The National tribune., 1902-10-02
SPANISH WAR
VETERANS.
Important Business Transacted
at the Third Annual Encamp-
ment in Detroit.
MEMBERSHIP NOW lS,oOo.
Col. M, Emmett Ureli Elected Commander
in.Chief - Amalgamation with Rival
Organization Assured.
TIoNAL ARMY AND NAVY, SPANISH WAR
VETERANS.

BY J. WALTER MITCHELL, HISTORIAN, Ma
TIoNAL ARMY AND NAVY, SPANISH wAE
VETERANS.
The Third Annual Assembly and En-
campment of the National Army and
Navy Spanish War Veterans. held last
week at Detroit, was the most important
event in the short history of that organi-
zation so far as results are concerned. The
young soldiers of the war with Spain ac-
complshed more than mere routine busi-
ness during the sessions. They hrmiy
welded the ties Of friendship already eX-
listing between the aged and battle-scarred
veterans of the struggle from 1861 to 1865
and themselves. They honored both the
veterans of the war of the rebellion and
those of the Spanish-American war by
unanimously electing as COMMANDMENTS
Chief Col. NJ. Emmett Urell, a veteran of
both wars. In the great parade, Mon
day afternoon, Sept. -. the Spanish war
soldiers followed the Grand Army Posts
as guard of honor jointly to the older
veterans and President Roosevelt
During the war of the rebellion Col
Urell first served in the I'd \. Y. State
Militia. subsequently known as the SID
n. Y. Vols, having enlisted April IL,
1861. He took part in the battles of first
Bull Run. Balls Bluff Fair Oaks.
Gaines's Mill, Malvern Hill. Second Bull
Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancel-
louisville, Gettysburg, Bristol Station and
the Wilderness.
He was wounded at Fair Oaks. May 81,
1862, and at Bristol Station, Oct. IA, 1868.
The last wound was a serious one. The
bullet penetrated his right arm and body
and he was left on the field for dead. He
was finally picked up and sent to hospi-
tai for treatment, and before his wounds
had fully healed he returned to the front
for active duty He was discharged May
"A, 1854, ION account of wounds received
in action" During his service he was pro-
NOTED through the grades from private to
First Lieutenant and was brevetted Cap
tain and Major. United States Volunteers,
for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Col.
Urell received from Congress the highest
honor that can be bestowed upon an Amer
ican soldier or sailor, the Medal of Honor.
During the war with Spain he was
Major of the 1st Battalion, LIST Regiment,
District of Columbia Volunteer Infantry.
and was with his regiment in the trenches
at the siege and capitulation of Santiago.
Col. Urell is So years of age. and the pres
ent Colonel of the ID Regiment, District
of Columbia National Guard.
The other officers of the National Army
and Navy Spanish War Veterans elected
at Detroit last week are: Senior Vice Com
mander-in-Chief. Harold G. Megrew, of
Indianapolis: Junior Vice Commander-in-
Chief, Champe S. Andrews. New York;
Judge Advocate-General.H Hamilton Ward,
Jr., Buffalo: Inspector-General, 1. n. Kin
ney, Bay City, Mich; Chaplain General,
Rev. Father w. II. l. Reaney, U S. N;
SUPERINTENDENT. DR.. Louis Livingston,
Seaman, New York; Sponsor. Miss Clara
Barton, Gen Echo, Nd; Historian, J.
Walter Mitchell, Washington. d. c.; Aid
de-Camp, Herbert w. Meyers, Washing
n ~ Tho ftuc, lat na,
appointed by Gen. Urell, being his first
appointees.
The National Council of Administration
was elected as follows: Geo. T. CASTOR,
Mich; G. Leyburn Shorey, d. c.; J. T.
Hilton, New Jersey; Charles Leimbach
and Capt. Young. both of New York; Carl
Gunster, and Representative in Congress
III. ID. Green. Pa: ]. II. Wassow. Wis
consin; J. w. Carver. Maine: F. G.
Beach. Connecticut; II. l.. Sutterly, n. ].
The Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-
General have not yet been appointed. 1t is
unof1icially stated that Adjutant-G General
L. c. Dyer and Robert A. Drummer, Of
New Jersey, Quartermaster-Genera will
be reappointed.
Col. Urell was nominated for Command
er-in-Chief by Capt. Champe S. Andrews,
who Is a member of the New York Corps
Capt. Andrews said it gave him pleasure
as native of Tennessee and the son Of q
Confederate soldier, who was killed in bat
tie. to nominate gallant Union veteran
who bears on his body the scars of his
prowess and gallantry, and who faced
his father in mortal combat in the great
est war on record. He was glad of the
opportunity. he added, and was equally
glad to have served under Old Glory as a
soldier of this reunited country during the
war with Spain,
President Roosevelt in his address at
the npQuInu cnsSinp Of fha II
high tribute to the old soldiers of the war
from 1861 to 1865. He said they had
taught the soldiers of the Spanish War
how to fight and how to endure hardship
and suffering, and the lesson had been a
salutary one.
The most important business before the
Convention was the amalgamatiOn of the
rival organizations-the Spanish War Vet
Grams and the Spanish-American War
Veterans. This has been practically ac-
complished. The matter of consolidation
has been left in the hands OF a committee
from each of the organizations. with
power to act. The joint committee will
meet in New York City on the first Mon
day after the November elections. and as
both associations are unanimously in favor
OF amalgamation the work Of the COM
mittees VIII be confined to arranging the
details for that movement and declaring
the two bodies one.
ne oDstacie 10 cOnS0ildatiOn heretofore
as Col. Il. j. Dimmick of the Spanish,
American Veterans, stated it, was one w.
Z. Liller, who was Adjutant- General of
the latter body. Liller has now severed
his connection with the latter organization
and amaigamatiOn is practically assured.
Upon the request of Delegates repre-
senting naval commands at the Detroit
Assembly, the name OF the organization
was changed by adding the word NAVY"
so that it now reads. National Army and
Navy Spanish War Veterans"
A resolution was adopted for the an
pointment OF committee of three to re-
guest Congress to establish a Museum of
War at Washington as monument TO
American soldiers and sailors of all wars,
from the Revolution TO the siege of Pekin.
China; also, resolution providing for the
appointment of National Historian.
Other resolutions adopted provide that
soldiers of the Regular Army should be
retired on three-Quarters pay after 25
instead of 30 years continuous service. and
that soldiers holding civil positions in the
colonies can be transferred to similar posi-
tons in the United States proper without
being required to pass a civil service ex-
animation.
Resolutions of coincidence were atopted
by rising vote on the recent death OF
Gen. w. III. Hubbell, of New York. late
Commander-in-Chief of the organization.
On motion Of Col. Lee NJ Lipscomb it
was unanimously decided that the late
PRESIDENT William Mckinley should be
tne only honorary member on the rolls