Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-02-25
The G. A. r. Encampment at
Brattleboro.


14th and 10Th of this month, while the
Ex- Prisoners Association and the w. R.
Corps were in attendance and held the
most important gatherings since their or
ganizations.
The Relief Corps meeting on Wednes-
day evening at G. A. r. hall was largely
attended. At the same time the Sons of
Veterans organization at their headquar-
ters at Harmony hall, gave an informal
reception to Col. F. L. Eaton of the Yer
mont division of that order, which was
largely attended and very pleasant. The
principal meeting of the evening, how
ever, was at the town hall, which had
been lavishly trimmed with flags, bunt-
ing, banners, and the colors of the local
organizations, and was under the auspices
of the Vermont EX-PriSOnerS ASsOcia-
tion. The members of the association
occupied the platform and the hall was
well filled with an interested audience to
listen to the address on ''Prison Life in
the South" delivered by Maj. Frank E.
Moran of Philadelphia. Maj. ID. j. STAFF
ford of Morrisville, president of the ex-
prisoners association, presided and Col.
Hooker made the address of welcome III
behalf of the local Grand Army post.
Mai. Moran labored under some diSadvan-
tages, and begged the leniency of his
hearers. 1t seems he has just recovered
from severe illness, having been off his
bed but four days, and besides this the
.rxl0G Il
been injured at Gettysburg, he had some
difficulty in reading The address, was of
great interest and described the treat
ment of our soldiers in the southern pris-
ons and included extracts from various
reports, letters and speeches of promi-
nent men on the horrors of the rebel pris-
ons at Andersonville, Libby, Salisbury,
Bell Island and other places.
The speaker then followed with person
al "reminiscences, telling of his own cap
ture at Gettysburg, and the long, weari-
some march to Richmond. In conclusion
he called to mind some of the things
which we as a nation owe our soldiers,
urged that they never be forgotten, and
pICSCAOCu 4OANlOly PiSoShO NNOJ OA
each one, closing with portion of Long
fellows ''Ship of State.''
At the close President Stafford spoke of
the purpose of the organization and asked
all to lend their influence to secure the
recognition which those who had endured
such suffering deserved.
At the Thursday morning meeting of
the department the chief business was
the presenting of the various reports and
the turning of them over to the proper
| committees for inspection. Department
Commander Taylor presiding.
Practically the same work was done at
the Session of the Relief Corps in Odd
Fellows hall, Department President Mrs.
Howe in the chair. The reports read at
the afternoon session showed nine corps
to have been organized during the year
with charter membership of 260. The
total membership of the organization now
- IzrO. The following officers were
elected; Department president, Mrs. Le-
nora w. Howe of Brattleboro; senior
! vice, Mrs. Janet p. Blackmer, Manchester
Depot; junior vice, Mrs. Martha F..
| Stearns, Bradford; treasurer, Mrs. Leop-
old Retting, BrattleborO; chaplain, Mrs.
| S. Jane Pease Weston; delegates to the
national convention, Mrs. Eliza f. Cut
ting, Bennington; Mrs. Lizzie Moore,
Brattleboro; Mrs. Cushing, Woodstock ;
alternates, Mrs. Higgins, Newfane, Mrs.
| Gilmore, Fairlee; Mrs. Adams, Newport
executive board, Mrs. j. Gibson, Benning-
ton, Mrs. Lewis, Springfield, Mrs. New
comb, Montpelier, Mrs. Parkhurst, st.
Johnsbury, Mrs. Moulton, Newport.
Mrs. Howe's address was regarded as
| the finest thing of the whole encampment.
She spoke in detail of the charitable work
of the Relief Corps, of the cases where
it's aid had come in times of greatest
need; and she also gave particulars and
| impressions of the national encampment.
| At the afternoon session, G. A. r., res
olutions of respect and regret at the death
| Gen. p. II. Sheridan, and also of the
| death of Col John B. Mead, of the Sth VT.
1t was voted to endorse the resolution
of the ex-prisoners of war in favor of the
Hawley bill, known as the two-dollar-a-
day clause.
1t was moved and carried to present the
name of Col. w. G. Veazey to the nation
al encampment at Milwaukee in August,
for national commander and to use all
honorable means for his election. There
will be a strong movement for him.
l. A resolution was offered by Gen. SAT-
ford relative to the general government
relmbursing Union soldiers taken prison
ers for the loss of valuables and money
taken from them at the time of their cap
ture and Imprisonment.
resolution was passed urging text
book committees to provide for the
schools histories and reading books that
shall properly set forth the principles and
policy that were in controversy in the re-
bellion.
Another instructed delegates to the
national encampment to advocate holding
the session of 1890 in Washington, being
the 25th anniversary of the close of the
war.
From the reports of the various officers
we learn of the continued and increased
prosperity of the Grand Army orgaizan-
ton in the state. But one new post has
been organized that at West Halifax. with
IA charter members, and the Bristol posi-
having surrendered it's charter, the mum
Der of posts still remain 100. The tota
gains in membership for the year were
567, the losses 407, leaving net gain OF
160 members, and total membership OF
50l3. The amount of money in relief
funds of the state is $G763 20, and the
amount expended in charity the past veal
was $263G 52, gain of $56G6O over las
year. The total receipts for the yeal
$2792. 68, the expenditures $1950.95, leav
ing balance of $84l.73.
The campfire at the town hall Thursday
evening, was one of the best in the whole
history of Vermont encampments. 4
was attended by a crowd that filled th'
hall, standing room and all, overfloweC
into the vestible, and still had many seek
Ing entrance who had to be turned away
An array of our most distinguished sol