The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-18

Wearers OF the blue who were attached
TO the department of the Potomac, held
their annual encampnient at @. A. z.
Han, on Pennsylvania avenue, last night
The meeting, which was held for the pur
! pose OF nominating new leaders, was
marked by manifestations OF enthusiasm
/ seldom equaled among the veterans. Tie
/ presence OF Commander-in-Chie Garrison
seemed TO inspire theoiG soldiers who were
| present. At the conclusion OF tie en-
campment Gen. Garrison was rendered a
banquet at the Ebbitt House, where he is
stopping he was escorted from the hote
/ 20 the Grand Army Hall by the OLD Guard,
under command OF Capt j. NJ. Edgar
When Gen. Garrison appeared in the
hall the veterans to a man arose and gave
their popular commander a Iousing re-
ception. So great was their enthusiasm
that ne was compelled to make a speech, in
which he urged the veterans TO stand by
their next President, as he had stood by
his comrades during the war. Gen. Clark
son said that he was glad to see that the
vet Grams present seemed to be in per-
fectac cord withthe q A. R. nlenthroughout
J..
the good feeling was largely one TO the
crops. In Rhode Island the boys felt so
good that they could walk across the
State in forty minutes. similar feeling
prevailed among the wearers OF the blue
in Ma Ssachusetts and other Eastern States.
At the Conclusion or Tie generals speech
three hearty cheers were given him.
Commander McElroy S address was quite
lengthy, as Uch annual papers usually are,
treating OF the many topics coming under
his official observation dcfing the year.
The assistant adJutant generals report
shovel a net loss in membership for tie
year OF 237. The rolls carried 1859
December 81, 1895. and at the close of
1896 but 2,S51. There were Linety -two
deaths and 2SS suspensions during the
year. besides a number OF Withdrawals.
The nominations Of officers were as fol-
lows: For commander, T. s. Hopkins, OF
Post 3; A. ]. Hutton, OF Post s. Senior
vice commander, DR.. J. F. Raub, OF Post
a. Junior vice commander, j. f. McCabe,
Post 3; l.. j. Sweet. Post 20 Medical Di-
rector. DIR. c. '. Pettys. Post &; DR.. II NJ.
Bennett, Post 8. Chaplain, Rev. W. II.
Block, Post 3; Rev. ]. II Bradford, Post Z.
Council Of administration. S. w. Tuley,
q. 4. Davis, T. X. Galloway, Sidney W.
Herbert, James Wood, W. II Liverpool,
W. q. Wallace and s. c. Rohb Delegates 70
National Encampment, 7. r. Shepperd, W.
II. DoolittIe J. 5 c. Burger. Z. W. Hatten,
Lewis Mundheim. j. p. Quander, S. Emo,
b. T Janney and J. II. Hewlett
The banquet to Commander Garrison took
place at the Ebbitt House.
The banquet han was PRETTY dee GRATED
with flowers, and the menu was some what
different f. ON that to which the veterans
were accust omed when ION the nlaIch,''
30 that the surroundings were not at all
like Il osc or camp life. There We're album
dant "reminiscences Iecited, IOwever, and
erosgh Of the past was recalled to Iene "
the scenes OF the days when they were vol
unteers.
The set speeches were: "our Country"
to which Gen Charles II. GroSvener elo-
qIently resi- olded; THE Grand Army OF
the Republic resi- ondei to by the COM
mander-in-chief; THE oval Women, - who
altl ough not admitted to the festive hoard
were happily remembered in a pleasing
speech by Col. Charles i. Lincoln; "Our
Comrades Who Have Crossed over the
River a toast usual on such occasions,
was received standing and In silence.
Commander McElroy served as toast
master, and fiIst introduced Gen. Ruegles,
who entertained his audience with q oice
anecCote, that was vociferiously applauded.