ance that I shall cherish the memory of the past year as long as life shall last.

Adjutant General J. Edwin Nye submitted his annual report as fol

lows:

AUBURN, ME., October 25, 1897. General M. A. Murphy, Commander Department of Maine Union Veterans' Union:

GENERAL: In compliance with the "Rules and Regulations" of the order I hereby submit to you for the information of the Department, a report of the work and standing of the order in this Department during the past year.

One year ago we had eighteen Precinct Commands with a total membership in good standing of 460 members. Two new commands have been organized, Sheridan F. Miller, No. 21, was organized at Belfast by General M. A. Murphy, January 17, with seventeen charter members. charter members. Comrade M. C. Dilworth of that command was appointed Chief Mustering Officer on the Staff of the Department Commander and organized Alonzo E. Libby Command, No. 22, at Unity, March 23, with eleven charter members.

During the year two commands have surrendered their charters, viz., Bailey No. 14 of Mechanic Falls, November 17, and Phil Sheridan No. 3 of Springvale, July 7.

The present membership in good standing in the Department is 474, a net gain of 14. Some of the Commands have not sent in their returns at the time of this writing, so I have

taken the figures from their last report, which makes it appear different from the report made to National Headquarters, for in that, we report only the numbers on returns received. This result of the year's work is not

as satisfactory as we could desire, and I attribute as one reason for our not making more rapid growth, the fact that no provisions are made to pay the expenses of organizing new Commands. All that is really allowed the Department by the "Rules and Regulations" is five dollars of the charter fee, which will not pay the expense of spending two or three days to work up a command, besides traveling expenses. The only other revenue to the Department is one half of the per capita tax, out of which have to be paid bills for printing and other incidental expenses. For the last two years the Department officers have not received any compensation for their services; until some source of revenue for the department is provided it will be hard to make any progress. This of course is a matter that rests with the National Encampment to provide for, and should be attended to at the next National Encampment. Most of the commands are now in a flourishing condition, though in some cases they are having a hard struggle to keep up their organizations and some steps should be taken whereby they can be encouraged and assisted.

The present department officers have done what they could under the circumstances, and we trust that in the year to come, as the principles and objects of our noble order become more fully known by the veter

ans of the war, as well as by the public generally, more rapid growth may be made, and that other soldier organizations will not feel that we antagonize them in the least, for our object is to advance the interests of all old soldiers, and bring still greater influence to bear on our law-mak

J. M. Fernald, Quartermaster General, Department of Maine, U. V. U., in account with Department of Maine, U. V. U.:

DR. Oct. 30, 1896.

Oct. 27, 1897. Oct. 27, 1897.

CR.

organizations of which most of us are a part, are doing. The gains and losses by commands have been as follows:

Whole number of members in good standing September 30, 1896, 460; gains by muster, 103; transfer, 1; reinstatement, 18; total, 122.

Losses, by death, 10; transfer, 3; suspension, 60; honorable discharge, 7; suspended charter, 28; total 108. Net gain, 14. Number September 30, 1897, 474.

I have endeavored to perform all the duties devolving upon me in a prompt and courteous manner, which has required a great deal of correspondence, and if I have apparently neglected any of my duties I hope my comrades will attribute it to my lack of time in connection with my other duties.

I thank you, General, and the other members of your staff and the comrades throughout the department for the uniform kindness and forbearance shown, and confidence reposed in me. Respectfully submitted in F., C. and L..

J. EDWIN NYE, Adjutant General Department of Maine, Union Veterans' Union. Quartermaster General James M. Fernald submitted the following report:

REPORT OF SURGEON-GENERAL WINFIELD S. NORCROSS, M. D.

I have the honor to make the following report; and in doing so, first I most cordially thank my comrades who elected me to this position of high honor and trust; second in my estimation to none in this, the grandest of all organizations. I have spent a large part of my time in the past year doing nothing, but am surprised at the sturdy, healthy, general condition of the majority of the Union Veterans' Union. I am confident, and I speak professionally, that the large majority of our battle-field comrades are as hardy and sturdy a set of men. as can be found anywhere, age and condition taken into consideration. One exception only have I noticed and that is, nearly every one of our old, true, battle-field comrades is

suffering from heart trouble. Why is this? While surgeon-general of a sister organization, "The Legion," I was asked by some of the officials of the pension department if I could make an explanation. I told them that I could only speak from personal knowledge (not professionally), that the cause of my own heart trouble was from being badly scared in battle, my heart came up into my throat and never went down. They then informed me that the large majority of those who never saw battle were pensioned for chronic diarrhoea, piles, varicose veins, etc.; the most of these troubles were caused from running in time of danger; their hearts went down into their boots; this naturally from a physiological and philosophical standpoint would cause an enlarged liver to rise up and fill the heart's cavity, causing a profuse flow of gall; which we often see at the G. A. R. camp-fires when they try to belittle the true old soldiers. We comrades did our fighting from '61 to '65; they are still at it, and thus should have more credit and larger pensions!

Now after an experience in my profession of over thirty years, I am fully convinced that the true, everyday (not the dress parade and Sunday soldier) should have more than double the pensions they are now getting, and I tell you, comrades, if you can't get the proper increase come to your surgeon-general, make him give you an affidavit of total disability on account of heart; then if they question it tell them honestly that it was caused by being so badly scared in battle and they can't go behind the

returns.

The reports from the surgeons of the different commands have been very, very few; in fact, the only report during the past year was from the N. J. Jackson Command, and I honestly believe that would not have been received, had not the surgeon of that command been a personal friend of mine and named Norcross. He reported no deaths; no births, no marriages, and in fact no divorces in his command. In closing I would respectfully suggest that all the officers of commands make complete and proper reports to their respective department officers, for I assure you it is mighty hard for a department officer to come to our annual encampment with in fact nothing to base a report upon. Comrades, let us try and make the Union Veterans' Union an up-to-date business organization so as to bring into our ranks every worthy comrade, and if we each and every one strive to do our duty as we did when boys, there is no reason why every eligible and worthy comrade would not feel proud to be one of and with us. To the department commander, the adjutant general, and others of this department I express my thanks for their many kindnesses extended to me.

Now, commander and comrades, I have the honor to subscribe myself very respectfully your most obedient

servant,

WINFIELD S. NORCROSS, M. D., Surgeon-General, Department of Maine, Union Veterans' Union.

Chief Mustering Officer M. C. Dilworth submitted the following report:

Colonel J. Edwin Nye, Adjutant General Department of Maine, Union Veterans' Union:

COMRADES: I have the honor to

report that during the year two new commands have been instituted. On January 17, Sheridan F. Miller Command No. 24, Belfast, was organized by Department Commander M. A. Murphy and Colonel George M. Lovering of Waterville, with seventeen charter members. On March 23, Alonzo E. Libby Command No. 22, Unity, was instituted by me with fourteen charter members.

I was notified from department headquarters that the comrades of Falmouth were organizing for a command there, but I have had no notice officially of their having done so.

I have canvassed Waldo county pretty thoroughly and find the old comrades in sympathy with the principles of the Union Veterans' Union, but owing to the hard times the past few years many of them do not feel able at present to start commands. I would have given more time to canvassing other localities but the weather the past season was very unfavorable for such work. I have no doubt about the growth of the Union Veterans' Union as business revives, and the organizing of new commands in our department made as light as possible. I would suggest to the favorable consideration of the commander that the expenses be paid by the department; when you add the expenses of travel to the charter fee, in some instances it makes the amount quite large, and has a tendency to discourage a good many that would otherwise start commands. As you are

aware the majority of the comrades are growing old, and in order to make them take an interest in the Union Veterans' Union, the expenses of organizing must be made as light as possible.

Respectfully submitted in F., C. and L.,

M. C. DILWORTH, Chief Mustering Officer. The first and second deputy commanders, chief mustering officer, and executive committee made verbal reports.

The Department Commander appointed the following committees: On Finance-C. S. Emerson, John Ames, Geo. M. Lovering.

On Grievances-W. S. Norcross, O. B. Bridge, W. I. Towne, A. B. Buck, and O. P. Martin.

On Resolutions-R. M. Mason, S. P. LaGros, E. S. Tozier, H. D. Lord, George F. Rollins.

Good of the Order-Wm. T. Eustis, E. L. Emery, Daniel F. Davis, H. S. Hobbs, C. O. Wadsworth.

Adjourned to meet at 1:30 P. M. Called to order by the department commander at 1:30 P. M. The Committee on Finance reported that they had examined examined the report of the quartermaster-general and found it

correct.

Report accepted and report of quartermaster general accepted. The Committee on Good of the Order reported as follows:

Have examined the reports of the department commander, adjutant general, surgeon general, and chief mustering officer and gladly endorse the suggestions therein, and would

Report of committee accepted. Reports of the department commander, adjutant general, surgeon general, and chief mustering officer accepted, also the verbal reports of the other officers.

The committee on resolutions submitted the following:

By the Department of Maine Union. Veterans' Union at its Fourth Annual Encampment at Old Town, October 27, 1897, be it

Resolved, That during the coming year comrades be earnestly urged to present the principles of our organization to all soldiers and sailors who are eligible to membership therein, and thereby secure their interest and assistance in carrying forward the grand objects of our association, and receiving the important benefits connected therewith:

Resolved, That That we extend our cordial friendship and good will to all organizations composed exclusively of ex-soldiers and sailors of the Union army, believing that every man who did his duty in the position to which he was assigned, must be deserving of the fellowship and commendation

of his comrades.

Resolved, That the thanks of this body be, and hereby are, extended to all who have contributed to our benefit at this session. To the transportation lines for reduced fares. To Gorham A. Folsom Command No. 18 Union Veterans' Union, for courtesies extended, and S. J. Oakes Re

lief Corps No. 17 of Old Town who have so kindly entertained us.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this encampment be published in the MAINE BUgle.

Report of committee accepted and resolutions adopted.

Nominations for officers were then

made.

The claims of Rockland as the place for the next annual encampment were presented and the invitation was accepted.

The following committee was appointed to receive, sort, and count votes for officers for the ensuing year:

Comrades W. S. Norcross, H. B. Sawyer, and O. P. Martin.

Proceeded to ballot for officers and the following were elected:

Department Commander-William T. Eustis, Dixfield.

First Deputy Commander.-Geo. M. Lovering, Waterville.

Second Deputy Commander.-S. P. LaGros, Bucksport.

Surgeon General.-W. S. Norcross, Lewiston.

Chaplain. Rev. J. W. Webster, Newport.

Executive Committee.-Frank F. Goss, Auburn; John Ames, Orland; E. S. Tozier, Old Town; M. M. Parker, Rockland; W. S. Noyes, Saco; W. W. Warren, Foxcroft; George M. Leathers, Lewiston.

The above officers elect (excepting the Chaplain who was absent) were installed by Colonel Henry I. Lord

of Saco.

Department Commander W. T. Eustis appointed J. Edwin Nye of Auburn as Adjutant General and