The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-26
RECEIVING A new Chief
Union Veterans Do Honor to
Gen. DyrenfOrth.
NOTABLE GATHERING
Retiring National Commander, Gen.
Street. Presented With n Hand
some Sword and Seabbard-Other
Tokens of Esteem-Letter of Re-
Sret From the President.

Battle-scarred veterans and fair ladies
turned out en- masse last night to do
honor to Gen. Robert G. Dyrenforth. the
new commander-in-chief of the Union
Veterans Union. upon the occasion of
the camp fire and reception rendered
him by his comrades of the Department
of the Potomac at the National Rifles
Armory.
Gen. Dyrenforth. than whom few per-
sons enjoy a wider reputation Is. per-
haps, better known as the ''rainmaker''
by reason of the elaborate experiments
conducted by him in the West several
years ago, and he also served in the
same army corps with President McKin-
ley In the attack upon Halifax Ferry.
West Virginia. IN September, 1851. Gen.
Dyrenforth was at the time "A member
OF an Illinois regiment and the President
was private in the Twenty-third Regi-
ment of Ohio Volunteers
The camp fire last night was attend
ed by vast assemblage of friends and
comrades of the new commander and
these. with the ladies who accompanied
them, graeed the scene, contributing in
making the occasion a memorable one.
The meeting was opened by the chair
man OF the general committee of arrange
ments, John Middleton. Gen. Dyrenforth
occupied the seat of honor and grouped
about him on the stage were William H.
Michael. chief clerk of the State Depart
ment; Joseph Bingham. Assistant Secre-
| tary of Agriculture: Col. Henry Clay
| Evans, Commissioner of Pensions
! Charles Lyman. of the appointment diyi-
| sion Of the Treasury Department; Gen.
| S. S. Yoder. Gen. Long Col. James Sweet
| and staff. of Baltimore; Col. W. C. Tyler.
| Adjt. Gen. S. F. Hamilton of the Union
| Veterans Union; Gen Arthur Hendricks,
| the department commander of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and w. ". Brown.
! auditor OF the War Department.
| The address of welcome was delivered
| by John Middleton, after which Rev. L.
| o. Eldridge. pastor of Waugh Church, de-
| lvered the invocation.
| Gen Dyrenforth addressed his assem-
| bied comrades in part as follows
''I regard my election TO the position of
| commander-in-chief of the Union Neter-
| ans Union as the greatest event of my
! life The emotions in my breast on this
| subject are however, decidedly conflict
/ ing: On the one hand my heart naturally
| swells with pride at being your COM
| mander and at the honor or this recep-
! ton On the other hand, I am oppressed
| with anxiety, in keen recognition OF the
| obligations and the duties which the posi-
tton imposes. But pray to our Father in
! Heaven, to the Lord of Hosts, TO whom
| all glories are, that l may be inspired
| with lofty and at once. sensible and prac-
| tical ideas for the benefit of my comrades
| and to carry on the good work OF your
| past national commander, my immediate
predecessor here present
Letters of regret were read from
| President Mckinley, Acting Secretary oil
| th, Navy Allen Gen. Longstreet Com
| missioners Ross and Beach and many
others.
Short addresses were then made by Hon
Joseph Brigham. Col. Henry Clay Evans
Gen. Arthur Hendricks, Hon. Charles Ly'
man, Register of the Treasury Lyons anc
Gen II. L. Street, the past national com
mander of the union.
Gen. Street, who will accompany Gen
Fitzhugh Lee to Cuba as a captain ane
commissary OF substance was presented
with a handsome sword and seabbard as
A mark of the esteem of his comrades.
On the blade was inscribed: Presented
to Capt H. L. Street by his comrades o.
the Department of the Potomac of tbs
Union Veterans Union, Washington, Au
gust g. 1888"
The recipient of the gift made a shor
speech in reply
The anthem illinois" was then suns
by quartet in honor of the native Stat
of Gen. Dyrenforth. DR.. Frank T. How
presented the new commander with a sou
venir paper weight made from the bras
guard of one of the eight-inch guns of tn
Maine by Comrade Ryan, an employe a
the navy yard
| The reception was followed by cola
ton in the drill hall of the armory.