St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-03-01
Vermont Grand Army.
Annual EncBmPment Mt BrattIeboro-
Officers Elected.

Brattleboro swarmed with Grand
| ARMY men and Relief Corps women Wed
nesdav who came from all sections OF the
state and from adjoining states to at
| tend the annual encampment of Vermont.
The meeting was especially interesting to
| the veterans, all oil whom recalled some
touching Renaissance in connection with
their encampment in BrattleborO, where
they mustered before going to the front
in the days OF the civil war. 1t was the
first visit to the town Of some of the old
er members of the order IN many years,
and in fact two or three at least had not
been there since they were mustered IN
in the early Cos. They remembered the
old campground with it's row OF comtor-
table and sunny hospital buildings, flank
ed on all sides by the white tents, IN
which were quartered Vermont's regl
ments. There were present at Wednes-
davis meetings between 800 and 400
delegates, both men and women, some OF
whom had come long distance to at
tend the eDcampment.
The first meeting of the encampment
was held in the town hall at 10 O'Clock,
Department Commander J. E. Eldredge
in the chair. The morning session was
devoted to the reading OF department re-
ports and brief discussion upon subjects
of interest to the order. Thtre was an
other meeting at 2 o'clock, at which de-
partment officers were chosen, commit
tee being named to greet the women OF
the Relief Corps, whose meetings were
held in Odd Fellows hall both morning
and afternoon. At the morning session
reports OF department officers were read,
and this committee was appointed to
convey greetings to the assembled vete-
rams: Mrs. Calista Jones of Bradford, a
past national president, National Presi'
dent, Fanny Minot OF Concord, Mrs.
George W. Hooker and Mrs. E. H. Put
man of Brattleboro. The usual courte-
sizes were extended by Sedgwick Relief
Corps to the visitors, and the afternoon
meeting was occupied in the election OF
officers. public campfire was held in
the auditorium in the evening, at which
Col. ]. H. Goulding Of Wilmington pre-
sided. There were short speeches by
Gov. C. J. Bell, COMMANDMENT Chief
Blacknar, Col. Albert Clark, Judge Hugh
Henry, Col. Mansur, DR.. Branch, Col.
Butterfeld, Commander Seymour H.
Wood and James F. Hooker. Leitsingers
orchestra and male quartet furnished
patriotic music.
The following officers were elected:
Department commander, Seymour H.
Wood OF St. Adams; senior vice-com-
mander, George E, Haynes OF Whining.
| ton; junior vice-commander, Enoch I.
Hager of Gaysville; medical director, {.
M. Perrin of Essex Junction; chaplain,
Charles Ross of St. Johnsbury; assistant
adjutant and acknowledgement,
Hiram E. Perkins OF St. Adams; council
of administration, W. H. Gilmore OF
Bradford, A. w. Fuller of St. Adams, W.
H. H. Putnam ofSpripg6eld, G. M. Dear
born of Newport, James Post OF Rutland;
delegates to the national encampment,
c. E. Beech of Burlington, W. H. Ward
of St. Johnsbury Milo Lyman OF Rut-
land, A. c. Sleeper OF Montpelier, E. ii.
Putnam of Brattleboro.
Col. Seymour H. Wood, department
commander elect, was born in Swanton,
VT, April 10, 1871. He was educated in
the common schools and academies of
Franklin county, and al the age OF 10 he
began work as clerk in a hard ware
store in st. Adams, where he remained
till President Lincoln's first call for
rs, 900 men, when in April, 1861, he en-.
listed in Co. C., list regiment of Vermont
infantry. At the end of his term OF SER
vice he was discharged, and in August,
1862 re-enlsted in ( 0. E, one of the two
companies authorized by Congress for
1 the purpose of raising the strength OF
Y all cavalry regiments from 10 to II com.
r panies each. Col. Woods, regiment was
= the only cavalry regiment which entered
the service from Vermont, and this one
! participated in SO different battles anC
l. had to it's credit the largest capture o
munitions OF war OF any regiment. Atte
n the battle of Gettysburg, July 6, 1868
# Col Wood was wounded at Hagers
n to wn, Nd, and in December of the SAM
:. year was stricken with rheumatism
4 which ended his war service, he being dis
+ charged in July, 1864, when he returned
: to St. Adams and soon after was ap
70 pointed to the United States custom ser
70 vice. which position he resigned after
=. year to form a business partnership il
q st. Adams. Twelve years later lie wa
is again appointed to the customs servlc
,e under Gen. Wells, and is still employed
m as United States customs gauger for tn
&c district OF Vermont. Col. Wood was
N former member of the Ransom guard O
n. st. Adams, and served several years a
o. lieutenant in that popular organization
ID The state department Of the woman
I'd relief corps elected the following officers
he Department president. Mrs. Lydia NJ
It. Lewis of Springfield; senior vice pres
en- dent, Mrs. Calista H. Bangs Of Brattl
a boro; junior vice president, Mrs. Kat
Ia. D. Lee of Wells River; treasurer, Mr.
w Frances Stone of Springfield; chaplai
cir Mrs. Nellie M. Smythe OF St. Johnsbur
is executive board, Mrs Hattie B. Rich ar
is son of Chester, Mrs. Anna B. H. Harris
az Putnev. Mrs. Annette Forsaith of Co
to cord, Mrs. Belle M. billiard of Wallin
,ct ford, Mrs. Anna BusL OF Brookline; d.
n. egate.at large to national conventio
,rt Mrs. Mary G. Beckwith of Ludlov
va These officers were installed in Odd Fl
on lows hall Thursday.