Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-07
FROM CAMP ALGER.
The VETERANS AT GResNvLLE.
The Rs0nioa Begins AUspieioUsir and
But tor the Ram Would be
Grand Success.

ern Michigan began here yesterday With nne
weather and every prospect of grand sue
eess. The eity wss prOtusely decorated With
eysrgreens and bunting, and but for the
fact that the hags are al half mast and en-
bierns Of mourning are seen IN all the deco
ratiOns, II would present gala-day appear
anee. The most promiueLt feature of the
decorations Il beautiful arch over the main
street. Ii l. covered with evergreens and
the word Welcome" appears ia place of the
keystone IL l. surmonnted by a stack Of
army mdskets with a cannon on either side,
and from the center hangs portrait of Gen.
Grant appropriately decorated
The camp Is handsomely located in u
meadow slightly elevated. nearly mile
southwest of the city, and named Camp Al
ger, IN honor of our Governor. Ii Is sup
piled with the tents and utensils used at the
encampment of the Michigan State troops
and some of the q. A. X. Posts have tents,
tIn dishes and cooking utensils of their own.
The citizens committee made very gener-
Gus provisions for the comfort of the yeter-
ans. the commissary arrangements especial
IN being all that could bee asked for and
much better than was expected by people
who ar not acquainted with Greenvile hos
pitality. The ratious are dealt out IN real
military style 10 the G. A. X. Posts, but
there is plenty for all and all
are welcome whether roldiers or
citizens, members of Post
straggers or contrabands. The veterans be
| gan To arrive early IN the morning, some
| coming a. q. A. X. Posts In companies and
many in squads or singly without organiza-
| ton Comrades of the home post had been
4 n in NIT IN
cooking shanties, etc, but most of the fore
noon was spent in putting the camp in order
Colonel &. q. Jenison IL III command, with
the following staff: Lieutenant Colonel, ID.
| ii. McComas; Major, Charles +. Belknap;
| Adjutant, L.. IL. Gibson Surgeon, John
Avery. NJ. D.; Inspector, Z. c. Ellsworth;
! Quartermaster, A. j. Cole Commits
sary, A. Ill. Bennett; Sergeant Major,
| T. Rodgers; Bugler, Charles o. Bronson;
| u. NJ. Sergeant, Wm. Bradley; Commits
! sary Sergeant, Wm. Deary; Chaplain, Rev.
| j. l.. Patton: assistants, Rev. G. ID. Lee and
Rev. NJ f. Haynes. Aides, Captains Geo.
| W. Turner. f. NJ. Hecox, Caleb Griffith. j.
>. Chase, +. L. Dennison, L. \. Stevens
and VIM. X. Griffith. Chief of Staff, Past
| Commander Colonel Daball.
| Guard was mounted Mt 10 q. IN. Governor
| Alger arrived at IL O'Clock, and was received
with salute of twenty one guns.
| After dinner more time was spent
in putting things to rights, visiting
| etc until dress parade at . O'Clock, when
| Governor Alger delivered a short address,
| His remarks were very appropriate for the
| occasion and were received with applause,
/ especially his allusiOns to the comcalities of
I the soldiers life. tie gave the veterans some
| excellent advice, urged all to affiliate with
the Grand Army and punctually attend the
meetings of their posts. Had heard and
was sorry 10 say that 5000 comrades had
been dropped from the rolls in the past year
| for non payment of dues This Is wrong
and should not be allowed. If a comrade il
not able to pay dues the Post should remit
/ his dues, or comrades who arel able
should pay for him. 1t Is every
soldiers duty to be member of some
| G. A. X. Post. If he is rich it is his duty to
help his comrades. If not rich he may soon
need help for himself. He congratulated
| the comrades that the State of Michigan was
| about to provide a home for the poor sol
| diers and in n measure atone for the disgrace
| of having allowed some of them to find homes
| in the poor houses. He advised the veterans
| 70 keep sober and pay strict attention to
/ orders and show that they had not forgotten
| the respect for discipline they learned In the
| army. Some might feel that there should be
| no restraint at such time this: but he
| thought they would feel better and have
| more respect for themselves If they obeyed
| orders and acted a. manly soldiers.
| For supper 800 rations were issued, and
\ IL was estimated that at least 800 veterans
| were on the grounds In the afternoon. Many
of them living near here drove home or
| went home on the evening trains. The even
| ing was spent in recounting "reminiscences
/ and holding regimental reunions around the
| camp fires.
| This morning opened bright and clear,
| and the morning trains brought in large
/ number of veterans and many citizens.
| Farmers from the surrounding country with
| their wives and children helped to swell the
throng, and at 10 o'clock at least 5000 people
we're on the ground. Gen. Cutcheon and
| Congressman Tarsney arrived at 10 O'Clock
| They we're estorted from ths depot to the camp
/ by WabunO Post and the Peninsular Band
/ OF Mt. Pleasant. This post Is one of the
strongest IN the State and was named after
| an Indian volunteer Of the Seventh infantry
| Who was killed at Antietam. There were
/ four Indians in the regiment. two OF whom
/ are n re. One, Marcus Otto. carries an
empty sleeve and says he left his arm in the
/ WILDERNESS" The feature of the morning
was the prize drill by q. A. r. Posts, in
which the NJ. ". Dressler Post. Of Portland.
| Quackenbush Post, of Owosso, and the st.
| Johns Post. competed The first prize. n
beautiful picture of President Lincoln, was
awarded 20 the -. Johns comrades. and the
| second prize. bronze clock. went
| to the Ouackenbush Post For the
| benefit Of the posts who are not armed
| prizes were offered for the best uniformed
| post The Ionia post took the first Prize. a
| gayel made from the Andersonville prison
/ stockade. and the second. picture Of Gen.
| Grant was taken by Earl Hsibert Post. Of
/ Grand ledge.
After the prize drill occurred the reunion
, IF the 2lst Michigan Infantry. There we're
| l03 members Of the regiment present. more
| than Of any other regiment represented, aud
| more perhaps. as one Of the members sadly
! remarked. than uill ever be seen together
/ again When the regiment Wa mustered
/ ont n service IL Numbered but ~ men. one
| third 0f whom were here 20 day. over 200
| people ate dinner With the veterans Today.
but there uas no lack II rations and All ate
Z heartily.
2 he grand parade. which was to have oc-
curred At % =. ~. would have been A grand
AFFAIR had not The ram. winch had been
threatening since ID O'Clock begun % fail
inst A. the column VS. ready % move. II
vs. then decided ~ hear the orstion m
Prices Rink, and the procession Tss started
down town through the rain. II wss led %
the ftreeuvilie DIVISION Knights - Pythias
vith the city hand. followed hy eight Grand
Army P0Sts. seven brass bands. FIVE msrtiaI
bands -qusd- 81 Grand Army men and vet
erans and citizens IL carriage Nofuifh-
standing the ram and mud The column