The National tribune., 1896-10-15
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
FLORIDA

A portrait of Gen. VIM. s. Harvey now
sdorns the hall of the LAR. Post bearing that
name at SanGford. The portrait was the giit
of Mrs. Hsrney. widow of the General, who
now lives in Orlando, and the presentation
took place the other evening in the presence of
8 large and patriotic audience. John T. jones'
IN old friend of the General, made the presen-
tation speech. The parlors were elaborateiy
decorated with bunting. flags, and flowers, ano
presented brilliant scene by easight. CON-
.nander Homer Montgomery presided, and Rev.
DIR. d. A. Dodge, OF Kissimmee, offered PRAYER
after which Mr. J. NJ. Osborn rendered fine
solo ON the violin, accompanied by Miss Grace
Way. Then came sketch of the Post by hd-
jGtant ID. L. Way, Past Department Com
nander, followed by the presentation address
OF Mr. Jones' who captivated the entire audi
ence By his eloquent portrayal OF knightly
soldier, such as Gen. Harney was shown TO
have been. The reception address was MADE
By Surgeon s. Herbert LsDcey. of the Post, also
Medical Director of the Department, who dwelt
mostly upon Gen. Harney's answering Loyalty
to the "old flag" he had served from 1915 TO
1861 on many bloody fields OF strife. de had
served with Capt. Abraham Lincoln, OF the
Folunteers, and Lieut.. Jefferson Davis. OF the
United States Army, in the Black Hawk war,
and was therefore bound 10 each by the strong
ties of comradeship. Turn either way IN 1861,
to President Lincoln to President Davis, he
was sure Of deserved preferment and promo
tion. Although a Tennesseean by birth, his
long service as a trusted soldier led him TO re-
main loyal to the Stars and stripes. de bad
served in the old army with jackson, Harrison,
Pierce, Taylor, Lincoln, and Grant, all OF
whom succeeded to the Presidency OF the
United States, and with Davis. the only
President OF the Confederate States-a rec
ord most remarkable in all its aspects.
After the rendering of solo by Mrs. L. Nj.
Winchester a sketch of the battle OF Fort
Melon was given by Maj. Sidney Herbert the
wel-known military writer, from records OF
1881, now IN his possession, bearing upon the
Seminole campaigns in Florida. According TO
these, Gen. Harvey was made Lieutenant
Colonel of the I'd Dragons on Aug. 10, 1886,
snd as soon after as possible he joined Gen.
JesEp in Florida, arriving at Camp Monroe
tafterward called Fort Mellon) OH Feb fol-
lowing. Although Ihe king officer he did
not assume command of the camp, but took
immed iate steps to fortify the place against any
pnexp pecied attack from the Indians, then IN
the vicinity. lie none too soon in his
preparations as the attack came early on the
morning of the second day after bis arrival. Ii
was a desperate assault, led by brave Indian
Chiefs, whose forces far outnumbered the gar
risou, and yet Lieut.-Col. Harvey SO conducted
the defense that the enemy was repuised and
fed in dismay. But early in the fight Capt
Charles Mellon. OF the I'd T. S. Art. fell, pierced
by bullet from Indians rife. He was a
gallant soldier of ripe experience in war, and
his comrades buried him near the camp, and
thereafter the post was known as Fort Mellon,
on the shore of Lake Monroe, near Sanford.
haj. Herbert's appeal TO the old soldiers of San
ford to restore the old fort and its stoekade as
Q tribute 10 MELONS heroic conduct and to
mark the spot where one of the most successful
battles Of the war was fought, WAS SO eloquent
and forcible that il was heartily applauded
and will no doubt be acted upen by the citizens
and Gen. Harney Post. The speaker gave a
brief sketch OF Lieut.. George ". Pattep, q. S.
A., the distinguished poet-soldier who was a
classmate of the heroic Lieut.. w. L. Basinger
L. S. A.. Of Georgia, the last Of the gallant off.
Gers to perish in the Dade massacre.
ILLINOIS
The 2Sth Of September, set aside by the State
Board OF Agriculture az "0ld Soldiers Day f" at
the Illinois State Fair. was rainy, as had been
the two previous days, SO that the attendance
OF those who the Board desired 10 honor by
presenting each with beautiful and appropri-
ste badge that admitted the wearer to the Fair
and which he was permitted to retain as q
souvenir, was not as large as was expected.
The presentation Of the badges was entirely in
the hands OF a committee of old soldiers and q
complete registry OF those who received these
souvenirs was made. This registry shows that
the United States Army, United States Navy
and 30 States had their representatives on the
frOundk- As natural consequence The great
majority had been members of Illinois regi.
ments. OF these the IL cavalry regiments were
al represented by from three 10 II EACH Ol
the l57 infantry regiments 132 were represented
IN numbers from one 10 l22. The total numb be,
that registered was ,740. Twelve hundred o.
these were in the line that made a short march
around the groSnds. Illinois did q nice thins
in its recognition OF the Nations defenders, ant
the boys appreciate il.
MASSACHUSETTS,
Post So of Arlington, will soon give min
strei show, the proceeds TO be given to GAR
hall fund
KEW JERSEY
General Order. 3. OF this Department. saws
"The Posts and comrades of this Denartmen
are hereby warned against one Charles Smith
claiming to be member in good standing of
4. A. Torbert Post, "a, of this Department. sp,
soliciting help such. He is a fraud. an,
should be handed over TO the authorities wher
ever he makes similar demands for assistance
James n. Van Buskirk Post. 100, at meetin
held Aug. II, resolved TO drop the name Of ia.
n. Van Buskirk, aud by the same vote adopte
the name OF Gen. Sherman Post. The chang
has been approved by the Department Com
rnander.
INDIANA
Department Commander II. NJ Csylor mad
the presentation speech Oct. 6 at George 4
Thomas Post Hall. Indianapolis, on the occasio
Of giving the testimonial to w. H. Tucke
ordered by the Indiana Encampment at its las
Seeting in South Bend. The testimonial is i