inst. upon the
| occasion of COMMANDMENT Chief Van Der
voort's visit to that city. Judge Dupuy opened
the meeting with appropriate address, and
introduced General Van DervOort, who was
received with three hearty cheers.