The National tribune., 1885-06-18
THE GRAND ARMY.
Memorial Day ObservaneeS---News
from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
The Commander Chief in Kentucky-A Hearty
Welcome.
TOLEDO. O.. June IL. 1885

The Commander -in.Chief in Kentucky-A Hearty
Welcome.
TOLEDO. O., June II. 1855.
The Commander-in- Chief has made his last
official visit, this time to Kentucky. During
his administration he has travelled over 10000
miles and visited 81 Departments-all, save
three He is now taking little rest. so far as
travel is concerned, but is busy summing up the
results for the year.
In talk with Adi't-Gen. Alcorn. we learn
with deep regret that the great loss by suspen-
sions the past year in some of the Departments
will offset legitimate gains. Something should
be done whereby better system of collecting
dues is developed. Many comrade drops out
of the Order from sheer neglect, whereas If
reminded of his shortcomings he would pay up.
This matter should be considered in the Ma
tional Convention.
CoMRADE KdUNTz IN KENTUCKY.
Odd Fellows Hall in Covington was the scene
of large and brilliant gathering of the GAR
of Covington, Newport, Cincinnati and Day
ton, the occasion being the reception of Comrade
John ). Kountz, Commander-inC Chiefof GA. E.
eff the United States. The hall was hand
someiy decorated with national flags, G.A.R.
badges and other appropriate paraphernalia.
The interest in the event was shown by the
large number of citizens other than the SOL
diers, who were in attendance, and who filled
the hall from one extremity to the other. Gar
field Post under command of Past Commander
w A. Newton. mustered ut its headquarters at
an early hour, and was Joined later by Thomas
Post of Cincinnati, under command of Acting
Commander Chas. kiusley; Nelson Post, of
Newport, under command of Capt ID. K. Z.
Diminick. and Joe Hooker Post, of Dayton,
commanded by Capt. Kessler; the Newport
Drill Corps VIM. Nelson Woman's Relief Corps,
OF Newport and James A. Garfield Woman'S
Relief Corps, of Covington.
The exercises at the hall opened with the
beating of the reveille, after which America
was sung with enthusiasm and effect by the
audience.
PRAYER was said by Rev. Geo. A. Thayer, and
then Commander Jack, of Garfield Post, in
fitting little speech extended a cordial welcome
to the visiting Posts. Comrade o. A. Reynolds,
Junior Vice Department Commander, on behalf
of the Kentucky GAR, delivered the address
of welcome to the Chief. Com
rade Kountz. expressing his thanks, spoke as
follows:
Commander from the depths of my heart thank
you for your very kind words of welcome, and to
you, comrades and ladies. am gratified for the
fraternal greeting and splendid reception. 1 am
glad to be here to exchange greetings with my
comrades of Kentucky, and / rejoice tnat many
comrades of Cincinnati whose love for the Grand
Army of the Republic is proven by their 10 Posts
and $500 members, are present tonight. 1t has
been my privilege during the past year to visit "a
Departments, aud, as the orator would say, II have
been from the Northern Lakes the Southern Gulf,
and from the Atlantic to the golden shores of the
Pacific and find everywhere the same enthusiasm
and affection for the great comradeship so dear to
us ALL and it gives me pleasure to announce that
the organization numbers nearly 1850 OF the sur
vivors of the Union Army and Navy, and Is in a
healthier condition than ever before. And now,
comrades of Kentucky, since you are child of the
Department of Ohio, am sure you will rejoice
when say that the Buckeye Department now
has nearly $1,000, and unless Pennsylvania and
New York look very close TO their laurels Ohio.
under the gallant leadership of Department Com
nander Brown, viii move up to the very front
rank of the Grand Army column. When it is re-
membered that four years ago Ohio numbered but
1900, we r.lay justly feel glowing pride and have
a right to congratulate each other upon the mag
nifiaent growth and present excellent condition. /
wish 20 especially thank the laces of the Wonan's
Relief Corps who have graced this occasion by their
presence, and to assure them their noble work Is
fully appreciated by the comrades of the Grand
Army. We shall never forget your inspiring words
of encouragement ia the day of the Nations dam
ger, and how. with hearts full of purest affection
you worked and prayed for the men who were
battling to save the Union.
bring you the fraternal greeting of your beloved
President Mrs. Kate b. Sherwood, and would say
it has been my good fortune to meet many of the
representative ladies of your noble society in diff
ferent sections of the country during the year, and
everywhere the ladies have WED with the comrades
in their greetings to the representative OF the Grand
Army of the Republic.
My comrades the Grand Army of the Republic
rests upon record of loyalty and teaches the rising
generation lessons of patriotism and devotion to the
principles which triumphed in the 1t is also
an ever-burning campfire, around which we love
TO gather and keep alive the memory of the camp,
the march and the battlefield, and cherish the men,
ory OF those whose lives went out that the Repub-
lie ie,ht be saved.
As / have said. nearly 100000 old soldiers are
now enrolled in its ranks and bear testimony TO its
broad fraternity, and the organization is by them
priced beyond any other memory of the war;
The hundreds of thousands of dollars annually
expended in its magnificent relief work proves that
the great principle of charity is fully carried out.
After further explaining the aim and pur-
pose of the Order, the Commander-in-Ch Chief
closed as follows:
Let US, then comrades stand together shoulder
to shoulder in this the only representative soldiers
organization in America, and touch elbows in
ye odcD times; and let rally more lovingly than
ever around the banner of the Grand Army of the
Republic until shall have gathered into its fra
ternal fold every worthy soldier and sailor who
wore the blue here TO live and labor in the bonds
of patriotism and friendly comradesbip, under the
glorious banner of Fraternity. Charity and Loyalty
In conclusion, thank you, one and all, for the
warm sodierly greetings and loyal welcome, and
j assure you the recOliectioGs of this magnificent
reception will always be sweet and pleasant.
Comrade Kountz's remarks were greeted with
applause throughout. Marching Through
Georgia" was sung with effect as he concluded
A letter was read from Department Commander
Geo. w. Northup regretting his inability to be
present, and calling on the comrades to give their
Cornmander-in-Chicf royal greeting. Com
mander Jack then successively called upon Com
rade Wasson, Comrade Curry, of Hooker Post;
DIR. Davis and Past Commander J. NJ. Hunter of
Thomas Post, who all delivered briefspeeches ofa
humorous character, all of which elected hearty
applause. The regular address Of the evening
was delivered by Rev. A. p. Cobb, pastor of the
Fourth Street Christian Church. 1t was an elo-
Qucnt patriotic, Christian appeal to the COM
rades and brought back vivdly to their minds
the pathetic side Of the terrible struggle of '61
TO %. His word painting of the breathless
groups all over this land waiting for the read
ing of the dreadful lists of the dead, wounded
and missing brought tears to many an eve We
heard an old comrade say of this speech "That
is the best Grand Army talk have ever heard
When die, but let that man speak for me as a
soldier, and ali will know why / fought for the
flag"
The program closed with recitation by Com
rade Rudolph Of Nelson Post, Department of
Ohio. Among the prominent persons present
were Past Commander J. C. Niche, of the De-
partment of Kentucky; Past Commander Jas
b. Wilson, Past Commander j. NJ Hunter
Chas. Radenacher, Past Adjutant- General L.
x. Hawthorne, Past Quartermaster-G General;
Capt Phil Keene, Mrs NJ. A. Foster, of the
Newport Relief Corps. and Mrs. Mary L.
Reynolds, President of the Provisional Depart
ment of Kentucky, Woman's Relief Corps
Gen. Kountz, during his stay in Covington
was the guest of Past Commander Jas. c. Niche
of the Department of Kentucky. He took his
departure last evening.
The Department of Kentucky will be repre-
sented at Portland by Past Department Com
mander j. c. Niche, Junior Vice Commander
O. A. Reynolds DIR. w. A. Bowman, Phillip H.
keene and the comrades of Kentucky by the
Newport Drill Corps of Nelson Post The