S. Kountz, of Ohio (then commander-in-chief of the G. A. R.) General Alger, of Michigan, General Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, General Henry W. Slocum, of New York, General John A. Logan, of Illinois, General George T. Anthony, of Kansas, Comrade T. B. Reed, General D. R. Austin, of Ohio, Comrade George H. Patch, of Massachusetts, and Comrade Charles A. Boutelle, of Maine.

"As opportunity permits, I propose to quote some of their eloquent words, as stating so well what the Grand Army of the Republic is, and what it teaches and accomplishes. Not to hinder you too long this evening, I want to speak of one or two things done by the Encampment.

"A telegram of sympathy and affection was sent to General Grant, who was slowly dying at Mt. McGregor, N. Y., and the following reply - his last words to his Grand Army - was telegraphed by his son, Colonel F. D. Grant:

General Grant directs me, in reply to your dispatch, to tender, through you to each one of the three hundred thousand veterans, his comrades, now represented at Portland, his thanks for their interest in his health and welfare. General Grant wishes to take this occasion to also thank them for their splendid services, which have resulted in giving freedom to a race, peace to a continent and a haven to the oppressed of the world.

"The case of Mother Bickerdyck, the grand old army nurse, so dear to tens of thousands of soldiers, was mentioned. She had declined aid from the Department of California, where she lives, and was in need. Promptly the Encampment voted a donation of five hundred dollars to that good angel of comfort to such multitudes of sufferers. She saved thousands of lives.

"No official action was necessary in regard to that other eminent army nurse, Mrs. Anna Wittenmeyer, of Philadelphia. Yet in the quiet social talks many a comrade spoke with the most hearty eloquence of the inestimable good this

noble woman did. She had passes from President Lincoln, Secretary of War Stanton and General Grant to go anywhere and everywhere in the lines, and make such arrangements as she chose for relief of the sick and wounded in hospitals, or on the battle field. She put in operation the Diet Kitchens, which employed nearly three hundred ladies, and revolutionized the plan of hospital cooking in the entire army.

"During the discussions of the Encampment there was brought out the fact that the entire Grand Army of the Republic now recognizes Dr. B. F. Stephenson, of Illinois, as the founder of the Order.

"One important subject came up, and was very thoroughly discussed. In Tennessee and some other Southern States applications were constantly being made for membership in the Grand Army of the Republic from veterans who, before they were in the Union army, had been forced by conscription to join the rebels. They never fired against the Union soldiers or the flag, and deserted to the Northern army on the first opportunity.

"But they can not join the Grand Army. Any one who has worn the rebel grey can never wear the G. A. R. badge. I haven't time to tell you, boys, tonight of the grand eloquence with which these principles were stated for which we fought. Treason cannot be palliated. Those who ever aided at all, voluntarily or not, are, on earth, forever separated from the loyal soldiers who put it down.

"The strength of the Grand Army of the Republic on March 31, 1885, was 5,059 posts and 275,218 members.

"Gen. Samuel S. Burdette, of Washington, D. C., was elected Commander-in-chief."

!

CAMP-FIRE XXXIX.

THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG THE TRIP TO CALIFORNIA THE WONDERFUL SCENERY IN COLORADO RECEPTION OF THE G. A. R. AT SAN FRANCISCO – BUSINESS OF THE ENCAMPMENT.

"F

ROM Maine to California, is quite a jump, boys," said the comrade-historian, "but as the Grand Army took it, the narrative must follow also.

"Every comrade of the G. A. R. had known for months of the magnificent preparations made at San Francisco to honor the old soldiers. The local committee had sent, at their own expense of thousands of dollars for postage alone, letters and circulars with interesting information to every one of the over 5,000 posts.

"The great majority of the veterans passed through Chicago, with a stop for a visit to that wonderful city. Time forbids me to try to speak of the results seen on all sides, of the ceaseless enterprise of that wide-awake metropolis. But I should wrong every soldier if I failed to mention those three magnificent war panoramas and battle presentations, Gettysburg, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain, and Shiloh. You will not believe, except by your own sight, what a realistic reproduction is there given. Part of the panorama is made from actual earth brought from the battle. field. In the one of Shiloh, is a wooden house that stood on the fighting field. The canvass painting is so joined to actual objects that the point of union cannot be discerned. You are supposed to stand on a prominent point near the middle of the field, and all around the battle appears. As a grim veteran said, as he enthusiastically pointed his single arm: It only needs the racket to make it the real battle.'

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG-JULY 1-3, 1863.

"As Gettysburg was not only the most important battle of the war (as having broken the backbone of the Rebellion), but of all history, it commands universal attention. An enormous number of people visit the panorama. I secured as an especial favor some pictures which the panorama affords of the battle. These pictures are not mere fancy sketches, but are correct reproductions of the occurrences represented. Weeks of study and survey on the battle field, with the aid of hundreds of Generals and soldiers from both sides, enable the accurate presentation of the deeds and men in that awful carnage, even to incidental details. You have there the best of history.

"And now, boys, we leave Chicago. Of the beautiful ride. for two days and nights, through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and in Colorado to Denver (a distance of 1,024 miles) I must not tarry to speak. Nor of the beautiful and wonderful city Denver, with upwards of 50,000 inhabitants. Neither of a thrilling visit to Colorado Springs and Manitou, seventyfive miles south from Denver, at the foot of Pike's Peak, with valuable medicinal springs and a score of wonderful localities. Through all this section, the dry, clear, cool and exhilirating air braces one up wonderfully.

"Pushing westward, in the narrow guage cars, (one train per day each way) in a few hours we reach the amazing scenery of the Rocky Mountains. The road built through this has justly given to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad its renown as the scenic route of the world.' The track is laid along the bank of the Arkansas river, which runs through cañons. A narrow valley is flanked on each side by rocky hills and mountains, sometimes in precipices from 1,000 to 3,000 feet high. The passage is occasionally so narrow that it becomes a mere fissure through the heights. Far above the road the sky forms a deep, blue arch of light, but in the cañon, or gorge, hang dark and somber shades which the sun's rays have never penetrated. The place is a measureless gulf of air, with solid walls on either side.