The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-08-13

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and civil wars. Then came score of
battle flags. scanned, shot through, in
| shreds and tatters, proudly carried
aloft by their bearers.
[ The Connecticut division came next
and following Connecticut was Massa-
chusetts. $500 strong.
| Forty New Jersey veterans were ac-
companied by ]. r. Mulliken, CON-
mander; Past Department Commander
Il. N. Stevens and Past Department
Commander Charles Burrows.
One hundred ex-union soldiers, led
by Department Commander Samuel L..
! Miller, represented the state of Maine.
California showed up twenty-five
strong, notwithstanding the distance
they had to come. At their head with
other past commanders marched w. r..
| Smedburg
Following the little Rhode Island
group was the New Hampshire divis-
1 ion. twenty strong.
| Vermont followed New Hampshire
with 150-men. They were received
with great applause in compliment to
! Commander in Chief Veazey, whose
/ own post headed the delegation.
| Indiana's 2,s10 veterans marched in
majestic column past the reviewing
stand, and at the head and beside De-
partment Commander I. N. Walker
marched Gov. Alvin Fl. Hovey.
Gen. A. D. Streight, one of
the leaders and projectors of
the famous Libby prison tun-
mel, and Col. Walker, another who es-
capped through that famous historical
underground passage, were recognized
by all familiar with the history of that
daring adventure.
Following in their order were the
divisions of Colorado and Wyoming,
Kansas, Delaware, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, Oregon, West Virginia, South
Dakota, Washington and Alaska,
Arkansas, Montana, Texas, Idaho apd
Alabama. The naval veterans and the
Sons of Veterans, 5000 strong, brought
up the rear and closed the parade.
In the morning at the national head
quarters before the parade, $1,000
diamond badge was given to Com
mander Veazey.
| DETROIT, Mich, Aug. 6.-The twen-
ty-ffth annua! encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic met in
formal session Wednesday in the
mammoth hall that had been set apart
for the business deliberations of the
veterans. All that art and taste could
do to make the building attractive
had been exerted in the decorations
which adorned the interior in emblem
attic order.
| A few minutes before the hour of
opening, Gen. Veazey and his staff
entered the hall and were escorted to
the grand stand. The appearance of
the commander in chief was the signal
for generous applause and minute
later the two bands burst forth in an
inspiring military air in harmony
with the martial scene. Rapping the
assemblage to order, the COM
mander in chief announced the
formal opening of the twentyfifth an
nual encampment of the Grand Army
of the Repub lie, and directed the adju-
tant general to call the roll of depart
ments. Every state and territory in
the union-not even excepting far-off
Alaska-was represented and the roll
showed the fullest attendance of dele
gates in the history of the organiza-
ton.
The opening address Of the COM
mander in chief was listened to in rapt
attention by the assem- bled veterans.
| He said:
| CoMRADEs-This Is the silver anniversary OF
| q birth, not Of a wedding. The wedding occurred
! when the bridegrooms, the youth Of the land,
| enlisted in its defense. Abraham Lincoln cele-
brated the marriage nuptials. Columbia was
| the bride. Her vesture was the nations flag.
| The pledge to establish that flag over
the domain Of secession was the pledge
| OF her hand. When the pledge was
| grandly redeemed through bloody strife,
through suffering and death, and after
| the victors had placed on the brow Of the bride
| o new diadem whose gems were honor, valor,
fame liberty untaintcd with slavery, o country
| reunited and free, the fruit Of that marriage
was the Grand Army Of the Republic, an off,
spring worthy of its royal parentage
After referring pathetically to the
| deaths during the past year of Sher-
| man, Porter, Hamlin, Devine, Tobin
| and other honored members of the Or
der. the commander in chief continued:
The present administration encountered the
| same disturbances in the department Of Louis
lana and Mississippi that had troubled my
| predecessors From various sources Of in
| formation that have been accessible to
me, 1 believe that large majority Of both
white and colored comrades in the depart
ments OF Louisiana and Mississippi are
| strong in the conviction that it would
be for the best interests OF all individually and
| OF their posts and of the order, to have a sepa-
| rate department in Louisiana and some Of the
| other gulf states made up Of such poets as
may apply to come into it and having
concurrent jurisdiction with the department
already established in such states; concur
| rent in respect to the chartering and muster
ing Of posts, but each department. having
exclusive jurisdiction over the posts which it
| may receive. My best judgment after year OF
painstaking investigation is that it would be
| wise to confer upon my successor the authority
| to create such department.. He may either
find it necessary or think it best to exercise the
power conferred.
No organization since the war has done 50
much for the country, especially in laying deep
the foundations Of future security, as the g. A.
| r. 1t appea s to every loyal hand that drew q
blade or carried q musket. Therefore no union
soldier has done his full duty a citizen unless
he has given the order the benefit Of his com
| radeship in It.
| In closing desire to renew the expression
| of gratitude which made q year ago for the
|
| intended to wrong no one aad having received
no affront from anyone, I say to one and all,
| from the deepest recesses OF my heart, thank
you and God bless you.
Adjt Gen. J. II. Goulding's annual
report for the year ending July 80
| shows that there are in the order forty
five departments, with 7,4o9 posts and
s9s, ,067 comrades in good standing.
The sum expended in charities during
the year was $685., 500, against S317,-
957 the previous year. There
| have been $3.50 deaths this year,
against s, 40 in 1890. OF the total ap-
parent membership of 444,S07, suspen-
sions, and transfers bring
the number down to 39S. O67.
| The quartermaster generals report
showed the assets of the organization
to be as follows: Cash balance on hand,
81, ,so4 1s; due by departments, 81, 429. Al
less due by departments, $1s417; bal
ance, $1,240.24; United States bonds,
1907 $4,000 (market value 17-1O0),
SIS, 72o; supplies, $2,941.65; total assets.