Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-02-14
THE GRAND ARMY.
The Department Encampment
Held at Rutland.

n. NJ. Pufrer of Remington Chosen
Commander, and Mrs. A. Louise Put
nam of Brattleboro President of the
Relief COrps---the Reports.
The annual encampment of the Grand
Army of Vernon, and of the Woman's
Relief corps. were held at Rutland, begin
ming Monday evening and continuing
until Wednesday. The attendance was
large, and the proceedings of unusual in
terest.
The Report of Commander Cannon.
The report of Barney Cannon, jr., of
Bellows Falls, the retiring department
commander, shows 112 posts in good stand
ing in the state, with a membership of
1891. During the past year one post, at
Bakersfield, having a membership of 10,
las disbanded, owing to scattered residence
of its members.
The number of members who died in
the year was 122, while in 1894 it was but
76, an increase'of over 80 per cent.
There have been Ill new members add
ed, but with other changes, removals, etc,
it leaves the net loss of membership the
past year 206. The sum expended for re-
lief by the different posts in the year
S16j9.3S. Seventeen general orders have
been issued by this department and -
from the national department. The total
expenses of the department for the year
have been S1S63 81.
Forty-three posts have relief funds
amounting TO S3953.13. The funds in
the hands of quartermasters amount to
SSl06.jj, and the total value of other
property owned by the posts is SPA, 509.73.
Over 5000 soldiers graves were decor
ated by posts of he state last Memorial
day, 5000 comrades participating in the
ceremonies. One hundred and tifty-one
graves of veterans throughout the depart
ment are unmarked by proper headstones,
and seven were buried in the potter field.
The Soldiers Home at Bennington has
100 inmates, the national government pay
ing 500 per year toward the expenses of
each and the Home is shown to be in the
best of condition under efficient manage
ment
The commanders time has been almost
entirely devoted to the work of the de.
partment during the year, he having writ
! ten over 400 letters. The department
was represented by over $50 members OF
/ posts and Relief corps at the national en-
[ campment at Louisville. He speaks OF
/ the increasing observance of Memorial
/ day, of the state having made it a lega
/ holiday, and suggests as fitting that all vet
| Grams use their influence for further legis.
/ lation prohibiting horse racing, ball games
and sports of all kinds that day, preempt-
ing ii for observance in a manner more
/ fitting to the spirit of the day.
Proceeding of Interest.
! The department again showed its great
I and anhnripn u5n nf diet n.
! guished members, Gen. Wheelock G
| Neazey, past commander of the GRAND
Army of the United States, and Gen. Ste
phen Thomas, who is now too feeble to at
/ tend the encampments, but whose bravery
is not TO be forgotten. 1t was voted tC
send them kindly greetings and goot
/ wishes.
! Gen. Ivan n. Walker, national com
mander of the Grand Army, in company
| with the proper COMMUNICATION. Wood
| bury and Lieut-Gov Mansur-appeareC
! before the convention Tuesday and made
! an address in which he severely criticised
the present national administration for it:
! lax way of dealing with the soldiers. HI
said that ii was time the laws in regard Il
| pensions were enforced as they should be
! Old soldiers must no longer be persecu, ed
| dropped from the rolls without notice OF
reason. Their rights should be protected
Officers were elected as follows: Com
mander, Col. n. NJ. Puffer, Bennington
senior vice commander, II. Z. Perkins, St
! Adams; junior vice commander, d. W
Davis, Chester; medical director, j. d
Hanrahan, NJ. D., Rutland; chaplain, Rev
| w. 5. Smart, Brandon; representative a
large to the national encampment, n. 2
Bowman, st. Johnsbury, past department
commander; alternate, Gen. W. II. Gil
more, Fairlee; representatives TO nationa
encampment, H. w. Sperry, Cavendish, A
W. Fuller, st. Adams, A. McGaffey, Bur
lingtOn, o. f. Evans, Arlington, c. S
Pierce, Vergennes, p. S. Chase, Brattle
boro, Richard Smith, Enosburg, W. A
Smith, Fairhaven, E. Mcintyre, Dandy
Ozro Meacham, Brandon; council of ad
ministration, l.. b. Harris, Lyndonville, A
T. Woodward, Rutland Charles Wells
Waterbury, Henry Heath, Bethel, and E
K. Holden. The committee on nomination
was composed of Col. K. j. Coffey, Eli n
Peck c. II. Webb and G. Il. Pond.
The only spirited contest for honors wa
between Col. Puffer and Col. Joel c. Bake
of Rutland for department commander
The vote stood as follows: Whole humble
of votes cast, 245, of which number Mr.
Puffer received 149; Col. Baker, "a, an,
Col. f. W. Jewett of Swanton, ?. Tn
fact that Roberts post of Rutland has fur
nished four department commanders opeI
ated against Col. Baker.
Mr.. Puffer is prominent citizen of Ben
nington, who served with distinction in tn
war. He enlisted as a musician in tn
Second regiment, but was mustered withil
year when all bands were mustered out
He Ieenlisted in Company Z and serve
while the war lasted. Mr.. Puffer is no
engaged in manufacturing He has bee
grand patriarch of the Patriarchs Militan
of the state and also grand Representative
of the grand lodge of Vermont 1. o. o. F
The Relief Corps.
The Woman's Relief corps elected thes
officers: President, Mrs. A. Louise Put
nam, Brattleboro; senior vice president
Mrs. Florence Gates, Morrisville; JUNO
vice president, Mrs. Alice C. Willoughby
Island Pond; treasurer, Mrs. Elizabeth 1
Retting, Brattleboro; chaplain, Mrs. Sar
Ward, Weston; executive board, Mrs. Cal
rie Cady, Bellows Falls, Mrs. Mary "
Gould, Randolph, Mrs. Ellen NJ. Seavel
Montpelier, Mrs. Helen M. Newman, Bra
tleboro, Mrs. Melendy, South Londor
derry; delegates to the national encamI