Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-14
G. A. R. CAMP FIRE
The Old Soldiers Take Their Coffee
and Beans with Music and
Speaking.
SOLDIERS OF THREE ARMIES
Oonfederates, Federal Troopers and Cuban
Volunteers Join in the Feast
and Reunion.

The G, A. r. veterans held one OF the
most enjoyable meetings in the history
of the department, last night, and it
past ~ O'Clock before it was
thought the hour of 10 had arrived.
The first feature of the evening was
the absorption of camp rations in a
goodly variety, and the cooking was OF
the best. When the tables were cleared,
speaking was the order of the evening,
and his proved very entertaining.
A choir composed of Messrs. f. +.
Crichton, Roy Crichton, Geo. w. Knae-
bel, McCord, Johnston and Mcbride,
sang several selections and there was
instrumental music from a mandolin
and guitar orchestra. F. P. Crichton
also sang a comic song that was enter
tanning. w. M. Berger, Esq, was toast
master, and the speaking opened with a
PRAYER from Rev. Thomas Harwood.
The first speaker was Ex-Governor
Prince, who replied to the toast Com
rade Mckinley The governor in his
usual graceful style paid the chief ex-
ecutive a glowing tribute for nobility OF
character. and as being the head of the
greatest nation on earth. In referring
to the fact that there was now, no
north, no south, he expressed the beller
thai this amalgamation was brought
about by the Spanish wal in which the
men from the north and south fought
side by side.
Colonel George w. Knaebel replied to
the toast Grand Army of the Repub-
lic." The colonel after paying just trib-
utes to the federal troops, also COM
plimented the confederate soldiers, who,
he said, fought for a cause they consld-
cred Just and honorable, and declared
his satisfaction at the great fact tina
the lines between the two sections We're
wiped out forever.
'The New Mexico Volunteer" was the
toast to which Adjutant Whiteman re-
sponded, and was we'll received. He
showed that New Mexico has sent out
500 soldiers under the presidential call;
that it was New Mexico volunteers who
were the first to reach Texas, the first
to land in Cuba, the first to engage In
| battle, and the first to reach San Juan
! hill. The New Mexico volunteers were
| the first in the estimation of the coun-
try of all the volunteers who went into
| the Spanish war.
Hon. T. b. Catron made a fine address
in response to the toast, "Our Army and
Navy" He considered it a compliment
to be called to speak before a G. A. R.
meeting, as he had fought for the en-
tire four years on the other side. He
differed with a preceding speaker in the
claim that the time of wiping out of all
grievances between the two sections
was when Spain was whipped. He held
that it was rather at Appomattox court
house. The speaker then traced the his
tory of the spirit of liberty and genesis
of patriotism as displayed through the
achievements of the army and navy; il
Illustrating by a eulogy of the spirit of
patriotism as given by Washington,
who handed his sword over to congress
at the close of the revolutionary war,
s~urrendering his right and power to CIV
| il liberty. Mr.. Catron made forceful ref
erence to the magnanimous attitude of
this country in the wal with Spain and
the statesmanlike conduct of the pres
ident; also to Dewey's famous order,
Dbl the torpedoes; go ahead" The
speaker closed by fine tributes to the
heroes in the army and navy during the
late war.
Judge A. l.. Morrison responded to
the toast, "The Flag of Our Country"
The judge is always an orator, and this
occasion was no exception to the rule.
He opened with a poetical tribute to the
national emblem, and detailed noted
historical instances Of devotion to 1t, in
Guiding the famous Molly Pitcher cpl
sode: also, the stirring scenes attending
Jackson's capture of New Orleans. And
in referring to the war with Spain he
claimed it was really over before it be-
| gan. The judges speech was appre-
ciated.
Judge McFie made a pleasing address
in response to calls, showing to the vet
Grams present that the fight they had
been engaged in was the greatest war
in the worlds history. He mentioned
some of the greatest battles in history,
citing Borodino, Waterloo and Gettys-
burg; also, the Franco-P russian war,
showing how closely allied they were in
historical experience.
Major Fritz Muller made a spirited
speech, showing that it was E troop of
the rough riders that reached the top
of San Juan hill first, and paying a de-
served tribute to Corp. Ralph McFie, who
lost no time in charging up that hill in
the face of the leaden hail flying. The
major also called down Colonel Roose-
welt for his fairy stories In Scribner's
magazine that made wrong history.
Other speakers were Rev. Thomas
HARDWOOD, William Breeder, Max
Pracht and others.