The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
THE COMMANDER.IN.CHIEF.
Gen. W. W. Blackmar Has Great Recep-
ton by the Veterans of New Hampshire
Assembled at The Weirs.

Assembled at The Weirs.
Comma nder-in- Chief Blackmar made
his first official visit to the unique camp
maintained by the State of New Hamp-
shire at The Weirs. He was received with
the full Generals salute of II guns, and
met at the station by Department Com
mander Henry .. Kent, with his staff,
Past Junior Vice Commander John &.
Linehan, and Past COMMUNICATIVE Chief
Ell Torrance. There was an immense
gathering that day of veterans, with their
wives and families, and they all turned
out in an enthusiastic demonstration in
the Chiefs honor.
AT the Campfire Col. Kent opened the
speeches by saying, among other things
New Hampshire than when we marched
1866 soldiers of New Hampshire through
the streets of Boston in that magnificent
parade one week ago. 1t was 135 years
ago that New Hampshire sent 1000 men
to follow John Stark down to the rail
fence at Bunker Hill. 1t was great
day for New Hampshire when out of the
5000 in its G. A. r. it had 1866 in the
column. 1t should mark a red letter day
in the annals of the Granite State"
He read the following letter from Past
Commander-in-ChiefB Black:
with regret that l can not well ex,
press, and for reasons that l believe Will
commend my decision to yourself as TO
the sincerity of my Judgment am obllged
to decline your comrades kind invitation
to be a guest at your great Weirs Camp
fire. I beg you to express my sentiments
to the men of New Hampshire and for
yourself accept this expression of my ap-
probation and fraternal regard.
I'm fraternity, charity and loyalty, sim
"JoHN G. BLACK"
Gen. Blackmar then made a very charm
ing speech, and after complimenting them
upon the beautiful camp and its charming
scenery, said:
In the neighboring town of Andover
my mother was born, a New Hampshire
a minister who first preached in her vii
lage the doctrine that all mankind was
not doomed to eternal perdition. So |
claim kinship with you in your heritage.
DEPRESSING from this, Gen. Blackmar paid
high praise to the Woman's Relief Corps
for the great work it had accomplished.
He threw a graceful bouquet to Mrs.
Minot and congratulated her. as well as
the w. r. c., upon her election as Ma
tional President.
He said: 1T is, indeed, my comrades, a
great reward that for all of the sufferings
we went through in that war, when as
young men we offered all that we were
and all that we had, that we should see
so great an outpouring of citizens and so
many of our old comrades marching
through, the streets of Boston. If it be
true that tn, } left in Boston a sum equal
to 81 100000, as / have seen given as the
estimated amount of their expenditures,
even that is as nothing beside the great
lesson of patriotism which they presented.
1t was worth it, that great day in Boston
was full of it."
The General dwelt especially upon the
beautiful spectacle of the Living Flag as
was of $500 boys and girls. 1t was a
glorious memory that they brought to
them.
He urged that his comrades should not
go through the world with a chip on their
shoulders, but should remember that it
is the eagle that is their emblem, to be
true to their country, true to their flag,
true to their God.
'Be true to those old boys of whom il
is an honor to be comrade, an honor to
be their ommander-in-C Chief, even for a
brief period" said the General He said
it was proud day for HIMSELF the proud
est of his life, when the soldiers of New
England, and especially those Of Massa-
chusetts, named him as their unanimous
State into line. II forget the States that
didn't vote that way" said the General.
"a voice: at is not necessary" Laugh
ter.)
Department Commander Brunson, OF
Missouri, followed in speech, giving the
greetings of his Department to the new
Commander-in-C Chief. Past Commander
Shute, of the Department of Louisiana and
Mississippi, succeeded him in brief ad
dress.
He was followed by Past Commander.
in-Chief Ell Torrance, Of Minneapolis
who eloquently spoke of the losses of the
war and the 100000 dead comrades it en-
tailed. He said he liked the way they
do things up In New Hampshire. He
dwelt upon the immense influence for good
which the marching of $1,000 veterans
through Boston would have. and paid
tribute to the 9Th N. H., which lost 29I
of its officers and men dead on the field oil
battle. 1t was in the mothers and wives
that lay the safety of the Republic, he
said.
81 am going back to Minneapolis" he
said, with heart full of delightful mem.
cries. We should ever be proud that when
We have reached the last fording place il
shall be recorded Of us that we were Union
soldiers" He closed by saying that IL
would be a sorry and a lonely day for any