The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-08-21
TIE DEPARTMENTS.

Tho strength of the order may be indicated
by the departments maintained after twenty.
three years cf existence Tho life of these
departments has not been continuous; there
havo been suspensions. reorganizations and
consultations but still the record shows re-
mnrkable vitality in on Institution which was
at best an experiment. Wisconsin, organized
June Z. 1866: Illinois, organizel July H. 1874;
Pennsylvania, organized Jan. l6, 1861; Ohio.
Jan. So 1867; Eew York, April3, 1867: Con-
nccticut, April IL. 1867: Massachusetts, MAY
Z, 1867; Mniue, Jan. 10, 1S6S; New Jersey,
January. 1858; Virginia. Feb L. 1868; Cali
fornin. Feb. 20, tStiS: Rhode Island. March ~,
1858; New Hampshire, MAY IS, ISIS: Vermont,
Oct II, 1868; Potomac, Feb l3, 1859; CSlo-
rado. Dec. IL, 1850: Maryland, January,
1870; Nebraska, Jan. y, 1877: Iossn, Jan y,
1879; Indiana, Aug. II, 1879. Michigan, 1879;
Xmas, March It, 1850: Minnesota, May Is,
1870; Delaware Jan. IL, 1882; Missouri, iSSi /:
Oregon, Sept ~. 1889; Kentucky, Jan IL,
1SSl; West Virginia. Feb 20, 1883; Wash
tlSton Territory, juno 70, 1888; Arkansas,
July II. 1888: New Mexico. July II, 1888:
Utah, Oct. S. 1881: Tennessee nnl Georgia,
Feb 20. 1884: Dakota, Feb. q, 1881; MNsis-
sippi and Louisiana, May Is, 1854: Florida,
June 10, 1891; ntann, March 10, 1855;
Tens, March 25. 1885: Idaho, Sept. /, 1887;
Arizona, Sept. 10, 1887. These dates refer to
the final organization only; tho order existed
in many western states mich earlier
The department of Illinois was not perrna
nently organized until July ~, 1856, aud Wis
consin, which hnd state league of soldiers
and sailors, adopted the Grand Army ritual
and organized June as Department of the
Grand Army. Wisconsin now lias the honor
of national encampment fur tho first time.
and this is ono of tho reasons why the com
ratles are dcsirous that the occasion shall be
memorable in the annals of the order and in
tho rccUllections of the members who are so
fortunate as to attend the twcnty-thiri en-.
cainr;ncit Tho usual committees were. OF
course. appointed but OF those constituted
ono or two are specially noteworthy because
their work is new and hns been successfully
performed. The labors of the COMMITTEES OF,
naval battle and display and on reunions will
doubtless result in giving unusual pleasure to
visitors TO the eiIcampment.
One of the disappointments of great ma.
tionnl reunions has been that vetei.,ns were
unable to find in the vast thronEs the old
friends whom they travelled thousands of
miles to greet. In orslcr TO remedy this MT
Milwaukee the committee has arranged n
meeting room for every organization repre-
sentesi at the encaniprnent In numbers. The
meeting places viii be duly buIletine;i dur.
tnS tho cncampment But the committee has
gone still further and for several mouths
have published in the official bulletin of the
encainptnent a list of organizations preparing
for reunions, with the nnmcs and address
OF tho secretary. The official bulletin has
appeared monthly since March. and each is-
sue contains the full list as far as prepared.
and the number has reached some hundreds.
and thousands of comrades may go to Mn
waukee assured OF a meeting with old COM
radcs To those who go to the encampnient
rnadviscd about their commands, the buIle-
tins, posted in nll stations, hotels and bar
rncks, boarding houses and camps, viii give
the welcome information.
a new feature of reunions win be the
gathering of the Sons of Veterans In their
organized relations. The Sons have NOT been
heretofore officially recognized by tho Grand
Army, but for some years past every ma
uonal encampment has had small army of
young men aud youths proud to be known as
the sons Of their heroic sires. They need not
languish in the back seats in the future, for
the fat has gone forth thar thr Sons are oux-
Hilary to the Grand Army and entitled to
''iA''es of tnnar at tlA 4a.sta,sss..s-,,t. tn.