Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-04-07
COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES.
How the 25th Anniversary ofth Grand
Army was Observed Last Night
Gen. Carleton's Career.

A large audience joined with Carrie
ton post at the court house last night in
celebrating the 25th anniversary OF the
institution of the Grand Army OF the
Republic. The proceedings consisted OF
addresses, recitations, music, etc. AT
s 80 sharp the post commander read the
call and general address of Commander
in Chief w. G. Veazey, and after the
opening prayer by Rev. George G. Smith,
a splendid choir led by Mrs. M. G. War
ner rendered appropriate music. Major
J. H. Purdy gave an address upon the
principles, purposes and history of the
Grand Army. Miss Nette Sloan then
sang the Star Spangled Banner with
splendid effect and was heartily encored.
After an address by Rev. Mr.. Smith, who
was himself a veteran of the war, the
young lady pupils of the Mission school,
led by their efficient teacher, Miss Allison,
sang an appropriate and patriotic song.
The surprise of the evening came when
little Rose Wynkoop recited "The Polish
Boy" in manner which brought the
tears to many an eye.
The closing addresses of the evening
were made by Rev. c. l. Mills and Judge
Downsin an eloquent manner. After the
singing of "Tenting on the Old Camp
Ground" with Major Geo. w. Knaebel,
Mrs. Warner and Miss Sloan in the solo
parts, the proceedings were closed by
benediction from Rev. Mr.. Smith.
g Ittn TO
named above and to Mr.. Levi Hughes,
Miss Jessie Moore and Miss Dean for the
assistance rendered by them in carrying
out the musical portion of the program.
Gen. James H. Carleton, after whom
Carleton post No. 8, G. A. R., of Santa
Fe, was named, was born in Bangor, Me.
His parents intended him for the car
penter trade and had apprenticed bin for
that purpose, but he had higher'aspira-
tons, and just about this time he distin-
guished himself in local rebellion be-
tween Maine and Canada so greatly that
the then secretary of war, Poindexter,
wrote to him to report in Washington for
examination as lieutenant in the regular
army. Gen. Carleton was a man very
10th to speak of his career as soldier,
but to friend lstll living in Santa Fe)
he frankly admitted that it required from
sixteen to twenty hours work each day
for several months to fit himself for the
examination, as he was a green Maine
Yankee boy at the time. He was ap-
pointed I'd lieutenant, LIST Dragons, Oct.
| IS, 1899; LIST lieutenant, March II, 1S45 ;
captain, Feb. Is, 1S47, this regiment was
made the LIST cavalry Aug. 1861 major,
9th cavalry, Sept. 7, 1861; lieutenant col.
onel, 4th cavalry, July 81, 1866.
His brevet rank was brilliant one.
Brevet major February 20, 1S47, for gal
liant and meritorious conduct at Buena
Vista when he was an aid in the staff
of Gen. Wool) Brevet lieut.. colonel,
colonel and brigadier general March 13,
1865, for gallant and meritorlous service
in New Mexico. Brevet major general,
same date, for meritorlous service during
the war. He was made colonel of the
LIST California infantry August 10, 1861.
Brigadier general of volunteers April %,
1868, mustered out as such April IL,
1866, resuming his rank in the regular
army. He died January 7, 1873.
The first record at hand in Santa Fe OF
| Gen. Carleton's connection with the COL
umn from California, which marched to
New Mexico, was telegram from Sec
rotary of War Simon Cameron to Cover
nor John G. Downey, of California, dated
Washington, August IA, 1861, requesting
him to place the general in command OF
one of the cavalry regiments from that
state, and on September 2, 1861, Cover
nor Downey notified President Lincoln
as follows 1.-THE fret requisition made
upon this state for 1900 volunteers has
been filled, and the command given to
Col Carleton. 1t having been intimated
by the war department, that it was your
desire thst this officer should have the
com mand, l cheerfully complied, as have
every confidence in his experience, pa
triotism and gallantry."