New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-10
GRAND ARMY BUGLE NOTES.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE EycAMPMENr.
SONS OF VETERANS TO MEET AT MINNEAPOLIS
THIS MONTH


ment at Detroit last week beginning to return and
future post meetings and camp-fres viii be edited and
frightened by the personal "reminiscences OF the silver
anniversary. Many representatives Of Eastern posts
who TOOK their families and went for vacation weu
10 perform duty, Will while away the period for
which their railroad tickets are good visiting friends
and relatives and reviving the acquaintance Of com
rades Of the battlefield who have settled in the West
But they will come struggling home in time for the
regular fall work Of the order.
Newlork was particularly fortunate in being able to
land It's candidate in the chair OF the Commander-in-
Chief on Thursday When the delegates from this de-
partment started for Detroit they were really divided
between four aspirants for the honor-a past depart
ment commanders-Ira NJ Hedges OF Haverstraw;
Henry A. Barnum, OF this city John Palmer and S. s.
COrliss of Albany. But they were not slow in recog
MIXING the fact that division meant defeat to all OF
them, so the boys" went 10 work, and like sensible
politicians harmonized their differences uniting upon
John Palmer. Then they went into the fight 10 win,
and success perched upon their banners. The West
ern candidates, all good men and true found Captain
Palmer a foenan worthy Of their steel. The result is
an eminenty satisfactory one 10 the comrades of this
department, which has been honored with the highest
Office in the Grand Army for the first time In many
wears The last NeW-Yorker TO hold the Office of
Commander Chief was Maior-General John c. Robin
son OF Binghamton. None more cordially welcomed
the new CommanderIn-Chief and wished him success
in his administration than his opponents in the contest
The other National offices have been filed with
ceptionaly choice men. Colonel Henry VI. Duffeld
of Michigan, who chosen senior VlceCommsnder
n-Chef is one Of the ablest and best-known Grand
Army men in the country. TO his labors largely
due the wonderful Of the Detroit Encampment
notwithstanding the refusal Of the Democratic Gov
ernor 10 approve the appropriation which is usually
made by the state In which the National Encampment
is held 10 aid defraying its expenses Colonel Dufeld
and his Michigan comrades were not disheartened by
their failure to receive the backing" Of the state and
the result showed what patriotic citizens can when
they are aroused. Colonel Duleld's election 10 the
second highest Office in the order proper and
deserved tribute. The Colonel is one of Past Com
mander-in-C hief Ayers closest friends Tile other
officers elected Junior Vice Commander inChlef
]. 5. { arkson of Nebraska Chaplain 5 B. Payne of
Florida and Surgeon-General b. /. Stevenson OF
Kentucky.
The report Of the AdjutantG General Of the G. A. R.
presented at Detroit last week shows that the total
number Of members at the present time is 444,3O7
But as ABB of these out transfer and A.,
lOl are in suspension the actual strength Of the order
stands at 305 ,O67. During the last year there were
mustered out by death" 5,530-an increasing num-
Der. The deaths Of the previous year were $40.
There are to-day orty-fve departments and 7,409
posts in existence. The net gains Of the year
224 posts and 1876 members. III the Department Of
New-York there are G31 posts and 1914 members.
Two departments only surpass in numbers the De-
partment Of NewYork Ohio boasts Of 1852 men,
bers and Pennsylvania has 43,305. Yet New-York
outnumbered each Of her sister States by many
thousands in the men she furnished for the wur.
During the last G. A. r. year, ending June 30,
1893 800 So was expended by the order in charity.
The previous year the paid out for charity was
s217 957 a. showing the handsome increase Of S115,
TAO 81.
One Of the most important acts Of the National En-
campment its Endorsement Of tie proposed act of
Congress, OF which COmrade Joseph W. Kay, Past
Commander Of Winchester Post of Brooklyn, is the
author requiring heads OF Departments and others hav
Ing the power TO make Government appointments 10
give preference 10 veterans of the War The measure
covers not only the appointment bat requires that
the veteran shall be retained in the service Of the
United States during good behavior and ability to per
form the duties Of the Office employment Conlrnde
Kay ought to proud Of the National approval which
his measure has received.
Washington City was selected for the National En-
campment Of 1892.
Few comrades will be more missed than will Colenel
George F. Hopper" Uncle George" as his Grand Army
associates afectionately called him. He died on We'd
nesday at Paskack, " j.. and he was gently laid to
rest in Greenwood. saturday the funeral having
been held at the Thirty third Street Baptist Church,
near Ninth-ave. The funeral attended by Sumner
Post, No. "a, of which the Colonel a Past Com
msnder, the Veteran Association Of the 10th New
York Volunteers, and delegates from the Military
Order Of the Loyal Legion Of the United States, the
Exempt Firemens Association, and OF Arcturus Lodge
OF Masons The coffin was covered with floral tributes
from the various associations with which Colonel
Hopper had been connected. The services were con-
Quoted under the direction OF tie Rev. Clark Wright,
chaplain OF the Grand Army Of the Republic, De
parment of New York, and the Rev. E. A Holloway,
pastor OF the church. Colonel Hopper was born In
this city in 1924. He enlisted at the beginning OF
the War carly in 1861, in the 10th Regiment, New
York Volunteers IcChesneys Zouaves), and was soon
promoted the rank of captain, and by bravery and
good sodlerly conduct continued to advance until he
became colonel IN which position he served with great
credit participating in most of the battles in which
the Army Of the Potomac took part. The Colonel vas
one of the organizers of Sumner Post and mad been an
active and jealous worker In the order since It's In
cepton. lie had filled the honorable posit'es OF
DEPARTMENT Adjutant General and QuartermasteTGen-
eral. Grand Marshal for Memorial Day, and at the
time Of his death a member Of the Council OF
Administration. Department of New-York, Grand Army
of the Republic.
In his annual report TO the Encampment at Dc
troit AdjutantGeneral J. II. Goulding makes these
timely suggestions regarding the kind Of men VINO
ouChA to be elected officers Of posts The adjutants
and quartermasters OF posts should be the best men
possible to be obtained fitness and ability 10 be the
stane@Td once broken In and doing well they shOuu
remain year after year. The sergeantmaior and
ouartermaster sergeant respectively should be in
training by assisting the adjutant and quartermaser,
so as 10 succeed 10 the Offices II capable or serve IN
the absence Of either The delinquencies from winch
the whole order suffers, and which cut such figure
in the periodical statements and rtturns, can almost
invariably be traced the failure on the part OF post
quartermasters 10 collect the dues each and every
period while the amount Is small and easily paid by
almost every comrsde. once allowed 10 pass 1t Is
soon impossible 10 collect what has become COM
paratively large sum. and the worthy comrade VINO
never intended forfeit his membership Is dropped
for non-payment Of dues and lost to the order
The next annual Encampment OF tie Commanoefy-
Chief Sors Of Veterans, VIII be neld at Minneapolis
August "a. Leland 7. Webb. COMMUNICATING
has given notice that one railroad fare will be accepted
for the round trip from member Of the order attehu
ing the Encampment. 1t is gratifying 70 kno" that
soldiery bearing and proficiency In drn are held IN
high esteem By the sons Of Veterans. The committee
al Minneapolis has offered three prizes for the best