I. The attention of the Posts and comrades is directed to the coming National Encampment to be held in Chicago, Ill., August 27th to September 3d, 1900, inclusive. The people of that wonderful city are preparing a welcome for the veterans of the Union, that will render the 34th National Encampment memorable. No effort will be spared to make the week one of interest as well as pleasure. The welcome will be a royal one, and the Commander-in-Chief urges Posts and comrades to attend in large numbers.

II. The announcement made in General Orders No. 3, dated December 29, 1899, as to Headquarters of the General Committee, appears to be misleading. Instead of Room 611, "The Temple" it should be Room 611, Woman's Temple, 184 La Salle Street, Chicago, Ill. Comrade E. A. Bigelow is Secretary of the General Committee, and can be seen or communicated with at above address.

III. The attention of the Commander-in-Chief has been called to the Army and Navy General Hospital at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and to the fact that the use of the same had been put within the

reach of the members of the Grand Army by order of the President of the United States, for the past two years, upon the mere payment of a per diem of forty cents for subsistence.

The following diseases have been treated with excellent results: Gout. Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Paralysis, not of organic origin, the earlier stages of locomotor ataxia, chronic Bright's disease, and other diseases of the urinary organs, functional diseases of the liver, gastric dyspepsia, chronic diarrhoea, catarrhal affections of the digestive, respiratory tracts, and chronic skin diseases.

It has recently been learned that the facilities and the capacity of the Hospital to accommodate patients are exceedingly limited, and that a bill would be introduced into Congress to improve and enlarge these and remove the nominal charge above referred to. Such bill is now pending and deserves the earnest support of all comrades of the Grand Army. Pending the granting of this additional legislation, aggravated cases will doubtless find admission upon application to the Surgeon General of the Army.

Inmates of Soldiers' Homes, west of the Mississippi, who desire to avail themselves of this treatment, are entitled to half rate tickets to and from Malvern, near Hot Springs, in visiting the Hospital, to be had on application to the general passenger agents of the roads over which they desire to travel.

IV. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park Commission have fixed October 9th to 11th, 1900, inclusive, as the dates on which a general inspection of the work of the Commission is desired. Enduring and elaborate monuments have been erected on these fields, that will carry forward to other days and other men the story of the valor there displayed. The Monuments and Memorials contain historical facts and statistics. These should, if possible be correct, and in order to correct errors, if any, and to secure the fullest information, the surviving officers and men of both armies are earnestly urged by the Commission to visit these historic fields on dates named. The Army of the Cumberland and the Society of that Army will hold a joint reunion at Chattanooga at the same time, and organization associations, regimental and others, are urged to fix their reunions, if possible, at the same time and place, and thus secure a general reunion of the men who made the fields memorable. Over two thousand tablets will be placed by October next. The Park Commission will secure reduced rates of transportation, which will be announced in future Orders. Special information, if desired, can be had by addressing General H. V. Boynton, Chairman National Park Commission, Washington, D. C.

V. The printed proceedings of the Thirty-third National Encampment held at Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 1839, have been furnished

to the various Department Headquarters in sufficient quantity to furnish one to each Post, and one to each member of the National Encampment for 1899, from the respective Departments, not including present or past National Officers, who will receive theirs direct from the Adjutant General.

Department Commanders are charged with the duty of carefully and promptly distributing the reports sent them.

VI.

The commander-in-Chief as a result of personal observation is impelled to direct attention of Posts and comrades to the wearing of lapel buttons and badges by comrades, also to the necessity of Posts being properly equipped with Rules and Regulations (latest edition), Blue Book (Edition 1899), Ritual and Service Books, and proper badges for Post officers. Every comrade should possess lapel button or membership badge to be worn on all proper occasions. Comrades will secure supplies from Post Quartermasters, and Posts from Department Headquarters; Departments from National Headquarters by requisition on Quartermaster General, accompanied by draft, postal or money order to order of Edward J. Atkinson, Q. M. General. All requisitions to be mailed to Thomas J. Stewart, Adjutant General.

VII. The address of W. F. R. Schindler, Assistant Adjt. General, Department of Arizona, is changed from Prescott to Phoenix, Arizona.

VIII.

Announcement is made of the following deaths of members of National Encampment, and of National Officers:

PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, GEORGE SARGENT MERRILL. Born at Methuen, Massachusetts, March 10, 1837, died at Lawrence,, Massachusetts, February 17, 1900.

Comrade Merrill was one of the conspicuous and forceful leaders of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was the first Commander of the Post at Lawrence, Massachusetts; Department Commander of Massachusetts in 1875, and Commander-in-Chief in 1881; afterwards for many years Chairman of the National Committee on Pensions. He was a regular attendant at the National Encampments, and embraced every opportunity to advance the interests of the Grand Army of the Republic, and be helpful to his comrades. He filled with signal ability and fidelity many positions of trust and responsibility in civil and political life. Genial and social as a comrade, brave as a soldier, a citizen of spotless reputation and character, he was a true exemplar of the American Volunteer Soldier. By his devotion to the Grand Army of the Republic, he honored the organization whose highest honor he had worthily

worn.

JOHN RANDOLPH LEWIS.

of Georgia, Department Commander, 1889, and Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, 1885; died at Chicago, Illinois, February 8, 1900.

ALPHONSO BARTO,

of Minnesota, Department Commander, 1889; died at St. Cloud, Minnesota, November 4, 1899.

ALFRED S. COOPER,

of Maryland, Department Commander, 1896; died at Baltimore, Maryland, December 30, 1899.

EDWARD SYLVANUS OSBORNE,

of Pennsylvania, Department Commander, 1883; died at Washington, D. C., January 1, 1900.

C. J. DILLWORTH,

of Nebraska, Department Commander, 1892; died at Hastings, Nebraska, February 3, 1900.

JOHN DROWNE,

of New Hampshire, Chief Mustering Officer, Department of New Hampshire, and member of National Council of Administration; died at Dover, New Hampshire, January 30, 1900.

Z. V. BOOTH,

of Minnesota, Aide-de-Camp to Commander-in-Chief; died at Long Prairie, Minnesota, December 15, 1899.

HENRY A. HEATH,

of Wisconsin, Aide-de-Camp to Commander-in-Chief; died at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 23, 1900.

IX. of

The Commander-in-Chief announces with sadness the death

MRS. ANNIE WITTENMEYER,

which occurred at Sanatoga, Montgomery Co., Pa., February 2, 1900. She was an Army Nurse of distinguished and honorable record and service during the war for the Suppression of the Rebellion, and a Past National President of the Woman's Relief Corps. During the years of peace she has been among the foremost in advocating and advancing the interests of the surviving veterans, their widows and orphans. In the Woman's Relief Corps she was an honored officer and a devoted untiring worker. Her life was lived in a spirit of helpfulness to others and amid the hospitals during the terrible days of war she was a veritable ministering angel. Such a life closes like a sweet benediction of love and tenderness and though

part of it was passed amid the carnage of the battlefield and the agony and pain of hospital-amid dead and dying-its close was calm and peaceful. The recollection of her devotion to her country and its defenders will render sweet and fragrant her memory and her name will be recorded on the page of history among those who were faithful to the end.

X. The following comrades are hereby appointed Special Aides in Charge of Military Instruction and Patriotic Education. They will report by letter to Allan C. Bakewell, 479 Fifth Avenue, New York City. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

New Mexico...Thomas Harwood... Dept. Chaplain Albuquerque

Potomac .. Wm. B. McKelden. .No.

.....

8...... Washington, D. C

XI. The following appointment as Assistant Inspector General is hereby announced. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly. Kansas .......J. S. McDowell.....Post No. 45......Smith Centre XII. The following appointment as Special Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief is hereby announced:

William McKinley ......Post No. 25......Canton, O.,

Address Washington, D. C.

He will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

XIII. The following named comrades are hereby appointed Aides-de-Camp on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief and assigned to duty in their respective Departments. They will report by letter to J. Cory Winans, Senior Aide-de-Camp and Chief of Staff, Troy, Ohio, for instructions. No Commissions will be issued to Aides-deCamp until they have reported to Comrade Winans for duty. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

CONNECTICUT.

George R. Bodge.... Post No. 50......Hartford.