Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-23
THE ENCAMPMENT
or GRAND ARMY OF REPUBLIC DEPARTMENT
OF WEST VIRGINIA
Ia Session at Buckhannon-COmmsnder ln-Otiei
ysassy Pressnt-9s Addresses Large Audi
sucs and Praises the State and Der Re
sourcss-BlsCtiOn Of Officers To-Day.
Special telegram 10 The Register

BUCKHANNON, w. VA, April 22.-ln
this thriving little town, which, by the
way, is enjoying quite a boom, the
Grand Army of the Republic OF the
Department Of West Virginia is holding
its ninth annual encampment. The
town is all decorated with the stars and
stripes, and bunting is elabOrately dis
played. The old veterans are here IN
numbers, and with one or two excep-
tions every post in the State is repre-
sented. Just at tae hour of noon the
old soldiers were marshalled into line,
and with drums beating and fagS
flying. were marched to the
depot to meet Gen. w. q. VeaSey,
of Vermont, Commander-in-Chiet
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The General was escorted to the Hotel
Hudkins, where he was serenaded by a
local band aud roundly cheered by his
old comrades. At two o'clock the en-
campment convened in secret session
at the Court House. Grand Army men
who were not delegates were even ex-
cluded from the hall, and it would not
have been safe for newspaper repor-
ter to have gone within gun shot. The
first business of the session after roll
call was to fill vacancies of absent Of
fcers. l.. a. Martin, of Charleston,
Senior Vice Department Commander
was not present owing TO sickness, and
Major Anderson, of Weston, was
elected to fill the vacancy, and ID.
K. King, of jackson county, was
elected Junior Vice Department
Commander. 5. A. Sexton Buckhan-
non was elected officer of the day and
Rev. T. Riggs chaplain. The reports
of the various committees were pre-
sented and referred to committees. An
invitation from the conference Semi
nary, offering the use of the hall for
night session, was accepted. Gen.
VeaSey made short address to them
and told them what he was doing for
the organization, after which the en-
campment took recess until p. m.
This evening the large and cOmmo-
dous hall OF the Methodist Episcopal
Seminary was comfortably crowded,
the occasion being to hear Gen. VeaSey
lecture. The evening programme
was begun by select choir singing
several stirring old army songs. Prayer
was offered by President Hutchinson,
and the meeting was then called 20 or
der by Department Commander Walker.
Mr.. Walker in his opening remarks
stated that the Grand Army was an or
ganiZation much abused and unfairly
dealt with by certain classes. He at
tributed everything grand and great To
the order and said they were Gods
chosen people Gen. Walker then in
troduced Gen. Veasey, who compli-
mented Gen. Walker upon his remarks
and regretted that West Virginia did
not have Womans Relief Corps, and
was especially GLAD to see present young
men who were members of the Sons Of
Veterans. He complimented the natu-
raj scenery of the State, its great min
eral and timber wealth and thought
the people OF the State did not appre-
ciate their own State TO the extent they
should. He said it afforded the greatest
advantages of any State in the Uuion
for Young men. The General concluded
by speaking eloquently OF the work the
old veterans had done, and OF the OBJ
jectS OF the organization.
Gen. NeaSey is an engaging ana
fluent talker, and throughout his re-
marks was attentively listened to.
At the conclusion of Gen. Neasey'S re-
marks President Hutchinson Of the
Seminary was called for and made
short but entertaining address. Prof.
Miller, of FairmOnt, and others were
called for and made entertaining ad-
dresses. The meeting was quite sue
cess and was thoroughly enjoyed by the
bovs who wore the blue. Little was
done to-day beyond organization, but
to.morrows proceedings promise to he
of more interest.
Among the distinguished arrivals
were Gen. Geo. j. jackson, Department
Commander and Adjutant; General
Riley, of Jackson; Gen. Rufus Fleming.
of Fairmont: Gen. |. II. Duvall, OF
Brooke: General Northc0tt, of ClarkS-
burg: Captain Maulsby, Of Vermont;
Major Lee Raymond, of Clarksburg;
Major C. +. Anderson and Col. ApSin-
wall, of Weston. Wheeling is ;epre-
sented by Joseph Arkle. Of Stevens
Post.
The encampment tomorrow VIII
elect its officers. Major c. Il. Ander-
son. of Weston, and Gen. Duval, OF
Welsburg, are the two most prominent
candidates mentioned for Department
Commander, with the chances in favor
of Duval.