Old Soldiers Gather in Vancouver
Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic meet in Washington Territory to honor General Grant and discuss the future of their department.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Vancouver, W.T., April 15. The department encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic met here today with about fifty members present. This afternoon the report of Department Commander Morrow was read and loudly applauded. The financial condition of the department is good, and an increase of membership was reported of 451. The following telegram was sent to General Grant: 'We deeply sympathize with you in your affliction. May the clouds roll by, and may you long be spared to receive the gratitude of a grateful nation and the esteem and affection of all old soldiers.' A.M. Brooks, of Seattle, was elected Commander; C.H. Mason, of Tacoma, Senior Vice Commander; O.A. Miller, of Colfax, Junior Vice Commander; J. Randolph Smith, Department Surgeon; N.H. Hollen, Chaplain; Osborne, Peel, Hollen, Miller and Geoghegan, Council of Administration. J.C. Me, of Vancouver, and C.B. Johnson, of Olympia, were elected representatives to the National Encampment.
“May the clouds roll by, and may you long be spared to receive the gratitude of a grateful nation and the esteem and affection of all old soldiers.”
In 1885, the G.A.R. was the most powerful veterans organization in the country, deeply involved in local politics and civic life. Today, veteran service organizations in Washington continue to act as major hubs for social support and advocacy, mirroring the way these 19th-century soldiers organized to both look after their own and weigh in on national crises.
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