The National tribune., 1886-02-18
THE GRAND ARMY,
News From the Departments---New
Posts. etc.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
HEADQUARTERS
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
WASHINGTON, ID. c.

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWERED
A letter has been received at Headquarter:
requesting decision from the Commander-in
Chief in regard 10 the following questions:
"Is il a legitimate means of increasing the
membership of Post, a proper manifesto
ton OF fraternity 10 comrades or loyalty tC
our Order, for a cOmrade to try to induce mem
bcrs of other Posts TO take transfer cards and
join his Post?
rs the Order benefited by such tacticsP
"Is it not injured by the loss of fraternal
feeling between Posts, which is essential to the
prosperity of the Order?"
To these questions Gen, Burdett has written
the following reply:
"0n these questions you request the decision
Of the Commander-in Chief.
Il have 10 doubt but my own judgment will
be found in accord with yours on this question
If a comrade or group of comrades should exert
themselves 10 obtain the withdrawal of mem
bers of Post for the purpose Of injuring its
standing, there is no doubt such conduct would
not only be reprehensibie in the highest degree,
but would subject those guilty of it to the trial
nd punishment provided by our Rules and
Regulations for those oifcnses described in Art.
G. Sec. ], Subheads and 5.
But take it to be true that Generally when
a comrade is found to he using the endeavors
described in the questions asked, that his efforts
are the result OF INSTRUCTED zeal for his own
Post rather than from any purpose to DO injury
10 another. In such case it is not perceived
that action looking to the punishment Of the
individual 50 offending could be sustained.
Nevertheless such conduct is wrong, and by
all persuasive methods ought TO be made un-
popular and ncrhans odious 1t is h3rl 70 con-
ceive of more unfraternal act than that
which would result-for purely selfish or per-
sOnal ends--in the dismembarment or even
d.. = tIar iv-,,
This seems to me to be so palpabie that ii will
only be necessary to invite the considerate at
tcution 10 il of the comrades generally in order
TO insure its d:scontnuance. Emulation be-
tween Posts directed TO the increase of member
ship to be drawn from those outside the Order
is most commendablc. hut TO build on the ruins
of another has never been the method of the
just and should have no advocates among US"
CURIOUS WEAPON.
Perhaps the most curious weapon in the col
lection OF war relies at Headquarters is pistol
II inches in length, marked Col. lie Mats
Patent" with an upper leng rified barrel, hav-
ing a revolving cylinder of nine chambers.
This cylinder revoive5 upon another barrel
which is beneath the upper barrel The calioer
of the chambers is about the same as the Colts
Navy. The lower barrel is about the caliber of
aSprineied musket By turning down swivel
attached to the cock, q charge OF either slugs or
DalIS can be nrcd from the lower DaTrel Inc
butt is ringed. A co;nrade who was prisoner
of war at Andersonville. upon seeing the pistol,
remarked that it is similar to the weapon used
by Capt. Wirz. who wore it attached to his
waist from a ring in the butt.
ADDRESSES WANTED.
The following has been received at these
Headquarters from Shaw Post, No. POS, of
LeaveEworth Kan: Wanted, some comrade who
served in the same regiment with the following
soldiers: James Hurdell. Caleb Hurdell, and
Jack or Jackson Hurdeil All these men enlisted
in Mississippi or Louisiana, and were owned by
Thomas Warner, of North Carolina. Also,
William Culley, Abraham Culley, James Gull
ley and Arthur Galley, all Of Stafford Co, Va.
Any information will bc addressed to II. G.
Scholl, p. C., Shaw Post, No. POS, Department
of Kansas Leavenworth, Kan.
NOTES.
Col Ell. S. Jones 81 Pa Cav DEPART
ment Commander OF Tennessee and Georgia. is
expected in Washington shortly. Adj't an.
Cameron has for some days past been receiving
his mail.
Information has been received at Hcadquar-
tiers that a movement is on foot to locate and
maintain Soldiers Home in Vermont.
The Commander Chief left Washington on
Monday last for Springfield to attend the
Encampment Of the Department of Illinois On
the l7th and 18TH insts.