The National tribune., 1885-03-19
THE GRAND ARMY.
Enthusiastic Comrades Beyond the
Mississippi.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
mmaader-in-Ch Chief Konntz Has an 0ys:ieH in
Kaa>aS and Missouri.

CorpS in which Forsyth Post participated, 1t
being the evening of their regular weekly meet
ing Capt Kent Hamilton, the elcqucnt sol
dier orator. opened the program with bIlef
resume of the history Of Forsyth Post. not Tor
getting TO compliment the ladies who had con-
trihuted so largely 10 the up building oI Its
splendid social and charity system. Mrs Judge
Howe followed in behalf of ForSythe Corps,
after which there was 4 stirring rendition OF
"WhCn Johnnie Comes Marching Home" by
MessIs Pease. Howell, Shelter. and Cosner, to a
piano accompaniment by Miss GCrE2ne. pre-
paratory TO the reading by Gen. J. W. Fuller Of
a highly entertaining paper on war sketches
and memories, which carried the boys back
ward on The wings of thought 10 the pcrilous
dangers past. and the touching scenes in which
they had borne glorious part. recitation OF
Paul Revcro's Ride" by Mrs. EiiZaheth Mans
field Irving. Senior Nice-Presidont ofthc Corps;
more singing OF the old songs in which the
entire audience joined, and remarks by Judge
Cochraue, in his happiest vein, closed the pro-
gram. and paved the way fer the soldier ban
quet 20 which all sat down, TO The number of
several hundred.
Mrs Gen. Young, Corps President, and Com
rade Corlett. Post Commander, are making
strong command. Arrangements have already
begun ior the grand annual benefit oi the JOINT
relief fund. The committees have been an
nounccd, and are organizing special features.
The affair comes oil early in June.
HOME FROM THE WEST.
On Friday Commandcr-in-Chicf kountz re-
Turned from the West. having. in the week of
his absence. Travelled over 1900 miles, met the
comrades at four different soldier gatherings,
including two Department EncampmentS; !;
spent iopr nights in a sleepin&-car and one
night lost in tho Kansas woods where he was
nearly II hours making distance of . miles
TO catch the train for Fort Scott and the Kan
sas Enc2mprnent.
At every point visited the Commander-in-
Chief found the soldier spirit at fever hight.
and the campfire kindled and glowing. Every
where he was accorded not only an enthusiastic
reception. but g splendid ovation The soldier
zeal of the great West is something, he thinks,
which we can hardly understand, and the thirst
for soldier corlTadeship, and interest in all that
pertains TO the war, is with those brave pio-
neer boys, who represent every State which
sent troops TO ihe Union, crowning passion.
AT lola, Kan. $50 of the 153 comrades OF
DcCook Post are
SuBSCRIBEES TO THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE,
and it was at this point. on the way 10 Fort
Scott-the train being DELAYED four hOuTs-that
the boys came down 10 the train and escorted
the Commander-in-Chief to the hall and gave
him an informal reception. Commander McCiel-
land presenting him TO the Post Here the boys
have under way $4,000 Memorial Building,
and they propose TO finish it, too
THE MISSOURI ENCA1PIENT
The Commander-in-C Chief visited the Mis-
souri, Encampment, at Kansas City, the third
and last day, appearing at the business session
in the morning and at the banquet at Turner
Hall in the evening In its report of his re-
marks at the morning session. the Kansas City
Journal. which seems at a loss how to account
for the slight laneness OF the " Drummer Boy .
Chief who left a leg at Mission Ridge. says:
He congratulated iiic Department upon the in
toto
and Nation. and reviewed the past history cf
the Grand Army of the Republic, incorporating
IN his remarks some references TO the war Of
the rebellion, and its effects upon the country,
that drew forth the H.ost unbounGed applause.
Gen. Koun;z i a remarkably young looking man
foT the exalted and responsible position which he
has ably flied. He il slightly lame and walks
with cane having been seriously wounded while
In the ermy. His features indicate courage and
resolution. and he would pass for fine looking
IN any oon rcGation OF soldiers or civilians.
THE NIGHT PARADE.
The scenes OF the night, preceding the ban
euet and accompanying the march to Turner
Hall, were most inspiring and imposing. These
centercd In the torchlieht parade Of the cele-
brated Topeka and Kansas City Flambcau
Clubs. with the Bj!ilene Guards and Scott Rifles
ss au1iliaTies. it was In the perfect shower of
colored Calcium lights, shooting globules and
sky mcteors Of livid light. that the veterans
made their a5aTctc dc triGmphs to their place Of
rendezvous
At Turner Hail there was everything pro-
vided in true soldier style and around the fes-
tive board the boys were boys again and speech
and toast and song filed up the evening hours.
Following the banquet Chaplain Ferguson
called the aSseHblagc TO order, when ComTa6e
III. L. Devol introduced the COmmandcr-n-
Chief, who w3s 10 respond to the first toast. in
few feliciious words. The toast was The
Grand Army of the Republic" aud the re
sponse, as il appears in the Kansas City papers,
was worthy the man and the occasion, and was
received with loGd applause:
United 10 perpetuaie the memory OF serviccs,
and cherish friendships formed Oh the battlefield,
give sd 10 tie soldier and comm. 1orate tlie deeds
of our comrades. Such is the mission of the Grand
Army Of the Republic. The worth Of this patriotic
wOrl, and All the sense of coYqra,iosl,ir are only
known 10 those who. shoulder TO shoulder battIed
TO redeem The Government. The comrades Of this
Organization stood together in victory aud defeat,
Ia common dangers and t-iumphs, and in this
struggle enacted ihe most brilliant scenes ever
known. and formed irieaGSiIius more enduring
tisn lite. Although many have been called away
by deai yet N this rapidly growing ss5oclation
the survivors are together to touch shoulder TO
shoulder, ana cement stronger friendships than
sBy other on earth. The Grand Army Of tic Re
public viii wCIl. and grow until every wor-
thy survivor of the war viii live aud love and
labor in is patriotic bonds for the glorious banner
cf fraternity charity, and loyalty.
Hon. George W. McCfary ex-Secrctary of
War, responded to the toast. The Volunteer
Army" paying a splendid tribute to the brave
defenders Of the country. Department Com
DlanGer Chamberlain responded 10 the toast
"Thc Department OF Missouri His grace
ful aud well-eamed compliments 10 Missouri
Posts were received with frequent and appre-
ciatiye applause. The audience then Joined
heartily IN the singing Of the ever popular
"John Browns Body" the last verse being
hnmOrously paTaphTased at the expense of the
memory OF JEFF Davis.
As usual Comrade VIM. Warner came to the
front IN burst Of patriotic eloquence. He
nj M inf ta br;.
the brave private soldier TO the front, and OF
the glorious spectacle presented at Minneapolis
when the Drummer Boy of Mission Ridge was
saluted upon the platform, rs Commander-in-
Chief, by the great war leader-William Te-
cumseh Sherman. The grand results of the
war and Of all the Union soldier had achieved.
be summed up in few glittering paragraphs,
Of which we note the following:
We went into the service when there was a
slankiBg of the bondsmen's chains; when there
was dark coud hanging over this Nation. We
esme out ot II, thank God, without there being a
man, woman or child in this Nation who could not
stand up "a he was entitled to stand the image OF
his Maker, free man before God We have seen
eli this, and more than this; have seen those
vast armies that fought either side that melted
away Ike snow ia Summer before the rising of a
peaceful sun, return 10 civil life and 10 day through
out the length and breadth Of this Nation all liv-
tpB men that fought OD either side, dwell together
under the common flag of e common country and
return thanks 10 God, who hath preserved ~ as q
Nation. We believed then as we believe now tl,at
we were right and the other side was wrong But
we grasp IN fraternity the hand OF the man that
Fought against us. and. thank God across no bloody
ebssm. There is no chasn bloody or otherwise
la!fI