The record-union., 1892-11-18
SALT HORSE AND HARD-TACK.
War Veterans Hold a Campfire, and
Have Big Eat.
Sumner Posts Twenty-Flfth Anniver-
sary-Addresses, and a Brief
History of the Post.

anniversary by an Olu-1aSnIOned camp
fire reunion at Grangers' Hall last night.
About seVenty-five members of the post
were present, and number of guests
from other posts.
Department Commander J. b. Fuller of
Marysyille was present and addressed the
assemblage, giving an interesting review
OF his visit to the National Encampment
and trip through the old battIe-telds in
the Southern States.
Dr. J. K. Laine, Post Surgeon, delivered
an address, in which he reviewed the
/ causes leading to the war OF the Rebel
lion and the restoration of the Union.
DR.. q. b. Nichols, member of Ver-
mont post, also delivered an address on
Grand Army topics that was well re-
ceived and appreciated.
y telegram was received from Lincoln
Post, No. 1, OF San Francisco, congratu-
iatIng sumner Post on the occasion OF its
tWentyfifGh anniversary.
history OF Sumner Post, prepared by
Senior Vice Commander NJ. l.. Gates,
was read by hlm ana ordered 10 be filed
away Tor preservation in lie archives OF
the post. 1t was as follows:
Cong'odes u the GruA ig7aU. Having
been selected by you 10 prepare n history VI
Sumner Post from its Hrst formation TO this
us twenty fifth anniversary, Will read on u
Driet account of IT'S workings up 10 the present.
lou are probably all familiar with tie first
organization Of the order, winch was made
alter tie close OF lhe war b. ljr. Stephenson
OI Decalur, i'll, III the latter part OF 1866.
/ The first movement toward the establishment
OF Grand Army Posts in Sacramento was in
the carry part Of May, 1867, VIXEN cali was
made Tor all eN-UnIou soldiers and sailors Of
the late Union armies to band themselves
together in q secrcct organization for the pur-
pose OF assisting one another and preserving
Ihe fraternal relations which existed during
their camp life. " { ind the names OF one
hundreu or more subscribed TO tie rules and
regulations OF the order. Among the names
some lew are still members Of this post.
Frequent meetings were held during lie
summer OF 1867, bat it was not until No
remDef 20, 1867, tHat the post received It's
cnarter. L Will now read you Il list Of the
names o. Charter members: q. W. Bowie,
thomas !. Blakney, George S. Evane, ID. A.
Demerrltt, " L. Campbell, E, nghan Ohm
+. Sheehan, L. >. Granger, ". &. GuireJ,
k. ii. Harris, j. V. Giiler,. A. :. HaWley,
h: W. Towns Joseph G. Garrison.
HE hrst general orders were dated, Head
quarters Army OF the !atOmuc, Mdrch .,
1867, ana appointing Comlade L. j. 8lak-
ney 10 establish posts III California, supJecl 10
the approval Of the CommandeT-in-ChicL
May 7th COmrade Bldkney transferred his
authority to John f. Miller, VINO was Grand
Commander OF the ProviS Onal Department OF
California. May Sth Comrade James COey
was appointeo Assistant Acknowledgement:
General orders No. IS, dated January, 10,
ISIS, appointed February 20, 1865, Iof lhe
Department Encampment, or ConveEUlon
Twelve posts were represented and perln1-
nent organization made, and elected James
COey Grand Commander; Frank Miller OF
sacramento, AdJutant-Genetal; George >
Evans, Senior Nice-Grand Commander; j. ).
Curtis, Junior Nice-Grand Commander.
We also find on file May ! s, 1865, General
Orders from the National Headquarters at
| Washington, ID. c., signed by John A. Logan,
Commander-in-Chiet, and n. 2, Chapman,
ADJ Glutant-General.
viii now read you the names of Post
Commanders Of Sumner Post, also many Of
its Ad5utants and Quartermasters: w. l..
Campbell, lS67-6S; R. NJ. Garrett, 1869;
1S70-72; l. ). Moore, 1871; ID. J. Summons,
1873; Ed Carlson, 1874; Q. i. Dodge, 1870
70; II. II. Lnnell, 1o75-78; l.. Tozer, l 8 9;
Burnett, 1881; j. N. Larkin and ii. Bennett,
1882; c. T. a dams, 1888; }. l.. skinner,
1864-65; g. Y. Kellogg, 1856; L. W. Estes,
1887; W. b. MaydWell, 1855; j. w. Reeves,
l 1889; c. II. stephenson, 1890; J. G. Medley,
1891; John Burke, 1892.
Among the list OF AdjutantS are John T..
Sheehan Qrst III. l.. Atharton, III. II. Linnell,
+. l.. Cushing, II. A. Burnett, j. c. Medley, c.
II. Stephenson, and our present and efficient
one, w. b. May dwell. who mas served five
years faithfully, and has been of great service
to this post. Quartermasters U. III. Cambridge,
I. W. Sheehan, II. Burnett, c. e. Adams, and
| our p esent one. Harry Bennett. who has
served continuously since SS3, and / know
the post must be under many Obligations for
the service he, too, has rendered. OF this list
OF officers named, most all are living; only
James Kent, Fred Dustman ana II. L. Ather-
ton have answered to the last roll call
The first meeting place of the post was in
the State Capitol for a short time. then in
Firemens Hall on Eighth street, then to
Graham Hall, and also in Pioneer Hall and
odd Fellows Temple. Next We removed TO
the hall on X street Gale q. A. Il. Hall, and
thence to our present quarters. Here we had
( many camp-tireS and socials, and some
troublesome times, and for time the meet
in IS were poorly attended; but we recruited
up, and with the support OF the old and tried
members the post has been, ana is to-day, one
OF the many prominent organizations OF the
/ Capital City.
/ Gifts relief to comrades much was done in
the early years, but L will give you the
amounts from 1888, when regular relief
/ fund was kept: 1883, $40 15;1SS4. $167 80;
1889, s@1o 80; IS96, S15S 55i 1851
/ 1890. Sl70 05; 1891, S91 20; 1892, $50 60
/ Total, SI,462 S5.
| Thus the career OF Sumner Post has been an
honorable one. There have been some six
/ hundred members borne upon its rolls. Some
4 OF them have occupied distinguished places,
/ notably General George ). Evans. Colo
! mel j. w. Bowie, General n. z. Chipman
1 who for number OF years was q member of
! this post and was Adjutant-Ceneral under
| General Logan; Frank Miller, FIRST Assistant
/ Adjutant-Genera Of the Department of Cali
! forna; Ed Carlson, afterward Department
| Commander, and also II. A. Burnett J. V G.
and should add Il. j. Blai1ney, who was ap-
.
1 From Sumner has sprung our Warren and
I Fair oaks Posts, and much missionary work
has been done by individual members in estab-
( lisning new posts IN the country. 1t has ever
! been mindful of the needs of the old soldiers
ana many have cause for thankfulness for
/ its charity.
! We have not only looked after the living
! but the dead have received burial at our
hands some forty in al have died who were
at the time members in good standng), and
we look with pride to the G. A. r. plat and
monument, which we have so ably assisted in
post is 114, with a tull list of energetic officers
and members, from Post Commander down
Speeches and business, took up sew
eral hours, after which the com
rades adjourned to refreshments, which
consisted of "salt-horse," hard-tacll
and other delicacies for which old
soldiers have lingering weakness, and
these were washed down with coffee that
had the flavor of the camp fire of other
days about it, and was black enough and
strong enough to fire up the veterans
with anecdote and "reminiscences of old
times and camp life.
After the alleged supper, speeches and
tales ensued, which were not intended
for the uninitiated, and when the men,
bers of the post finally adjourned it was
high time to turn in."
In O1den Times
| -. l.. 1