the National Encampment-11831; and also the largest number of graves decorated-513,392. They also reveal the largest number of graves unmarked by headstones-20,720. Should there not be a concerted plan of action to see that a suitable headstone is placed at the head of every soldier's grave? May I not express the hope that when the next Chaplain-in-Chief shall make his report but few, if any, such graves shall be found thus unnoticed? I hereby submit a summary of the reports that have been placed in my hands: REPORT OF CHAPLAIN-IN-CHIEF, 1908. Number of Departments 44 Number of Posts in Departments.. 6,057 Number of Posts reporting Memorial Services. 2,734 Number of Comrades present at such services. 91,703 836 Number of Camps of Sons of Veterans attending services. 25,308 191 4,637 8 1,282 MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES. Number of Posts observing Memorial Day Services.. 3,439 110,391 Number of Women's Relief Corps participating. 919 Number of Members of W. R. C. participating.. 24,226 Number of Camps of Sons of Veterans participating. 1,076 5,671 Number of Tents of Daughters of Veterans participating. Number of public schools engaging in Memorial Day Services.... 5,720 Number of pupils participating 378,696 Number of other organizations participating 2,832 Number of addresses delivered to Posts on Memorial Day. I close this communication with an ever growing appreciation, although coming infinitely short of its demand, of the glorious work done by the soldiers of the Union. The meanest rill and mightiest river Go rolling on their praise forever. My love for our noble and unique Grand Army of the Republic is deepening day by day. The splendid service it has rendered the American Nation in teaching undying love for its principles and institutions can never be expressed in words. It is worthy of the highest regard of the American people and of the best service we ourselves can give it. We should use our every endeavor to increase its numbers from the hundreds of thousands of soldiers yet outside its ranks. No matter their age or seeming infirmities, we want them on our muster rolls. When they are called to the front we want them to go with our benediction, as, Onward, forever onward, We see their march sublime, Of the Conquerors of Time. Our Past Commander-in-Chief, Corporal Tanner, has told us, that at the rate of one hundred and fifty a day, fifty thousand a year, our comrades are taking that upward march. Chaplain Lozier, just before his triumphal ascent, gave us his parting words, which most fittingly express what I wish to say at the end of this report. And we're going soon to meet them In the bivouac of the soul, As the shadows around us give warning, And I want to meet my comrades, When the Angels call the roll, All ready for inspection in the morning. Very respectfully submitted, SAMUEL FALLOWS, Chaplain-in-Chief Grand Army of the Republic. A Report of Jere. T. Dew, Adjutant General. Kansas City, Mo., August 24, 1908. GENERAL CHARLES G. BURTON, Commander-in-Chief of G. A. R. My Dear Commander:-I have the honor and pleasure to submit to you, and through you to the National Encampment, in compliance with the rules and regulations, my report as Adjutant General of the Grand Army of the Republic, from the 13th day of September, 1907, to the present date. Permit me to state what you doubtless know, that I accepted this office from considerations of friendship and esteem for yourself, and from a high regard for the organization, its objects and purposes. I had of course expected and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to private business, but I confess I had not anticipated that the duties of the office would require all my time; but they did, and we have worked overtime, as you can attest. Retrenchment was the unwritten General Order, and we have endeavored to economize and be punctual and obliging by keeping our office and attending strictly to business and doing things ourselves. The matter of the appointment of aides-de-camp entailed a great deal of extra labor, and has alone demanded almost one-half of our time, for the reason that it required a great deal of correspondence with a thousand or more individuals scattered over the various Departments, necessitating extra care and bookkeeping to prevent mistakes, and we engrossed the commissions, about seven hundred of them, ourselves. In the beginning of our term we received many promiscuous recommendations and personal requests for such appointment, but not knowing who were in good standing in the Order, worthy and deserving, and not wishing to appoint any other, we proposed to systemize the business by requiring all recommendations to come through the Department Commanders, which was done, with a few exceptions where the parties making the recommendations were personally known and prominent in the Order, and asked the appointment as a personal favor. But the question presented itself whether or not we should place a limit on the number of appointees; accordingly we submitted the whole matter by mail to the several members of the Executive Committee, and they, by a good majority, declared in favor of the plan which was subsequently adopted. It was believed a large number of aides would stimulate interest gener |