St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-18
ElICAMpE[) IN PEACE !,
The Annual Session OF Eiiane-
sofa Departm snt Of the
Grand Army. :
A Slight Falling Off in Mem+
Depship Reported for ]
Last Year. |
The Annual Campfire About
Which Veterans Will
Assemble.
A Good Showing Made by the
Women's Relief Corps
in 1890.

The annual department encampment
of the Minnesota veterans OF the Grand
Army of the Republic began Yesterday
morning From $3.50 to IL o'clock the
delegates were arriving. the meeting
being called to order at the latter hour.
The Market hall. in which the encamd-
ment is being held, is tastefuily draped,
the national colors being, however.
partly hidden behind heavy folds of
crepe, reminding the old fellows who
went with Sherman to the sea that their
leader has preceded them in death as
he did in life. Portraits of Gen. Sher-
| man and Admiral Porter, appropriately
draped, surmount the stage, in full view
of those before it, The number of for
eign delegates present was not so large
as anticipated, but others are expected
to arrive to-day. The first business was
the hearing Of reports. Commander j.
w. Compton was the first to report, his
statement showing the department to
be in fiouriShing condition as regards
membership. The abstract from the
quarterly reports for 1890 shows the
membership at the opening Of the year
to have been S,4OS. During the first
quarter there was an an addition of 232
new members, but the losses through
death. ETC., amounted to ], 403, leaving a
total membership of 1881 on March l..
The report for the second quarter
showed a membership of I, $50, the third
1896, and the fourth S,20l. The organi-
cation of S. B. S. Neardown post, at
Winona, leaves the present member
ship at s,24S. Very little else was done
at the morning session. an adjourn
ment being taken at 1890 until
o'clock.
At the afternoon session reports were
| read by the adjutant general. assistant
quartermaster general. medical director
| and chaplain, these being referred to
| the committee Oh officers reports. The
council of administration reported the
| financial strength of the department as
represented by cash in hand at S., 700.
| Provision was made in the sum of 800
for committee to attend the funeral OIL
the late Gen. Sherman at st. Louis. Col.
| McCrory, of Gen. Sherman's staff. was
! appointed chairman Of the committee,
and the election of the other members
will be made to-day. Three very able
addresses eulogistlc of Gen. Sherman
ami Admiral Porter were delivered at
the afternoon session. Col. j. Ham
Davidson spoke for forty-five minutes,
and in his pictures of the distinguished
naval and military heroes now dead he
was brilliantly descriptive and in thor
ough sympathy with his subject. A
more touching eulogy has seldom
been heard than his of the dead
soldier and sailor whose loss the nation
mourns to-day. Col. McCrery, who was
perhaps as we'll qualified to speak ON
the characteristics of his old command
er, also delivered an address, followed
in similar strain by COMMANDMENTS
| Chief John p. Rea. George Marchant.
of Minneapolis, spoke on the life and
work OF Admiral Porter, his remarks
being listened to with deep interest.
| The afternoon session was adjourned at
| $50. There was no evening session.
To-day will occur the election of officers,
and other routine matters will receive
attention. The public is invited to at
tend the campfire which is-.to be held
| this evening. An excellent entertain
| ment will be given.