The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-14
THE GRAND ARMY.
News From the Departments New
Posts, etc.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
HEADQUARTERS
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
GRAND ARMY STATISTICS.


GRAND ARMY STATISTICS.
From National Headquarters we CLEAN the
following interesting figures relating to the 10
largest Departments, according to the reports
ending Sept. 80 1885, Pennsylvania heads the
list as to membership; then comes New York,
followed by Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts,, Kan
sas Indiana, Michigan, Iowa and Maine in the
order named. New York, however, leads in
the number of Posts, with Ohio second and
Pennsylvania third, while Illinois, Iowa, In
diana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Ne
braska follow.
Commandcr-in- Chief Burdett left the city on
Monday morning last for Philadelphia to at
tend the services alluded to in last week S
TRIBUNE He will return to the city in the
course of the week.
IGNORING PAST COMMANDER IN CHIEF
KOUNTZ.
On the 9th inst, after the installation of the
officers of Forsyth Post, of Toledo, and its
Ladies Auxiliary, most interesting event &C.
curred-the carrying out of the provisions OF
resolution of the last National Eucampment
directing the Council Of Administration to pre-
sent Past Commander-in- Chief John S. Kountz
suitable testimonial as the final seal of ap-
proya for efficient management and services
rendered during his term of Office.
As pressing duties prevented Commander-in-
sentation, he deputized Judge R. II. Cochran to
do So and better selection could not have been
made. The effort was such as might have been
expected to come from so fine speaker The
Judge prefaced his remarks to Gen. Kountz as
follows:
Toledo takes active interest in the just fame of
her sons and daughters.
In 1884 at Minneapolis Comrade John S. Kountz
and Mrs Kate B. Sherwood were chosen, respect
lively COMMANDMENTS Chief of the Grand Army of
he lip Nstio of
ans Relief Corps-two of the most worthy and re-
markable societies ever organized, and carrying on
best pages of history.
Forsyth Post and Forsyth Relief Corps feel justly
proud that we so hold the generous confidence of
our people in benefcent local work, that both Ma
tional societies did the honor to look here for
leaders, and that they closed their official terms
amid the universal plaudits-"Well done!"
At this joint installation it fit to recall these
events and to dispose of matter especially affect
flg Courade Kountz while il remains for another
occasion and more fortunate than / to speak
for the Womans Relief Corps and their worthy ex-
National President.
Judge Cochran then addressed Gen. Kountz:
PAST CoMMANDER-IN-CHIEF KoUNTz: At the
close of your official year the National Encamp-
ment directed the Council of Administration to pro-
cure and present you a suitable testimonial of their
recognition of your efficient management and es-
sential services in behalf of the Grand Army.
Your worthy successor desired to be present on
this occasion to execute this pleasant order but as
other pressing duties require his attention, he has
commissioned me to act in his stead
Expecting much. your administration agreeably
surprised your best friends-you had no enemies.
1t was wise vigorous, successful and will COM
pare favorably with any, past to follow; but
the events crowded into the work of this meeting.
and the lateness of the hour forbid recital here
even sketch of your Grand Army work. Nor, in
deed, is either needu TO advise your comrades who
thus continue to remind you that they have not
forgotten
As did your work, so does this act of the Encamp-
ment speak louder than words, and have too
much respect for both to freight this occasion by
tnfiicting speech.
The Grand Army of the Republic, and your ele-
walton to its head strikingly illustrate the equality
Of our people and the Ieveling tendencies of
institutions. All its members are comrades, and in
your person the humblest from the ranks was sa-
luted as Gommandercin-Chief by ex-Presidents,
Generals. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and others holding
high official place.
The esteem of 100000 comrades, representing the
rank and file of that army of nearly 600 0G0 patri-
OTIS who on 1000 battlefelds wrote the best record
of mans struggle for man, rich possession; to
be their chosen chief is an exalted trust, and to
elicit their plauds is full and rounded measure of
q noble ambition.
The simple story of their cause and soldier Iife
with holy aims and glorious names adorRing every
shining page, is eloquence supreme, surprising
other speech and theme, and will inspire TO noblcst
deeds and daring and sfiTest safety bring so long
rs men shall love the telling and the hearing.
In the name of the Grand Army of the Republic
Ipresent you this elegant silver service. and am
expressly deputed to testify this occasion for the
National Encampment, for the Commander-in-
Chief and for every comrade hearty good will
and earnest wish for your health and happiness.
In the good dollars of our dads" and the better
dollars OF their sons, and when your locks are sill
are beyond the pieket-lines, mustered out may the
sight of these tokens gladden. your eye and quicken
anew the pleasing memories
OF comrades tried and true
Who wore the loyal blue.
At the conclusion of Judge Cochran's re-
marks, Gen. KOuntz stepped forward amid
long-continued clapping Of hands. After quiet
had been restored, he said:
CoMRADE COCHRAN: The cordial approval of the
work during my term Commanders Chief
by the large and intelligent body of comrades that
composed the 18th National Encampment, and the
Kindness and affection shown me at all times by
my comrades, have more than compensated for
the little service have been permitted to render
the Grand Army of the Republic And when its
representatives assembled in National Encamp-
ment, the largest in the history of the organization
come with this additional proof of the generous
good opinion OF my comrades, what shall 1 say?
How can httlngly express the deep feeling of fra
ternal gratitude that fills my heart i'm accepting
tnis oeautnu testimonial! Your warm language,
sir and kindly reference to my poor efforts be-
half OF our great comradeship very pleasant to
noe, but the consciousness that am not deserving
OF ali the praise you have so eloquently and un-
stintedy bestowed is somewhat Of drawback to
my qualification. Whatever success attended the
years work is due more to the cordial co-opera-
Son OF the officers and comrades than to any spe-
eaai efforts OF my own.
To have been Commander-in- Chief of this great
soldier organization, numbering more than a quar-
Ger OF a million of the men whose achievements
preserved the Republic, is an honor not measured
IA kdiuc ny gOlu or SILVER, and i shall cherish
lively sense of gratitude toward my comrades for
having promoted me 10 the highest position in the
gift of the Grand Army, which shall always
esteem as the greatest honor of my life.
IL Is now more than l9years since was mustered
into the Grand Army of the Republic as a charter
member Of Forsyth Post. and / rejoice that have
been a continuous member of that organization
made up as 1t Is solely of the survivors of that
grand and patriotic army which accomplished SO
much for liberty and civilization and because IL
rests upon a record of loyalty and patriotism and
inspires the rising generation love and venerate
the Government We fought to preserve as the |
grandest and freest in the world Every old soldier
who is proud OF the part he took in the great strug
gle to perpetuate the Union and reoices in the rec
objection of duty well performed should be enrolled
In the ranks of this society The ties that bind us
and the fraternal feeling that exists between the
comrades IN this association cannot exist in any
other.
The Grand Army is the only representative SOL |
dier organization in America and nearly 300 600 |
honorably-discharged soldiers and sailors of the
Union army are enrolled in its ranks and bear tes-
tamony TO It's genuine fraternity. Its sweet and |
tender charities are too well known to need men
eon IN this presence and the loyalty of its members
has been proven upon the battlefield
My comrades let us continue to gather into the |
ranks OF our noble association all whose character
and record OF service enttle them to admission |
and let us always stand by each other in raternai
eomradeship, under the glorious banner of the |
Grand Army OF the Republic
The testimonial consists of solid silver SER |
vice OF % pieces, deliberately engraved and q |
case of solid silver spoons and forks. In view
OF the fact that California had presented the