Evening star., 1898-08-18
THE UNION VETERANS UNION
Stirring Events During the Encampment in
the Tri-Cities.
The Presidents Telegram and the
Old soldiers Response The
Joint Installation.


Island and Moline, ILL.,. and of Davenport,
Iowa-the tri-cities, they are called, be-
ing close together, Rock Island and Moline
adjoining on the one side of the Missis
s;ppi and Davenport being directly oppo-
site, on the other sida-vied with each other
in welcoming and entertaining the battle
field veterans.
There were addresses by prominent
statesmen and warriors of the civil strife.
The commander-in-chiefa and comrades of
the Union Veterans Union We're escorted
by hundreds of other veterans, in close col
umn, with bands of music. The grand
parade III Rock Island is declared TO have
been most impressive, the streets being pro-
fusely decorated along the line of march
in the national and Union Veterans Union
Colors, every house displaying the flag.
There were the visit TO Rock Island
arsenal, excursions by river and rail, war
ccIcerts and camp fires.
Mayor I. J. Medill of Rock Island, presi-
dent of the day, and the citizens commit
tee and military, on Tuesday morning,
August 9, escorted the commander-in-chlef
and the veterans from the Harper House
to the opera house, where the program in
cIuded music, an invocation by Rev r. F.
Sweet, s. L. D.; greeting in behalf of the
city by Mayor Medill; greeting in behalf of
the state by Governor Tanner; a response
by Commander-in-Chief Street of the Union
Veterans Union, and addresses by Con-
gresham Graft and Gen. Henderson.
Received with Cheers.
The national encampment began its ses-
sion at pm, and commission in the
army from the President was presented to
Commander-in-Ch Chief Street by Gen. r. G.
Dyrenforth, and telegram was read by
him from President Mckinley, who is a
member of the order, expressive OF ms
sympathy with his comrades and his wish
that he could be present. The commission
r,,,I 10 gCya fTNT a
received with tremendous cheers and a
resolution of fealty and thanks to the
President was Immediately and unanimous
ly adopted without reference 10 committee
by a rising vote.
Then the veterans wera taken on an ex-
cursion around the three cities and to Black
Hawks watch tower, a most beautl1ul NIL
near Rock Island, overlooking the Rock
river valley and from which the surround
ing country can be seen in every direction
for miles. The place is very like Mt. NC
Gregor, near Saratoga.
In the evening there was a grand war
concert at Harpers Theater; recitations;
drill by fifty beautiful young ladies' ana
drum and fife battle "reminiscences by hen
dershott, the drummer boy OF the Kappa
haLnock and his son.
On Wednesday, the 10th, in the morning
there was a grand parade of the U. '. u,
with the 126th Illinois Infantry as invited
comrades the commander-in-chiefa and MS
staff being in carriages. In the afternoon
there was a business session OF the en-
canpment at which some Interesting data
personally written out by II. Clay Evans,
commissioner of pensions, was read, ana
appreciation was expressed of his carelui
and conscientious administration or his ar
fcult office and of his regard FOR merlto-
rious claimants In the evening there was
d campfire at Davenport, held in the Saen-
gerfest Hall. George 7. Baker, mayor or
the city, presiding, at which more than
10 900 people were present, there being
1 hn nd hundreds
at the numerous end and side entrances
unable to get in.
r. G. DyrenfOrth HonOTrd.
On Thursday, the 11th, in the morning
was the session of the encampment for the
election of officers and r. e. Dyrenforth
of Washington having been placed in noUl.-
nation by National Commander Street, was
unanimously elected national commander,
or chief amid great enthu-
siasm, the chairman of one delegation after
another rising to second the nomination
and casting the solid vote of his delega-
ton for the nominee. Nearly every state
in the Union was fully represented, and
the delegations sitting by states filled the
Opera House. The new commander-in-chief
is quite new member of the order.
Gen. J. B. Morgan of Davenport was
elected first deputy commander-in-chief;
Gen. w. L. French of Massachusetts, sec
ond deputy; DIR. j. w. Morgan of Illinois,
surgeon general; Rev. Richard Haney of
Illinois, chaplain. and Gen. George N.
Meade of Iowa, member of executive COM
mittee at large, with one member from
each state of the Union.
In the afternoon the veterans were taken
on an excursion on the Mississippi river
and the famous Hennepin canal. In the
evening there was a campfire in the Wag-
ner Opera House in Moline, at which Gus
tav Swenson, the mayor, presided. The
commander-in-chief and commander-in-
chief-elect were escorted to the hall by
mil
speeches were made by the mayor. by Ma
tional Commander Street, by Congressman
G. w. Prince, by several eloquent citizers
and by General Dyrenforth. during which
Maine.
touching incident of General Dyren-
forths appearance to speak was the recog-
milton of him by some of the men of his
old regiment and of the western army in
the audience, and their coming forward to
shake their old commander by the hand
with many God bless YOU
On Friday, :he 18th, was the final ses-
sion of the National Encampment and at
this session the officers elected were in
stalled.
The Women's Union.
While the encampment was being held
the national delegates from the Women's
Veteran Relief Union, body auxiliary to
the Union Veterans Union, and subject to
the orders of the national commander had
White, who had been president for several
successive years. presiding, and the pres.-
dent and officers for the ensuing year were
elected as follows: Mrs. Ada B. johnson
of New York, president; Mrs. Belle s. Nor
gan of Illinois, senior vice president: Mrs
Kate Beck of Washington Junior vice
president; Mrs. Lavina Foy of Ohio, chap
lain. and Miss Lucie Greer of Pennsylva-
mia, conductress.
1t was concluded to hold an installation
in joint session. The ladies were installed
first AT the conclusion OF the installation
OF the officers of the U. v. L., Gen. Dyren-
forth. commander-in-chief delivered an
address TO his comrades, expressing his
high appreciation of the great honor con-
ferred upon him, but. as we'll his keen
recognition of the earnest and onerous du-
ties imposed His speech was replete with
warm sentiments and patriotic illusions.
end he was frequently Interrupted with
deafening cheers
Before the ladies retired to their hall q
costly badge and a beautiful gold watch
suitably inscribed, were presented to Mrs
Hortense White. the retiring president on
behalf of the U. V. L., by Past Comman-
der Ellis, who made an eloquent and
graceful speech, expressive OF the appre-
citation by the soldier of woman's work
during the war. and of the appreciation by
the U. V. u. of the untiring work OF Mrs
White during her presidency of the w. V.
r. L.
The new commander-in-chief apno,ntod