Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11
VETERANS BREAK CAMP
VISITING G.. A. r. MEN LEAVE FOR
THEIR HOMES.
Good Opinions Of Washington Heard
Upon ALI Sides-The Next
Encampment.

Inc thlrty-SlXth annual encampment or
the Grand Army of the Republic being a
thing of the past, the visiting veterans have
nearly all gone home or are on their way
The scenes at the new government printing
office. the Harper building, the Barbour &
Hamilton building, the X street armory,
the Washington Light Infantry armory,
Costello Hall. Camp Roosevelt and other
places where the veterans were quartered
during the present week resemble that in a
deserted army camp
During yesterday and this morning the
veterans could be seen at the places named
gathering up their belongings and placing
them IN their grips. suit cases and young
trunks Some of the receptacles were
packed almost beyond their capacity and
a number of the visitors stuffed their pock-
cts with souvenirs. Some preca utious war
riors took the trouble of carrying the most
valuable mementoeS in their hands.
The headquarters of the various states
presented scene of great activity during
yesterday and today. The commanders, ad-
tutants general and the staff officers were
gathering the important documents and pa
pers OF their respective departments to-
gether for shipment. Judging from the ex-
pressions of the department commanders.
practically every veteran will have left
Washington by tomorrow night. large
number left for home Thursday and yester-
about the streets at noon today.
Pleased With Washington.
All the departing visitors seemed to be
pleased with Washington. They said they
would remember for many years the cor
diality with which they were received by
the residents of the capital city. A great
many expressed doubt as to whether they
would attend the next encampment, to be
held in San Francisco. They gave as their
reason that San Francisco was too far
away from the homes of the majority Of
the veterans and that but comparatively
few could afford to pay the railroad fare to
California.
The headquarters of the Department of
Illinois, at the Regent Hotel, closed last
evening. and the officers Immediately left
for home. A large number of the repre-
sentatives of the department left Thursday
night. Each declared he had no kick to
make and averred that the recent encamp-
ment had been the most enjoyable one
within his memory.
John H. Thatcher of the Department of
Connecticut closed the department head
quarters in the New Willard He and Com
mander n. Burton Rogers left for home
yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock over the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. 1t was the
consensus of opinion among the visitors
from that department that the entire rep
resentation had had a bully good time"
press through the press his appreciation to
the people of Washington for the manner
in which not only the Connecticut visitors.
but the whole Grand Army was received in
the city.
Go Home Rejoicing.
The delegation representing the Depart
ment of California and Nevada seemed to
be most happy over their success in inf1u-
encing the Grand Army to hold it's next
encampment in San Francisco. The men,
bers of the delegation said they had ar
ranged for the next encampment before
they left home, and added that the vet
Grams who attend on that occasion will be
shown what a real good time consists Of.
The Department of New Jersey closed its
| headquarters this morning at o'clock.
| The officers of this department are not ia
! vorably impressed with the selection of the
| next place of meeting They declared that
| the western veterans are better able to pay
| large railroad fares than are those in the
| east.
| The veterans from Georgia will stop at
| Charleston, S. c. to visit Fort Sumter on
! their way home. They will leave tomor-
| row morning over the Atlantic Coast line