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 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 I^XTRAc. I > I- ROM AuDKKSf 
 
 DKI'MMMI.M COMMWIti:!; 
 
 Samuel s. ivriiDhrr-r. 
 
 15th Annual I^ncampmcnt 
 
 DErAltTMKM OF TIIK IMiTOMAC 
 
 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, 
 
 Wasljinglon.D.C, January 30, 1883. 
 
 
 
 (;IB.S(1N HUOTHF.ns. I'FtlNTEUH. 
 1SH3. 
 
H^r 
 
 Gift 
 
 AutiiOi.* 
 
 12 '07 
 
i;\ 1 1: \( r^ ri;<iM \iii>i:i:<s 
 SAM UK L S. JH U IM) i:'! 'I\ 
 
 AT Till 
 
 t'tli Aiiiiunl ']'<iicaiufiinei|t 
 • I' iiif 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC, G. A. R.. 
 
 WASHINGTON, 0. C. JAN 30. 1883 
 
 CoMRADKs: The ntlicial vcar that will doso with thi- Kin-aiii]»- 
 inciit has l)eeii (Uic <»f jnosperity for the (iraiid Army of thi- 
 Jvt']>iihlic ill this DrpartiiUMit, as it has hecii fur the iiistifiitii»ii 
 throiii^hoiit the (■(Uintry at hirije. The r<i»ort> <»f the A. A. (tcn'I 
 and (»f the A. Q. ^[. (icnT will a«lvise y(»u of the particulars. 
 Tho jjjeiieral facts arc that the mcmliprship of tho Posts of the 
 Dcpartir.eiit one year a<^<» was 840. It is now 1,139, a jrairi of 
 599, or 71 jier cent. 
 
 The explanation of thi.- <;ratifyini^ t'.xhihit is that the faithful 
 hihors of the ol<l niotnhers of the Posts, the wise sviininistration 
 of my predecessor, and a ireneral revival of intere>t in each <ither 
 anmnL^ the «tld soldier element have i*n conspired t<»<^ether that 
 pi-osperily has I»een the necessity (»f the situation. There is eveiy 
 prospect tiiat it will coritimie. The daui^er is that in the mere 
 matter of mnnhers we may jjrow to(j fast; that the unworthy 
 may lind lodgment in our ranks. 
 
 The hlack-l)all should never have careless or revengeful use, iuit 
 it is a necessary and useful instrument, and ought to he so \vielde<i 
 as to protect the order against the unworthy. 
 
 The meeting of the National Encam|>ment at Paltimore ir> 
 June last gave o|)])ortunity for many (tf tiie comrades of this 
 Department to attend its sessions, and it was noted with nnuh 
 gratitication that although no effort was made liy tlie Depart- 
 ment proper to induce a general attendance, that the Posts them- 
 
selves, iipDii their own motion, did take a place in the splendid 
 march with which the exercises of the occasion were Ite^Min, in 
 number and f<>rm most creditable to tliemselves and to the De- 
 partment. 
 
 The next NatioiKtl Encampment will be held i"i Denver, Col- 
 i>rado, probably in the month of August. The journey to that 
 ])lace will I)e long, and to u good many of us seriously expensive. 
 1 trust that no cotnrade whoso position will entitle him to a seat 
 in that l»ody will accept an election to such place unless it is 
 his faithful purpose to attend. Aside fi-om the fact that it will 
 i)e in the line of duty to be present at that aimual roll-call thei-e 
 are (considerations associated with X\\g jylnce oi meeting peculiarly 
 interesting and suggestive to the survivors of the Grand Army. 
 It will l)e pleasant to look upon the mountains, to see of great 
 nature's mighty handiwork. But more than this; it will be a 
 source of patriotic delight to look from the mountains, from the 
 very pinnacle of the Continent down upon a common country, 
 whose undiminished whole is our gift of to-day and our legacy to 
 the coming generations. It will seem to us, as we shall meet the 
 sn)iling welcome of the youngest of the sisterhood of States, 
 whose crown of sovei'eignty has l)een woven since the alarms of 
 battle happily were hushed, and see as well al)ont her othei's of 
 the nation's i»i"t)od ready for the coronation, that it was worth our 
 while for the companionship of such as these to preserve unbroken 
 the circle of all the stars which shine of right in the national 
 firmament. 
 
 CHAKITY THE KELIKF I'KOBLIs.M. 
 
 There has been expended for charity at Department head- 
 (juarters the sum of S52 — distributed among thirteen persons. 
 This amount, except one item of two dollars, was all disbursed 
 upon my own oi-dcr. It wa^ the most disagreeal)ly difficult duty 
 J have had to pci-form ; because the money was not my own, and 
 hence any mistaki; 1 made was at the cost of others. Exercising, 
 as I did, the utmost care of which I was capal)le, 1 am not al)le 
 t<i say t<» you that I have leasonable assiu'ance now that the re- 
 lief was well bestowed in more tli;in a small minoi'ity of cases. 
 A good many who applied were l"elu>ed i'oi- paljialde reasons — to 
 
Iia\f j^iviii wt.iild Imvf Ik-cii ill<lL•f^•n^il^l^• wiifU', iukI yet it wum 
 lianl to turn uii oKI niinrudc away, even tlioii^li every item of hih 
 make up told of IiIm uiiwortliiiicHS. I liavo iieccKttarily ri'rt«'<'tfd 
 iniuli nil this sulijcct, and Htil>iiiit tiie following; a^ a HUiiiiniiry of 
 tlio .situation as it pri'sriitH itsolf to tiiy mind : 
 
 'riicic arc two elastics of pcrson.s who «.cck and need the ai<l of 
 tlie (tihihI Army. 
 
 1st. Tho.sc who lu'loiij^ to thi- I'o.-^ts of tiic 1 >cj»artiiieiii, or are 
 (tonnceted with tho.^e who do, and prctperly eoine uinh-r the eare 
 of the j)artifuhir I'o.sfs to whiih they hehui^ ; and 
 
 2d. Those who ih» not hehdii; within the Department, and liave 
 no claim nj)on any Post, hut who appeal to the Posts or t.. the 
 I)eji.irt.iiiMt, or to Iiotli as is most convenient tt» themsulvc- 
 
 As to the tir.st class, tliere is iiothin}^ for us to »hj — the whole 
 (juestioti is with the Posts ; hut as to the sec(»nd class, much more 
 might he said than time will ])ermit <if now. The majority of 
 thfiM an- of a chiss who are alway.x ]>osted as to nijjhts <»f lucct- 
 ini; and jdaces wjierc. They are on hand. Some <;«»od comrade, 
 with a j^'reat lii«r heart is interested ; calls attiMitioii to the >ick or 
 way-worn conu'ade in the antc-rooom ; >^~ to >^r» is vote<l ; the hat 
 is passed round in addition, and so it goes. The .same per.~on 
 may, and <»ften does, call on several Posts and on the Department. 
 Giving to such persons in that way is not wise cliarity ; it is often 
 folly. There ought t<» he an end of it. There is a hetter way 
 than this, if it can l>c found, and if I am unal»le to sketch one, 1 
 c-m say something that will set some of you upon the disctovery 
 of the i-ight metliod. My suggestion is, first, that our chief duty 
 is to our own mi'inhership ; that the I'osts, as Posts, ought not to 
 permit themselves to lie called upon for (charity l»y itutsiflers at all ; 
 that ///(' w/m/e d\\\y of looking after the want> of all who have no 
 claims on the Posts should he delegate<l to a (hpaitmental com- 
 mittee constituted for that express purpose, to which every such 
 applicant should without exception l)e referred. Such a committee 
 would make ni» douhle })ayments ; couUl arrange for proviiling 
 meals and lodging upon tickets issued l»y themselves, which tumid 
 not well he hartered for liipior. They should have a certain place 
 of meeting; could he detailed from the P«>sts in such numbers 
 and onler that one memher could he at the designated place every 
 
in^\\\ in the week, if that were necessary. I think tiiis suhject is 
 Worthy (»f serious consideration, and I reconinicnd that this En- 
 eanipnicnt cither act n]»on it or turn it over to the incomina; 
 Council ol' A(hninistration, uith directions tlint they frame apropcr 
 plan, and j»ut it in inniiediate operation. 
 
 HEADylAKTKKS. 
 
 The husiness of the Department is growing-; to faithfully at- 
 tend to it requires time and strict attention. Witlu)ut fee or 
 reward y(»ur Assistant Adjutant-General, Assistant Quartermas- 
 ter-Genej-al, and other staff ofiicers give you most valuahle ser- 
 vices, hut gi\-e it under great disadvantage. The Headquarters 
 room is, as you know, small — ■heing situated adjoining a Post 
 room where several Posts meet, each of which has committee 
 husiness of its own to transact, and no room of its own to trans- 
 act it in, naturally the hospitality of Headquarters is accepted. 
 Besides this, some comrades are sure to prefer Headquarters chairs 
 to Post chairs, and so what with this and that the present conve- 
 niences are not sufficient, and I recommend that ))roper rooms for 
 Head(]uarters he secured away from either hall now used for post 
 pur])oses. 
 
 I feel more than justified in pressing this mutter upon the En- 
 campment, for the officer most to he ac(;onunodated hy suc-h a 
 change ought in fairness to have some stated remuneration for 
 the services he renders. But since this will not he asked on his 
 hehalf, noi- is it asked or suggested hy him, it is the more rea- 
 sonahle that a small sum in advance of that which is now paid I)e 
 alhjwed for rent of rooms for his and the Department's hettei' ac- 
 comnu»dation. As an additional reason for change of Headquar- 
 ters, it may be suggested that the rooms now used are needed 
 for theii- own {)urposes hy the Posts who meet in the adjoining 
 hall, and ar(^ the moi'e needed from the fact tliat that hall is itself 
 l)ecoming too small for some of the growing Posts that meet 
 there. 
 
 THE J'KK CAITrA TAX. 
 
 8(j far as I am advised {\ieper capiiif tax collected by us is the 
 >inallc>l known to any I )c|iaftincnt of the(Ti'aiid Army of the Re- 
 
jjiiMic. It is hut KixcontBperijjmrtcr, liuv-in^ticen reduced from 15 
 cents to that sum Ity tlic last Kiicumpmciit. TIk! sum now (collected 
 is eiioui^li if it is to l)u underst4MM| tiiat dcimrtment liuud(}iuirtcrs 
 must rrmuin where tlioy are, and that we may nlwavH he 
 lucky enough to ^et a mte of rent n» low an that now paid, and 
 if it he furtlier uiiderst«»od that nothing is or (uin he needed for 
 an emerj^ency and that n(» act of e.ourte.sy that costs anything is 
 to Im" p.iiil for except iiy individuals (•omposin;^ Ileadipiarters. iJut 
 if wo may have hi-tter headcpiarters aeeonnn<><lati'Mir., an<l may 
 have a small fund for emer;j:eueies, and esj»ecially if the Posts are, 
 as they oui;lit to l>c, iclieveil of all <luty in the matter of <xenera' 
 relief anil the Departnu'iit assumcsthat duty, then the old rate of 
 1 ."> rent- o|iir|it to he restored. 
 
 KM ei.< » V M KNT ( •< »M M ITrKK. 
 
 Your attention is invited to the report of the Employment 
 Committee, eonsistini; of Comrades Ames F. Medford, Fred 
 Mack, E. K. Winship, \V. S. Cluise, X. M. Brooks, W. G. Hall, 
 M. A. hiljoii, li. Kunnet Su)ith, and Stanton Weaver. No insti- 
 tution w;is ever more faithfully or intellii^ently served i>y any 
 ai^eney of its own creation than have the Posts of this Dejiartment 
 and the I )cp;iituu'nt it>elf l)een served hy the committee whose 
 account id work done will he laid hefore you. I can say thi.s 
 the more freely liecause almost none of the lahor done and none 
 of the results ohtained are attrihutahle to any work of mine. F'or 
 generous reeoijintion in the tnatter of furnishing employment done 
 with hearty j^ood will we are luider lastinjj; ohligations particularlv 
 to the Secretaries of War and of the Interior, to Comrade Com- 
 missioner Wni. W. Dudley, to Fuhlic Printer S. P. Rounds, and 
 to Col. O. II. Irish, of the Hureau of Engraving and Printing, 
 who has so lately l)een i-alled away. I know that I shall speak 
 the sentiments, not alone of the Employment Committee hut of 
 the Dej>artment at large, when I say of C<d. Irish that his eonsid. 
 crate kindness to our neeily friends and dependants gave us cause 
 to rememl)er him with return of kindly regards, and that we join 
 with his nearer friends and family in deploring his loss. 
 
 Tiro ncir /*W.s have heen chartered during the year, ami will 
 stand upon theri>stera8 James A. Gartielil Post, No. 7, and Purn- 
 
side Post, No. 8. Whether this was wise action or not, the future 
 will testify. As a rule I am of the opinion that it is the better 
 policy to restrain the ambition of comi-ades who wish to liave 
 their names innuortalized by appearing as charter members on 
 the Post roll. At any rate, in my view, there are now Posts 
 en(>iiij;h in the Department to answer all needs for the coming year, 
 and I sti-<»ngly advise my successor not to grant any charter for 
 that purpose, unless in a very exceptional case. Build up the 
 weak Posts ; turn recruits towards them ; speak well of them. 
 When no existing Post has less than one hundred and fifty mem- 
 bers in good standing on its roll, it will be time enough to con- 
 sider whether or not new charters should be granted. 
 
 TNIFORMS. 
 
 If it were an open question, it would be worth while discussing 
 the point as to whether or not the badge, and the badge only, is not 
 a sutHcient designation for public as well as Post occasions. 
 Man}' prefer not to uniform, and many hesitate to incur the cost, 
 (small though it is.) But it is not an open question. It is set- 
 tled. The rule is that we are to wear on proper occasions a pre- 
 scribed dress. On all accounts, therefore, every reasonable effort 
 should be used to induce all comrades to supply themselves. 
 There is some olijection to wearing the cap, some pi-eferring the 
 hat. I see no serious objection to permitting eacii Post to settle 
 that question, and 1 suggest the wisdom of considering as well 
 whether it would not be advisable to assess a small per cajyita tax 
 to form a fund to be offered as a prize to the Post that shall, 
 during the coming year add most largely to its uniformed mem- 
 bei-ship. The fund could be used to aid comrades in straightened 
 circumstances to pay for their uniforms or otherwise, as the win- 
 ning Post should desire. These are suggestions which the En- 
 campment may well consider, and which are perhaps wortli the 
 attention of a committee. 
 
 NOTES OF WARNING. 
 
 Success has its dangers always. The Grand Army of the He- 
 pulilic has reached a {)roud position. It is confessedly foremost 
 <i| the ci\ ic organizations of the land ; it is [)owei'fid for any end 
 
it niiiy sock ; its inlliiciicc in wimtevcr (lirectioii It iimy he ttirned 
 will always l»e coiisicieialiU'. Tlu'sc fmttn will iimkc it soii^lit 
 after for every |)iiri)«>>(' of urivatc aj;j;niinlizeineiil tlmt vieicMiK 
 i^reed can siiirirest t.> itM-lf. Private speculation and ult«-rior 
 purposes will take npnii tliciiisolves the pirli of "soldier inter- 
 ests," and (ieniaiid its recoj^nition ; nay, will assume to Ihj 
 part and parcel cd' its very self, and patnudzin^ly offer aid in itH 
 great undertakini^s. Aj^ainst tiniiin«; that pii^e of oin- initiotuil 
 history which is splendid with the achievements of the (iraiid 
 Army into a dea<l wall for the advertisin;^ of any man's wares, I 
 protest with all the vehemence of wlncli I am capalde. No man, 
 no comrade, no P(»st, no Encanjpment, no Commander may law- 
 fully do this thing. Any attempt in this direction ought to ho 
 resisted and resented. 
 
 The Grand Army lia> no organ ; there is not an interest tlmt 
 concerns it that reipiiivs one; there is no agency of the press or 
 forum that can shed lustre upon its name or achievements. It 
 must not he made the servant of any interest. It> present is 
 above and heyond any man's certificate of character. lie wh«» 
 invites to its memhership or appoints to its serving-places any 
 man upon pretence that the organizatiiui may he honored thereby, 
 is out of order. Let us accept no second place ; march at the 
 tail of no trium] hal car, save that of our country, hut Ik- always 
 the Grand Army. 
 
 MEMoKIAI, I>AV ** rUK .\KMN(iTON CASKS." 
 
 The dutv imposed ui)on this I)ei)artmeiit of performing in 
 memory of our dead buried at Arlington, and for the scattered 
 thousands of theii- surviving comra<les, and for the other thousands 
 of friends and kindred whose hearts turn t<»\vard that spot upon 
 the appointed day, those ceremoines prescribed by our rules an<l 
 retJ-ulatious, had due attention. 1 venture U> say tlmt the attend- 
 ance of comrades in the line of march was not so great as it might 
 have been, though I am advised that it was the largest nmster for 
 that purpose that has been known for several years. There were 
 about 250 comrades in the line — mo^t of them in ninform. The 
 o-eneral result of the day's services, both at Arlington and else- 
 where within the Department, wa* highly gratifying. In my 
 
8 
 
 own mind und ohservution but one thing (at Arlington) tended to 
 mar the otherwise satisfactory occasion. Among the great throng 
 our exercises brought together there were too many of the ruder 
 chiss, whose boisterous conduct, wliose heedless rush l)efore and 
 over those whose duties called them tliere, and whose heartless 
 trampling out within an iiour of tlie beauties nature and man's 
 care had taken months to l)uild, excited emotions of regret and 
 indignation, and forced the question of whether unless the unwel- 
 come presence of such can in the future be in some way prevented 
 or tht'ii- rudeness restrained, it may not be advisable to decorate 
 the graves through designated connnittees, holding the servi(.'es 
 of speech and song at some convenient place within this city. 
 
 Before leaving this subject, considering tiie peculiar relations 
 the Grand Army of this Department bears to the National Cem- 
 etery at Arlington, it seems to be proper that I speak of a matter 
 that is of moment and of present concern to all who turn lovingly 
 toward that sepulchre of the loyal dead. 
 
 On the fourth day of December last, (1882,) the Supreme 
 Court of the United States in the case of the United States vs. 
 Georsre W. P. C. Lee and Frederick Kaufman and Richard Jt*. 
 Strong V8. George W. P. C. Lee, known as " the Arlington 
 cases," in an action of eje(;tment originally commenced in the cir- 
 cuit court for the county of Alexandria, in the State of Virginia, 
 rendered judgment against the United States upon such findings 
 as in contemplation of law removes theii' camp out from beneath 
 the shadow of the flag and turns the fifteen thousand dead over 
 to the proprietorship of private persons. This is tlie situation to- 
 day. According to law — that law at whose call they who sleep 
 at Arlington marched to the iield — tlie ploughshare may turn its 
 furrow tliei'e. 1 do not mean to intimate that there is innninent 
 dangei' that the legal right of the now declared personal prc)prietor 
 will evei" ripen into actual possession. 
 
 Those who sleep at Arlington are they who, when life was 
 new and hope and faith were young and strong, and all the paths 
 of honor and of joy that men may tread were open to their feet, 
 yet for their country's sake locked arms witli death and went his 
 dreary yoii<\. All ix-yoiid tlu' Potomac is our country's to-day 
 because oi them. The spoil ihey gathered for themselves is the 
 handfid of dii't l)eside the river that hides their i>ones — who will 
 
9 
 
 iliiri- til lout tlu'ir caiiip. Tlicrc will In- jiul^iiirMt hwift and Hiirc 
 a<riliIl^t aiiv who, ('liai-;;t<l with <hity in that rcfrard, »hall fail to 
 take all iK'«*«-hharv protoi-tivf uti'pK, 
 
 The ^fiR'iatioii hax rome that shall follow tin* inai-'r ci tin- 
 (iraial Army, Imt mhiu' of that remains whii-h rockrd Ut- cradle. 
 The jmthos of that mighty htni<;;;lL' ih iiiorr th:iii a iiuMiiory. 
 'riiLTc an* lew localities in all the loyal latitj, however remote, 
 which are ir»»t eomn'cted with Arlirij^ioii Ky some ti<' of dearest 
 recoJK'ction. The writ of the ^reat court which hax spoken ItK 
 judi^ment will have due rc-^peet, should have loyal oliedience, l>ut 
 it will never he issued ai:ain>t the llai^ that lloats from yonder 
 heijxhts. The faithful eonn*ade who «'arns his hrejul as watchman 
 l>y the iTJi'e may he le«l forth and forhidden to return, hut it was 
 the nation, clad with tlu* lii^htniiij;> of war, that made entry there. 
 It is the niaje>ty of all the jteoplc tlmt now holds watch and ward 
 aiiionj^' till- tomlis. Who shall K-ad it forth i 
 
 Some means will l»e found to riijhtfully make <xoi>d tiie title of 
 the whole pi'oj)lc to the place where their dea<l are laid away. 
 Let us hope that it may soon lie done. It is not fitting that such 
 as these should for a sinnle uimeeessary day have rest hy the 
 sufferance of a straiit^er. 
 
 tiUCIKTV OK rUK AKMV <>V TMK PoToMAr. 
 
 I have hcen ottieially advised that the Society of the Army of 
 the Potomac will meet at Washinj^ttni, on May 10 and 17 ne.xt. 
 I recommend that proper action he taken liy this Encampment to 
 testifv our interest, and to extend our aid in makinii; the oecHsion 
 one of pleasure to our comrades of that Society who may I>ehere 
 at that time. 
 
 My thanks are due to, and are most heartily extended to the 
 C(»mrades wiio have formed the I>ej)artmental Staff, for the 
 fidelity to duty on their part, which has resulted in so larire »jood 
 to all of the interests of tiie Department, aiul which has nnide 
 mv ])osition one altoj^ether pleasant and comparatively easy. 
 Without intendiuij in the least to detract from the prai>e due to 
 others, it is just that I shotdd say of Ass't Q. M. Gen'l C\)mrade 
 Amos J. Gunninp, and of the Abs'I Adj't General Comrade John 
 Cameron, that the faithful services of |)revious years have heen 
 
10 
 
 coiitinucMl tlii-ouii'h the cMii-rent ycai-. These coiin-adi'S li:ive come 
 t<t he coiisidere*! not as meinliers of a p.irticnhir Post selected for 
 staff duty, luit as attached to the J)ei)ai'tnieiit at hirge, for the 
 «i;eiieral ji"<»od. Tlie records of thi' J^epaitiiieiit, as kept hy the A. 
 A. General, are a source of just [)ride. Wlien, in some future age, 
 the annalist shall seek for UKiterial, out of which to construct a 
 history of the Grand Army in the days of its rest from the 
 labors of the camp, if happily preserved, and I mnch mistake the 
 spirit of the coming age, if these records be not by our children, 
 gathered into the nation's care, the records of the Department of 
 the Potomac will have a first place in tlie appreciation of those, 
 who in that day, shall seek to know of our thoughts and doings. 
 To the comrades of the Posts and J)e])artment at large, who 
 without exception, have given me their confidence and support, I 
 return a comrade's thanks. The little e.\(;ess of cai'e I have had 
 in their service, has been more than compensated by that most 
 
 restful sleep, which comes of " weariness in well doing." 
 
 *** * * * * * 
 
 Comrades : The circles where we gather, whether in the hun- 
 dreds of the Posts, or the thousands of those annual parades, 
 which signalize our Departmental and National Encampments, 
 know no countenances on which is the sunshine of ycjuth ; liear no 
 voices which are fi'esh with the moi-ning's melody. Our noon- 
 time is past; we are in tlie midst of the afternoon ; the upturned 
 faces of tiie l)attle-fields were those dewy with youth. We re- 
 member them as on them shone the eai-ly light. Ours is the 
 lengthening shadow ; but it is a pleasant evening that is coming 
 on. The mimic camp-fires we now build have in them no sug- 
 gestion that our country's day will ever again bo darkened by the 
 smoke of battle, whei'e her sons shall contend with each other 
 in mortal strife ; they rather serve to light the pij^o of everlast- 
 in<r peace by kiiidlin<i: fresh in mind the ever-u'lorious fact that 
 the throng of the ])eople love lil)erty better than ease, and their 
 (country l)etter than life. We have seen the generation that 
 would stand where we stood twenty yeai's ago, should the call to 
 arms be sounded ; we m;iy safely trust their valor and confide in 
 their patriotism. Let us deliver to them the castle's keys; we 
 may sleep without fear. 
 
I'OMMITTEK ON COMMANDKH H ADDKKHM. 
 
 TiiHt Dopt. CtJinM'r Win. Oilwon. Pimt PohI Coiu'd'r M. Kmiiiet 
 I'roll. S««n. Vi<'<> Dojit. Coiu'd'r Auioh F. Minlfonl n'j)ort<nl : 
 
 1st. Tlmt tlH'V coiuMir in the HU^f^'OHtiouH n-lntivc to r«lJof of the 
 national wunls of tho onh'i*. iind reooniincMul ihoir f'ar<«ful ronHidcru- 
 l>y tlio Posts of this IVpiu'tnicnt : and tlmt the ('oninian<lcr be 
 authon/ed t«) a))i>oint a n>Hof (>oinniitt«M- to whom sliall Ik< rff«Tr<Ml 
 all claims for n-lirf from ju-rsons n«)t nH-nduTs of Posts in tiiis De- 
 piu'tnu'nt. 
 
 lierotnmt'inliitlnn ntlojttnf. 
 
 ■Jil riiat the auppestion that proper rooms for Headquarters Ihj hc- 
 I'urcd away froni <'ith<>r hall used lor Post ]»urposes In- apj>rf)ved and 
 referred to the Commander. Ass't Adjutant-deneral, and Ass't (^. M. 
 General, and that »ui appropriation suffieient to ]iay increiwed rent 
 be made. 
 
 Also, that an appropriation of !<10(>. for use of the Ass't Adjutant- 
 General, be made. 
 
 Ri'i'oninn'tnltitiini ns to IlKiil</iiurt»'rs. inlojital ; ^\[){) jitr tin .1. 
 ,1. (t .. iriix (iinnulnl tit iipjil;/ Jot' t/ie jxtst i/frir insUiul nj'the presrut. 
 
 .'id. That the/'»r ra/iltn tax be increased to l/ie. per (juarter. 
 Reconitnendatiini (tdoftted. 
 
 4tli. That each Post be allowed to adopt as part of the uniform 
 the cap now in use. or a semi-military black sliuich hat. with blue 
 and gold cord and acorns. 
 
 liecomnxetuhition ailoptfil. 
 
 5th. That the public servi<-es on Memorial Day be held in the city, 
 and the ^'raves be decorated by committees. 
 
 Tjiliif ilftnii thi tillih 
 
 (ith. That the Conunander be authorized to appoint a conimitte<' to 
 make aiTangements to testify our interest, and extend our aid to the 
 Society of the Army of the Potomiu* during its meeting in our midst, 
 and suggest that w<' tender our services as jui escort. 
 
 .\<l'>i>ti')l ; (^onniHitiiltr tnhi rhainiuin of' mtnmiftef. 
 
 7th. W'v cannot rt-commend ajjproval of the sugge.stions relative to 
 prizes to the Posts adding nioHt lai"gely to it.s unift)rms. 
 .\,l,l,t,,1. 
 
12 
 
 8th. The report is so full of {i^ood suggestions and Grand Arm}' 
 feeling calculated to stimulate to action the better feeling of the " old 
 soldier," that the matter of its publication might properly be con- 
 sidered by the Department. 
 
 It irds u)t<i)ti)iini(!<ly resolved tJiat 2,000 copies he printed for use 
 of the Department. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 012 027 851 7 
 
 Department of the Potomac, G. A. R. 
 
 1883. 
 
 SAM'L S. BURDETT, Gormnander. 
 
 Fred. Mack. S. V. ComvuuuJer. 
 F1.0RENOE DoNOHUE. Medical Director. 
 
 W. Howard, J. V. Commander. 
 Rev. Ben. Swaf^low, Chaplain. 
 
 Official Staff. 
 John Cameron, A. is' t Adjutant-General. 
 .\mos. J. Gunning, Asu't Qtmrtei-jna. iter- General. 
 Dr. S. A. H. MoKiM, Inspector. 
 SAjr'i. C. Mills, Judge Advocate. 
 A. W. Prathek, Chief Mustering Officer. 
 
 Aides-de-Camp—h. B. Cutler, D. J. Hussey, J as. L. Poston. 
 
 Afst Inspectors — W. S. McPherson, Jno. M. Keooh, Jos. Burroughs. 
 
 Cmtndl of Administration — H. E. Weaver, W. P. Seville, Levi Naole, P. H. 
 Weber, D. A. Grosvenor. 
 
 Delegates — Chas. King, Jas. W. Wisner. 
 
 Alternates— a OH. C. Taylor, Geo. W. Smoot. 
 
 Aides-de-Cavip to Commander-in-Chief—Vnh'SK H Bhownkll, Jos. C. Taylor, 
 Jas. \V. Wisneb, Geo. E. Lemon. 
 
 Asitt I nspector- General — Wm. P. Seville. 
 
 Afetnfjer of National Council — Paul Brodie. 
 
 Pant DepaHment Commanders — F. H. Sprague, Jas. T. Smith, B. F. Hawkes, 
 A. H. (J. Kk^haruron, Geo. E. Corhon, H. Dingman, Chas. 0. Royce, 
 Wm. Giukon. 
 
IBRARv ^;r ( 
 
 012 027 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS