The National tribune., 1910-02-10
FOR CONIMANDERIN-CHIEF.

lDenartment of Potomac Issues a MCEl-
roy CircuIar-Posts From New York,
Massachusetts. Ohio, Connecticut,
Kansas. New Jersey and Dozen 9th
| er States IndorSc.
Gen. Edwin Holbrook, Commander of
the Department of the Potomac, G. A.
r., has requested that the circular sent
out by him setting forth the reasons for
supporting the candidacy of Past Senior
Vice Commander-in-Ch John McEl-
roy be published in The National Trib-
une.
OF the hundreds of Post Endorsements
that have come in the last week only a
few can be printed each week. In turn
each Post will have its say about its
lcandidate for Commander-inCh
Headquarters, Department of the Po-
tomac, Grand Army of the Repub-
lie. 1412 Pennsylvania avenue,
Washington, d. c., Jan. 12, 1910.
| Comrades: The comrades of the De-
partment of the Potomac take great
pleasure in announcing to the comrades
| of the Grand Army of the Republic as
their candidate for COMMANDMENT
Chief John McElroy, of Kit Carson
| Post 9, Past Commander, Department
of the Potomac, and Past Senior Vice
Commander-in-Chie and will present
| his name at the National Encampment
to be held at Atlantic City, n. j., in
September next.
In the Judgment of his comrades of
this Department he is in every way fit
ted for the position and eminently de-
lserving of the high honor that goes
with the office. He is soldier with an
excellent record, n citizen of high
standing, a writer of great ability,
discreet man of good judgment, and
has an unusually large acquaintance
among the public men of the country.
With his home in the National Capital,
his finger upon the pulse of Congress,
and in touch with public men, we feel
that he is one of the best-equipped men
that could be named to fill that high
office. and at the same time render in
it great service to all his comrades
thruout the land.
Because of these qualities and his
consistent, vigorous and able advocacy
of the rights of veterans, since the. war,
we ask your hearty endorsement of his
candidacy for Chief, be-
ieVing that his election will result in
material benefit to the Grand Army of
the Republic and veterans everywhere.
We ask you most earnestly and fra
ternally for cordial support of our can
Gidate by your Post and Department,
trusting that you will assist us in all
honorable ways to bring about the cleo
ton of Comrade McElroy. Awaiting
favorable response, We remain, -.----
Yours, in F., c. and L.,
Edwin H. Holbrook, Department Com
mander; A. H. G. Richardson, Past
Department Commander; George e.
Corson, Past Department Command
er: Harrison Dingman, Past Depart
ment Commander; Charles Royce,
Past Department Commander; New
ton NJ. Brooks, Past Department
Commander; Jerome E. Burke, Past
Department Commander; Charles P.
Lincoln, Past Department Command
er; NJ. Emmet Urell, Past Department
Commander; A. F. Dinsmore, Past
Department Commander; s. E.
Faunce, Past Department Command
er; Nathan Bickford, Past Depart
ment Commander; Arthur Hendricks,
Past Department Commander; Geo.
II. Slaybaugh, Past Department Com
mander; Israel W. Stone, Past De-
partment Commander: 3. F. Bing-
ham, Past Department Commander;
A. p. Tasker, Past Department Com
mander; l. G. Kimball, Past Depart
ment Commander; B. P. Entrikin,
Past Department Commander; New
ton Ferree, Past Department Com
mander; John S. Walker, Past De-
partment Commander; Calvin Farms
worth. Past Department Commander
Unanimously indorsed by the several
Posts of the Department as follows:
John A. Rawlins, / Samuel r. STRAIT
ton, Commander.
Kit Carson, 2; John Middleton, Com
mander FL
George G. Meade, 5; VIM. c. Mason,
Commander.
u. S. Grant, 6; Burton r. Ross, Com
mander.
Garfield, Z. John S. Maynard. Com
Burnside. s; VIM. Emerson, Com
mander.
Chas. Sumner, 9; R. P. Goodman,
Commander.
Farragut, 20; A. F. Dinsmore, Com
mander.
Potomac, II: ]. Tyler Powell, Com
mander.
John A. Logan. 10; A. B. Frisble,
Commander
Phil Sheridan. ii; Chas NJ. Robin
son, Commander.
Geo. H. Thomas, IS; Joseph L. Lang
ham. Commander
Henry Wilson. II; Chas. H Preston,
Commander. -..
George U. Morris, 10; r. e. Duvall,
Commander. .....-
Lafayette. 20; James f. Stone, Com
mander.
Frederick Douglass, 81; E. C. Brooks,
Commander.
John McElroy's Record.
Comrade McElroy enlisted in 1862,
at the age of Is, in Co. C. McClernand
Bodyguards, which in 1863 became Co
L, 10th ILL., Cav. Jan. 8, 1864, the Sd
battalion, to which his company be-
longed, was surrounded by Gen. VIM.
E. Jones's Confederate Brigade at
Jonesvlle, Va, 36 miles from the Union
lines, and after q severe fight, lasting
all day, was forced to surrender. OF
the 325 present over 60 were killed or
so badly wounded as to be left on the
field. OF the 265 taken to prison the
official records show that 157 died at
Belle Isle, A.ldersonyille, Millen, Sa-
vanrah and tlorence-the largest loss
of any organization from Illinois and
only exceeded anywhere by that of two
or three regiments which were captured
entire. Out of 60 men in Comrade Nc
Elroy's company 48 died.
Comrade McElroys peculiar PEN
manship and prominence among the
prisoners led the rebel officers to fire.
quently offer him clerkships and other
positions outside. where his condition
would have been ameliorated. but he
steadfastly refused to accept any faVors
from enemies Of the Government or
leave his comrades, and during the
whole of that long, ineXpressibly dreary
Is months, except when trying to make
his escape, remained inside the stock
ade with his sick and dying comrades,
nursing and helping them in every pos