The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-03-05
THE GRAND ARMY.
Indiana Encampment--News From
the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
TOLEDO. O., Feb, %. 1855.

Monday evening last Commander in Chief
Kountz was present TO inaugur3te the three
days Grand Army Fair at Upper Sandusky
The hall vas finely decorated and aglow with
patriotic colors The program opened with
music by the Little Six, when Cv.nrade J. P.
Dey. Master of Ceremonies, introduced Com
mander KouBtz, who was received with hearty
greetings. His address outlined the growth of
the Grand Army, depicted Its mission in max
ing vital application of the great principles of
Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty. and teemed
with patriotic ut.erances which evoked a
hearty response from the large audience pres
ent. After music Commander Kountz held q
reception, when hosts of comrades and their
families pressed forward TO give him welcome.
The Sandusky comrades met with marked
success in their fair. The second evening was
Mrs Elizabeth Mansfield lrvIug's night, who
was complimented by the enthusiasm which
followed Der rendering of various fine sclec-
tlons. Department Commander Z. b. Brown,
. ringing speaker, and Gen. w. III. Gibson,
Ohlo's silver-tongued orator. were the at
fractions for the closing evening.
INDIANA ENCAMPMENT.
Returning from Upper Sandusky, the Com
mander-in-Chief set out at once for lndianap-
ment Department of Indiana. The attendance
was large and representative, showing that
Grand Army interests in the Hoosier State had
prospered well under Department Commander
Near. The report of COmrade Ben ID. House,
A. 4. G.. showed 59S Posts in the State with
membership of 5000, gain during the year of
LIZA. The financial affairs of the Department
are in good shape. Total assets for the year,
S3,S91.o5; receipts from all sources. l3,22l.50;
expenditures. -, 1850, leaving a balance, in
Guiding supplies, of $i2i0g2. There was
distributed Tor the hood sufferers the sum of
$l,794.S0.
The Commander made favorable mention of
the Woman's Relief Corps, and the work they
were doing for the Posts where organized, and
among the important resolutions passed WAS
that asking the reorganization of the Soldiers
Orphans Home. The resolutions gave the sense
OF the GAR. to be that it was a disgrace upon
the State 10 place the children of soldiers in an
Institution with idiotic children, as is now done
In that State.
VISITING THE LEGISLATIVE HALLS.
A notable incident in the Eacampment was
she visit of the comrades III body, in response
TO an invitation extended by the General AS
tenbly, TO the legislative halls. In the Senate
shey were welcomed by Indianas veteran,
Lieut.-Gov. Gen. Manson, and response was
made by Commander NicaT and Gen. Paul Van
DervOort, Past Commander-in-Chef The vet
Grams then went 10 the House of Representa-
tives, where they were welcomed by Speaker
Jewett. Responses were made by Commander
Nicar, Gen. Manson, Gov. Hanna and Gen.
Van Dervoort. The last-named referred TO the
fact that this was the first time in the history
of the Order that the Grand Army of the Re-
public had been invited TO visit Legislature
and said Indiana had taken the lead.
GRAND CAMP FIRE.
Lyral Hall was crowded TO its utmost capac-
:ty "Wednesday evening, and the program of
speech and song was of the most stirring order.
The entertainment was opened by the Auten
Post quartet, of South Bend. imposed of COM
rades &. c. Trump, d. ". Gillen, ii. e. Dunbar,
and w. 5. Barnes, which sang old war songs,
aud portrayed the scenes OF camp life. Gen.
Manson next welcomed the q. A. r. 10 this city,
eulOgi2ed tile soldier in the war of the rebellion,
and stated that the object Of the organization
was 10 help the poor soldier and his family.
"The soldiers" said the General must stand
together for protection, and while single SOL
3ier of the rebellion lives our organization will
not go down.
COMMUNICATIVE Chief Kountz was then intro
auced, and as he came forward was greeted
WITH RINGING CHEERS
by the immense concouTse present. In an ad-
dress Of SOME length he rejoiced that there is no
combat to-day, anu that so many of the soldiers
of the late were alive. The GAR" said
he, is the soldiers guardian and protector.
1t is an organization composed Of the heart of
the gramdest army that was ever known. We
are united TO commemorate deeds of heroism
and TO cherish old companiOnship. We saved
the Union by our loyalty, bravery. sacrifices,
and suffering. Such vicisstudes and victories
have bound us as closely together as a single
family
He said the Grand Army was the dearest or
ganizatiOn TO the survivors of the late war that
ever existed being cqualed only by the ties of
family. He thought the Government could
never repay the debt it owed to the boys in
blue, and now that their numbers were grow
Ing less so rapidly each year. he urged that the
order should be strengthened by irmer devo-
ton 10 the cause and the carrying out of its
principles more fully.
Senator Hilligass and Past COmmander-in-
Chief Van Deryo0rt were among the speakers
OF the evening, the latter making one Of his
stirring appeals in behalf Of the Woman's Re-
lief Corps. The women" said he, "lent
hand 10 put down the late war, and now this
organization OF her own, in this State, must be
encouraged in every possible way by the COM
Fades" Comrade Van DervoUrt is helping on
the enthusiasm wherever he goes.
Senator Hilligass, giving the motive which
the q. A. T. had in view, said: We belong to
different parties and are divided IN the church.
but are all united in the q. A. L., which does
not tolerate sect or faction" Senator Hilligass
spoke also Of the KnightstOwn Home, and fav-
ored the separation Of the two branches of that
institution, saying that il should be taken out of
politics and managed 80 as 10 be comfortable to
the orphans of the old soldiers. Duty COM
nanded this as the children there were the
wards OF the comrades
These Grand Army conclaves are doing
world Of good In creating wholesome public
sentiment, aud the COMMANDMENTS Chief ex-
presses great satisfaction with interest pre-
VRllng in fraternity of Indiana.
HEADQUARTERS NOTES
Commander in Chief Kountz leaves for an
ether Western trip this week, going first to
Kansas City, TO be present at the Encampment
Of the Department of Missouri, March q, and
thence 10 Fort Scott, where be viii attend the
Kansas Encampment March II.
Of interest at National Headquarters Is an
able historic article in the Magazine Of Art for
February, by Comrade William Howard Mills,
Of Washington, d. C., Aid TO the Commander
n-Chief.
In General Orders, No. 2, Department Com
Eander Brown, of Ohio, announces the follow
ing additional appointments on his staff, all
wide-awake Grand Army workers: Carl n.
Bancroft. J. NJ. Wells Post, No 45l, Inspector;
Charles Townsend. Columbus Golden Post, No.
% Judge-Advocate; n. l.. Anderson, Hazlett
Post, No. 81, Chief Mastering Officer; J. Il.
Rees, J. C. Mccoy Post. No. !, Aid-de-C Camp
and Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
FORSYTH.
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
N