Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-21
REPORT ON THE G. Ar.
YOUNG MEMS COMMITTEE TELL
ABOUT TRIP TO BUFFALO.
PLEASED WITH THEIR RECEPTION.
Were Treated Most Hospitality, the
Union Veterans Expressed Kindly
Feelings for Their Old Foes, ana
the band Played Dixie.

session was an interesting one. Presi-
dent Hume was in the chair.
Eighteen new members were elected, a
permanent Committee on Legislation was
appointed, and resolutions were adopted
inviting the Elks. the American Street
Railway Association, and the American
Street-Railway Accountants Association
all to hold their annual meetings in Rich
mond next year. The two last-named
bodies are soon to meet at Niagara.
THE G.. A. r. INVITATION.
The Committee on Invitation of the
Grand Army of the Republic to hold their
1899 encampment in Richmond submitted
the following report, which was approved
and ordered to be placed on record:
To the Young Mems Business Association
Of Richmond, Va:
Your special committee appointed to
convey TO the Grand Army of the Re-
public the joint invitation Of said asso-
citation and of the Board of Aldermen
and Common Council of Richmond TO
hold the annual encampment of 1899 in
the city of Richmond, beg to report that
for the purpose stated they went on the
I'D day of August 1897, to Buffalo, n. Y.
where the encampment of the Grand
Army Of the Republic for 1897 was being
held. Before leaving for Buffalo your
committee secured spacious rooms for its
headquarters in the Ellicott Square Duild-
ing. the building in which nearly all OF
the States had their headquarters, and
by that means were Immediately upon
their arrival in Buffalo put into close
communication and touch with the lead
ing men of the encampment. In fact, from
the time of the opening of your com
mittee's headquarters until they were
finally closed on the 18th day OF August,
your committee were constantly kept
busy receiving Union veterans, who came
into our rooms in large numbers and
greeted us cordially, expressing their best
wishes for our success in securing the
encampment for 1899, and promising TO
render US all assistance within their
power.
FOUND ONLY FRATERNAL FEELING
Although your committee in going to
Buffalo only sought to pave the way for
success in 1899 yet ii soon became appa-
rent that had Richmond been a candidate
for the encampment next year, Cincinnati
would have found in her formidable
rival. Your committee would emphasize
the fact that from every side they heard
the most hearty expressions of fraternal
feelings for the Confederate soldiers, and
great admiration Of their generals. There
was no word or expression used which
could have been anything but pleasing
to the most ardent southerner, and there
was apparent on the part of the Union
veterans no suggestion of a wish 10 cele-
brate their victories in the capital city
of the defeated side, but rather an earnest
desire TO greet us as brother Americans
and TO visit again the batte-iields ana
meet the old Confederates, whom they no
longer regard as foes. Many an old
griZZled soldier would come in and say
II tried hard for four years to get TO
Richmond, and couldn't. and | would like
to go there before / die" while many
others who had visited here at various
times, and especially those who came af-
ter the encampment i'm Washington, could
not say too much about the kind recep-
ton which they had met at the hands OF
the old Confederates.
ANXIOUS TO COME HERE.
Your committee, while in Buffalo, made |
an active and energetic canvass OF the |
different State and department mead |
quarters, and OF Camp Jewett, where
thousands of veterans were encamped, |
and ii is no exaggeration TO say that Tor |
ty-nine out of every fifty veterans are !
anxious to have Richmond win the en- |
campment another year. The Earious !
"camp fires" and regimental reunions |
were also visited, as far as possible, ana |
everywhere the suggestion .of tlchmond |
as the meeting place in 1899 met with a |
hearty response On Wednesday, the Hth |
ultimo. the committee had an opportunity |
of witnessing the grand parade, in which |
about fifty thousand veterans partlcl- |
pated. 1t is estimated that there were, all
told about two hundred and fifty thou-
sand visitors in Buffalo, and these, to-
gether with the music and decorations
and last. but not least the splendld |
marching of the veterans impressed upon
the eye of the beholder scene not soon
to be forgotten. An idea OF the excellent
demeanor and orderlnes of the vast |
throng may be had from the fact that
the Buffalo papers Of the following day
announced thai not a single dlfiiculty OF
case OF drunkenness had been reported.
Many Of the veterans were quartered at
Camp Jewett, where tents were furnished
by the government. and in the different
public-schoo buildings, while every hotel,
clearinghouse. and spare room in Bur
falo were filled. The men pay for their
own quarters. and take their meals AT
the various restaurants. Their time Is
mostly spent at their regimental and bril-
gade reunions and camp hres.'
THE COLORED VETERANS.
Your committee have to report in re-
gard TO the colored veterans at the Bur
falo encampment that their number was
there being scarcely two
hundred of them In a parade OF nifty
thousand men. Their reception and treat
ment i'm Buffalo was hardly different from
what II would be in Richmond, and your
committee are OF the opinion that no
trouble would be met with Oh this score.
On Thursday, the 25th ultlmo the en-
campment proper was held i'm Music Hall.
This body consists of some 1, 800 or more
delegates and is the legislative body of
the Grand Army, which elects the gene
raj officers and selects the place for their |
annual encampment each year. On the
opening day the invitation Of the Young
Mems Business Association and of the |
Common Council and Board OF Aldermen
of this city was presented TO that body
by General Edgar Allan. to whom your
committee are Indebted for his labors in
behalf of Richmond, and for the kind as
sistance rendered them. While it ~ not
the custom of the encampment TO decide
upon the place of meeting more than one
year I'm advance. or TO consider the sub
ject before IL comes up 10 be officially
voted upon, yet your committee are
happy to be able 10 report that cordial
resolution of thanks was passed for the
invitation extended by our association
and the Common Council and Board of
and your committee Is OF the
opinion that the sentiment in favor or
Richmond among the delegates was as
decided as among the veterans generally.
EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION
Before closing your committee deem II
proper that they should express their
sense of appreciation OF the assistance
rendered them by the members OF the
Virginia and North Carolina Department
Of the Grand Army of the Republic, ana
especially Generals Allan Eaton, and
Stebbins: and Captain B. c. Cook. who
accompanied the committee, ana worked
like a Trojan for Richmond. IL is also
the desire Of the committee TO acknow-
ledge the many courtesies extended 10
them by the citizens OF Buffalo, and they
have especially 10 thank Mr. Albert IL.
Swift, the financial secretary Of the Citi-
zens' Committee, who, despite the many
duties ceyolying upon him at that time
had a constant eye to the welfare and
success OF ourselves and our under
taking. as did also. Messrs. A. j. De-
mary c. S. Elliott j. u. Noting, and
others. For the friendly tone and kind
notices contained In the Buffalo press
during the time OF the encampment the