The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-19
CIVIL WAR VETERANS
 GATHER IN HARTFORD
COY. CHAMBERLAIN GIVES VEL
 COME THE STATE.

Major General Brooke Responds-De-
 partmenf Commander BulkeIey Pre-
 sented With Loving Cup-W. c.
 Hillard of New Britain Elected to
 Succeed Him--The other Officers.
 Hartford, May 19.-Three unusual gatherings of Civil war veterans were held in this city to-day amid scenes of patriotic enthusiasm whic scarcely have been equaled in Connecticut since the return Of these same men from battle fields of the south. Of the assembled bodies the most distinctive was that of the Society of the Army of the Potomac which met in annual reunion and con- vention at the statecapitol, and over which Major General John R. Brooke, U. S. A., presided. The chief figures in this grou pof gray haired men were a score or more of famous general and field officers of the army of the Potomac who here met. for the first time in a great many instances, men who fought in the ranks of their respective com- mands.
 In another hall not far distant the state department encampment of the G. A. R. was held with Dep rtment Commander Morgan G. Bulkeley pre- siding. It was the best attended gath ering of this kind in years by reason of the desire of the Connecticut men to give to the Potomac veterans hearty welcome. While the gatherings were held separately for the transaction of bushes. the comrades fraternized throughout the day and finally met in a general camp fire at Parsons theater tonight, at which the scene was in- tensely interesting. The welcome of the state was given by Gov. Abiram Chamberlain to which Major General Brooke responded in behalf of the army Hof the Potomac. Many other addresses were made, the oration being by Major General Nelson M. Curtis One feature Iof the camp fire was the singing of war songs, and an incident was the presen- tation to Department Commander Bull kelley of a loving cup.
 During the sessions of the two bodies to-day new officers were chosen, Gen. Horatio King. for 25 years it's secretary. being chosen president and w c. Hil- lard of New Britain made department commander os the c. A. R.
 Tn honor of this occasion the city is |gaily bedecked, and tonight it was fairly ablaze with light, upwards of 900 electric lights having been worked into the general decorative scheme on the streets and prominent buildings. Tomorrow there will be a parade of the two veteran bodies under escort of lall the military bodies of the state, and 1t is expected that upwards of 10000 men will be in line. Excursions are to be run from every part of Connecticut, and the crowd, with good weather, is likely to be the largest ever brought together in this state.
 The state department this afternoon elected the following officers: Depart Iment Commander for Connecticut w. C Hillard of New Britain; senior vice commander, George Freeman of Nor wich: junior vice commander, Wallace iS Chase of Milford; medical director, Levi Jewett of Middletown; chaplain, William F. Hilton of Hartford At the conclusion of the meeting the members sof both the G. A. R. and the Army of the Potomac enjoyed the scenes about the city in automobiles, the ride being a rnots pleasant one During the ses- isions of the Grand Army former Gov- ernor Bulkeley was presented with a handsome jewel symbolic of the office Iof department commander by his To-Day's Programme. Hartford, May 1S-The rain that fell tonight seemed to have little effect on the enthusiasm of the thousands of vis- Iitors who enjoyed the brilliant illumina- ton as much as they did last night. AL though the weather man says that it will rain tomorrow, the visitors are Isanguine. and have nosfear for the sue cess of the mornmoth parade and other incidents in connection with the con- vention. The complete programme for tomorrow is as follows:
 a. m.-Trip down the Connecticut river by steamer Middletown and re- turn for members of the Society of the Army Of the Potomac and invited guests.
 D. m.-Grand parade, Col. Jacob L. Greene chief marshal, starting from corner of Capitol avenue and Trinity street.
 Evening-Final illumination of dec- orations and band concerts.