Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-20
GRAND ARMY NIGHT
Enthusiastic Reception to Commander Clark
son.
A ROusing Evening at Grand Army
Hall-Gen. Sickles to Provide q Big
Escort Inauguration Day.

Commander-in-chief T. S. Garrison had
royal reception by his comrades of the De-
partment of the Potomac at Grand Army
Hall last night. After his arrival in the
afternoon attended by Col. H. z. Palmer,
aid-de-canp, and Col. Andrew Traynor.
special aid, he was entertained by Col.
John McElroy. commander of the Depart
ment of the Potomac, and escorted to the
Ebbitt House, where the party had a quiet
and restful time before going about town
and meeting the old soldiers at Grand
Army Hall AT pm. Capt. ]. M. Edgar
assembled and marched the Old Guard.
headed by the Conn Drum Corps, to the
Ebbitt House. Col. Clarkson soon ap-
peared and was escorted to Grand Army
Hall. where he and his companions were
received by the department commander.
Among those present were Past Com
mander-in-chief S. S. Burdette, Past De-
Eartment Comm an'iers Dingman: Gibson
Faunce. Lincoln. Richardson. Anderson.
Bickford. Burke, Odell. Urell. Gen. Bussey.
Gen. Brady. Senior Vice Department Com
mander Huntoon. j. V. G; Raub, A. A e.,
Hustled: Department Chaplain Stevens.
Judge Advocate Sweet. Inspecting Officer
Chase, Representative Mercer, ex-senator
w. T. Upton and others. The arrange
ments were In charge of Assistant Quar-
termaster Gen. Alva S. Taber.
Maj. McElroy opened the program with
a brief speech, in which he paid hand
to the commander-in-chief, and then intro
duced him to the assemblage.
Col. ClnrksOn's Speech.
Commander Clarkson was greeted with
three cheers and a tiger when he rose to
reply. He said in part:
Il take none of this honor personally,
for I recognize that it Is a tribute to The
grandest position on earth (applause). to
be the representative of 4N.OD Of the
grandest men that ever shouldered an arm
in defense of their country But ours was.
must say, army of the Lord. for l
firmly believe, my comrades that II ever
the good God let His face shine upon men
in battle gray, or upon cause, 1t was
upon the Union armies of 1S6l-'65, and the
cause for which they fought. thank Maj.
Nc Elroy for doing what l hoped -or tnirty
years somebody would do-say klnd
word for the army west of the MISSISSIPPI.
After the applause which greeted the
commander-in-chief. the meeting was ad-
dressed by Gen. Burdette, ex-senator Tip
ton of Nebraska Representative Mercer OF
Nebraska, Gen. Cyrus Bussey, Gen. Brady
and Col. Palmer. The G. A. r. chorus rem
dered several selections and a letter was
read from Gen. Dan Sickles, saying he pro-
posed to muster 10000 veterans to escort
Comrade Mckinley to the Capitol and back
to the White House March 4. He expected
the railroads to give reduced rates to all
who wanted to come to Washington for
this purpose. At the conclusion of the
speechmaking, Commander Clarkson shook
each comrade by the hand. The command
er-in-chief left at night to attend the re-
ception to be given him by Lafayette Post
of New York. w.
A Pleasing Incident.
An interesting incident during Gen. Clark
sons visit was his meeting with the daugh-
ter of his old colonel, Joseph Warren Bell
of the 18th Illinois Cavalry. Mrs. Clara
Bell Brown Of this city,. well. known in
press circles, was the colonels idol, and
little Clara" to the whole regiment. That
was thirty-three years ago. ClarkSon was
then a dark-eyed, curly-haired STRIPPING of
twenty. He was called, account of his
fine bearing and handsome face, the beau
of the regiment, and was as dear as a son
to his colonel, who spoke of him with at
lection to his family. AS 'Adjutant Clark
SON. his name has been a household word
all these years. When the middle-aged SOL
der and the white-haired woman met yes
terday tears were in the eyes of both and
the old commander held his coloners grand
child on his knee while he talked to her
mother of the days of 81. As she arose to
go he expressed his great pleasure at this
meeting, and at her recollection of him
through so many years.-Gen. Bell has
been dead for nearly twenty years. Gen.
Clarkson, out CT compliment to Mrs Brown
and the old 18th, has appointed her brother.
Major Bell of Illinois, as aid on his stan
Mrs. Brown will visit Omaha during tho
winter, where Gen. Clarkson has assured
her OF hearty reception. Vs. = 80 = -''T