Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-03-29
THE GRAND ARMY.
Extracts from the valedictory Address
of Commander E. G. Waters at
the Fourth Annual Encamp-
ment, Miles City, March
2I, 1888.

2I, 1888.
Reports of the Several Staff Officers of the
Department for the Past Year
In his admirable address before the De-
partment Encampment, Commander Waters
viewed at some length the wars of ancient
and modern times in historical succession,
and the great warriors who led armies to
battle and the causes they fought for. Re-
ferring then to the War of the Rebellion
and the soldiers who saved the Nation, he
eloquently said:
l arrive now at the Grand Army of
which you are the worthy representatives.
Your are the representatives of that Grand
Army which gave to this land of ours the
rightful name of the Land of the Free
In all the length and breadth thereof there
are now none but free men. The Grand
Army that you represent has done much
for this generation. They have put down
a most unholy rebellion, rebellion that
shook this nation from center to circumfer-
ence, rocking it to and fro; tottering first
to the right, then to the left so greatly was
it shaken upon its strong foundation.
Those were times that tried mems souls.
But this Grand Army went forth
in those dark, dark days; went
forth from their country homes, their
counting rooms, their families, and
loving friends all at their countrys call.
They endured hardships which none but
those who were there can ever know. l
can see them at Gettysburg at Lookout
Mountain, at Fort Donaldson and Vicks-
burg, in the Wilderness at Stone River, at
Chicamauga and Charlottesville, at
Pittsburg Landing and in the Shenan-
| dOah. / can see them in Atlanta and on
| the glorious march to the sea. And in all
these trying scenes this army was the same
| Stubborn, persistent foe. With the same
| lofty aim, with the same patriotism and
loyalty they struggled on, and finally vic
| tory crowned their efforts and the Union
was preserved; the old flag was kept on
high, and the chains that bound 100000
slaves were broken forever. While the
armies of Greece and Rome, of Germany, of
| England, France and Russia were great
and noble ones, yet the Grand Army that
fought from 1861 to 1865 was by far the
| greatest, grandest The armies of
the Old World fought some for con-
quest, some to protect royal
crown; while others fought for self
aggrandizement of single soul but your
noble army fought not for self-aggrandlze-
ment, but that you might raise to the
light Of day the down -trOdden wretches of
humanity and bid them go forth as free
and loyal men. That same spirit of loyal
ty and manhood prevailed at AppOmattox
in dealing with your conquered foes; they
were not stripped of their all they were
not treated as a vanquished army; but
like brothers of an erring kind. The
great struggle of arms that you so we'll re-
member was at an end, and they went
back to their homes and harvest fields,
their work shops and counting rooms.
Many venturesOme spirits went to the far
West, then an unknown wilderness, and
there developed for themselves and faml
lies happy and prosperous homes. And
during these past and seemingly short
twenty-eight years this nation has nearly
paid its monstrous debt-paid by the
same generation and the same hands that
fought to save and destroy it.
These are facts. Where in the pages of
history do you find a nobler record? And
| still this government shrinks from its duty
towards it's protectors turns a deaf ear
upon those who saved 1T from destruction
and kept its flag on high. Yes; as they
| 90 down in the stream of life, battered and
broken beings, that constitution, once so
strong and full of vigor, has been shattered
| from exposure, or nearly consumed by dis
ease contracted while fighting for their
country. And in their declining years and
feeble condition, they are reminded of
nations love of this governments graft
| tude, as they are introduced to some lonely
home in a country poor house. How kind
how considerate But such is the gratitude
! of selfish man. But thanks to this Grand
Army of the Republic of to-day these
things are not allowed to be. That army,
so noble in war, is greater still In peace !;
and those unfortunate comrades are cared
for ut your expense. That came noble
spirit prevails among you and you are doing
| for those enfeebled comrades that which
our government has neglected to do.
Yes; thrice refused, although its treasury
is now expanded nearly beyond its capac-
ity. During the past year there has been
expended by the G. A. Il. In relieving its
needy and destitute comrades and their
families S253934 dispensed among some
24,5S5 persons; and | will venture to state
that there has been fully that amount con-
tributed by private subscriptions by mem
bers of the G. X. A. in and for the re-
lief of their dependent and infirm COM
rades, making in round numbers grand
total of over $500O0O. Such is the work
of the G. A. r. of to-day. But while we
care for those enfeebled and infrm, let rs
not forget the noble dead that gave up
their lives for their country. Some died
| in the midst of bloody battle; others OF
CHASTITY and bleeding wounds In hospital
while many gave up their lives in South
ern prisons, Knocked by famine and starva-
ton. as the breath of life went forth from
their feeble and emaciated bodies.
Let us pay to them such tributes as are
still in our power, and by yearly decorat-
| ING their graves we not only pay them q
| inst and kindly remembrance but inspire
| in the rising generation that spirit OF 10y
atty and patriotism SO necessary 10 the
| welfare of all nations.
REPORTS.
invite your attention to the reports OF
| the officers. which will show In detail the
| the work of the several departments. l
would call your attention to the actlng
ouartermaster generals report, wherein IL
will be seen that strict economy has oeen
| practiced, that our finances are ieit IN
an excellent condition, and aitnougn wo
| have made several extra but necessary OK
| penditures in the matter OF travehng'
books. stationary, ETC., we still nave IN inc
act;nU ouartermaster's hands S3S7 "a, an
increase of S117.84 since our last encamp-