Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-24
GRAND ARMY
Annual Encampment of the
Department of Vermont
Held Wednesday
WITH BRATTLEB0R0 POST
Seymour H. Wood of St. Adams
Post Chosen Commander
of the Department.
RELIEF CORPS ALSO coNvENEs
And Elects officers for Ensuing Year
Commander in Chief Blaokmar
and National President Mrs. M'not
Guests Of Different Organizations.

and NatIonai FTes'oent "'s' '"
Guests Of Different Organizations.
In friendship, charity and loyalty
nearly 200 veterans of the War of the
Rebellion gathered in Brattleboro this
week to attend the 3Sth annual en-
campment of the Department of YER
mont, Grand Army of the Republic.
which was held Wednesday one
hundred and thirty four delegates oi
whom IS were officers and past de-
partment commanders assembled 10
he present at the annual gathering OF
the organization, and there were many
other veterans who took advantage Oh
the opportunity to meet old comrades
and discuss events in which they par
ticipated during the years from 1851
to 1865 In connection with the Ell
eampment was held the 2lst ahluai
convention of the Department of Ner-
mont. Woman's Relief corps, nearly as
many delegates being present at the
meeting of this auxiliary order. Among
the prominent guests were Command
erin Chief Wilmon w. Blackmar, Ad-
iutant General John E. Gilman ana
Col. Albert Clarke Of Boston, Mrs
Fanny T.. Minot of Concord, \. H.
national president Of the Woman's Re
lief corps, Past Department Com
mander ]. H. Goulding of wilmington,
H. T.. Taylor of Brattleboro, H. NJ.
Mansur of Newport, D. l.. Morgan OF
Rutland Hugh Henry of Concord, ~
H., C. +. Branch of Amherst, Mass,
r. Cannon, jr of Bellows Fans, h.
w. Jewett of Burlington, L, Il. Harris
of Lyndonville, j. II. Lucia OF Mont
pelier and Frank Kenfield of MOTIFS
Vile. Governor Charles J. Bell, quar-
termaster General w. II. Gilmore, ana
Mrs. Calista Jones of Bradford past
national president of the Relief corps.
The G. A. r. department officers pres
ent were Commander ], +. Edredge OF
Randolph. Judge Advocate j, II. Lucia,
Assistant Adjutant General r, + Bow
man of Randolph and Eli n. Peck oi
the council of administration. ReiieI
corps officers present were Mrs. Mary
Goodwin of Wells River, department
president. Mrs Anna Beach of Bur
lington past department president,
Mrs. Kate d. Lee of Wells River, de-
partment secretary, Mrs. Flora Goss of
Bradford. department treasurer.
Although the formal sessions of the
encampment and convention did not
begin until Wednesday large number
of veterans and Relief corps members
arrived in Brattleboro Tuesday after
noon. At $50 o'clock in odd Fellows
hall Sedgwick Relief corps of this town
exemplified the ritual for the benefit
of the visiting delegates. Headquar-
ters for the G. A. r. were established
in the reception room of the Brooks
house and the council of administra-
tion held a session there Tuesday af-
ternoon.
In the evening public reception
was rendered the veterans in the
Brooks house by Sedgwick Relief
corps. The rooms were attractively
decorated with flags, national emblems
and flowers and music was furnished
by the Brattleboro orchestra. c. f. r.
Jenne, f. B. Putnam and l.. d. Tay-
lor acted as a committee of introduc-
tion.
The 10th Vermont regiment was to
have held a reunion during the en-,
campment but as only five of its mem
bers were present no formal business
took place, the present officers contin-
uing to serve.
While many of the delegates left for
their homes on the late train Wednes-
day evening the majority remained In
town until yesterday morning. All
were more than pleased with the
courteous treatment they received
from the local post and relief corps as
well as from the townspeople at large.
The success of the encampment was
largely due to the efforts of the
local committee of arrangements; Col.
II. f. Taylor, f. H. Putnam, O. Pres
colt, J. H. Allen and j. p. Elmer, as
well as to the general reception COM
mittee, Col. Taylor, J. H. Goulding,
Seymour II. Wood, John A. Sheldon
and Luke Ferriter.
The next encampment will be held
between January l and February 2S of
next year but the place will be de-
termined by the officers.
Business Session of G. A. r.
The encampment was formally
opened in Festival hall at 10 o'clock
Wednesday morning, Department
Commander ]. E. Eldredge presiding.
The order of business consisted of the
roll call of officers, report of commit
tee on credentials and the reports of
officers. the roll call of delegates being
dispensed with one motion.
Department Commander Eldredge
said in his report. "The department
is in so good shape that 1 can now
think of but one matter to which l
wish to all your attention, and that
is of getting into our ranks those who
do not now belong with us. There
are veterans outside the G. A. r. in
every town. and in some, l am sorry to
say, more than one half are out" Re-
ferring to pensions, Commander FL
dredge said: while all believe that
those who fought from 1861 to 1865
that the Union might live, did as much
for their country as those who served
during the war with Mexico, and while
they received a service pension thirty
nine years after the war, we are yet
to be benefited by such a law. We
believe we showed our patriotism in
1Ss1-1s65. and we believe we are snow
ing it now by waiting patiently for
service pension law. We believe II
must come soon"
Senior Vice-Commander Albert A
Niles. of Morrisville. recommended
that the annual gatherings of the two
ORGANIZATIONS be held at a warmer sea-
son of the year. in accordance with
the expressed wish of the Woman's
Relief corps.
Charles Ross. Of st. Johnsbury. de-
partment chaplain. reported an in