The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-04-08
HEADQUARTERS l
GRAND Army OF THK REPUBLIC,
RUTLAND. VI, March 4, 1891. J


HEADQUARTERS
GRAND ARMY OF TIKI REPUBLIC,
RUTLAND. VI, March 4. 1891.
Comrades Assembled as we are at this
moment in one simultaneous Post meet.
ing, to commemorate the founding of this
our beloved Order, twenty-five years ago,
there are few salient points of our his
tory which deem it fitting to call to your
remembrance ut this time.
DR.. B. F. Stephenson, Surgeon of the
l4th Illinois Infantry, and Chaplain w.
]. Rutledge, of the same Regiment, talked,
as they marched under Sherman in Miss
issppi in "a, of the capacity for good in
an organization OF veterans, and agreed,
II spared, TO work out some plan to that
end. In March, 1866, they with others
met at Springfield. Illinois, and on the 9th
day Of April, 1866, the first Post was or
ganized at Decatur, Illinois Comrade
Stephenson mastering In the members,
and granting them charter, an exact fac
smile OF which / send You herewith. The
first Department Encampment was held Mt
Springfield, Illinois, July 18th, '66, and
the first National Encampment at Indian
apolis, Indiana, November Goth OF the
same year. Comrade s. A. Hurlbut was
the first elected Commander-in.C Chief,
Ccmrade Stephenson having Professionally
acted as such heretofore and having called
together the first National Encampment.
The violence Of political strife at that time
involved the new order more or less and
substantially destroyed its vitality, espec-
tally 10 the section Of the country where
II had its origin, some of the Departments
being left with nothing more than mere
nominal existence, with scarcely a Post
10 active operation. THIS was the situa-
ton at the time of the second National
Encampment, held at Philadelphia, JAN
uary 10, 1858, and continued till after the
death of It's founder, August 80, 1871.
His dream OF an order grandly carrying
out his noble conception seemed only q
dream never TO be realized
AT this point that peerless volunteer SOL
der, Logan, took command, succeeded
in turn by Burnside, Devens and Hart
rsnit. The nine years of service as Com
Handkerchief rendered by these faith
full and devoted Comrades, now all mus
tered out forever, and the work OF the
able staff officers OF their administrations,
laid deep and broad the foundations now
so widely built upon, aud could Comrade
Stephenson have lived TIL now to share
with US the fruits of his years of toll, de.
spondeDcy and disappointment, he would
hardly recognize this our giant-orde
which when he died was apparently SO
near its end. Wisely guided and carefully
fostered, 1t has gathered strength each
year, and to-day occupies position OF
character, beDefcence and influence Sec
ond to no organization OF our time. The
same conservative course can keep 1t
growing few years more despite our in
creasng death rate but those Comrades
who celebrate the semi-centennial ami
versary, twenty-five years hence, will be
few in number. II 10 therefore for us who
now turn with thankfuluess to the founder
and to the preservers Of our Order, 10 so
conduct its affairs, to so guard 1t from
dissension, and to so keep II true to lie
immortal principles, that Its influence will
be felt long after the organization has
ceased to exist. In this each Comrade
has his share. each Post its measure Of
effort, each Department Its burden, to be
loyalty accepted, performed and borne,
With deep sense OF the privilege as we'll
ps obligation that Is ours. Forward then,
my Comrades, into the next quarter-cen-
tury, with the one purpose animating US
all to still farther extend our lines and to
light our Camp Fires yet more widely,
not alone for our sakes, but us an inspira-
ton TO the new generation. Shipmate.
under the Union Jack soldier, Of what
ever rank or arm; marines, gallant as
any all pressing on In this the work of
our declining days, elbow TO elbow, stir
rup 10 stirrup. yard-arm to ysrd-arm,
heart to heart, all ore in the Grand Army
of the Republic.
Your Comrade In F., C. and L.,
w. G. VEAzRy,
Official: COMMANDMENT Chief.
]. II. GoULDINa,
Adjutant General.
Prayer by Chaplain Goodfellow, after
which the Post closed 10 due form.
This was followed by collation., con-
sisting Of sandwiches, coffee, pickles and
cheese, after which the Post went into
camp fire, with Adjntant Joiner presiding.
Post 20 Band being now present, dis
coursed some fine music during the rest
Of the evening.
Remarks were made by Comrades
Powell, Vancamp, Adjutant Joiner, Chap
lain Goodfellow, P. p. G. HarryS. Kroe-
sen and P. P. q. VIM. II. Moon. Com
rade MoDnier told the story how he was
captured during the rebellion and escaped
by answering 10 the name OF comrads
who had died the evening before. Com
rade Stephen Hull gave history OF the
Battle Of Spottsylvsnia and how the late
Comrade James RisbaLd captured dead
rebel and how be stole onions from an
old lady while Company II OF the 9th N.
J. Regt. captured her pig. Comrade
Abram Trsuger gave short history Of
bis services during the war. Comrades
Vancamp and Peaker performed comic
piece entitled Feeding the Baby with :
Spoon
At the hour Of 1880 o'clock, taps we're
sounded and lights put out and the com
rades returned to their homes well pleased
with the 25th Anniversary OF the Order.
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