Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-23
CLOSING SCENES
OF the Great Veterans Gather
ing at Washington.
ENCAMPMENT ADJoURNs SINE DIE.

Weissert Succeeds Palmer Commander
in-Chief-Sketch of the New Head of the
Order-ResOlutiOns Adopted Brilliant
Reception at the Pension Department
Addresses by Morton and PaImer-The
Boys Join in the Chorus of Rally Round
the Flag''-Numerous Corps Reunions.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.- There was only
one important piece of business to attend
to when the national encampment met yes
terday, and that was the election of a
commander-in- chief to succeed Palmer.
And this work had been facilitated by a
general agreement on the part of the candi-
dates to let the honor go to Captain A. G.
Weissert, of Wisconsin. So that when the
question was reached the election was
made almost by acclamationn, only a few
votes being cast for each of the other can
didates. Weissert is a Western man from
the start.
Sketch of the New Commander.
He was born at Canton, o., Aug. Il, 1874.
He attended the schools at Racine, Wis,
the state of his adoption. Being graduated
from the Racine high school he entered the
University of Michigan. He was distin-
gulshed in his studies, and bore off the de-
gree of LII ID. He was admitted to prac-
tice in Wisconsin, and was winning fame at
the Milwaukee bar when the war broke out.
As soon as the tocsin sounded he enlisted in
the Eighth Wisconsin infantry. the Live
Eagle" regiment of history, and shared its
fortunes till the battle of Nashville. There
he was grievously wounded. receiving a
bullet just over the knee which he still car
rieS.
Rejoined the Army on Clutches.
Convalescing sufficiently to rejoin his
regiment he did so on crutches. After four
years gallant service he was brevetted cap
tain from the date of the battle of Lake
Chicol, Ark, June 6, 1864, for meritori-
Gus service in that fight and at the battle
of Nashville on the 18th of December fol-
lowing, and for extraordinary bravery
throughout the Red river expedition. He
refused the teEder of West Point cadet
ship by reason of his wound. He Joined
the Grand Army of the Republic at Madi-
son. Wis. in 1856 and has filled creditably
every position from comrade and officer of
the day up to department commander
Other Officers Elected.
Continuing the election of officers the en-
campment selected the following: r. H
Warfield, of San Francisco senior vice
commander; Peter B. Ayers, of Delaware.
junior vice commander; DR.. w c. Weyl,
of Danbury, Conn, surgeon general:
Lowell, chaplain-in-chief. Tie question of
priority of departments was referred to a
past grand officers the privileges of
life membership was overwhelming
ly defeated. Committees resolutions on
the deaths of General Barnum. of New
York, and Adjutant General MeClelland
of Pennsylvania were applauded.
Loving Cup for Gen. Alger.
A handsome silver loving cup was presen-
ted by members of the organization to Gen
Alger, who responded felicitously Resolu-
tions were adopted asking for a law giving
alive terans the precedence in appointments
now given only to those disabled; COM
mending Palmer's order forbiding G. A
r. men marching under the Confederate
flag; declining as ineXpedient any express
sions as to an open close Sunday Worlds
fair; asking the publication of a census of
veterans and their addresses; asking con-
gress to provide a monument for the private
soldiers of the army; asking that United
States flag float from Fort Sumter. the
same as at other army posts.
The Encampment Adjourns.
Resolutions of thanks Were adopted-to
the citizens of Washington for their gen
erous hospitality: to the eX-commander-in-
chief-carried with three cheers. The new
officers were then installed and the new
commander, in reply to n question. said he
could only name one of his staff at this time
E. b. Gray, of Milwaukee, to be adjutant
general. Comrade Gray was inducted into
office. The new commander then assumed
charge. and declared the twenty-sixth ma
tional encampment adjourned sine die
PENSION OFFICE RECEPTION.