The National tribune., 1899-05-11
THE GRAND ARMY.
What Veterans Are Doing
for the Good of the Order.
NEW MEXICO.

NEW MEXICO.
ii The 10th annual Encampment o. the
, Department of New Mn-:cJ was held at
Sante Fe, N. NJ, April 10, and was
largely attended. Acting Commander
Leveritt Clarke, of &. X. Warren iost,
presided. After the routine business S was Is
r disposed of the Encampnlent proceeded 10
/ elect the new officers for the ensuing
year, with the following results: Com,
Geo w. Knaebel, Sante Fe; S. V. G., Geo.
Carter, Ration; J. V. c., James l.. Morris,
sante Fe; Asst Adj,t-Gen,; Wm; NJ ,iSah BeI,
Weltmer, Sante Fe; Judge Advocate, Jno.
p. Victory, Sante Fe; Chief NJ. O., John
r. Bromegan, East Las Vegas; Medical
+ Director, VIM. II. Whiteman, Albuquer-
que; Chap, Thomas Harwood, Albuquer-
f Que Council of Administration, Smith
II. Simpson, E. S. Slower, John A. Ross,
Thomas W. Collier, and Lee III. Rudde-
sille.
Acting Department Commander Leveritt
: Clarke very creditably filled the Office Tor
the unexpired term of late Department
Commander Francis Downs, who died in
harness, June 2S, 1898. Comrade Downs
had held the Office of Department Com
mander of New Mexico for two full terms,
and died in the middle of his third term
He was an enthusiastic member OF the
GAR, and n familiar figure at all the
National Encampments, where ms ad-
vent was always hailed with great Joy.
Towering six feet four in hight, and OF
massive build, martial bearing, and pre-
possessing manners, he was n parsonage
in Grand Army circles everywhere who
will never be forgotten. He was a valiant
soldier with an enviable record.
The present Department Commander,
Col. George W. Knacbel, of Sante Fe,
was hOnored with the office about four
years ago. and he was again elected, and
unanimously, although he made a
lengthy and forcible speech against his
own election, on the ground that 1t was
not fair to other eligible comrades and to
the Department, because it would lose a
vote in the National Encampment.
Headquarters of the Department OF New
Mexico are at Sante Fe, the Capital OF the
Territory. The reports presented at the En-
campment show eight Posts in good stand
ing; viz, Slough Post, 6, SOcOrro; Sedgwlck
Post, 2, Ration; G. X. Warren Post, 3,
Albuquerque; L. S. Grant Post, IL, Hills
borough; Kearny Post, White Oaks;
Carleton Post, 3, Sante Fe; Lincoln Post,
13, Pennington, and Sherman Post, /,
East Las Vegas.
In territory New Mexico is the largest
GAR Department in the United States,
but the membership is small, because
the old soldiers are scattered over the
vast domain in places not accessible TO
Posts, and are too few in numbers at any
particular place to form new Post. Ihe
aggregate membership of the Posts in
good standing is about 250. Carleton Post
leads with membership OF 60.
After the Encampment Carleton Post
entertained the members of the Depart
ment Encampment at a Campfire, when
was very largely attended by the blue"
and the "gray" and large delegation of
the celebrated "Iaough-Riders," under the
leadership of valiant Capt. Fritz Muller, OF
Troop E. Great enthusiasm was shown
at this Campfire, and much interest eI-
pressed in the GAR. of New Mexico. 1t
is believed the Campfire will result in
largely increased membership Of the or
ganization.
| DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS.
Tho 14th annual Encampment Of the
| Department of Texas, held in Denison,
Tex, April 20, 81 and %, was one of the
most harmonious in the history of the
Department. The veterans were kindly
received by the citizens of Denison, who
had made every possible arrangement
| looking to the comfort and entertainment
of the comrades. About 800 veterans be-
sides the delegates were present at the
Encampment. The ex-COnfederateS were
out in force, outnumbering the comrades
at least two to one. They were invited
by the local committee, and were given
as much attention as the G.A.R., par
ticipating in every public exercise.
| Department Commander w. +. Conner
| presided at the Encampment. His report
showed great improvement in the con-
dition of the Department. When he as
sumed command there was a DEBT OF Sl4o
| and the outlook seemed decidedly gloomy
At that time there were on the rolls AZ
| Posts with a membership OF $40. Twelve
| of these Posts were behind with their
reports for periods ranging from two to
four years, and were holding no meetings.
It was deemed advisable TO either revive
| these Posts or revoke their charters.
Commander Conner succeeded in reviving
three One Post was lost by reason OF no
GAR. men being left in the place to
keep it up. On Jan. 1, 1899, there were in
good standing 33 Posts with a member
shin of 652, but since that time many
comrades have joined, and now the mem
bership is about 100. The number Of
members in the nine Posts that were dis
; banded was 20i. Leaving these Posts
from the report Of Jan. /, 1893, the actual
membership was 621, and this number
compared with the number now in good
standing shows a creditable increase.
Commander Conner expressed strong
belief that before the end OF the year the
membership would be increased to 800 or
1000. BY revoking the charters of the
dead Posts the Department is now in a
nosition to establish strong Picket Posts
where the defunct Posts were. The en-
tire Indebtedness of the Department was
paid during the year.
Commander Conner travelled during his
term OF Olllce over lU,OJO miles, ara per
sonally visited every Post in the Depart
ment except one located at Brownsville,
| in the most southern corner Of the State.
This Post has but five members. During
| the year he attended 109 meetings of the
lGA.R., WR.C. and Sons of Veterans.
Commander Conner being Passenger
Agent of the Wabash Railroad, travels al
no expense to the Department, and ac-
complished much work that could have
been done by no other comrade.
The new officers elected are: Com,
John Roach, Dublin, Tex; S. V. c., G. c.
Haskell, Denison; J. V. c., J. J. Weller
Dallas; Chap, Rev. S. w. Patterson
Dallas; Medical Director, DR.. L. Marks
Sipes Springs; Asst Adi't-Gen. and Ass'I
Q. M-Gen., J. J. Bigger reappointed)
Dallas; ms, Ed. Ketchum, Galveston
.Judge-hdvocate, Gardner Work, Waco
Chief NJ. o., G. B. Peck, Houston.
WEST VIRGINIA.
The Department Of West Virginia
IGA.R., met in its 18th annual Encamp
ment April 26, at Terra Alta, with al
unusually large number of delegates anC
Past Commanders in attendance. The
citizens Of the town were a unit in thei
lendeavors to provide for the comfort, con
ycniencc and entertainment of the visi
tors.
Commander Richard Robertson in his
report, referring TO the proposition to admi
new and younger blood into the ranks O
the GAR. said: "ihe effort to admit the
Sons of Veterans to full fellowship in tht