The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-22
WITHIN FORT SUMTER.
MAJ. Robert Anderson Pest Mustered In at that
Historic Place.

ufbtOfic fihces
Mai. Robert Anderson Post tho first Grand
Army Post composed Of white Union veterans
to be organized in South Carolina, was mustered
IN within the walls Of Fort Sumter on Ang 10.
To those who were present 10 participate in
the ceremonies, the occasion possessed an i'm
prcssiveness such as seldom comes in q lifetime,
aud the memory of every comTade flashed back
TO the day when the sound of Sumtcr's and
Moultries guns doomed ont and thrilled his
heart with patriotic indignation. Again he
Jaw the gathering Of the hosts to battle for the
dag; he recalled the fearful partings from
mother and sisters aud friends; the Gods
blessings which followed him as he started for
the field, and ali the weary years of trial and
danger and suffering which followed. To some
OF the comrades the scenes around them were
familiar, they having been associated with all
the incidents Of the long siege Of Charleston.
Others had fought on distant fields but to all
OF Thorn alike this inal g capture of SUMTER"
this formation OF Post Of the Grand Army in
tho birthplace Of secession had tho same sig
nitlcance, the same improsxiyeuess.
The manner In which the effort 30 form the
Post was encouraged by the people Of Charles
ton, especially the ex-Confederates, was exceed
ingly gratifying, and gave strong evidence that
tho Union soldiers who are scattered to-day all
over the South have stood by the colors for
which ihoy fought manfully, and have made
their influence among the people felt for good.
Shortly after 2 o'clock on the afternoon of
Aug. 9. tin Wistaria steamed out of her dock
at Charleston wharf, her decks crowded with
veterans from different States Of the Union.
The steamer was commanded by Capt. Henry
Brown, an old Union soldier, the grand
father of Miss Maud King. the Grace Darling
OF Southern waters, who was few years since
publicly presented with the Government medal
OF honor for having. alone aud uuaided. saved
the lives OF three men whose boat had been
swamped in q storm OF Charleston.
Among the visiting Grand Army men on
board were A. Il. Sholcs, Senior Vice Com
mandcr; David Porter, Junior Vice Commander,
| and Alfred Gaitou, Chief Mastering Officer of
tho Department of Georgia; 7. r. Gleason,
Commander, Eugene Ybauze, Junior Vice Com
mander; w. T. Zammorth, Senior Vice Com
mander; g. ii. Suisa. Officer of tho Day; Com
TIldss j. +. Emory and J. NJ. Flanagan, of w. s.
Hancock Post of Savannah; judge j. c. j.
Langbien, Past Adjutant. General of the De-
| partment of New York; f. NJ. Clark, of Kit
| Carson Post, of Washington d. G., and mem
| her OF the Old Guard, Of Washington r. W.
| Manchester. of Rhode Island Capt. T. L. Bald
win, OF the steamer Bellevue of Charleston, and
also number of cx- Confederates
| At Fort Sumter boat from the revenue cut
| ter Beuteile Joined the party. In il were Lieut.
| Howard aud Engineers Topper and Slayton, Of
/ tho Boutelle. Lieut.. Howard, it may be men,
| toned, has q history. lie is the officer who
| steered tho famous Monitor in her fight in
| Hampton Roads with the Merrimac after the
| Monitors Captain had been blinded by the
| explosion of n shell. Arrived ut the fort the
| veterans disembarked in small boats and were
soon st0rming the ramparts. The garrison, In
| the person of sergt Jos. Kirby, paraded in full
uniform, but did not mako serious resistance
4 On arriving inside the fort the Grand Army
men proceeded TO business. A secret meeting
| was held in one of the houses inside the parade
ground, where the process of mastering in was
| conducted by the Mastering Officer. After
| this the Post mounted the parapet a temporary
altar WAS erected. and the public installation
| OF the officers took place. The altar was dry
| goods box, covered with an old flag which the
veteran commander of the Wistaria had car
| ried through many n cruise On this rested
| two crossed sabers, on which, in turn, rested an
open Bible, surmounted by q crossed saber and
| scahbard. Tho following ara the officers and
their ranks in the service: Commander Jas. o.
| I.add. Captain. 35th u. s. C. r.; s. V. c., John
| Hofiing Musician, 9th u. 8. Inf; J. " c., r
f. Mansfield, ed N. Y. Art; Adj't George Sell
lers, 9th Pa. Cav; q. NJ. i. Ii. Daggett, seth
Mass; Surg, ]. II. Smith, 18th H.; Chap, Jno.
Winfate 1880 V. H. G.; o. d., Phil Sherlock,
54th n. Y; o. c., Charles Rainior, u. s. N; O.
NJ s., Frank A. Stoddard. 32d Mass; s. NJ,
Richard Evans, i27th N. Y; o. s., John Nc
| Manus, Seth N. Y; /. s., r. Il. Puff, seth N Y.
AT the conclusion of the muster Senior Vice
| Department Commander Sholes addressed the
audience in short but patriotic speech. In
conclusion he said: 81 earnestly hope that
Mai. Robert Anderson Post of the GAR may
20 or increasing in numbers and prosperity,
until the motto of cur Order, Fraternity,
Charity and Loyalty, shalt reach throughout
| the length and breadth of the old State"
He was followed by Commander James o.
Ladd in q spirited address, after which COM
munications of a congratulatory order were re-
| ceived from Posts in Georgia.
| Commander James o. Ladd Is one-armed
veteran, who is respected not only by COM
rades but the citizens generally have shown
their appreciation of him by almost unitedly
recommending him to the Administration for
Collector of the Port of Charleston. The Post
starts with good outlook, aud the indications
are that it will not only grow rapidly in num-
bers but will prove the incentive for other
Posts 10 form In the State, and that the day ia
not far distant when the Department of South
Carolina will take her place in the ranks Of the
| Grand Army Departments.
w. s. Hancock Post No. 8, Savannah, Ga,
attended the muster in a body.
4 .