The National tribune., 1885-04-30
THE GRAND ARMY.
News from the DepartmentS---Camp.
fires. etc,
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
The Commander-in-Chief at San Francisco
ard santa Rosa Magnificent Badge.


ard Santa Rosa-A Magnificent Badge.
TOLEDO, o., April "a, 1885.
On Friday of last week the COMMANDMENTS
Chief reached San Francisco, where he was
accorded more than royal welcome. Most
extensive preparations had been made for his
coming, and the reception committee went as
far as Port Costa to meet him and the Judge
Advocated General.
The committee was composed of r. II. War
field, Department Commander; III. Z. Dibble,
Junior Nice-Department Commander: X. ID.
Orion, Assistant Qaartermaster-G General; 3 l..
Daniels, Judge Advocate; e. Nj. Pease, Sur
geon- General; Walter IL. Holmes, Department
Inspector; Department Commanders L. Carl
son, C. Mason Kline, w. A. Robinson, o. b. Cul-
ver w. II. Aiken, J. w. Staples S. p. Ford; t.
H. Goodman, Delegate at Large to National En-
campment; q. w Watts, Commander, Thomas
Post; j. Hollywood, Commander, Lyon Post /;
Senior Vice-Commander L. r. Martin, Apo
mattox Post; Department Council of Admin
istration Geo. c. Harris and A. Hollywood (;
Comrades J. C. Tucker III. Ellard, J. A. Jack
son, ii. t. Hobert A. J. Nining, J. L. Tharp.
jerome Deasy and W. Ii. Mork.
At Port Costa the committee awaited the
overland train, and when it came in, carrying
the City of Napa, (the Pullman palace car in
which the party traveled,) salutes and intro
auctions followed. Accompanying the Com
mander-in- Chief were Gen. b. o. Carr, Past
Commander of Fitzpatrick Post, St. Helena; III.
4. Burnett, Senior Nice-Department Com
Inander; p. j. Flynn, Commander of Kilpat-
rick Post, and Comrade Edwards, of Lyon Post.
Oakland, who had boarded the train before
Port Costa was reached. o. Il. Culver, Com
lnander of Lincoln Post, Oakland, and Chair
man of the General Committee, came across the
hay with the party.
On reaching San Francisco the party repaired
at once TO the Occidental Hotel, where they
were received by over 800 members of the
Grand Army in the reception room, who formed
in a double line and stood at a salute as the
General and party passed between the lines to
the parlor, where the regular reception was
held. This parlor had been exQuisitely deco
lated. Over the entrance an American flag
was draped, and about the walls there was a
good showing of bunting and national colors
There was profuSOn of roses, lilies, ferns and
various other flowers. A beautiful slken ban
Her, on which were lettered in gold the words ::
Lincoln Relief Corps, No. 3, W.R.Cky' was
placed over Il table in the center of the parlor.
Above this was white silk pennant, intended
TO convey the idea that the Womans Relief
Corps, who were the decorators on this occasion,
might always be relied on to give the parent
organization assistance. On the north side of
the parlor, above the mirror, formed of flowers
was the word Welcome" and below and on
each side in floral letters, G A. r" and "W.RC
Between these were the initials and watch
words +. I. L.. All these beautiful designs
were the work of the ladies.
As the hero Of Mission Ridge and his escort
marched through the parlor, Mrs. Bowley, of
the Relief Corps, played on the piano Hail to
the Chief" and at the completion of the piece
three laundering cheers rang out for the Com
mander-in-C Chief The Ladies Relief Corps led
off in singing Marching Through Georgia"
and the veterans joined with will and made
the walls resound.
Gen. kountz and suite were domiciled in
suites on the second floor, which were hand
somely decorated by the Ladies Relief Corps.
TIE RECEPTION.
At Metropolitan Hail, where the reception
was held in the evening, everything was done
10 make the place beautiful the ladies of the
Relief Corps taking the matter entirely in their
hands Across the back of the stage. in front
Of the organ, were stretched the silk flags of
Lincoln Post No. l George III. Thomas Post,
20. 2; James A. Garfield Post, No. "a, and
George q. Meade Post, No. As. IN front of the
organ WAS a large oil painting, Inspecting
Guard in Camp" and above this a pennant on
which was the badge of the Grand Army. On
The pipes of the organ was the word wei
come" III red, white and blue flowers. On each
side OF the organ We're stacked arms and the
seat OF the organ was covered with flowers
From chandelier hung the banner OF Lincoln
Relief Corps, No. 3, and on another chandelier
was suspended pennant of the Grand Army
Dn lit aSlG "a ibS stage d large NIedln Oh HOW
e-s, across the center Of which were the words
Mission Ridge in daisies. Below the wreath
was drum. on which were number of apple
blossoms This was presented by APPROXIMATION
Relief Corps, of Oakland.
The exercises of the evening were opened at
s:l5, when Commander-in-Chief Kountz and
his special guard of honor, led by Department
Commanders Warfeld and III. T. Hobbert
marched into the hall. There were over 600
veterans present, and they rose and received
Gen. kountz and escort with prolonged cheer
ing. The First United States Artillery Band of
. pieces played the reveille as the party took
SEATS on the platform. This was followed By
medley, entitled RecoIections Of the War"
In few minutes Senator Miller arrived and
took q seat next to Gen. KountZ. The Depart
ment officers of the Woman's Relief Corps oecu-
pied seats of honor on the stage.
At the conclusion of the music Department
Commander Warield presented Cen Kountz
10 the assembly AS soon as the cheers which
greeted the Commander-in- Chief had subsidized
he addressed the audience as follows:
GEN. KoUNTZs SPEECH
COMRADES: thank you more than can express
Tor the Kindness OF your reception Let il be under
stood also that consider this receDtion given not
alone 10 me. but to the Grand Army of the epub-
lie which have AT this time the honor TO repre-
sont- To you ladies, who are here tonight, /
extend most raternal greeting, and we will never
forget yourtender care and hopeful words when we
were at the front. am proud that my name is
the OF the 6rstlld Army OF the Repub-
lie, "a il Is the only soldier society OF America. We
rejoice tonight, comrades, that are now living
ia peaceful land: that those who confronted each
other 20 years ago on the field of battle now meet
and clasp hands in friendly greeting. The Grand
Army of the Republic formed TO commemorate
rduous tasks on the battlefield and only those who
have stood shoulder TO shoulder before Gle enemy
can know the warmth of our comradesliip. The
Grand Army will continue TO prosper, and shall
grow IN size until IL bears its roll the name of
every soldier who fought to preserve the integrity
OF the Nation.
short piece was sung by the Occidental
Quartet, at the conclusion of which Mrs f. E.
BOwley, President of Lincoln Relief Corps. No.
), IN behalf of that organization presented Gen.
Keuntz with a floral piece, some four feet in
hight, representing the Relief Corps and the
Grand Army. Emma Fisher little daughter
OF one of the comrades of Lincoln Post pre-
scented the Commander in Chief with a bououet
Gen. Konntz was much affected by these evil
dences of regard, AID in few words conveyed
his thanks.
Judge Advocate General ID. r. Austin was
presented, and made speech, in which he said
be was sorry he was not drummer boy"
The hit was received with general applause
He discussed the benefits of the Grand ARMY
comparing them 10 those derived by the people
OF today from the suiferings of the pioneers on
this coast An allusion 10 Abraham Lincoln
was greeted with applause.
The Lincoln Quartet gave another selection,
which was followed by recitation by Miss
Nellie HolbrOok, of the Battle of Mission
Ridge" The lady was recalled twice.