The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-30

t.-,~u re credit % having started the pa
s~s,--s- movement which has rsseed The
ssarx ard stripes over every sehosfhoszse IN
sFsa lard ard secured legislation IN several
states making & compulsory 10 fcGs Re
eaz aurfng hours Of school session. T Ms
rssws also Introduced military instruction
~ he Scsloos4 ard established the Aussrf-
ar guard. re benefit % which has been
aekngz ,s-sxesi BY many % the most pro-
xr~xsfsa thinkers Of the day. The altitude
a. ne post upon the question OK pensions
has been conservative and judicial meet
ing the approval Of THE best elements Of
fsrs order as represented IN the national
eneanprneuF It's roll Of members past and
present includes the fate Gems. Barlow.
Doubleday ard Newton. Gems. Nelson A.
Mics. Daniel Bgtter1ieid. Roy Stone. Al
sxander &. Webb ard others. representing
almost every state IN the Union
His Unique Position
Admiral Neads's candidacy for the nigh
est gffs of the Grand Army Of the Repgb-
Is i being urged by TIE adhereuts 70 bis
casss almost wholly upon the ground Of
his unique position as the representative
naval veteran OF ne day The admiral Is
a warm adnnirer OF Paul Jones. whom he
n many ways resembles. In the navy ne
vas Familiarity called Fighting Dick"
Cen. George O. Meade. the hero OF Get
tysburg. was first cousin 70 the admiral.
and their common grandfather, George
Meade. served his country as the compan-
ion in arms OF Lafayette. The martial rec
ord % Admiral Meade extends from lNo
10 1855. e years. covering some OF the most
ssIrring periods in the history OF the navy.
He was born in New York city, but re-
eeiYed his appointment as midshipuan
from the first district OF California. lie
vas then q years old After cruising
three years during which time he saw
some sea lighting abroad, the young MILDLY
entered the naval academy at Annapolis.
and AT IS graduated No. in a class % is.
A. the end OF two years ne was commits
stoned Lieutenant, after serving as naviga-
tor and acting master OF the old ship Cum
berland. The first battle OF the civil war
has been credited TO Meade. IL was a snla i
affair. but II showed the spirit OF the
man who earned fame as Fighting Dick"
Meade. Sometime in 1854. when war talk
was rife. he tbrashed a lieutenant OF the
service for uttering sentiments against the
old flag When Sumter was fred upon be
applied for active duty against the enemy
or the Atlantic coast
During the campaign on the upper Miss
Isslppi IN 1852 Meade commanded the Dat
tleship Louisville. with the rank of leu
tenant commander. His ship had several
combats with marine gueTrillas. in one or
which the young commander showered the
nowitzsr fired by his own hands. Owing
TO an injury received at Island No. 10,
which threatened the loss of leg and
his life, Meade was sent East 10
recover.
Some OF the most exciting experiences OF
Lieut.. Meade's war career resulted from
his accidental presence in New York har-
Dor in the summer of lss3. About thai
time the Confederate cruiser Tacony ap-
~ A 81 ia aasi
engaged in depredations outside the prin
,ipal forts. Her commander. Capt Charles
Read, was one OF the most enterprissag
sailors In the Confederate navy. Meade
was ordered 10 give chase to the Tacony
With the steamer United States, then lying
at the navy yard. cleared OF guns, stores
and men. Within twelve hours after get
ting his orders Meade had the vessel ready
for sea, with full crew and supplies and
equipments on board. Cruising northward
he oyerhauled twenty-seven suspicious
vessels and drove the Tacony into Port
land harbor. where she was captured.
Returning TO New York city Meade was
placed in charge of the naval battalion
during the draft riots. His district was
the lower part of the city. where, wish
three howitzers and go men, he kept per-
feet order during the week OF the highest
excitement. protecting the arsenal con-
tanning 10000 stand Of arms, the banks.
sub-treasury and custom house.
From New York Lieut. Meade proceeded
TO active service in the South Atlantic
SQUADRON. and won high honors with the
steamer Marblehead. The Marbiehead
Was sent into Stone inlet to do picket
service. A force Of Cenfederates stationed
on Johns island attacked the steamer.
intending 10 capture or destroy her and
clear the inlet of Feaerals. They had
sixteen guns in position behind earth
works. but we're defeated after a sharp
fght of one hour Meade was wounded
and lost ten men. The Marblehead was
struck thirty times in the hull. In spite
of his wound Meade. seeing an advantage.
landed LOO men and captured two guns. be-
sides destroying the enemy's earthworks.
For this service he was compllmented in
fleet orders by Commodore Dahlgren. Also
recommended for promotion by the board
OF admirals and summoned 10 Washington
City 10 receive the thanks Of the secretary
OF the navy and the president.
Son after his exploit near Charleston
Meade was given command OF the Chicora
in the west Gulf squadron. There he Dis
inguished himself by capturing or de-
stroying eight noted blockade runners In
three months. One OF the prizes. the Del
pima. was cut out in the face OF a vastly
superior force. Since the close OF the war
Meade has served with the navy in all
untl he reached the high rank upon which
ne retired in 1885. He Joined the Grand
Army soon after he Sscame a citizen sail
or uniting with Lafayette post.
Other tontestan
The principal contestants for the honor
OF commander-in-chief against Admiral
Meade have been in the field several
months. The department OF Rhode Island
presents Past Commander Daniel Il. Bal
lou, OF the Twelfth Rhode Island. Com
rade Ballou IS prominent lawyer and
legislator. and IL elected ne Will be the
second 70 hold the Office from the little
state which he represents. Gen. Burn
side served one term as commandment
chief.
New Hampshire offers a strong candi-
date fn Conrade John &. Linehan. OF Con-
cord. who has served one term In the ma
tlonal body as tunlor vice commander-in-
chief. lie has been active in work for the
good OF the veterans since the close OF
the war. notably IN connection with the
Gettysburg Memorial Association and the
New Hampshire Veterans Association. as
well as the Grand Army.
The present membership % the Grand
Army Is 30 90. 4 sligAt falling of is
noted each year. ana although there are