, 1885-04-14
Hail 70 i CHIEF.
The Grand Army Greets its Com
mander-in Chief.
Arrival in Cheyenne of Gen. Kountz
and Party.
Soldiers, Firemen and B%icycIists
Meet Here in The Summer.

hountz, the -cmel OF the
Grand Army of the Republic.
The John +. Reynolds post ofthe Grand
Army and the Meade camp of the Sons
of Veterans, were fairly represented. A
hne was formed, and led by the regimental
band of the 9th United States infantry,
the procession marched to the depot.
Gen. Kountz was rendered a grand re
cephon at Denver on Saturday evening,
but no mention had been made of any in
tention to welcome him in this city, and
he was therefore not a little surprised at
the enthusiastic greeting he received. The
general was accompanied by Gen. Austin.
of Toledo, Judge advocate general Of the
Grand Army, and by Col. Striker, of the
famous Ellsworth Zouaves, afterwards the
44th New York volunteers.
Gems. j. w. Fisher and John X. JEFF
rey, of this city, came from Denver with
Gen. Kountz and Gen. Austin, and Col.
A I. Babbitt, who Is an old neighbor, as
well as a personal and military friend of
the visiting gentlemen, Joined the party
here.
As the train steamed to the depot the
procession formed in single line facing the
cars and the band played a greeting. The
train from the east arrived a moment later,
and as it occupies a position between the
Denver train ard the platform, Gen.
Kountz and Gen. Austin were conducted
to the rear coach of the eastern train.
From the rear platform of the coach the
gentlemen made brief addresses, and de-
voted the remaining moments of their
stay to greeting comrades and friends.
Gen. Kountz left Toledo, his home,
last Tuesday, and is making an official
visit to all Grand Army departments. He
spent last night at Salt Lake, tonight he
will be in Ogden, and next Friday will
arrive in San Francisco. One week will
be spent in California, during which he
will visit Los Angeles. Thence he will
go to Portland Oregon, Vancouver island,
Helena, Montana, and will return home
through Dakota and Minnesota. The
trip will occupy about one month.
Gen. Kountz gives a fattering account
of the growth of the order. He says that
it numbered last July 5000 posts and a
membership of $50, 900, and expects to re-
port at Portland, Me, at the annual en-
campment next July at least 5000 posts
and 300, 900 members. He believes that
in a short time every survivor of the
union army will be included in its mem
bership.
A peculiar interest attaches to Gen.
Kountz from his fame as the drummer
boy of Mission Ridge.
His biography in brief is as follows: He
was born in Lucas county. Ohio, March
%, 1916, and in his 18th year enlisted as
a drummer boy in the 37th Ohio Vol
unteer infantry, and served with his regi-
ment in all its marches and campaigns
until the fall of 1868. At the memorable
battle of Mission Ridge, November %,
1868, when the drum corps was ordered
to the rear, preparatory to the charge,
the little drummer boy threw away his
drum and falling in with his company
was wounded in the first assault, being
shot in the left leg, under the enemy's
gun.
He was left on the field until rescued
by a comrade of Co. G, to which he spe-
cially belonged. The amputation of his
left leg followed. The episode has been
made the subject of a poem by Mrs. Kate
B. Sherwood, entitled, ''The Drummer
Boy of Mission Ridge" which has been
recited the country over, and by which
Commander Kountz is affectionately
known among his comrades of the Grand
Army.
Upon his return home he attended
school for a year and then accepted a posi-
ton in the county treasurer office. When
but IS years Of age he was elected to the
responsible position of treasurer of Lucas
county, and at the expiration of his term
was chosen recorder. He is now en-
gagged in the fire insurance business, hay
ing one of the leading agencies in Toledo.
Commander Kountz has been an active
worker in the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie since the organization in 1866, and was
the first adjutant of Forsyth post, serving
three terms; afterwards vice commander,
then q%uartermaster general of the depart
ment, and was three times unanimously
elected post commander.
In 1881 he was chosen department
commander of Ohio, and during his term
he established over 160 posts and in
creased the membership from 1850 to
over 5000.
The commander-in-chief is a man of
handsome appearance and fine presence.
He is still a young man, being only 80
years of age, and brings to the discharge
of the duties of his honorable and re-
sponsible post an active, intelligent and
capable mind which comprehends fully
the vast importance of the position he
holds.
1t was desired to have Gen. Kountz re-
main in the city a day or two, but he was
unable to do so. He was at once sur
prised and delighted at the very compli-
mentary ovation he received here, and If
possible will come to the city during the
encampment this summer.
While in Denver Messrs. Fisher and
Jeffrey settled the question of the en-
campment. During the. reception given
to Gen. IKountz Saturday evening, Gen.
Fisher was called upon to speak. Refer
ring to his remarks the Denver Nccs says.
Gen. Fisher, of Cheyenne, the senior