The National tribune., 1896-12-10
TIE GRAND ARMY.
What is Being Done by the Veterans
for the Good of the Order
THANKSGIVING DAY

Comrade Cook Writes of the Annual Dinner
Given by His Post.
Enron NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Better writers
than myself having failed TO call the attention
of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE to the 0oihgs VI
the old soldiers at Ottawa, 4 venture 70 "rte
about their annual banquet enjoyed every
Thanksgiving evening.
Thanksgiving Day, 1893. came upon the an
u;versarv Of the hattie OF Franklin, Tenn, Nov.
20. 1864. Lieut.. Joseph Marsh. Co. q, lo7th
ILL.,. with his regiment, was IN the thickes. .,
that engagement, and, soldierlike, be wanted
his comrades to meet under the most iavoraoie
circumstances, and with him tell OF the 'Iiais
and triumphs Of their soldier life.
Now. Comrade Marsh keeps hotter, and ne
has not forgotten how tire boys liked turkey
while down in Dixie, and he hit them IN the
right SPOT when ha struck the attitude OF q
forager, returned to camp loaded with sucn
fowls. and invited sill old soldiers TO come ana
be thankful with him on this THANKSGIVING
Dav. over 100 being seated before the snmptu-
Gus feast he prepared. No more favorable cir
cumstances under which to tell of soldier lie
can be found, and the opportunity was I'M
proved and enjoyed to the fullest.
When Comrsde Marsh extended this invita-
tion, he proposed to prepare and serve the sup.
per. if Gen. George b. Thomas Post is. would
take charge of all other details, and regular
banquet program WAS arranged. After tns
supper was disposed Of, addresses were delivered
by ex-Gov Geo. T. Anthony, Captain. N. \.
lnd'p't battery: Maj. A. w. Benson, l54th N
Y. and remin absences of the war told BY Others
until late hour. Before closing it was decided
TO repeat the banquet each year so long as
soldier remained 70 attend, and on Thanksgiv'
ing evening '94. y95 and '96 Comrsde Marsh
has set the same tables loaded with deiicacies
and nearly the same program has been repeated
carried out largely by the same comrades. The
wives and widows of old soldiers have joined
the company, and Comrads Marsh is now paid
for his work.
This Thanksgiving the dining-room was deco
rated with red white and blue flowers IN pro
fusion, and to the portraits Of prominent Ten
erals was added that of Comrade VIM. Mckin-
lev, President elect. Commander c. Fetter was
toast-master, and he called on Maj. Benson.
who answered in the same stirring manner Of
four years ago. and received hearty applause.
Past Department Commander ]. B. Harris and
his Adiutant- General, j. n. Harrison, enter
tanned the company in royal old soldier style
which was duly appreciated. Mrs. Emma
Wall Department Commander Ladies OF the
GAR, gave the history of the organization,
and q good report of its work and growth to
the present time "reminiscences, music and
song, and short talks by Sons of Veterans pres
emit we're enjoyed by all. Comrade E. L Allen
read an original banquet poem.
Commander Fetter reported that two com
rsdes who we're with as one year ago. had An
swered to the last roll-call and "passed within
the low green tent whose curtains never out
ward swing ex-Gov Geo. T. Anthony being
one of them.-HENRY b. Cook, Co. ID. Isl
Mo. L. A.. Ottawa Kan.