The Encampment

Last week waa given over to the 14th annual encamppment of the department of Michigan G. A. R. The weather was not all that could be desired, as it was raw and cold most of the time, though no rain set in uutil Thursday, a. m., and then not for any length of time. On Monday the crowd commenced coming, and the corridors of the hotels were filled with old soldiers and G. A. E. nnil'orms were frequently met on the streets. There were not as many present at the meeting as was expected, and had 1,000 or 2,000 more of the boys concluded to have attended they would have been properly cared for. There were over 1,000 quarters provided that were not called for, besides a great many that were tendered on condition that they should be needed. There was nothing on the programme for Monday evening except the campfire of the prisoners of war, which was noted last week. On Tnesday the business sessions of the G. A. R. and W. R. C. were commenced, the former at University hall and the latter at the M. E. church. In order to obtain adinission to these meetings a person was obliged to give the countersign and pass word, so the newspaper men were counted out pretty generally. But as the business was mostly routine and pertained strictly to the orders, it was not of a nature to be made public. In the election of department officers, a great honor was conferred upon Col. Henrv S. Dean, of this citv. who was elected department commander. The contest was quite spirited, the other contestant for the honor being Col. J. H. Kidd, of Ionia, whose forcea made a plucky fight for the place. The campaign for Col. Dean was one that conducted itself. He would not allow the members of Welch Post to electioneer for him, or take any part in the battle. He was firm in his stand that the office was one of honor alone, and in order for a man to be honored by it, it must come to him, he must not seek it. Some of the the Colonel's friends outside of the order, however, could not refrain from putting in a good word or two, once in a while. The vote resulted in 232 for Dean and 200 for Kidd, on the first ballot. It is said that one of the wittiest and best speeches of the encampinent was made by Col. Kidd when called upon to preach his own funeral sermón. He showed such an honorable and manly spirit that he captured the entire audience. Benton Harbor was successful in securing the next encampment, whieh it is understood will be held in May, 1893. Aresolution was unanimously adopted condemning the attempt to stain the grand military record of Gen. Alger. The offer of $10,000 by ex-Senator Thos. W. Palmer for a G. A. R. memorial hall at Detroit, was accepted, the cost of the building not to exceed $50,000 in all. G. A. B. STATISTICS. The report of H. A. Chapín, of Paw Paw assistant adjutant-general, was read by t his official. It shows the total membership of (i. A. R. posts iu Michigan to be 26,973, an increase of 208 members over last year. The total gain last year was 4,433 and the total loss 4,062. Four new posts have been organized sincejanuary 1, 1892, and twenty new posts established 'or the fiscal year. The loss by death was 290, being forty-four more than 1890. The assistant adjutant-general reported further that he had uiailed 37,500 pieces of matter during the year. The fund received from A. M. Holt, past assistant adjntant-general, from the old adniinisiration was as follows : Per capita tax, $4,159.10; charters, (400; supplies, (2,180.76: total receipts, $8,715.02. The council of administraiou has held three meetings and the annual roster of the posts of the department is now n the priuter's hands. The report of Henry S. White, of Milford, department chaplaiu, referred flrst to the obscrvance of last Memorial Day, nnd is reinarkable for its completeuess and its attvntion to nteresting details. Mr. White said that the posts observing Memorial Day by attendiug livine service throughout the state were 338; ïumber of posts observing Memorial Day ;il■ogether, 368; posts observing the decoration of the graves of veterans, 369; total numberof comradesiu line on Memorial Day, 17,868 ;numberof eitizens in attendance, 355,600; number of posts to invite the co-operation of school hfldren iu the decoration of graves and to "in in the parades, 3i(; number of responses to this invitation, 337: number of children articipating in the Memorial Day exercises, 9,336. A complete report was made by Mr. White as to the number of deaths which took )lace in the departmeut duriug tho year, this jeing from information gathered with ïnuch :are and labor. The result was 418, a much arger number than was reported to the adjuant-geueral. TUE8DAY EVENING. For the first campflre of the encampment, University hall was well filled. Comrade W. K. Childs, chairman of the campfire committee, acted as master of ceremonies, and proved himself the rijílit man in the right place. He alway.s had the right thing to say, and said it at the right time, and when he introdueed the speakers every body in the hall could hear what he had to say. The services were opened by Rev. J. T. Sunderland wilh scripture reading and prayer. Mayor Doty was then introduced and delivered an address of welconie in the ïollowing words : I Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : It afíbrds me peculiar pleasure to appear bel'ore you to-nigbt íor tne purpose oí welcoming the Grand Array oí tbe Hepublie and its auxiliarles to the hospliality oí' Ann Arbor. It has been my happy fortune durlng tlie yeur last past to act in the capaeity ol' our city's hosi to very many visiting associations and iriencis. Frofessioual, fraternal auducienlific societies have favored us witli líieir presence and conlerred upon us the honor ol meir distiuguíshed recognition. ïo all of these we have opeued wiüe the doors of welcome and lor every succeeding guest our citizens have slriven to excel the prevlous record of their courteous hospitality. We have ibund amoug them all, so cosmopolitan is the nature ol exlstence in this progressive, cultured city, a synipathetic touch of taste and sentiment, which has made us kiuüred in hopes and aspirations as well as acijuaintances and friends. The great benevolent societies have found liiAim Aroor liearlsas wariu aud hands as reatíy as their own for tlie betterrnent oí' our race. The tiade and professional associatious have lelt tue impulse of our active business lile and Ihe intellectual stimulus of our environment, and we in turn have reoeived irom them a broader huinanity, a higher ambition aud a keener intellection for the duties and the responsibilities of our peculiar and exacting life. Uut to-day our proud and classic city which to all her loving sous and daughters is "' dowered of highest heaven o'er all the world beside" bows her stately head in nieek humility before a sentiment which has made all otiléis possible, whether frateruity, hunuumy, ambition, or whatever else may make for the highesi and best of our mauhood and our womauhood. Laylng aside the habiliainents of thepridein which she soineli va es wraps herself aud assumingno supremacy in the inhentance common to all free Americaus, she humbly and reverently greets these scarred and veteran legions of freedom's grandest anny upon the broad and lofty level of America's sublime and cousecraled patriotism. Ninety-two thousand,seven hundred aud twenty-nine, it is said, of the flower and pride of the manhood oí Michigan luarched to the step of the music of the union iu tue war for the eternal unity of the sisterhood of states. Before that war had closed löurteen thousand, eiiiht hundred and flfty-iiv .: these inore than Suartau héroes had spread their silent teuts in the bivouac of the dead And glory in all her soleinn rounds keeps watch and ward lor no holler camping ground than that whieh bears beueath silent stars the slurnberiug ashes of our bravest and our best. In the lengthenlng musier of the dead and the lesseuing roll of the living of that ivinciblearmy,Ann Arbor's stal wart sous, secoud to none and first among thelr equals, gallantly bore the bannerg of this proud commonwealth, valiantly abreast the flashing stars and crimson stripes by angels' hands to valor given. " Flag of the Iree heart's only home" beneath thy reddening folds of heaven's own white aud blue, the sentiment of patriotic duly, here, has uever ceased or waned. And today as a pledge to her living héroes and a Iibation to the memory of her heroic dead Ann Arbor greets the shattered remnant of her sous in the name of their deathless past, in the name of thelr living present, in the name of the Iminortality which is the glorious heritage of them all. Not all, nor even many of ue, thé citizens of Ann Arbor of to-day, have buckled swords or grasped our arms in defeuse of common country. To most of us by reason of our years the loud alarms oí horrid war, the smoke and din of battie, the shouts of victors, the groaus of the dying, are part and parcei oí a terrible pase 01 history which these veterans of the Grand Ariny wrote for us in letters of blood and fire over a quarter of a cen.ury ago. Hundreds aud even thousauds buve come to manhood since Appouialtox md huuaiedsand even thoubands were bom -).i after the guuH had ihuudered at Sumptei . uur only knowledge of that tremendous conflict, which watered the tree of libeity with patriot blood, is the dirnmiug recollection of childhood, the storled page or the words of the grizzled veteran " who wept over his wouuds ur tales of valor doue, shouldered his crutch and Bhowed how fields were won." But it matters not; the welcome of us all, men, women and children, the wüole body 01 our citizenship is the iningled tribute of aiï'ection, of reverence and of prlde. J t is the welcome of free Americana to ine defenderá of their country, to the saviors oí Ler honor, to the champions of her integi hy, to the palad!ns of üoeriy, to the chlairy oí freedom, " fearless and without reptoach." And so we greet you. V cterans of the Grand Army, in the nam. ui the sentiment tor which you freely risjjed your lives, your fortunes and your saered honor. We greet you, Sons of Veterans, ín the name ot the sentiment which is your priceless heritage from your illustrious sires. We greet you, Ladies of the (Jorps, in th name ol the sentiment which it is yours to perpetúate to your children's children, chasleued by woman's purity and sanctifled by womau's prayers. In the name of American patrioUsm, welcome to Ann Arbor. Wslcome to the city where the flrst Michigan regiment was quarlered and musiered. Welcome to the city whose legión of honor is the venerable post of the Urand Army and the tried and trusty men who maren beueath ils banners. Welcome to the city where lovlug hands, and proud but breaking hearts, bedeck the graves of your comrades atresl wlth flagrant and perrenlal flowers. AU hail to you, sires and matrons, and sons and daughters, and wivts! Ann Arbor eapitulates, the city is yours, surrender without a blow. Ou the part oL the University, Judge Cooley, in the absence of President Angell, who was called out of the city, and Regent Draper, who was ill and unable to be present, weleomed the guests on behalf of the University : " It can hardly be ueeessury for me to aliude in a word to the weloome whïch has been said by our worthy mayor. ïliere are representaUves aere at the university," he said, '■ froni every part of the union. It was my fortune to be here at the beginning of the war when the grand old man, President Tappan, was at the head ot the l'niversity of Michigan. He seemed like an old Puritan when lie walked about the grouhds. He was full of love for his country. When he heard the mutterings Ol war he seemed to walk with a flrmer tread and with a prouder look over his fellow men. I reeollei't wheu the news came of the assault on Sumpter. we gathered about the old man. He said that this was not a struggle of to-day, but had ltsorigiu in the forra of governmen't. It was to come, it must come. It may be short and it may be long but when the end comes not one will be gone from the galaxy of stars. I am happy to say that he lived to see the contest over. It seems for all time to be settled now. We are about entering another presidential conte6t. We are all becoming active tisans, but we know whatever ocenrs nq one talks about war. If our chief rnagistrate is re eleeted, he has showed that by judgment in ternational questions can be settled withou war. Or if tliat other uiüii of sturdv intellec is elected, we can go to the polls in 'November without feeling that war may occnr. It was s:dd Napoleon was a man of destiny. He de stroyed half of Enrope, bnt died in prison leaving nothing behind, The real man of des tiny was he who was the head of our country during the war, born in obseurity, educated himself untü people reeoprnized his ability. He recognized that the country could not exist half free and half slave. He proved his worth to govern people. Abraham Lincoln as the true man of destiny. When to-day onegoesto Jiurqpeand meets an American, he does not say ue is from Kentucky or Missouri, but takes pride in aaylng, 'I too am an A.merican.' The great war has done more for the world than settling the freedom of the nation. It luis settled war lor all time to come." Gov. Blair not being able to be present, he sent a very acceptable substitute in the person of Congressman Jas. O'Donnell, of Jaekson, who made an eloquent speech and captured the audience by his bright and witty words. Department conimander Charles L. Eaton responded to the words of welcome on behalf of the G. A. R., and he was followed by National Commander John Palmer, of Xew York, Mrs. Sarah L. Brown, of the W. R. C, and Comrade Cooper, editor of the G. A. R., newspaper, the Coffee Cooler. The evening was a yery pleasant one for the vast audience present, not the least feature being the songs rendered by the Ann Arbor Business Men's Quartette and the music of the Chequamegon orchestra THE PARADE. The parade Wednesday p. m., started out promptly on time under command of Maj. Soule. There were about 800 in ine, and it was probably the largest dejartment parade ever held in the state. WEDNESDAY EVENING. About as large an audience as University hall ever saw gathered Wednesday evening to listen to the exercises, which were opened by Rev. Henry Tatlock, who read in an admirable manner a passage of scripture, and an appropriate prayer from the beautiful Episcopal forms. Past National Commander J. S. Kountz, of Ohio, was the first speaker, and he acknowledged that he had been so taken up with the beauties of Ann Arbor that he had not given much thought or preparation to his speech. He was followed by Past DepartmentCommander H. M. Duffield, of Detroit who told how 31 years before he had been a student at the U. oí M., and how the boys were the first to respond to the cali for men at the front. His remarks were full of reminescences. All eyes were turned upon Gen. R. A. Alger when he aróse to speak. He was the one many had come especially to hear. Although not an orator the General made a good speech, and one that ContLnued on íthpage. THE ENCAMPMENT. Continucd From lst Page. iinpressed his audience. His words, in effect, were as follows : " You who are not members of the Grand Army. such of you as are not counected with the Woman's Relief Corps or do not march with the Sona of Veterans, are wituessiug a novel sight in this beautiful city as those old soldiers pass aloug the streets aud gather about those camp-nres; you who were not with us in the sixties may not know what a campflre is. At our posts we gather once a week or ouce in two or three weeks, or again. at our minimi meeting to talk over the days of peril on the Potoniac and beyond. The survivors of those days delight to teil of the things they did aud to dweil upon the cause for which they suffered. We enjoy this beyond anything outside the claims of home and kindred. The tie of kinship only eau takes its place. Among the st range thiugs ('oionel Durlield has told us I must single out the story that he was only 19 vears old :i yeara ago. Getting hold of this' fact, we know him better and can the better euter hito the scènes he witnessed here at the University in the stirring days of 1861. The older we grow the more we ure roused aud kindled bv bavin'g recalled for us how the college cry went out to the men in bright new uniforms who were bouud for Dixie'sland. Asone member of the Grand Army, I voice the sentiment of all in conveyiug my gratitude to the people of Ann Arbor for the kindly greetiug we have here received this week. I have seldom seen such au audience as this on a campfire night. I am giad to see here so many of the studeuts. Though the j e-.irs are crowding upon us we are still young in ieelingaud appreoiation. I had a letter recently from a distiuguished mau who has been in Congress for a ïiumber of years. He went aside to teil me tuut in his opinión the interest in the Grand Army is on the wane. We are hearing very little of it aud shall soou hear less. The younger geueration, be added, know but little óf thóse war memories aud cannot be expected to interest themselves therein. I replied that so loug as a single veteran who wore the blue lives to teil of the heoric days of 1861-65 the younsrest American boy will ncver cease to houor and cherish thei'r niemory. I told him that the young men will ever gnther arouud these veterans and thank them lor saving the natiou they enjoy. 1 am glad of the presence here of so 'many 'members of the Woman's Relief Corps. We remember tneglad presence of the women as nurses in camp and hospital. We remember it all- the ministering to the wounded and to the sick. These things are amoug the rich memories which the Grand Army will ever cherish. The work commenced by the Masteris that now done by the Woman's Kelief Corps. To the Sous of Veterans I say keep your ranks filled. Year by year others will cbme in. Soon you must take our places. To the comrades who are here and those who are left at home, I can only say let us hold aloft the high standard of loyalty. I nava sometimes tuought our watchword should ba f raternity, love and charity. These thing I comniend to vou. After this brief addresses were made by Prof. Washington Gardner, of Albion ; Department Commander Walker, of Indiana, who bythe way, is a brillant speaker; Mrs. Abbie R. Flagg of the W. R. C, Battle Creek; Col. H. S. Dean the newly elected Department 3ommander of Michigan, who thanked hia comrades in fitting words for their great compliment to him; Col. O. A. Janes, of Hillsdale ; Col. C. V. E. Pond, of Coldwater, Capt. C. H. Manly, of Ann Arbor; and Mrs. Plummer of Detroit. Major Hendershott was introduced as the "Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock," and captured all the youths in the audience by his wonderful drumming. The recitation by Comrade Dan Griffin, of Jackson, of " Schneider's Ride" brought down the house. It was well done. The songs rendered by the Business Men's Quartette, " The Soldier's Farewell," "Home and Friends," etc. were very fine, indeed, and alone well repaid the audience for attending. ENcAtPiEENT NOTES. The Chelsea band were given the post of honor in the G. A. R. parade last Wednesday, but by some misunderstanding, were ordered after the procession started, back to the head of a post in the procession. Ann Arbor bas upon several occasions displayed her ability to take care of a crowd and do it well. It may be that this city has not many extensive hotels, but every house is built with reference to entertaining people, and we can take care of a good sized crowd. On every hand were heard expressions of pleasure by the G. A. R., comrades for the pleasant way they had been entertained by the citizens of Ann Arbor during their three days' stay in the city. Ann Arbor has demonstrated the fact once again that she can entertain a crowd. The city was handsomely decorated for the G. A. R. encampment, nearly every business house one the line of march displaying their patriotism. Many of the private residences were also tastily adorned with national colors, among the number was noted that of Mr. Jas. L. Babcock, although it was not on the line, and yet that gentleman showed bis patriotism and enterprising spirit.