Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19

named body made George Gridley secretary
and Captain e. c. Dougherty treasurer
Don G. Cameron chairman of the committee
on reunion and j. A. Weathers chairman
or the committee on flowers and badges.
The cavalrymeu devoted themselves to a
circular they are about to issue concerning
the encampment. The committee with this
work in view consists OF Captain John w
Lewis. chairman; Captain W. S. Belden.
vice chairman: Captain Henry Sherwood
and Mr.. J. G. SQuires.
The members Of the Loudon Rangers
merely agreed to hold formal meeting
some time later in the summer
Mrs NJ. V. Mccullough, secretary to the
woman's executive committee, is a very
busy woman these days. A great many OF
the corps in distant departments desire TO
attend the encampment in body, and
want quarters together while in the city.
So in addition to her other labors Mrs. Nc
Cullough as a general utility woman is
looking after the comfort of these organi-
cations.
Most Of them want quarters close in
or close to the center of the city, said Mrs.
Mccullough this morning. not knowing.
of course. what an excellent electric car
service we have, practically annihilating
distance. The Indications are that there
will be a large attendance of ladies, men,
bers of the various orders
Appreciates Floral Decorations.
Mr. Robert Buck who was member OF
an Illinois regiment that was particularly
active at Stone river and Chickamauga, re-
marked this morning that one Of the most
pleasing features of the encampment ar
engagements that he had yet witnessed was
the decorations growing in the public
parks.
Il came in on the Pennsylvania" he said.
land L was delighted to note in one or two
of the little parks about their stations
small corps badges in growing plants. 1t
Is a splendid idea and will please The vet
Grams who come into the city over their
lines. Then L took 18th street car, and
what should l see short distance out but
splendid statue OF my old commander'
Pap Thomas. and around it, In richly col
ored plants. the badges of the corps in The
Army Of the Cumberland.
Why. l felt at home at once. L want to
say that ] believe that Washington Will
have the biggest crowd of Grand Army
people that ever gathered in one city at
time. at the national encampment In
October You see. most Of us passed through
Washington at one time or another during
the war. ard Just once more before We die
we'd pke to see the old place again. The
outpouring from the west will be some
thing tremendous The rates have been
made very reasonable over the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe lines. and that means
a great deal to the old soldiers. We are
not rich"
Mr. Buck. who disclaims any military
title. and says he entered the service as
private in 81 to come out private in %.
is a stockman in Montana.
Kentucky and Kansas.
Mrs. Julia Moore. president of the De-
partment of Kentucky, has arranged for
headquarters for herself and stan, and
promises to be accompanied by large con-
tingent Of her department.
Mrs. Emma Forter president of the de-
partment of Kansas. expects to be accom-
panied by her entire staff, and large num-
Der of the past department officers, besides
a large number of lay members OF the or
der. The headquarters will be at the Ok
ford and the decorations. upon which the
ladies are already at work, are to be OF
most elaborate character, sunnoWers being
the motif.
Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley, president OF the
National Society. Daughters of Veterans,
reports that there will be the largest attend
ance of members of that organization ever
yet noted. The Daughters of Veterans nave
Increased in number quite rapidly during
the past year.
First Defenders.
1t is hoped that the society of the First
Defenders of Pennsylvania can be induced
to attend the encampment in a body. This
organization is composed of the survivors
of the 800 men who came to Washington
defense the day before the 9th Massachu-
sets got here. They came in late in the
evening of the 18th of April, 1861. and were
marched directly TO the Capitol, where theE
barricaded the basement and proceeded 10
get supper They slept in the Senate cham
her. The next morning flag was discover
ed flying from the unfinished dome Oh the
Capitol where none had flown Tor months
before 1t was nailed there and 1t remained
there till the elements chewed IL 10 ribbons.
II is said that the First Defenders who
received the thanks of Congress Tor their
timely appearance, could tell who put the
flag on the dome; but they never DID