The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-07
THE POTOMAC.
Colonel alexander Elected 10 Succeed Department
Commander Burdett.

The annual Encampment of the Department
of the Potomac assembled in Grand Army hall,
Washington. ID. C., at p. m. on the evening of
the Both ult. The different Posts composing
the Department were generally fully represent
ed, 136 representatives answering to their
names out of total of IA. Department Com
mander S. S. Burdett read an address, review
ing the career of this Department during the
past year, showing the various Posts to be in a
highly prosperous condition, and the nine Posts
having an aggregate membership of 664. At
9:lo the Encampment went into an election by
ballot for Department Commander No cleo
ton was arrived at on the first and second ball
lots. The candidates at this stage of the pro-
ceedings were Gen. Van Fliet, Col. D. S. Alex
ander, past commander of Post No s, and NJ
Dillon, present commander Of Meade Post, No.
8. On the third ballot Col. d. s. Alexander
was declared duly elected Department Com
mander of the Department of the Potomac for
the ensuing year, and on motion the election
was made unanimous amid the greatest enthu-
siasm. Colonel Alexander made very able
speech, saying that he fully appreciated the
high honor conferred, and would take up the
gavel of his able and genial predecessor aud en-
deavor to emulate him in his able work during
the last two years for the best interests of the
Grand Army. The election of officers was re-
sumed, and Past Commander n. S. Brooks of
Lincoln Post, No. 3, was declared elected senior
vice commander S. A. H. McKim was elected
junior vice commander; Dr. Florence Donahue
was elected medical director, and the Rev Ben
Swallow, chaplain. Gen. Stewart Van Ylet
was unanimously elected delegate at large TO
the National Eneampment. Delegates: Cen
eral Z. w. Whitaker, Colonel Charles King;
Alternates, NJ. M. Holland. Edward Webster,
L. b. Cutler. Council of Administration:
Daniel FL. Atwood, F. c. Revels, and Comrades
Palmer, Fithian and one other
Colonel Alexander is a native of Maine. but
his boybood was spent in Northwestern Ohio.
When the war broke out he was but fourteen
years old, and although he made two attempts
TO enlist in the summer of 1861, he was re-
jected on both occasions ON account of his ex-
treme youth. The following winter he spent
in teaching school, but the war fever being
still strong upon him, he again enlisted in May,
1e62-this time in the 125th Ohio-and was for
tunate enough to be accepted In the follow
ing November he was transferred with sixty
eight comrades to the 124th Ohio, but the or
der was afterwards revoked, and he was de-
tailed for special duty at department headquar-
ters. He served through the war as a private,
and at its close was honorably discharged
Since his appointment as Fifth Auditor of the
Treasury, he has taken an active interest in
the Grand Army, and was one of the charter
members of Burnside Post, of which he was
Afterwards elected commander. Comrade Al
exander has the reputation of being an admi-
rabie executive officer, and he has announced
his intention of devoting his energies t. build
ing up the membership of the Department of
the Potomac and fostering the spirit of frater-
nifty. His appointments are yet to be made,
but he promises that his staff shall be composed
entirely of workers.