The Washington times., 1915-09-28
COL. M'ELROY NOTED
IN G. A. R. CIRCLES
Acting Commander Of Depart.
ment of Potomac One Of
Most Popular Veterans.

One Of the most popular and bes
known veterans at the encampment 4!
Col. John McElroy, acting commanded
Of the Department OF the Potomac
entertaining the visiting survivors.
Colonel McElroy is nationally promi'
nent in @. A. r. circles because he
has been editor Of the National Trib'
une. official organ of the G. A. r.
for many years. He has delivered
patriotic addresses in practically
every city in the North. East, and
West. and on many occasions has
visited the South to further @. A. h
work.
Colonel McElroy Is a walking. ency-
clopedia on G. A. r. affairs He knows
the first and last names Of every pos!
and department commander. as wei
as thousands Of other comrades whom
ments. More remarkable than this.
however. he has on the tip OF MS
tongue the date of every battle fought
during the civil war, the names OF
the organizations on both sides which
fought in the engagement. the men
who commanded the Blue and the
Gray and the number OF killed ana
wounded.
Has Memorized Dates.
ne mas doouN o,oVo NA'
ferent dates and innumerable historic
places made famous by engagements
or incidents in the lives of great
men.
Colonel McElroy enlisted in Company
c, McClernand Body Guards, In 1852,
At the age of sixteen. His early en-
listment accounts for his compare
lively youthful appearance today
among the veterans of much greater
age. In 1863 his command became
Company L. Sixteenth Illinois Caval-
OF which his company was a part. was
surrounded by Gen. William E. Jones'
Confederate brigade at Jonesville. Va,
thirty-six miles from the Union lines.
After a severe fight the battalion sur
or the 3s5 men who fought all day
more than sixty were either killed
or so badly wounded they were left
on the field. OF the 265 men taken
to prison 1877 died at Belle Isle. An
Florence. Out Of the sixty men in
Colonel McElroy's command, forty
Colonel McElroy spent fifteen
months in Southern prisons and was
known to his feilow- -prisoners in An
devoted most OF his time in prison to
attempts to escape, but never quite
succeeded. Because Of his ability as
Q penman he was frequently offered
clerkships in the prison at Anderson
Vile and Florence, but spurned the
offers. although acceptance would
have made his lot a great deal easier.
Fluent and Gifted Writer.
In addition to being a soldier, Col
onel McElroS is a fluent and gifted
writer. For ten years he was man
aging editor Of the Toledo Blade. and
for twenty-five years has edited the
National Tribune. Among his best
known books are THE Story Of An
Jacksonville" Isl Klegg and shorty" a
wonderful human interest story Of the
campaigns during the war; THE
Struggle for Missouri" and "The Life
Of Abraham Lincoln"
Colonel McElroy served as senior
vice commander OF the G. A. r. and
aspired to the office Of commander
fn-chief. He was pledged more than
q majority of votes of the delegates,
but when the ballots were counted he.
like many another candidate, realized
they don't always vote as they pray"
Prominent G. A. r. men are au-
thortty for the statement that Colonel
McElroy Is one OF the most remark
able men in the organization and a
man who ranks second to none in his
tireless efforts for the good of the
order