The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-11-11
CAMP FIRE.
Inspection and Camp Fire Of Capt.
James Ham Post-Vislt OF Depart
ment Commander DeLacy.

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Ham Post, No. 1913, G. A. R., of our
borough, took place at the Post Room
last Friday evening. For the first time
in it's history, the Post was visited by
the Department Commander of the Order
dept of Penn'a), this official being
Capt. P. DeLacy, of Griffin Post, Scran-
ton. He was accompanied by N. s. Cal
lender, Department Chief of Staff, s. B.
Mott and Thomas Barrowman, all of
Griffin Post. Comrade Mott was inspect |
ing officer. Besides the services attend
ing inspection, nominations were made
for the officers of the Post for the coming
year; the present incumbents of the sew
eral offices being renominated. At the
close of business, the Post, with the De-
partment Commander, and the other
visitors, made a change of base to Heu-
mann's restaurant, where a "Grand
Army Camp Fire" was held which
suggested only by vivid contrast the
camp fires around which the Union
armies were wont to discuss their ra-
tions during the campaigns of the civil
war. Thirty-three veterans and their
guests participated, and the camp fire,
with it's accompaniment of toasts, songs,
speeches, stories, "reminiscences, etc.,
held the front until the smallest hour
"ayant the twal'." The speakers were
Department Commander DeLacy, Chief
Burgess Thomas j. Ham, Hon. John
Kuhbach, Hon. Leopold Fuerth, Homer
Greene, w. w. Wood, and M. J. Han
Ian. 1t is impossible to give even a sum-
mary of the addresses, but all we're felici-
tous in thought and expression, and were
marked by fitness and tact, and were
especially appropriate to the occasion.
Post Commander Henry Wilson, who
presided, was most happy in his intro
ductory remarks, and added greatly to
the enjoyment of the evening by his char
acteristically witty presentations of the
several speakers. The Department Com
mander presented a review, compiled
from official sources, of some interesting
points in connection with the personnel
of the Union armies during the war. AS
to nationality, about three-fourths of the
soldiers were native born; then followed,
in order of numbers, the Germans, the
Irish, the English, the Canadians, and
others of various nationalities. Classified
by age at the time of enlistment, the
largest number were eighteen years old I,
and this class included no small num-
ber who were really below eighteen, but
who were physically qualified for the
service, and were obliged to state their
ages as not less than eighteen in order to
| be enlisted. Above eighteen the num-
ber in the several classes diminished,
and the smallest class was those of forty
four years. The average age was about
twenty-five. The younger classes were
found least able to endure the hardships
of a soldiers life, and most susceptible
to the diseases incident to the service
hence the proportion of sick among them
was greater than among the older classes.
The Department Commander also gave a
summary of bill to give State pensions
to Union veterans, which committee oi
the G. A. R., appointed for that pur-
pose, had prepared. This, in brief, pro.
vides for pension of $6 month to all
who served for ninety days or more in
Pennsylvania commands, and are now
residents of the State. The restriction
to service in Pennsylvania commands il
on the ground that when Pennsylvaniani
went to another State to enlist, and thus
help fill it's quota, instead of enlisting al
home, and helping fill the quota of theil
own State, they withdrew from the State
flag, reduced the number of men whom
the State could call on, and made it nee
essary for the State to provide others tc
fill its quota. This, it is considered
gives them no claim on the State fol
pensions, as they performed no military
service for which the State received cred
it. The same rule, of course, applies tC
residents of other States who enlisted il
those States, and since the war have re
moved to Pennsylvania. The ground o
the exclusion of those who are now non
residents is apparently on the GROUND
that they have voluntarily withdraw
from the State, and are no longer sub
ject to its jurisdiction. This is not a
satisfactory as in the other cases, sine,
the proposed pension is not to be giveI
as a reward for residence in the State
but for military service under the Stat
flag. Dropping into lighter vein, the De
partment Commander gave a variety O
entertaining "reminiscences, some of whicl
referred to period long "afoah d
wah, when he and the Post Commando
were school boys together, in the earl,
'forties.
The instrumental music for the occa
sion was by O'Brien's orchestra. and tn
vocal music by Comrades Calender
Barowman and Mott both reinforce,
by the veterans in the chorus of some o
the war time melodies. The three vocal
lists named visited Capt. Ham Post a