The National tribune., 1892-12-22
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
CONNECTICUT

The Headquarters ofthe Department OF Connectf-
cut are railroad trains most OF the time 30
many Campfires, bean bakes, and social meetings
are being held that Department Commander b. E.
Smith and staff kept constantly busy. and the
fraternity, good comradeship, and hospitality Of
these gatherings are full of enjoyment. Good work
ia resulting in The way of adding to the member.
ship of the various Posts.
On the night of Dec. 10 new Post was organized
with 80 charter members nj Stamford-W. r. Miner
Post, SIS. The Department Commander with nearly
his entire staff was present. The work OF the
Ritual exempified by comrades of Admiral
Foole Post, IL New Haven. and perfectly rendered.
which showed to the new comrades that the prin-
ciples OF our Order are indeed worth unfolding.
The Goth annual Encsmpment of this Depart
rnent will be held al Wilnantc, Feb. 1916, 1893,
when Commander-in-Chief Weissert. with Adju-
tant-General T. b. Gray and others prominent as
enthusiastic members OF the @. a. X. will be pres
ent A royal good time is expected. Francis 9.
Long Post 90 of Wilmantic, will give g reception
to the Commander -in-Chief and staff, comrades
Of tho 6. A. r. members of the W.R.C., g. ofV.,
and invited guests the evening Of the 18th at the
Opera House.
MAINE
The Department Of Maine dates It's organization
back to Friday. May 81 1867. when call issued
TO The soldiers and sailors of Sagdahoc County TO
assemble in the Common Council room at Bath on
that date. The object OF the meeting was to or.
ganize association whereby the true interests OF
the soldier might be protected by united effort.
Gen. T. W. Hyde presided. and Maj. shorey was
Secretary. Gen. VIM. A. Schmidt was in the State
at that time, and he presented the advantages Of
the G. AR.
In June OF 1901 another meeting was nel0, which
resulted in the formation of Post ] at Bath on
June 2s 1867. This Post disbanded, but was
afterwards recognized as Post 4. In the same
year Post 2. of Portland, organized. which Is
the senior Post in the State. John c. Caldwell was
appointed Provisional Commander Of the Depart
ment in December, 1867.
The first EncRmpment was held in the rooms Of
Post 2. on Jan. l5 lSGs, and although the records
very meagre. it is known that George L. Beal
was elected Commander and Charles r. Mattocks
Assistant Acknowledgement. During the interven-
Ing years new Posts were chartered and the me M
bership increased until at present there nearly
1000 men in good standing and nearly ITO Posts.
MARYLAND
Maj. Andrew Denison organized the Department
Of Maryland some time in November, 1866. He
WAS the first Provisional Commander and Charles
H. Richardson was the Assistant Acknowledgement.
The records which are not very complete. show
that the organization WAS kept up until 1872. and
that after thnt time Gen. j. r. Reynolds Poet, 2.
Frederick, kept up it's relations with the Order and
reported direct 10 the National Headquarters. A
| general wave Of reorganization swept over the
State in 1872, and Gen. E. Is. Tyler became the Pro-
| visional Commander.
| good standing organized June 9, 1876. AT the
present time The number OF Posts is about So, with
a total membership OF some g. 100 IN good standing
The Past Department Commanders living consis,
OF some Of the most active men in the GAR in
| Maryland. Their names are: Maj. 4. Y. Colds.
| borough, Capt. +. y. Danekcr, Gen. Adam 4. King
! Capt Wm. T.. Griffith, Gen. ". T. w. Ross Capt
| Graham Dukehart. Capt John Suter, Capt. Frank
| NJ Smith. Gen. John w. Horn, Col. Geo. w. +,
| Wheeler. DIR. Geo. r. Graham, and Col. Joseph c.
| Hill
MASSACHUSETTS,
| Mai. George l.. Slearns Post l4e, observed Id
| 20th anniversary at its headquarters Main street
| Charlestown, the other night by reception and
| banquet. The Post presented with q costly
| and handsome memorial volume, for the persona
records OF the members. by Messrs. John Turner
4 George ID. Edmands. Nelson Bartlett, and Mrs
| George L. Stearns. Commander John McCabt
| presided. and speeches were made by Junior Vice
| Department Commander ". A. Wetherbec Pas
| Senior Vice Commander in Chief George II. Innis
| Chief mastering Officer Anthony, Past Commando
Charles l.. Clark, Post 2; Commander Putnam
| Post 1879; Commander Alfred II. Knowles Pos
| &c; Commander Hopkins. Post I34 Adj't Greggs
Post 1874; President Emeline Riggs of Relief Corp.
9; ex-Representative Ira 8 Worth and Jerry Wake
/ IL, gave a recitation.
MICHIGAN
| G. V. X. Pond, Assistant AdIutant. General Is
| native of New York, having been born on May 80
1896. When q years of age he moved to Con
| necticut and engaged in the manufacturing bust
ness, continuing in this until the war began. IL
| received the commission of First Lieutenant an,
Qnsriernssier OF the I2th Conn, and on Sept. ]
the Department OF the Gulf until 1865, when h.
was discharged for disability. Returning North
he was given a very responsible position In tn
Provost Marshal's Office at Utica. y. Y, which Ia
| held until some time after the death of Presiden
Lincoln. He removed to Michigan, and engages
| barked in the newspaper field In Quincy, Mich
| He appointed Provisional Commander of tn
| Department OF Michigan in 1873. He was q mem
Der of Post 2. the only live one in the State, and
with his remarkable energy and perseverance,. h
made grand success; for, on Jan: %. 1879, b.
instituted permanent Department. He was cleo.
| ed the first Department Commander, and In 1873
| he elected Junior Vice-Commander At tn
National Encampment In indianapolis. Although
| not a candidate by his own seeking at the Denve
| National Encampment, he received handsome
vote for the highest Office in the gift Of the Order
| He is extensively known among public men, an,
4 IA i'm al afs hIf ma m
more largely or favorably known as an earnes
| worker Tor the Order than Comrsds Pend.