The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-02-15
The Grand Army Enoampment.

The annual encampment Of the Grand /
Army Of Maine, at Portland, last week |
was a notable meeting of Maine yetctans /
There were delegates present to the num-
Der Of about 500 from every county of
the State. The deliberations were har-
monious the order is in good working
order with healthy finances. The mem.
bershp is 923S gain of POS over last
year The sum of S5.l2lsl has been ex-
pended in assistance to destitute soldiers
and their families. The quartermaster
reported the receipts for the year 81, so4.-
Il, expenditures S5,5G2 % with 2,32G.56
on hand
Col. ii. II, Burbank, of Saeo, was
elected Department Commander. rcceiv-
ing 2i9 votes to 50 for Col Drew of Lew
iston. Col Burbank is a man that will
do credit 10 the veterans of Maine. a
graduate of Bowdoin in lsG0, entered the
army rs private in the 9th Maine Reg
lnent in ls62, served his time in that
regiment, re-nlisted in the Send, serving
with distinction as lieutenant and captain
serving from SpOtsylVana until the
Maine Exposition when he was taken
prisoner and sent to Columbus, 5. {. WAS
there when the city was burned by Wade
Hampton but escaped soon after and
joined Sherman's army. Col. Burba X
was Il member of the military stan of
Gov. Conner, has served a city solicitor
Of Biddeford. IS now county attorney of
York county and is a prominent member
Of the Masonic fraternity. The other
officers elected were Senior Vice Com.
mander, A. J. Crockett, Rockland; Junior
Vice Commander, +. W Haskell, Water
Vile; Chaplain, Rev. e. II Shinn, Deer
ing Medical director, !. b. Parsons;
Council of Administration. Isaac Dyer
Skowhegan, c. W. IIa flock Portland, &
A. Wilson South Paris, W. Cushing Do
yer. c. + Nash. Augusta T.. c Milliken
Of Portland was appointed Asst. Adju-
tant general and b. L. Beals Of Auburn
Asst. quartermaSter general.
The Communicative chief, John Z. Rea.
of Minnesota, with two of his stan were
present at the meeting and at the ban
quet at City hall, Friday evening. This
banquet was rendered by Boswofth Post
of Portland to commanderin-Chief and
comrades of the Grand Army Six hun
bred guests sat down to the feast. The
Press says that probably City Hall never
seated so many at tables within its walls
before, The decorations were elaborate.
everything first class and elegant. a
"Ptcher Drill by 100 young ladies at
tired as walters was received by the vet
Grams with enthusiastic applause.
After dinner Major Melcher made an
address of welcome and Hon Henry b.
Clcaves acted ut POSTMASTER. When he
proposed the first toast, "Our Country
and Our Flag" and when the venerable
Hannibal llamlin rose to respond the hall
rang with round after round of applause;
his speech was applauded to the echo.
Commander-n-chief Rea responded to
the toast. The Grand Army of the Re
public" and was enthusiastically receiv
ed Other toasts were responded to As
follows: Getty of Portland" by Mayor
Chapman; estate of Maine, by Governor
Marble; "Our Volunteer Army" by Hon.
W +. Luut of Portland; "Our Navy by
Past Department Commander X X. Galley
of Portland; Comrades who Never
Came Back by Rev. Mr.. Payne of the
Pine Street church. Portland, Chandler :
Band and Portland Male Qnartetle fur
nished the best of music for the oceas-
ion.
The State of Maine encampment of the
&. A X. is conservative on pension mat
ters 1t declined to consider the petition
to equaze the pay of soldiers by bring
ing the pay to gold basis, and referred
it to committee. This is an impractic-
able project as we look at it.
The following resolution, offered by
Col. +. NJ Drew of Lewiston, was
passed -
ReSoired, that the Department Com
mander shall annually appoint a commit
tee of five to be known as the committee
on pensions, and that 1t shall be the duty
of said committee to lay before the prop
err committee of the legislature Of the
State such matters as the cncampmcnt
may adopt relative to state or national
pension matters.
A resolution was passed that the de
partment of Maine memorable Congress
to appropriate Il sufficient sum of money
to erect monuments on the battlefield of
Gettysburg to such organizations of the
regular army as took part in the battle.