M 
 
 No. 
 
 PROPERTY OF 
 
 iHENRYK.ENGLISHl 
 
 I INDIANAPOLIS, IF 
 
HON. OLIVER P. MORTON. (1866.) 
 Governor of Indiana. 
 
THE 
 
 Grand Army of the Republic 
 
 UNDER ITS 
 
 First Constitution and Ritual. 
 
 ITS BIRTH AND ORGANIZATION. 
 
 BY 
 
 MAJOR OLIVER M. WILSON, 
 
 Adjutant-General Department of Indiana and Acting Provis 
 ional Adjutant-General, July, 1866 to November 21, 1866; 
 Adjutant-General Department of Indiana, 1866- 
 1867-1868; Department Commander, 1869-1870. 
 
 KANSAS CITY, MO.: 
 FRANKLIN HUDSON PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 11)05. 
 
Copyright 1905, by 
 
 Franklin Hudson Publishing Co. 
 
 Kansas City, Mo. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I write simply the truth of history. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
History of the Organization and First Four Years 
 of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 It was a mysterious awakening to the youth of the 
 North in 18(51 to obey the bugle call "To arms! 1 for war. 
 It was the first appeal to his chivalry; and when he became 
 a soldier, with musket in his hands, lie for the first time 
 realized that he was a hero. And when he came back 
 from the war, the service lie had given his country made 
 him a veteran, and he became the recipient of the Nation s 
 homage. But the service was something more than simple 
 duty performed, something more than obeying commands; 
 it was a life of hardships, sufferings, anguish of wounds, 
 weary marches, privations, battle. Such service placed 
 him before the American people as a preferred creditor of 
 the Nation, and no man, not a soldier, could put himself 
 in his place. The soldier haid made it possible to have and 
 keep a united country, and around him was thrown that 
 subtle charm that conies only to those who have felt the 
 heat and passion of battle. 
 
 .It was natural, therefore, for such men to possess a 
 feeling of the very closest friendship for those who had 
 shared with them such service, which they knew could only 
 be felt by those who had lived with them through the hours 
 and days and years of a terrible war. When, therefore, the 
 
 9 
 
10 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 soldiers of the Union Army in the War of the Kebellion 
 were mustered out of service, the greatest comradeship that 
 ever knit men together was sundered. The loss of this com 
 panionship, formed as it was on the march, in the bivouac 
 on skirmish line, and in battle, was keenly felt by the sol 
 dier, and he cheerfully accepted whatever influence would 
 again unite him in the fellowship of his comrades. There 
 was 1 a fascination to him in the glamour of war. There was 
 now a corresponding charm to him in the recollection of 
 army life. He had passed through the bullet ordeal of the 
 world s greatest soldiers, and his life had become to him the 
 reflection of patriotic duty and loyalty to his flag. Hisj ser 
 vice was his country s heritage, but as a soldier he could live 
 in what had passed before him, and enjoy the ardor of what 
 the associations of army life could bring to him. Such 
 memories he held and treasured as a sacred possession. 
 
 Out of such emotions of comradeship, in the spirit of 
 fraternity, came the civic organizations of soldiers to re 
 unite tha fellowship formed in the army, and retain the 
 touch of elbow taken so many times when, even to do so, 
 death was to many the result, but which, by those who came 
 back again, was held steadfast until our flag was reset 
 unsullied, the emblem of our gigantic nationality. The pri 
 vate soldier and the officer stood alike representatives of the 
 war. Distinction by reason of rank disappeared with the 
 muster-out, and at no time was the line drawn between the 
 two as representing a difference or grade of soldiers in such 
 fraternity; the only passport to fraternity was an honorable 
 discharge. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 11 
 
 There may have been conditions, an)d probably such had 
 something to do with ?n earlier organization in Indiana, 
 but such did not influence the second organization of the 
 soldiers in a confederation for mutual advantage and fel 
 lowship in the State. If such existed and they doubtless 
 did, but not through or from any sense of superior service 
 they did not develop later, after the first organization was 
 projected with Colonel Conrad Baker as Commanding 01 li 
 ce r, or President. The spirit and purpose of this first organ 
 ization is best seen and understood in the first circular 
 issued. A number of comrades had been called together 
 1 do not remember the number, nor the names, of. all sum 
 moned, nor who came, but some thirty met in the United 
 States court-room at Indianapolis. With a perfect unanim 
 ity and hearty accord they outlined a plan of organization 
 to include the entire soldiery of the State, elected their oili- 
 cers, and left to a future meeting to determine, what service 
 should constitute! eligibility for membership, and whether it 
 should -embrace all soldiers without regard to rank. To this 
 end, therefore, the following circular was prepared and sent 
 to all parts of the State : 
 
 "Indianapolis, Dec. 1st, 1865. 
 
 "On the evening of the 14th of November a number of 
 general and field officers convened in this city and organ 
 ized a State army organization, by the election of the under 
 signed officers and the adoption of a plan of organization, 
 in which the same high emotions which knit together our 
 army and navy in hardship and conflict will actuate the 
 members thereof, and perpetuate the good will and harmony 
 cherished in trial and triumph in the field. 
 
12 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "In view of the desirability of having a more perfect 
 union of the soldiers of Indiana, and of establishing this 
 organization upon a sure and permanent foundation, we 
 respectfully request that you meet in this city on the even 
 ing of the 19th inst,, at the State Library rooms, to consult 
 with a number of your comrades and thereby make perfect 
 that which has been so auspiciously begun. 
 "We are respectfully, 
 
 "Your obedient servants, 
 
 "CONRAD BAKER, 
 "Commanding Officer, President. 
 
 "BEX SPOONER, 
 ff Quarter master-General j Treasurer. 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "A djutant-Gencral; Secretary/ 
 
 Among the many responses received in answer to this 
 circular, I have found among my papers the following: 
 "0. M. Wilson, Adjutant and Secretary. / 
 
 "Sir: It affords me pleasure to acknowledge the receipt 
 of an invitation to join you in Indianapolis on the 19th inst., 
 to there meet the soldiers of Indiana that may be present, 
 and assist in forming a permanent army organization for 
 the purpose of perpetuating the good feeling and union of 
 purpose that animated each while struggling to overthrow 
 the great rebellion. The purposes of the meeting meet my 
 entire approbation, mid! I shall cheerfully co-operate in every 
 way in my power. ] trust you will record me a member will 
 ing to bear a full share of responsibility. I regret being 
 obliged to add that I cannot be present at the time fixed, but 
 
History of tJir Grand Army of the Republic. 13 
 
 will surely join with you at any future meeting. I take it 
 for granted the organization will embrace all who took up 
 arms in defense of our country. 
 "Truly your friend, 
 
 "W. HARROW. 
 "Mt. A ernon, Dec. 15th, 1865." 
 
 "Indiana State University, 
 "Blooming-ton, Dec, 13th, 1865. 
 
 (f Adjutant-General 0. M. \Yilson,- Secretary State Army 
 Organization. 
 
 "Dear Sir: Permit me through you to express my heart 
 felt sympathy with the movement designated as the State 
 Army Organization, and to hope that it will he eminently 
 successful in obtaining its desired object of perpetuating 
 good will and harmony among its members. At the time 
 appointed for your next meeting our examinations at the 
 University will be in progress, which will preclude the possi- 
 hility of my being present, but 1 feel assured 1 would read 
 ily concur in such measures as may be there devised and 
 adopted. 
 
 "Very respectfully yours, 
 
 "RICHARD OWEN." 
 
 "Headquarters Military Division of the Tennessee. 
 
 "Yashville, Tenn., Oct. 15th, 1865. 
 
 "Gentleman: Yours of the J)tli inviting me to your con 
 sultation of officers, etc., on the evening of the 14th of 
 November at yo-ur city reached me here to-day. It will be a 
 pleasure to me to meet with the true and faithful on that 
 
14 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 occasion, if in my power. I have been trying to get out of 
 the service ever since the fall of Richmond., but am not yet 
 relieved. I shall probably be at home; between now and the 
 14th, but will likely have to return here by that time. I 
 sihall ever cherish the fellowship and friendship formed in 
 the field 7 between the officers ancf soldiers of Indiana. 
 
 "Believe me, Your humble servant, 
 
 "W. GROSE. 
 
 "General H. D. Washburn, 
 "Major 0. M. Wilson, 
 
 "Indianapolis." 
 
 "La Fayetto, Tnd., Oct. 25th, 1865. 
 "Major 0. M. Wilson. 
 
 "Major: Your note of 23d is received. If I am in the 
 State on the, 14th prox., it will afford me much pleasure to 
 participate* in the proposed reunion; the chances are, how 
 ever, that 1 will not be in Indiana on the day named, but 
 will hope to meet our military friends at some future day. 
 "Very truly yours, 
 
 "J. J. REYNOLDS, 
 
 "Major-General." 
 
 The hearty concurrence of these gallant soldiers with 
 many others was an earnest of the fellowship so much de 
 sired by the soldiers of Indiana. The meeting on Decem 
 ber 19th was large!} attended, representatives being present 
 from all parts of the State. The principal question dis- 
 cussed was whether the organization should include all hon 
 orably discharged soldictrs, or whether it should be confined 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 15 
 
 to officers only, on the plan of the old "Cincinnatus." There 
 were advocates of both plans, but action was deferred to the 
 next annual meeting. In the meantime the organization 
 was to implied! y embrace officers only, without, however, 
 excluding any applicant, as membership was made permiss 
 ive to all soldiers qualified. An adjournment was taken to 
 the following December, 1866. 
 
 In the spring of 1866 many inquiries came to me by let 
 ter to know what had become of the "Army Club," the name 
 taken by the organization, and if it took in all soldiers, and 
 when it would meet. The answer to these letters provoked 
 a general correspondence, in which it was suggested that the 
 soldiers wanted and felt the need of an organization, that 
 such would have a good effect, etc. 
 
 The fact was, out 1 "Army Club was, thus far, purely 
 social and confined to officers only. There was no obliga 
 tion in it for membership. We all knew each other, and 
 no test was required. The prevailing sentiment, however, 
 throughout the State was, that an organization should be 
 made to include all soldiers having an honorable discharge. 
 In this, I remember, the officers concurred, but on this point 
 we stood still until our meeting in December. 
 
 A political campaign had begun in Indiana, and each 
 day brought appeals to organize a branch of the "Army 
 Club." The officers now saw a field for organization that 
 had not been entered. These communications were placed 
 in the hands of Governor 0. P. Morton. He, too, had been 
 urged to co-operate and hasten action on the plea to "hold 
 the soldiers." This was in the spring of 1866, or early 
 
16 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 summer some time in June. Accordingly Governor Mor 
 ton sent for Major-General B. S. Foster, of Indianapolis. 
 The fertile brain of the one and the genius of the other 
 gave the Grand Army of the Republic not only to Indiana, 
 but to the Nation. 
 
 The authorship of the Ritual of tke Grand Army of the 
 Republic, as well as tho first Constitution, or Rules and 
 Regulations, is credited to Major B. F. Stephenson, Sur 
 geon United States Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. 
 This claim was never denied. Thus far this great ordeir had 
 its start in conception. But it was for a mightier brain, 
 ;a sagacious loader of men, a man resourceful and tactful, 
 a political giant Oliver P. Morton to see the povssibilities 
 which would arise from the organization outlined by Major 
 Stephenson for making it a power in the land, and thereby 
 to make permanent and secure the victories of loyalty over 
 rebellion, by keeping in the minds of the soldiers the prin 
 ciples for which they had fought. 
 
 Governor Morton had been attracted by the name. Hi 1 
 had heard through some source that it was political, so far 
 as to assert preference for the soldieir and a demand for the 
 care and protection of the soldier s widow and orphan, and 
 that the friend of the soldier should be preferred for office. 
 This meant political ostracism for those who se faith had 
 wavered, or had not been strong enough to openly declare 
 for the support of the Union. A political campaign in Indi 
 ana meant the marshaling of every soldier in the party that 
 supported him as governor during the war. Her soldiers 
 were his friends. He had been their friend. He saw it pos- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 17 
 
 8ible to keep them united, and yet not appeal to their preju 
 dices or passions not vet wholly cooled or allayed from strife 
 in the war. He wanted them to remain loyal. He knew 
 they needed no second inspiration to show their loyalty, but 
 he was fearful that evil and disloyal influences at the homes 
 of man} , against whom as governor of the State he had con 
 tended during the war, would mislead many, and his first 
 wish was to preserve unsullied the record of Indiana s sol 
 diers from the taint of affiliation with the political party 
 that had opposed the war, and with which they had acted 
 when it bore an honorable name. As a means to this end, 
 whatever would add strength to the loyal sentiment of 
 Indiana he advised, urged, and adopted. 
 
 The organization he had heard of had not yet been pro 
 ductive. Our first knowledge of it came from him. It was 
 yet in embryo. But before he would encouragi it,- use or 
 adoption in Indiana, he first sought to know if it was prac 
 ticable. He took counsel, sending for General Foster, to 
 whom he imparted his information. It was thought it could 
 be made effectual in Indiana. 
 
 At the request of Governor Morton, General Foster vis 
 ited Springfield, Illinois, for the purpose of examining the 
 plan of this organization. He there called upon Major 
 Stephenson, with whom he talked over the work he had 
 written, the Major reading portions of it to General Foster 
 from manuscript, and explaining the object and plan of the 
 order he desired to organize. I now quote General Foster s 
 statement and account of this inierview given me a good 
 many years ago, and since made hv him as one of a commit- 
 
18 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 tee on the first organization, to the Department of Indiana, 
 1901., and which is familiar to many comrades in Indiana. 
 
 "He [Stephensori] said he had. trouble in getting the 
 boys there to take hold of it ; that it was a good thing, 
 and he would be glad to have mie bring it to Indiana and 
 organize it, or start it/ werei his words, in our State. He 
 manifested great anxiety and zeal in getting it introduced, 
 and expressed himself as 5 , very anxious that we should intro 
 duce it in Indiana,. He administered to me the obligation 
 of the Ritual for this purpose, and gave me a copy of the 
 Constitution 1 and Ritual. Some of it was printed, and some 
 in manuscript I think the Ritual, but I don t remember 
 .now which part was printed, most likely the Constitution, 
 for I know I had the obligation of the Ritual on a slip of 
 paper when 1 obligated my tdn charter members." 
 
 Upon General Foster s return home he at once commu 
 nicated with myself and a few intimate comrades, and fixed 
 a time and place for presenting the plan of this organiza 
 tion. There he administered to us the same obligation he 
 "had taken from Stephenson, from a slip of paper which he 
 at the time held in his hand. Tliofee comrades he consti 
 tuted his charter members for a Department organization. 
 No commission, or so-styled appointment, as "Department 
 Commander" was given to him by anyone claiming to be 
 authority in the OrVler. Such an assumption to commission 
 him was nc"ver claimed or exercised by Stephenson. He was 
 left to do as thought best after consulting with his com 
 rades. Upon giving them the obligation he was made by 
 their unanimous vote Department Commander under, and 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 19 
 
 agreeably to the form and provision of the Constitution he 
 had brought from Major Stephenson, and at once com 
 menced the organization of the State. The comrades chosen 
 by him to receive the first muster in the Order in Indiana 
 were General Dan Macauley, Colonel W. H. Schlater, 
 Colonel C. J. Dobbs, Captain E. F. Bitter, Captain Charles 
 W. Brouse, Major John N. Scott, myself, and three others 
 whose names I have forgotten, so also has General Foster. 
 Tf the old Charter, which I think Post No. 1 was built upon, 
 could be found, these names will be found upon it. I think 
 our Department Charter went into Post No. 1. This char 
 ter was displayed at Department Headquarters as our only 
 authority to act. 
 
 General Foster, upon bring chosen Department Com 
 mander, first gavo attention to details of the organization, 
 in selecting twenty comrades to visit different parts of the 
 State. Tt became necessary at the start to procure the print 
 ing of the Constitution,* lvitiial,f Charters, blanks, etc, Be 
 fore, however, we could do this, we had organized Post No. 
 1 at Indianapolis simply by giving the obligation, as a great 
 political rally was near, at which General Macauley as Post 
 Commander turned out his Post about one thousand strong 
 to receive Governor Ogle-shy and Colonel Bobert J. Ingersol, 
 of Illinois. This was on the 22d day of August, 186G. 
 
 The printing of Constitutions,, Bituals, Charters, blanks, 
 etc., was placed in the custody of Captain Charles W. 
 Brouse, then a member of the firm of Downey & Brouse, 
 printers. Captain Brouse supervised in person this print- 
 
 *See appendix I for fac-simile photographic reproduction of Constitution. 
 fSee Appendix II. 
 
20 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ing, especially the Ritual, which was done by comrades, 
 member? of the organization. He has been enabled to find 
 among the entries on his books of that day a record of the 
 work so done for the,. Department of Indiana, as well as for 
 posts, and at my request made of him some years ago fur 
 nished me with a certified statement of the printing sex done, 
 which statement is as follows, showing the date it was deliv 
 ered to us : 
 
 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLICSTATE. 
 
 August 22d, 1866. 
 To 3,000 Constitutions. 
 To 500 Charters, lith. 
 To 1,000 Additional secret work. 
 
 August 28th, 1866. 
 To 500 blanks $4.00 
 
 September 15th, 1866. 
 
 To 300 J-shcet note blank? $5.50 
 
 To 2,000 i-sheet details 9.50 
 
 To 3,000 J-sheet circulars 19.00 
 
 September 15th, 1866. 
 By cash $227.00 
 
 September 20th, 1866. 
 
 To 3,000 songs $12.00 
 
 To 300 -J -sheet circulars 8.00 
 
 September 28th, 1866. 
 
 To 1,000 ,1-sheet circulars $9.50 
 
 October 22d, 1866. 
 To 500 copies encampment regulations. . .. $12.00 
 
Uistonj of the Grand Army of the Republic. 21 
 
 November 6th, 186G. 
 
 To 1,000 enlistment and muster $49.25 
 
 To 1,000 letter-heads 13.00 
 
 To 300 General Orders 3.00 
 
 To 200 4-page note circulars 10.50 
 
 Xovdmber 17th, 18(>(i. 
 
 To 6,000 Special Order, Xo. 1:5 $63.50 
 
 To 300 General Orders 4.00 
 
 "Indianapolis, September, 1887. 
 
 "I hereby certify that the foregoing charge*? and credits 
 are taken from the day-hook of the late linn of Downey & 
 B rouse, printers and publishers of Indianapolis, Indiana; 
 that I was a member of that firm; that the entries were 
 made at the time the work was finished and delivered to the 
 proper officers of the Grand Army of the "Republic; that the 
 credit of $227, which appears under date of September 
 15th, 1866, was for printing done prior to that time; that 
 I am unable to find the book of original entry, or charge 
 called the job book, which 1 believe would show the first 
 work done for the Department of Indiana not later than 
 the 1st of August, 1866. That 1 wa> an artive member of 
 Post Xo. 1, of Indiana, and that the: work done as appears 
 under date of September 17th, 1866, was done after the Post 
 had been in active operation for some considerable time. 
 
 "ClIAKLES W. BllOUSE." 
 
 It will be observed that on August 22d, 1866, Captain 
 lii-oiise delivered ;>,()()() copies, printed, of our Constitution, 
 
22 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 500 charters, and 1,000 additional secret work. This secret 
 work was the Ritual, and this entry shows that they were 
 additional to what had already been printed, and furnished 
 Department headquarters, as the number printed of this 
 secret work corresponded with the Constitution. Captain 
 BrousG was required to give his personal supervision to this 
 secret work. He communicated with me only concerning 
 the printing. He reminded me in 1887, when this certifi 
 cate was given, that I at one time desired him to hastan the 
 printing of all this work, that I might get some of it off 
 to Illinois for Stephenson. 
 
 As soon as we could get a supply of printed matter, Con 
 stitutions, Rituals, and charters!, General Foster issued his 
 first General Order, of which the following is a copy : 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Indiana, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, 
 
 "Adjutant-GeneM s Office, 
 "Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 20, 1866. 
 "General Orders, No. 1. 
 
 "The following named officers are hereby announced on 
 duty at these headquarters : 
 
 "Colonel Wm. H. Schlater, Aide-de-camp and Chief of 
 Staff. 
 
 "Major 0. M. Wilson, Adjutant-General. 
 "By order of 
 
 "R, S. FOSTER, 
 
 "Commander Department of Indiana. 
 "Official. 
 
 "Assistant Adjutant-General" 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 23 
 
 It was not possible to estimate the strength of the 
 organization at the time General Foster issued this first 
 order. It numbered many thousand. The order was de 
 layed for good reasons; it was thought its tenor might mis 
 lead in this : that Posts organized previously would be denied 
 their seniority. But this was not so. From the time the 
 organization in the State was commenced, when General 
 Foster gave the obligation to his ten comrades, personal and 
 professional duties were abandoned by those having anything 
 to do with the organization. Aides were sent to and ap 
 pointed in nearly every county. Posts were organized, first 
 by giving only the obligation; then, upon getting the Rit 
 ual and charter, they were mustered in due form. Before 
 the organization had progressed to any extent, General Fos 
 ter sent me to Springfield, Illinois, to confer with Major 
 Stephenson, General Webber, and Colonel Mather com 
 rades we had first met there and with whom conference had 
 been had as to what was best to do as to printing, etc., and 
 about a badge, and whether we had better try to push the 
 order beyond the limits of our own State. 
 
 I found Major Stephenson disappointed in what he 
 claimed the failure! of his own "boys" to "take hold of it," 
 saying they didn t seem to appreciate such a thing; that they 
 didn t want to have anything to do with any organization 
 that seemed to forecast restraint upon their action, and that 
 would require them to observe certain forms of ceremony; 
 that the free and easy hurrah .style of soldiers suited them 
 best, and such meetings the boys would attend. He felt a 
 corresponding degree of pleasure when told of our success. 
 
24 History of the Grand Army of Hie Republic. 
 
 He said further,, that somehow the right kind of men 
 couldn t he interested., but as we were in a big fight in Indi 
 ana meaning our campaign we could get the boys to 
 take hold of it, because we had a Morton in the fight. He 
 became enthusiastic over his Ritual. He asked my opinion 
 of the Ritual and Constitution; he spoke as if he had no 
 organization. I told him my only objection was in the 
 name: it was too cumbersome, and sounded too "buncombe "; 
 that I thought he could get one to express the character of 
 an organization that would at the same time reflect the char 
 acter of the men composing it, thetn the "boys" would more 
 cheerfully be drawn to it, but that "Grand Army of the 
 [Republic" sounded like a play-word for children. He 
 frankly said the same objection had been made by others, 
 but he could think of no better name, and asked me to sug 
 gest one. I told him I couldn t; we would take it as he 
 made it. I met Generals Webber and Mather, who talked 
 to me as did Stephenson. As to the name!, they said it was 
 the name chosen by the "old man" meaning Major Ste 
 phenson, of whom they always spoke with much love. They 
 said he was disappointed in not having liis "Grand Army" 
 seized on by the "boys"; that he put a good deal of time and 
 labor on it, and therefore! they encouraged him in every way 
 they could, but they doubted if the "old man" would make 
 it succeed, or was the right one to start it. "The; boys here 
 don t seem to take to it," said General Mather; "they don t 
 want any play soldier in theirs." General Webber, who 
 was present, then said to me, "You Hoosicrs are the very 
 boys to take it; you have a Morton in your campaign, and 
 
History of tlie Grand Army of the Republic. 25 
 
 if anybody can put it on its feet, Sandy Foster ean"- 
 meaning General V\. S. Foster. 
 
 I have no recollection of our Department ever reporting 
 to Stephen son, or even to anybody, until after the National 
 Encampment in November, ISiiii. General Julius Webber,, 
 of Springfield, A. (). Belim, of Lafayette, and myself, by 
 direction of General Foster, constituted the Committee on 
 Badge, and \ve designed the first badge of the Order. It 
 was manufactured in Lafayette, Indiana. I was Fos 
 ter s first and only adjutant-genera.! in I860; Kiniball s in 
 1867, Foster s again in 1868, and wais elected Department 
 Commander in 1869, and succeeded by Colonel Lewis Hum 
 phrey, of South Bend, in 1870. During all this time I was 
 familiar not only with what was done in Indiana, but in 
 many other Departments, as will appear in succeeding 
 pages. This statement is made here that the reader may 
 know that what follows is not based upon memories of what 
 transpired during the founding of the Grand Army, but is 
 # statement of facts as appear upon the records of those 
 years now in my possession and my personal property. 
 
 It is well to understand this fact that, though this Order 
 was organized in the heat of a political contest, its princi 
 ples were written in sincerity of purpose its foundation 
 principles, the three cardinal virtues, fraternity, charity, 
 and loyalty, without reference to political affiliation or sym 
 pathy, and only as it was strongly partisan in organization, 
 in localities, did it become political. Soldiers affiliating with 
 both political parties became charter members of the same 
 Post. 
 
 2- 
 
26 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 So rapidly did enlistments follow General Order No. 1., 
 that in many eases the obligation only was given, leaving the 
 soldier to select whatever Post he desired. The Senate 
 .Chamber was, on several occasions, appropriated for nius-- 
 tcring purposes, because of its advantages!. At the first 
 muster there, there must have been at least forty who took 
 the obligation simply to become members, without any as- 
 fsignment. Districts were formed, composed of a number of 
 counties, for which aides were chosen whose duty was to 
 visit the towns to muster in groups that were already formed 
 to organize Posts. In this way the State was organized. 
 
 It soon became evident that our efforts were not to be 
 confined to our own State. Letters came from different 
 parts of the country, inquiring about the "Grand Army," 
 how they could get it, etc. No one, as far as we knew, had 
 the right tot grant a Department Charter, or any special priv 
 ileges, unless it was Stephenson, and he had not claimed to 
 have any more right than did General Foster. During this 
 period Major Stephenson wrote to us from time to time for 
 blank Charters, Constitutions and Rituals, which were cheer 
 fully sent to him without charge. He also wrote for various 
 supplies, stating they, as yet, had none and would have to 
 rely upon our Department until his State was organized. 
 This condition of affairs them may seem strange to many 
 now, in view of the fact that Illinois is recognized as the 
 first organized Department, but it nevertheless was a fact, 
 and one that at no time then, or upon any occasion, pro 
 voked comment. We were indebted to Stephenson for the 
 Order we were paying our debt. We never at any time 
 
History of the Grand Army of the llepiibtic. 27 
 
 claimed paternity. The question was never mooted. We 
 never even took note of time or plaee of the organization 
 there or elsewhere,, except in our own State. We not only 
 aided him and all others with whatever we had in supplies, 
 but asked him to declare himself Commander-in-Chief. 
 
 The one great event that entered into our councils now 
 was how to ho represented in the Soldiers and Sailors Con 
 vention called to- assemble at Pittsburg, September 25th_, 
 180(5; whether we should try to go as a "Grand Army" body, 
 or en masse, and yet preserve our organization in representa 
 tion. The latter method was adopted, and General Foster 
 issued the following circular letter : 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Indiana, 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, Adjutant-General s Oflicc, 
 
 "Indianapolis, Sept. 12th, 18(>(>. 
 "Commander District of - . 
 
 "Sir: I am directed by Major-General E. S. Foster, 
 Commanding Department of Indiana, Grand Army of the 
 Republic, to request you to take immediate measures for a 
 full representation, en masse or by delegates, from your Dis 
 trict to the Pittsburg Convention; of Soldiers and Sailors, to 
 be held on the 25th of this month. No convention of a sim 
 ilar character has ever been held, and it becomes us as loyal 
 soldiers to cordially respond to this call. The American 
 Volunteer Army, though disbanded, is yet a unit, and the 
 same high emotions which knit its members together when 
 hardships came, or the conflict raged, still actuate the mass 
 of our soldiers. No credentials are necessary except loy- 
 altv. Indiana presented them in the field/ and let it ever 
 
28 Hilton/ of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 be H;I id she stands ready at any time, in any way, to present 
 them anywhere on the face of the globe. 
 
 "0. M. WILSOX, 
 "Adjutant-General Department! 
 
 The response to this circular came from every District, 
 and many Posts. It bex.-a.me necessary to instruct the dele 
 gates to go direct to Pittsburg, to Indiana headquarters 
 there, at the Monongehala House, instead of coming via 
 Indianapolis. At this time reports- from one hundred and 
 thirty-four Posts were received, nearly every one of which 
 was represented in that Convention. A large delegation, 
 more than occupying one car, went from Indianapolis, all 
 Grand Army men wearing the badge we had printed a 
 white ribbon with "Grand Army of the Republic" in gilt let 
 ters, an eagle underneath, and below, "Indiana" in large 
 letters, all in gilt. These badges were distributed to every 
 Indianian at that convention, and to many others they were 
 given, being asked for as souvenirs. 
 
 Remembering the many inquiries made for the " work," 
 General Foster permitted me to take a supply of Charters, 
 Rituals, and Constitutions, and in the use of proper discre 
 tion, to give the "work" to such representative soldiers of 
 different States who should apply for it." 
 
 From the published proceedings of that great Conven 
 tion of soldiers, I cull a few items, noting this fact, that 
 Indiana was the only State represented there by an organ 
 ized body of "Grand Army" men. To be sure, many of our 
 Indiana comrades there had not yet become members, but 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 29 
 
 they all assembled at our headquarters, and recognized the 
 organization as the proper and only exponent of their sen 
 timent and wish as soldiers: 
 
 "Encampment of 0. A. Pi. of Indiana, Post No. 1, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, 
 "Kendallville, Ind., Sept. 19th, 1866. 
 "Resolved, That we, the members of this Encampment of 
 the Grand Army of the Republic, feeling ourselves to be in 
 full sympathy with the high and noble aims and intentions 
 which have caused our comrades 1 of the army and navy to 
 call a mass convention to meet at Pittsburg, Pa., Sept. 23th, 
 1866, to express their views on the important political issues 
 agitating our common country, do in special meeting declare 
 ourselves fully endorsing tin s noble call in eacli and every 
 particular; and therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the Commander of fhis Post order the 
 Adjutant to send these resolutions, accompanied by the 
 members, one hundred and twenty-five, of the Encampment, 
 to General James S. Xegley, Pittsburg, Pa. 
 
 "M. F. COLLIER, 
 "Post Commander. 
 "H. H. NELSOX, 
 "Post Adjutant." 
 
 "Evansville, Ind., Sept. 17ih, 1866. 
 "General J. S. Negley. 
 
 " I have the honor to report that a delegation of three or 
 more of the Soldiers and Sailors Union and Grand Army 
 of the Republic of Yanderburg County, Indiana, will take 
 
30 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 part in the Convention to be held in your city on the 
 25th inst. 
 
 "The following are the delegates: Win. Warren, Jr., 
 24th Indiana Veteran Volunteers; E. Tbunhemielt, First 
 Lieutenant 1st Indiana Battery; Captain Darling, 25th In 
 diana Volunteers ; and your/ respectful and obedient servant, 
 
 "EDWARD WEHLER, 
 "Late Colonel 178th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers/ 
 
 The above are given to show ijhe representation of the 
 State, of the Grand Army from, Indiana in that Convention, 
 Kendallville in the extreme northern and Evansville on the 
 southern border. There is no record of any other State rep- 
 Tcsentcd there by this organization as such. Others came 
 as representatives! of the "Soldiers and Sailors Union" and 
 "Convention/ 7 "Boys in Blue/ "Kansas Veteran Brother 
 hood" and other titles. By the Mayor of Pittsburg, Hon 
 orable W. C. McCarthy, the soldiers were welcomed in an 
 address as "Boys in Blue." The surviving Indianians of 
 that Convention will remember the song by E. W. H. Ellis, 
 of Indiana, dedicated to the Department of Indiana as the 
 "Rallying Song of the Grand Army of the Republic" which 
 is herewith given, since the words bear great significance to 
 the Jiitual, which those of us at that time remember, as well 
 as to the political spirit of the times : 
 
History of flic Grand Army of the Republic. 31 
 
 1. 
 
 There s a mighty army gathering throughout the East 
 
 and West, 
 
 With banners gaily flaunting they speed _along with zest, 
 And the motto they are shouting ,"We fight for the oppressed, 
 As we go marching on." 
 
 Chorus: Glory, glory, hallelujah, etc. 
 
 2. 
 
 Their ranks are filled with heroes, who fought in deadly 
 
 strife, 
 
 To shield the Constitution and save the Nation s life 
 From the maddened rebel s fury and fhe base assassin s knife, 
 As they went marching on. 
 
 3. 
 
 From the gory fields of battle, from the mountain and the 
 
 plain, 
 Where the wood and rocks are blushing with the blood of 
 
 kindred slain, 
 
 They come with arms victorious to battle once again, 
 As they go marching on. 
 
 4. 
 They have sworn upon the altar of their country and their 
 
 God, 
 
 By the spirits of the gallant dead, who sleep beneath the sod, 
 Their neck shall never bow again beneath the oppressor s rod, 
 As they go marching on. 
 
32 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 5. 
 
 They have sworn with hand uplifted, upon the bended knee, 
 They ne er will ground their arms again, till all mankind 
 
 are free 
 
 And every tongue once manacled shall shout for liberty, 
 As they go marching on. 
 
 6. 
 
 The glorious hour is coming, the day is drawing nigh, 
 When slavery and oppression shall lay them down and die, 
 And universal freedom shall be echoed through the sky, 
 As they go marching on. 
 
 Looking back upon that Convention, it seems that the 
 time and place was fitly chosen for that groat ebullition of 
 feeling pent up since 18(50, for there never was demonstra 
 tive exultation by the Union soldier during the war. But 
 jiow it seemed that all of the armies had met for congratu 
 lations, that the old flag had been reset, and in the passion 
 of the hour was revived a delirium of patriotism. Never 
 before was there such a gathering of soldiers; even the 
 parade at Washington at the close of the war was but a part 
 of the Army. Never again will it be possible for a like 
 assembly. 
 
 Indiana soldiers were represented* in this Convention not 
 only by their Grand Army officers, but officially by General 
 Milo S. Hascall as chairman of our delegation (several thou 
 sand) ; General Dan Macauley and Major Ed. Armstrong, 
 Secretaries; General Thomas J. Brady and Colonel Win. 
 O Brien, Committee on Organization; Private Win. .Warren 
 
History of the. Grand Army of the Republic. 33 
 
 and Colonel A. I). Straight, Vioe-Presidents; General Thos. 
 W. Bennett and Colonel S. P. Oyler, on Resolutions; mem 
 bers of the National Committee, soldiers and sailors, Gen 
 eral B. S. Foster, T. W. Bennett, and Milo S. Hascall. 
 
 An incident occurred at the first meeting of the Conven 
 tion that will be remembered not only by every Indianian 
 there, but by many others. The Hoosier was everywhere; 
 he was in evidence upon all occasions, and upon any emer 
 gency; in fact, he was "too numerous" to discipline. So 
 when the word came to "fall in/ it fell upon a sea of human 
 ity. But somehow we succeeded in forming a column, and 
 proceeded to make our way to the hall of the Convention. 
 We got to the stairway, and stuck in the jam. We simply 
 held our ground because we couldn t do anything else. 
 Something had to "give way" pretty soon, or somebody would 
 be crushed. Presently our leader, llascall, was heard above 
 the din, "Forward, Indiana!" Somehow the living mass in 
 which we were wedged, and through which we were inch by 
 inch pushing our way, began to realize that we were going 
 into that hall, and somehow we began to slip along a little 
 easier. We got in, how many I don t know probably a hun 
 dred and fifty. I said we got in. We did more. We got to 
 the very front seats, whether reserved for Indiana I don t 
 know, but 1 do remember that 1 was close to Hascall, who. 
 as we halted, turned to see how many of the boys were there, 
 and if any needed help to get there. He looked as if he had 
 come out of a furnace, and his rai mfent was very limp. Jusi 
 then .Indiana was called. The General turned, and in a 
 loud, clear, ringing voice shouted, "Here she is where she 
 always was at the front \" 
 
34 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 In the great torchlight procession the 8th Ward "Boys 
 in Blue" of the 4th Division,, Pittsburg, bore this "strange 
 device" : "All hail to the Grand Army of the Republic !" 
 
 General Willich, in his speech in the Convention, speak 
 ing for Indiana, said: "No doubt they can now see where 
 the Grand Army of the Republic is. That army is here, and 
 the heart of the people is here." 
 
 The Convention might be said to have been in session all 
 the time all over the city. Entertainments, receptions, etc., 
 were of hourly occurrence without reference to daytime or 
 night-timei. The longest, thickest, and strongest "latch- 
 string" ever hung out in any community was the "freedom 
 of the city." Never once was it broken: the "tether" was 
 too strong, and the "boys" left it it ? s there yet. 
 
 By special appointment I met comrades to give them 
 the secret work of the Grand Army of the Republic. I care 
 fully avoided parading the Order, for it was a convention of 
 soldiers irrespective of organizations. If there were others 
 there claiming membership in this organization we did not 
 know it. It was, however, no secret that we claimed to rep 
 resent the Grand Army of the Republic, and from the fact 
 ,that Indiana headquarters was sought by so many represent 
 ative soldiers from other States, who asked to receive the 
 "work," we assumed that our badge had drawn many, as it 
 was the only badge representing the Grand Army of the 
 Republic in that Convention. 
 
 To the following named comrades I gave the obligation, 
 the secret work, and supplied each with Constitutions, Kit- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 35 
 
 uals, Charters, and other supplies necessary to organize a 
 Department : 
 
 General J. T. Hartranft, Pennsylvania, and others. 
 
 General J. Shaw, Jr., Bhode Island. 
 
 General E. W. Whittaker, Connecticut. 
 
 General Charles Devens, Major A. S. Cushman, and 
 Chaplain A. H. Flint, Massachusetts. 
 
 General J. B. McKeon, New York, and others. 
 
 General Ed. Jardine, New Jersey, and others. 
 
 General A. W. Dennison, Maryland, and others. 
 
 General Sparhawk, Maryland, and others. 
 
 Colonel T. B. Fairleigh, Kentucky. 
 
 General Thomas L. Young, Ohio. 
 
 General Charles Walcott, Ohio. 
 
 Colonel John A. Martin, Major T. P. Anderson, Kansas. 
 
 Colonel Timothy Lubey, Washington, D. C. 
 
 These I remember more especially because they were 
 the leading representatives of others with them. 1 knew 
 most of them, and am further aided in my memory by my 
 personal record made at the time and later correspondence. 
 With these comrades the Department of Indiana co-operated 
 in many ways during the years 1866, 1867, 1868, and 1869. 
 In some cases, from three to six or more comrades received 
 the obligation together, that they might better introduce the 
 "work" in establishing Posts and forming Departments. 
 This was especially the case with comrades from Pennsyl 
 vania, New York, and Massachusetts. 
 
 It is hardly worth while to say more than to merely men 
 tion the fact, that among the many errors of statement in 
 
36 History of the Grand Army of tlie Republic. 1 
 
 the "History of the Grand Army of the .Republic," by Kob- 
 ert B. Beath, in the statement that "in October, 1866, De 
 partments had been formed in .... Indiana," an 
 injustice is done our Department. He had the records be 
 fore him the Department records, that General Foster s 
 first Department Order was issued August 20, 1866. And 
 further, as Comrade Beath knew at the time, his own Post 
 in Philadelphia was organized on and by the strength of the 
 charter I gave him at Pittsburg in September, 1866, signed 
 by General Foster as Department Commander of Indiana, 
 and by myself as Adjutant-General Department of Indiana; 
 and said charter was so granted by General Foster, whose 
 name was afterwards erased, and Hurlbut s and Stephen- 
 son s names inserted for Foster s and my own. At least that 
 is what he admitted to me in the Dennison Hotel, at Indian 
 apolis in the presence of Comrade James R. Carnahan. And 
 further, he certainly did know that there was no Commander- 
 in-chief until such was chosen at the first National Conven 
 tion that convened at Indianapolis, November 20th, 1866. 
 
 Touching this question, a memorial was presented some 
 years ago by the writer hereof, and his comrades, Colonel 
 Charles A. Zollinger and Captain Charles W. Brouse, to 
 Colonel I. N. Walker, then Department Commander of Indi 
 ana, upon the right of Indiana to seniority in the Order. 
 The original draft of that memorial is in my possession, and 
 I take from it the following: 
 
 "If we couldn t be considered an organized Department 
 until after the National Encampment, certainly Illinois, 
 Wisconsin, and Iowa could not; yet they stand credited with 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 37 
 
 such privilege and priority. What constitutes an organiza 
 tion in the Grand Army? what constitutes a Department? 
 who are entitled to participate in such organization? and 
 how can a Department be organized? are questions that must 
 V> answered with reference to the organic law the. Consti 
 tution, not the "Blue Book," a;s written by Beath. For the 
 law governing the Order in lcS(>6 we 1 turn to the Constitu 
 tion bf that date. If there was an organization of this Order 
 on July 12th, 1866, it would be under and in pursuance of 
 a constitution adopted for and by such organization. In 
 stead, the only authority which Beath s "History" Blue 
 Book gives for claiming that Illinois was so organized is 
 the following : 
 
 "A call for that Convention, dated June 22d, 186(1, 
 which reads, A Convention of the Grand Army of the lie- 
 public and of Illinois Soldiers and Sailors will be held at 
 Springfield, July 12th, 18(56. Signed, John M. Palmer. 
 B. F. Stephenson, and others." 
 
 The following is the official telegraphic report of that 
 Convention : 
 
 "The State Convention of the Grand Army of the He- 
 public was in session to-day. Almost overy county in the 
 State was represented, and five hundred delegates were in 
 attendance. A committee on resolutions, permanent organ 
 ization, and other matters of less importance was appointed. 
 A permanent organization was effected by the appointment 
 of Walter B. Scates, of Chicago, President; General B. M. 
 Prcntiss and General Tree, Vice-Presidents; Major llobert 
 M. Wood, Secretary; and Captain Thomas M. Thompson 
 and Privatei F. A. Hall, Assistant Secretaries." 
 
38 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 These arc not Grand Army titles nor officers. This is 
 the Convention credited in the Blue Book with being a 
 Department Convention, held at Springfield, 111., July 12th, 
 
 I860. "Comrade John M. Palmer whom 
 
 ] 1 style," says Beath, "Department Commander, to meet the 
 subsequent change of title, was elected Grand Commander/ 7 
 It will be noticed that if they had a Constitution there was 
 no need of "styling" him anything else than in the -rank 
 that Constitution determined. But Mr. Beath makes it con 
 venient to dedicate his tree before it is planted. No mem 
 ber of this Order will recognize that Convention as a Depart 
 ment Encampment. 
 
 No reference is made to any Post organization in the 
 "call" signed by a number of soldiers. Grand Army En 
 campments do not assemble on the "call" of soldiers. This 
 was not at that time the method of assembling members of 
 the Grand Army, in Department Encampments, according 
 to our form of the Constitution of the Grand Army of the 
 Republic in 1806. Grand Army Encampments are not 
 called "Conventions," nor were they so designated at that 
 time. Grand Arm} 7 Encampments do not appoint Presi 
 dents to preside, and Vice-Presidents and Secretaries and a 
 Committee on Permanent Organization, as did the Conven 
 tion of July 12th, 1806. No one will deny that it was a 
 convention of soldiers, and as such its machinery was proper, 
 but not as a Grand Army body. Nearly the same status ex 
 isted at the first National Encampment. But there the body 
 met under a recognized authority, with only certain desig 
 nated persons qualified to act Grand Army men; their 
 
History of the Grand Army of tlie Republic. 39 
 
 right had to be determined by a Committee on Credentials. 
 I f this body at Springfield was a Grand Army Encampment, 
 it had a Constitution to govern it, and a Ritual to guide it. 
 This the National Encampment had; and iC that assembly 
 at Springfield, call it what you may, did not meet and delib 
 erate in conformity to the letter an/d spirit of that Constitu 
 tion and Ritual, it has no right to the claim made for it. 
 
 But that Convention was in fact what the "call" contem 
 plated and intended it should be, a convention of Illinois 
 Soldiers and Sailors, regardless of any affiliation with anv 
 organization. "As many," says the call, "of our soldiers 
 have not had the opportunity to join our army, they will 
 be mustered in on the occasion." On what occasion? Of a 
 mass convention. 
 
 "All those," continues the call, "who wish to establish 
 and maintain the rights of the volunteer soldiery of the late 
 Avar morally, socially, and politically are requested to meet 
 with us." If there was a constitution then in force, why 
 was it not obeyed? It names the officers; among others, 
 "Department Commander," not "Commanding Department, 1 
 a9 Stephenson and others with him signed themselves, up to 
 the time of the National Encampment. (See Art. III., Sec. 
 8, Cons. 18GG, Downey & B rouse, printers, Indianapolis.) 
 JIow a mass convention could bestow such a title, that could 
 only be given and received by those obligated and author 
 ized to act in the secret work, may be, probably, a matter 
 of indifference in the accomplishment of a certain end. 
 Such an assembly could not properly be dignified with the 
 title of a "Provisional" encampment. The Department of 
 
40 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Indiana, organized on the Kitual and Constitution in July, 
 but supposedly when the first General Order was issued, 
 August 2()th, 18(50, had no knowledge even of such "Con 
 vention." There never was any "Commander-in-chief" in 
 the Order, until General Hurlbut was elected at Indianap 
 olis in Xovember, .1800. To be sure, Stephenson assumed 
 the title, but we all know that this act was simply a gratifi 
 cation of his own vanity and it was certainly pardonable 
 in him. 
 
 Some years ago there was a very elaborate Constitution, 
 gotten up in Indiana by a few comrades, a costly badge Avas 
 designed and made, other devices, signs, and symbols pre 
 pared, officers were chosen, all -the necessary machinery for 
 a great Order prepared, and that was all, except the name; 
 it died there. 
 
 So the mere fact of saying so, or calling yourself a 
 "Department," issuing a "General Order," as of a Depart 
 ment, or as "Commander-in-chief," when in fact there is no 
 feuch organization behind you, or beneath you, or over you 
 to back up or sustain your claim and assumption, doesn t 
 make a "Department" or "Commander-in-chief." When 
 the tangible, subsisting, living thing is before you, set in 
 motion and moved by your influence and orders, and your 
 muster rolls run into majestic thousands, as did those of 
 the Department of Indiana Ixjfore General Foster issued his 
 first order, then you can safely and honorably say, This 
 organization is what it claims to be; this is, in fact, an 
 organization. "Styling" a convention such does not make 
 it one. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 41 
 
 To Indianians there is but one conclusion upon the evi 
 dence before us, and in the light of history., and the knowl 
 edge it was given us to possess, and. from the relation it was 
 our privilege to hold in those years to the chief actors in our 
 organization, it is a truth that cannot be gainsaid, that what 
 is to-day known as the Grand Army of the Republic, though 
 truly conceived in Illinois, was brought to life by Governor 
 Oliver P. Morton, and. given wings and started on its flight 
 to glory the moment General R. S. Foster left the presence 
 of Major B. F. Stephenson, in Springfield, Illinois, in July, 
 1800, with the draft of the first Constitution and Ritual in 
 his possession. " 
 
 The facts are the first, printed copy oi the Constitution 
 perfected for the government of the Order, that we saw, \vas 
 printed by the Department of Indiana the latter nart of 
 July, 1800 this from copy given us by Major Stephenson. 
 Whatever had been done prior to this time was necessarily 
 without organization, or what might be called Ritual work, 
 and this was crudely delivered and lacked in cohesion, with 
 out any method or form of government essential to a prop 
 erly organized Post. 
 
 More is claimed for Major Stephenson than he ever 
 claimed, or would claim for himself. lie never regarded 
 his oral organizations effective. In his great desire to estab 
 lish the Orddr he sought friends for aid. In the late win 
 ter of 1800 about February, he gave the obligation of the 
 Uitnal to Colonel A. J. llawhe, in the Democratic county of 
 Floyd, Indiana. llawhe and Stephenson had belonged to 
 the same brigade, and were warm personal friends. Hawhe*s 
 
 3- 
 
42 History of the Grand Army of tJte Republic. 
 
 effort, however, in organizing a Post met with strong Dem 
 ocratic opposition, led by Colonel Cyrus L. Dunham, 50th 
 Ind. Vols. Hawhe saw that such contentions and opposi 
 tion would divide the soldiers in sentiment, Dunham suc 
 ceeded, and Hawhe relinquished all i urtlur effort with his 
 paper organization. He had nothing to work with. 
 
 We first heard of Hawhe s effort and failure late ; in July, 
 or about the first of August. He had been designated as 
 "Commander of the District." This was in conformity with 
 the written Constitution as it was afterwards written, show 
 ing that such plan was in Stephenson s mind from its incep 
 tion. In our interviews with Stephenson, Webber, and 
 Mather at Springfield, Hawhe s name was never mentioned. 
 Evidently Stephenson didn t want us to know that he had 
 tried to introduce his Ritual in that Democratic stronghold, 
 This fact, however, may have been one of the moving causes 
 to his complaint, that "the boys wouldn t take hold of it." 
 
 When Hawhe notified us of what he had tried to cTo, 
 we sent him Rituals, Regulations, and blank Charters, and 
 told him to go ahead. But by this time he had given up 
 all hope of success, and early in August the] Post succumbed. 
 At most the few members had held together on the obliga 
 tion of the Ritual without a Constitution to govern them. 
 
 Hawhe claimed he had no time to give to the Order; at 
 the same time he didn t have a very hopeful opinion of its 
 success. He spoke of the Democratic opposition, and thought 
 this an insurmountable barrier to success that, being in 
 part political, no Democratic soldiers would come into the 
 organization. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 43 
 
 At the time of our interview with Stephenson, Webber, 
 and Mather at Springfield, we were given to understand that 
 prior to that time it was an experiment and a failure ; and 
 probably had we known of Hawhefs failure, we might not 
 have consented to undertake the organization, as we then 
 did. We supposed thd "failure" was among his own- boys in 
 Illinois, and Webber led us so to believe. 
 
 Major Stephenson s first official utterance was as Adju 
 tant-General, in his address convening the 2d National En 
 campment at Philadelphia, January 15, 1868. In this he 
 says : "In presenting this, the first official report of the rise 
 and progress of the glorious Order," etc. : . . . "Early 
 in the spring of 18(5(5, a few patriots, deeply feeling the im 
 portance of organizing a grand association of the gallant 
 Union soldiers and sailors of the late terrible rebellion, 
 . formed their plans, and, publicly calling on all in 
 terested, on the 12th day of July, 18(5(5, met in convention in 
 the Representative Hall in the State Capitol at Springfield, 
 Illinois, and then and tit ere formed a nucleus of the grand 
 organization here present, and wliicli from that liumble ori 
 gin now extends an influence throughout every Stale and 
 Territory in our country. . . . Your present Adjutant- 
 General was honored by the appointment as Provisional 
 Commander-in-chief. With but crude materials at his com 
 mand he succeeded in a few months in establishing Provis 
 ional Departments." The latter part of this communication 
 was sharply criticised at the time, for fourteen of the States 
 represented in that Encampment had boon organized by the 
 Department officers of Indiana, and, as these pages show, 
 
44 History of the Grand Army, of the 
 
 were in the first National Encampment at Indianapolis. 
 McKean, of New York, and Wagner, of Pennsylvania,, and 
 others were especially indignant, saying to me: "Say noth 
 ing, Allison; let the old man have his way." What we all 
 wanted was harmony, peace, and success. 
 
 But Stephenson never was appointed "Provisional Com 
 mander-in-chief"; nor was there ever a Grand Army organ 
 ization, up to thirt 1st Xational Encampment held at Indi 
 anapolis, authorized to make such office. 
 
 The fact was, in which all concurred, he acted as such 
 on no other authority than as the writer of the Ritual in 
 fact, the founder of the Order. This coiiventfon of July 12, 
 18G6, as shown elsewhere in these pages, was not a Grand 
 Army gathering. It was not called as such. There was then 
 a Constitution, providing for Grand Army officers, but this 
 convention was officered like all other like bodies, by a Pres 
 ident, Secretary, etc. As he says, however, "this convention 
 there formed the nucleus of the grand organization." So 
 out of his own mouth it is here written, that "then and there 
 this grand organization took form as a nucleus, and from 
 (hat humble origin it became a great power/ but its growth 
 started in Indiana. 
 
 So there could not have been an organization prior to 
 that time; and the interview by General Foster and myself 
 with Stephenson, Webber, and Mather, both of whom were 
 designated as staff officers to General Palmer, coming almost 
 immediately after this 12th of July convention, establishes 
 ihe fact that the "niK len* had not yet formed, because 
 "the bovs wouldn t take hold of it." 
 
History of the- (trand Army of Mm Republic. 4"> 
 
 The roster of the Department of Illinois, 1904, shows 
 "B. F. Stephenson, Past Department Commander, 1866," 
 when in fact he was never such even acting, for there was 
 no Department organized, as it was claimed on July 12, 
 1866, and then General Palmer was elected President of the 
 convention not Department Commander. Nor is he cred 
 ited as such in this roster. Prom Stephenson there is a gap 
 of seven years to a Department Commander, Guy T. Gould, 
 in 1873. 
 
 My impression had always been, up to tho assembling at 
 our 1st National Encampment, that there were nominal 
 Department Commanders in this time, though their organ 
 ization was not considered effective at least strong enough 
 for an active Department. These facts are mentioned to say 
 that the old "Xcuus" Post at Pock ford the last of all, of 
 which Guy T. Gould was a member, survived to become the 
 "nucleus" upon which the Department was organized, with 
 their Comrade Gould for Department Commander in 1873. 
 
 In all this time from July, 18(>(> to 1871, inclusive, the 
 Department of Indiana had never wavered, but held her 
 organization, as these pages show. 
 
 I remember very distinctly that, despite the printed Gen 
 eral Order, Xo. 13, Springfield, 111., on page 68 of the afore 
 said "History," signed by Stephenson as "Commander-in- 
 chief," he, calling the first Xational Encampment a "Con 
 vention," declined to assume sacli authority and title. We 
 simply recognized the order as coming from headquarters. 
 Grand Army of the Kepublic, Springfield. The "Conven 
 tion," so termed by Stephenson, was the only kind of an 
 
46 History of the Grand Army of tlie Republic. 
 
 assembly he had as yet anything to do with in the organiza 
 tion. However, this "Convention" was assembled more on 
 personal letters and solicitation, from not only our Depart 
 ment, but from others, the latter insisting it be held at 
 Indianapolis. I remember that it was urged upon us not 
 only by Stephen son, but by General Thomas L. Young, 
 Department Commander of OMo; General McKeon, Depart 
 ment Commander of New York ; General Whittaker, of Con 
 necticut; Dennison, of Maryland in fact, by all those to 
 whom T had given the secret work at Pittsburg. And the 
 oh id reason assigned was that we had started the Order/ 
 
 In this connection, noting the fact that Indiana has been 
 "turned down" on her claim for seniority, it is refreshing to 
 "read the following from the aforesaid "History": 
 
 "The Department of .Indiana supplied Major Stephen- 
 son with blank Charters, Rituals, and Regulations 
 
 " The Department of Indiana was the only Department 
 represented distinctly as such, in the Pittsburg Convention, 
 having representatives from 138 Posts in response to a cir 
 cular from Department Headquarters." This circular ap 
 pears in preceding pages. 
 
 "Major 0. M. Wilson, Assistant Adjutant-General of the 
 Department of Indiana, was exceedingly active during this 
 Convention in interviewing leading representatives relative 
 to the Grand Army of the Republic, urging the organization 
 of Posts; and for this purpose he obligated quite a number 
 from the East, instructed them in the Svork/ and gave them 
 topics of thei rules and of the Ritual." (Heath s "History," 
 page 27.) 
 
History of tlir Grand Army of tJte Republic. 47 
 
 But, touching this first National Encampment, Comrade 
 Heath alludes to Stephenson s disappointment in not being 
 selected for "Commander-in-chief." Whatever this disap 
 pointment may have been, if any, in Major Step henson not 
 being chosen at first a Department Commander which even 
 that "convention of soldiers and sailors" and Grand Army 
 men did not assume to do, at Springfield, on July 12th, 
 18(](> he certainly could not feel that the National Encamp 
 ment had slighted or overlooked him, or that his work was 
 reflected upon. He called the Encampment to order. He 
 could have no grievance, then, and so far as any disappoint 
 ment there, which " ho felt until his death," there are com 
 rades living to-day who know, as I know, that he was asked 
 to take the position of "Commander-in-chief,," hut declined, 
 saying that he did not feel competent to fill the position, 
 hut would take a subordinate position, which he did that 
 of Adjutant-General. My impression was then, and has 
 ever heen, that he was a satisfied man in what lie had given 
 the soldiers. He advocated the election of General Hurl- 
 hut, oui first Commanding OtTieor. 
 
 His administration of the Adjutant-General s office, as 
 Comrade Beath finds and asserts, proves that he knew him 
 self better than wo knew him. The prime motive of his life, 
 then, was to see the Order sueceod, hut he did not know how 
 to forward its success. His motives were too pure and sin 
 cere to ccnsuiv. He took every advantage of what seemed 
 to offer an aid to its promotion. His one great purpose was 
 to establish the Grand Army of the Republic. He did not 
 look ahead for consequences, but regarded only the possibil- 
 
48 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ities of acquirement, which instead of giving him strength 
 to maintain his position, brought to him a sense of humilia 
 tion, which never was shared by his comrades; rather did 
 they feel and express a sympathy for a zeal he could not iinv- 
 part to others. 
 
 He was sometimes too hasty, not from fear, but anxiety 
 to accomplish a great purpose. For instance, the anomalous 
 position in which we find Major Stephenson on April 6. 
 1800 -according to the record of said "History/ when he 
 exercises Department rights and privileges before there was 
 a legally constituted Department, unless the proceedings of 
 the "Soldiers and Sailors Convention" are to be 1 considered 
 such, which .Heath declarer them to be leads to the con 
 clusion that the circular letter of April 18th, 1.80(>, to Messrs. 
 Kauan and ({mining, to draft constitution and by-laws, was 
 simply preliminary to an organization, and that instead of 
 being a "Department Commander on April 6th, he was in 
 fact without a command. If there had been a constitution 
 in force then, such as we received from him in July, and 
 printed, he would certainly have observed his proper title, 
 and instead of signing a "Charter" as "Commanding De 
 partment," he would have observed the language of his own 
 constitution, and written himself bv the proper designated 
 title, "Department Commander/ 
 
 The question naturally suggests itself, If said Charter 
 was issued April Oth, 1800, "in accordance with the Consti 
 tution of the Grand Army of the "Republic," how does it hap 
 pen that on April 18th, 1800, a committee is appointed by 
 him to "draft constitution and by-laws?" for in, through, 
 and by such only could a Post be established. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 49 
 
 "Up to this date/ 7 says Comrade Beath, in his afore 
 mentioned lii story, "no constitution had been drafted, though 
 the general plans had i)een discussed." Then how could he 
 take the title "Commander"? And even before this Ste- 
 phenson issues General Order, Xo. 1, creating a Department 
 staff, signing himself "Commanding Department/ 7 Lest I 
 appear hypercritical, 1 quote the language of the first Con 
 stitution of 1860. Art. JTI., Sec. 3: "The officers of each 
 Department shall he, one Department Commander, one 
 Adjutant-General, one Assistant Adjutant-General, . . . 
 
 But Major Stcphenson was an enthusiast. Ho was a 
 grand man. Tie had a right io entitle himself as lie pleased. 
 The only contention I make is, that with all his titles he 
 had no command at the time he assumed them, by reason of 
 which wrong has been done other IV.part ments by the sacri 
 fice of the truth of history. 
 
 It was no humiliation in him to ask for Kituals and Con 
 stitutions, and they were given him even without the ask 
 ing. Nor did we think it strange, or ask wherefore. We 
 knew how hard he had worked to build up the? Order in his 
 own State. We did not forget from whom we obtained the 
 " work,* and we did everything in our power to strengthen 
 his hands. Under these 1 conditions we were 1 recognized and 
 our wishes were respected in many things, and when Major 
 Stephenson wrote us. and insisted, because of what we had 
 done, that we ought of right to have the First National 
 Encampment, we concurred, thanking him, and prepared 
 for it. 
 
50 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 . Rut there is another error in this Beatles "History" I 
 wish to correct: A fae-simile of the original Constitution 
 as received and printed by the Department of Indiana is 
 given entire to these pages. It is the first Constitution, as 
 received from the hands of Major Stephenson. In it, as will 
 he seen, the Declaration of Principles contains the word 
 "sailors," so that the Indianapolis Convention did not add 
 this word to said "Declaration." Xor as claimed in the 
 aforesaid history, docs this original have the "new section 
 from the Constitution of the Loyal Legion" added by that 
 convention, thus confirming the authentic character of this 
 the first and original Constitution, which embraced the 
 \\onl "sailors" in its first declaration of principles. 
 
 As to the Stephenson Ritual, which is also added to 
 these pages, whatever the Committee did at the Indianap 
 olis Convention in no wise changed its structure, as orig 
 inally promulgated by Major Stephen son. This copy was 
 printed by the Department of Indiana, as was the Constitu 
 tion in 186f>, as their title pages show. 
 
 The first serious attack made on this Ritual was at Phil 
 adelphia, in 1868, which resulted in shortening the "charge" 
 of the Post Commander. This old Ritual was overthrown, 
 annulled, abrogated by the "Three Degree" Ritual adopted 
 at Cincinnati in May, 18i>0, of which mention is made here 
 after. The many changes mr.de by the Philadelphia En 
 campment in January, 18G8/ by the revision of the Ritual 
 and Constitution made it necessary to compile for the bet 
 ter administration of the Department, encampment regula 
 tions, by-laws, and rules of order, which method we deemed 
 
History of the Grand Army of Hi e Republic. 51 
 
 the best, to promulgate in a simple form regulation require 
 ments. My impression now is, it was pronounced "contra 
 band" by Xational JTeadqaurters. 
 
 These matter? are mentioned, not in the spirit of con 
 tention, but that the facts of history may be shown as they 
 were regarded and existed at that time. \Ve were to a 
 
 O 
 
 degree unmindful of what others were doing, because wo 
 were too busy with our own State affairs. The subject of 
 seniority never concerned us during these first years of the 
 Order, when we supposed no such question could be raised, 
 for in those months we never heard of any State or Post 
 organization; we had no correspondence with such previous 
 to General Foster s first "order"; we had no knowledge of 
 any other Grand Army organization, or representation in 
 Pittsburg; we saw no Grand Army men from other States, 
 nor badges to distinguish such except our own; we made no 
 effort to outdo anybody, but we did have it said to us at 
 Fittsburg and at our First National Encampment, "Indi 
 ana takes the lead of all other States in point of organization 
 of her delegates." 
 
 It may be possible that Iowa and Wisconsin had received 
 the secret work, as we had done, but they certainly had not 
 pressed their organization or opportunities as we bad done, 
 and during all this time, and almost up to the time of the 
 Encampment in November, 1SGO, no sign had been made 
 of any organization in these States or elsewhere. The ros 
 ter of delegates in that Encampment shows this fact. 
 
 The Order had now become so strong in Indiana that it 
 : became necessary to lighten the burden upon Department 
 
52 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Headquarters, and to this end General Orders, No. 5, dated 
 Nov. 1st, 1866, was issued, placing upon a selected comrade 
 in each county, as the Constitution required, the duty of 
 District Commander, to whom the Posts in his county should 
 report, instead of directly to Department Headquarters. 
 This "order" may be of interest to many, if not of any spe 
 cial historical value, and it is herewith given : 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Indiana, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, 
 
 "Adjutant-Generars Office-, 
 "Indianapolis, Tml., N r ov. 1st, 1866. 
 " General Orders, No. 5. 
 
 "I. The following soldiers arc authorized to organize 
 the Districts assigned them: 
 
 District of Allen: Colonel George Humphrey. 
 
 District of Bartholomew: Colonel A. W. Prather. 
 
 District of Benton : Colonel James Parker. 
 
 District of Blackford: Major George W. Cuberly. 
 
 District of Boone: Captain Jesse Custar. 
 
 District of Carroll : Colonel John G. Clark. 
 
 District of Cass: Colonel Thomas II. Bringhurst. 
 
 District of Clay: Major Edward Armstrong. 
 
 District of Clinton: Captain J. M. Sims. 
 
 District of Crawford: Major W. T. Jones. 
 
 District of Dearborn: Major \Y. F. Howard. 
 
 District of Decatur: Colonel J. S. Scobey. 
 
 District of Deleware: General Thomas J. Brady. 
 
 District of Dubois: Major E W. Wellman. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 5o 
 
 District of Elkhart : Major-General Milo S. Hascal. 
 
 District of" Fayette : Major Gilbert Trusler. 
 
 District of Fountain: Captain Isaac W. Hart. 
 
 District of Franklin : Major John C. Burton. 
 
 District of Fulton: Colonel Kline G. Shryock. 
 
 District of Gibson: Colonel James T. Einbry. 
 
 District of Grant: William Lewis. 
 
 District of Greene: Colonel F. H. C. Cravens. 
 
 District of Hamilton: A. M. Conklin. 
 
 District of Hancock: Captain Amos C. Beeson. 
 
 J)istrict of Harrison: General Henry Jordan. 
 
 District of Hendrieks: Colonel W. L. Y^tal. 
 
 District of Jl onry: Captaiji I). W. Chambers. 
 
 District of Howard: Captain Thomas M. Kirkpatrick. 
 
 District of Huntingdon: Major Henry J>. Sayler. 
 
 District of Jackson: Captain M. W. Tanner. 
 
 District of Jasper: General R. H. Milroy. 
 
 District of Jay: Cyrus Stanley. 
 
 District of Jefferson: Colonel T. 11. Harris. 
 
 District of Jennings: Colonel II. Tripp. 
 
 District of Johnson: Colonel John R. Fcsler. 
 
 District of Knox: Major Clark Willis. 
 
 District of Kosciusco.: General Reuben Williams. 
 
 District of La Grange: Major J. W. Leitch. 
 
 Di s t r i c t o f La k e : Ma j o r \\ m . I v r i n i.l > i 1 1 . 
 
 District of Lawrence: Lieutenant-Colonel Henry P- 
 
 Davis. 
 
 District of Madison: Colonel M. S. liobinson. 
 District of Marion: General Fred Knefier. 
 
54 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 District of Miami: Colonel John M. Wilson. 
 District of Monroe: Major James B. Mulky. 
 District of Montgomery : Captain T. W. Fry. 
 District of Morgan : Captain W. J. Manker. 
 District of Noble: Captain M. F. Collier. 
 District of Ohio : Major John W. Eabb. 
 District of Owen: Major John W. Day. 
 District of Parke: Colonel James E. Hallowell. 
 District of Perry : Major M. Brucker. 
 District of Posey : Major Sylvanus Milncr. 
 District of Putnam : Captain Milton A. Osborne. 
 District of Randolph : General Thomas M. Browne. 
 District of Eipley: Captain W. Hyatt. 
 District of Eusli : Colonel W. A, Cullen. 
 District of Shelby: Samuel F. Mason. 
 District of St. Joseph: Major 0. S. Witherill. 
 District of Switzerland: Major Win. Patton. 
 District of Tippccanoe: Cantain John A. Stein. 
 District of Tipton : Captain George 0. Hardesty. 
 District of Union : General Thomas W. Bennett. 
 District of Vanderburg: Major Blythe Hines. 
 District of Vermillion: A. M. Staats. 
 District of Vigo: Colonel W. E. McLean. 
 District of Wabash: General C. S. Parrish. 
 District of Warren: General George D. Wagner. 
 District of Washington : Colonel D. W. C. Thomas. 
 District of White: Colonel Alfred Reed. 
 District of Whitley: Captain Isaac B. Hymer. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 55 
 
 "JI. Post Commanders will henceforth receive all in 
 structions from their respective District Commanders. 
 
 "Ill 
 
 "By order of the Department Commander, 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "Adjutant-General Department." 
 
 At this time it was apparent that the growth of the 
 Order in the Eastern Statds would soon force a national 
 Conclave, and to all letters, suggesting that the Department 
 of Indiana take the initiative in calling such body together, 
 General Foster answered that we always recognized in 
 Major Stephonson the "father 7 of the Order, as he had 
 given us the "work/ though we had never received any 
 orders from him that would lead us to report to, or other 
 wise recognize him as "Commander-in-chief." He sug 
 gested that correspondence he had with Major Stephenson, 
 stating also that we wore ready to act in conjunction with 
 other Departments. 
 
 We accordingly wrote to Stephenson, suggesting some 
 action on the line of these letters, and saying we desired to 
 recognize his authority, and would act on his orders. Major 
 Stdphenson was pleased by this deference to his feelings and 
 wishes. He even requested to be recognized as the proper 
 one to call such Xatiional Encampment; at the same time 
 he declared the Department of Indiana was the proper one 
 to have it, as it Avas the one from which the Order first 
 went out as a State organization, and on this account and 
 because of our great strength as a Department, he wanted 
 ithe first National Encampment held in Indiana. He fur- 
 
56 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ther stated that lie had succeeded in organizing a number 
 of Post* in liis State, some of which, besides their State 
 headquarters, had received favors from our Department. 
 
 Following this correspondence, Stephenson issued, as 
 "Commander-in-chief," General Order, No. 13, dated 
 Springfield, 111., Oct. 31st, 1800, for "a National Conven 
 tion of the Grand Army of the Republic, to convene at 
 Indianapolis at 10 o clock on Tuesday, the 20th day of 
 November, 180G." I now here call attention to the fact that 
 the word "convention does not appear in the Constitution, 
 under which presumably this General Order, No. 13, was 
 issued. 
 
 Article III., title, "Organization," re:ids: 
 
 "Section 1. This association shall he composed of Na 
 tional, State, County, and Precinct organizations, and shall 
 be called The Grand Army of the Republic. The National 
 organization shall be known as the "Grand Army of the 
 Republic. 
 
 "Sec. 2. The officers of thei Grand Army of the Repub 
 lic shall be one Commanding Ollicer .... 
 
 "Sec. 3. . . . of each Department one Depart 
 ment Commander. 
 
 "Sec. -1. . . . District Commander, .... 
 
 "Sec. T>. , . Post Commander, .... 
 
 "Sec. (i. The- duties of Commanding Officers shall be 
 essentially those of a presiding officer; and in his absence 
 the members present in camp shall select a member to per 
 form his duties pro 
 
History of the Grand Army of tlic Republic. 57 
 
 In Article V, Sec. 4, the word "encampment" is used 
 for the first time, and this in connection with District meet 
 ings. Properly, then, in calling the National organization 
 together, instead of saving, "a National Convention," had 
 he said, "The Grand Army of the Republic 7 will assemble, 
 lie would have Expressed the language of the Constitution; 
 and further, as will he seen hereafter, the proceedings would 
 not have been characterized by the. selection of officers, such 
 as govern ordinary deliberative bodies, as it was the duty 
 of the senior officer of any organized Department, in thu 
 absence of national officers, provisional or otherwise, to call 
 the assembly to order and conduct the deliberations to a 
 permanent organization. Howuver, though Article III.. 
 Sec. 3 of our Constitution provided who and what these olli 
 cers should be in a national assembly, the right as such was 
 not claimed, and the Encampment was called to order and 
 organized as any civic body would be, by Major Stephenson, 
 (yet all these months we had been working under titles fixed 
 by a constitution and crystallized in a ritual. 
 
 In response, therefore, to this General Ord .T, No. 13. 
 and following its language, General Foster issued Special 
 Orders, Xo. 31, for the beneifit and guidance of the District 
 Commanders of the Department: 
 
 "I 
 
 "11. District Commanders assigned by General Orders, 
 No. 5, dated Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic, 
 Department of Indiana, Xov. 1st, 18(56, will hasten the 
 (Organization of their respective districts, as therein speci 
 fied, and enjoin, as far as possible in their power to do ; a 
 
58 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 strict and immediate conforinance to instructions contained 
 in Special Order, No. 13, accompanying. 
 
 "III. Delegates to the National Convention will receive 
 their credentials through their respective District Com 
 manders. These credentials will be taken up at these 
 headquarters, and a card givdu therefor, in order that a 
 proper record may he had of delegations of this Depart 
 ment in said convention, and for the better and more con 
 venient preservation of said credentials by Headquarters 
 Department of Indiana. 
 
 "IV. District Commanders will not receive delegates 
 from Posts that have not complied with Article VII., Sec. 
 1, Constitution Grand Army of the Republic, but only 
 such as present their charter are entitled to representation 
 as specified in Article III., Sec. 4, Constitution Grand 
 Army of the Republic. An immediate compliance with 
 the requirements of Article VII., Sec. 1, is earnestly de 
 sired, and commanders are requested to eta force its provis 
 ions, if possible, throughout their district, in order that the 
 ( * rand Army of the Republic of Indiana, at the National 
 Convention, may present a reflection of her patriotism so 
 valiantly and bravely shown and maintained in solid col 
 umn, in skirmish line/ 7 and "on picket" in the field. 
 
 "V. It is desirable that not only delegates should be 
 in attendance at this convention, but members of the Grand 
 Army generally are requested to rally to give greeting to 
 our comrades who come in our midst from all parts of the 
 
Ilistwy of the Grand Army of tkc lie public. 59 
 
 country to pledge anc\v tin. 1 principles that triumphed over 
 treason. 
 
 "By order of 
 
 "M.AJOK-GKNEKAL R. S. EOSTKK, 
 
 ff Department Commander. 
 
 "0. M. WJLSON, 
 
 "A djv tan t-General Department/ 
 
 Thong] i much has been said derogatory to this first 
 organization, and against the rightful claim of Indiana to 
 seniority., let the 1 sententious answer, what kind of an assem 
 bly would tliis have been; what representation, as an asso 
 ciation of soldiers, would have gathered there; who would 
 have responded to Stephenson s proclamation, had not Indi 
 ana come up with her muster rolls of thousands, and stood 
 sponsor for other States whose delegates then, as Grand 
 ^rmy men, represented Departments, and to whom Indiana 
 had given the obligation and their charter at Pittsburg in 
 September, 18(>(> ? 
 
 That National Encampment performed its purpose in 
 every way. It chose a "Commanding Officer," and gave 
 the Order a national existence. As what? History answers, 
 "Tho Grand Army of the Republic." Who else than Grand 
 Army men could have done this? And who were these 
 men and what States did they represent? Every State 
 was represented, and recognized as a "Department." This 
 was not denied then, and the Committee on Credentials 
 credited with approval each Stata as such Department as 
 then and there entitled to representation in that Encamp 
 ment as a de facto and de jure Department. 
 
60 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 The structure of this first National Encampment may 
 best be judged by the following facts and committees: 
 
 Called to order by Major Stephenson, Colonel John M. 
 Snvdcr, of Illinois, was appointed Secretary; and General 
 Julius C. Webber, of Illinois, and Major 0. M. Wilson, of 
 Indiana., Assistant Secretaries. 
 
 Indiana was entitled to and presented at this First 
 Xational Encampment two hundred and ten (210) dele 
 gates, who were seated on report of the Committee on Cre 
 dentials. About one hundred and fifty of these delegates 
 were private soldiers. Illinois had thirty-four (34) dele 
 gates seated. Of these 10 were generals, 1 colonel, 2 ma 
 jors, 13 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 surgeons, 4 untitled. 
 Ohio had sixteen. (16) delegates, all seated. Missouri had 
 nine (9) delegates, all seated. Wisconsin had five (5) del 
 egates: 1 general, 2 captains, 2 untitled, all seated. Iowa 
 had four (4) delegates: 1 general, 2 captains, 1 lieutenant, 
 all seated. New York, two (2) delegates, seated. District 
 of Columbia, one (1) delegate, seated. Pennsylvania, three 
 (3) delegates, all seated. Kentucky, three (3) delegates, 
 seated. Kansas, five (5) delegates, all seated. Arkansas, 
 one (1) delegate, seated. 
 
 STATES KElTiESENTED. 
 
 Kentucky. District of Columbia. 
 
 Ohio. Missouri. 
 
 Indiana. Iowa. 
 
 Pennsylvania. Illinois. 
 
 AVisconsin. Kansas. 
 
 New York. Arkansas. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 61 
 
 CO MM ITT ME OX CREDENTIALS. 
 
 General Chetlain, Illinois. 
 W. H, McCoy, Ohio. 
 L. E. Dudley, District Columbia. 
 Colonel Clayton McMichael, Pennsylvania. 
 Colonel John S. Cavender, Missouri. 
 Colonel Thomas B. Fairleigh., Kentucky. 
 Major T. J. Anderson, Kansas. 
 General Robert S. Catterson, Arkansas. 
 Captain Gwynne, Wisconsin. 
 ]\lajor A. P. Alexander, Iowa. 
 Captain M. C. Garbcr, Indiana. 
 
 (COMMITTEE OX PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Colonel Burgc, Kentucky. 
 General A. Willich, Indiana, then of Ohio. 
 Colonel T. P. Ledergerber, Missouri. 
 Colonel Clayton McMichael. Pennsylvania. 
 Charles G. Mayers, Wisconsin. 
 General S. A. Hurlbut, Illinois. 
 General William Van clever, Iowa. 
 Colonel John G. Kelly, Pennsylvania, 
 Colonel Kidd, New York. 
 Major T. J. Anderson, Kansas. 
 
 COMMITTEE OX BUSINESS. 
 
 Colonel M*ilward, Kentucky. 
 Colonel Feltus, Pennsylvania. 
 Colonel E. F. Snyder, Ohio. 
 General C. Harding. 
 
02 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Colonel John G. Kelly, Pennsylvania. 
 
 [Richard Lester, Wisconsin. 
 
 General Thomas 0. Osborn, Illinois. 
 
 Captain S. D. Price, Iowa. 
 
 General Charles Cruft, Indiana. 
 
 The Committee on Business was made the Committee 
 on Constitution, consisting of one from each Department, 
 to he appointed by the presiding officer. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 John McNeil, Missouri. 
 
 Charles Case, Indiana. 
 
 H. G. Felt us, Pennsylvania. 
 
 A. P. Alexander, Iowa. 
 
 J. K. Pro nd fit, Wisconsin. 
 
 A. L. Chetlain, Illinois. 
 
 T. B. Fairleigh, Kentucky. 
 
 T. T. Taylor, Ohio. 
 
 The first officers chosen by this Encampment were: 
 
 General Stephen A. Hurlhut, Commander-in-chief, 
 Illinois. 
 
 General John B. McKeon, S.V., Commander-in-chief, 
 Xew York. 
 
 General 17. S. Foster, J.V., Commander-in-chief, 
 Indiana. 
 
 Major B. V. Stephenson, Adjutant-General, Illinois. 
 
 General August Willieli, Quartermaster-General, Ohio. 
 
 Major I). C. McNeil, Surgeon-General, Missouri. 
 
 General W. A. Pile, Chaplain, Missouri. 
 
n-istory of the Grand Army of the Republic. 63 
 
 COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 J. K. Proudfit, Wisconsin. 
 
 William Vandever, Iowa. 
 
 Thomas 0. Osborn, Illinois. 
 
 T. C. Fletcher, Missouri. 
 
 T. T. Taylor, Ohio. 
 
 H. K. Mil-ward^ Kentucky. 
 
 F. J. Bramhall, New York. 
 
 Nathan Kimball, Indiana. 
 
 Clayton McMichael, Pennsylvania. 
 
 It is now proper and just that the record of these State- 
 be shown in the Grand Army of the Republic., since they 
 were recognized in this Encampment as Departments: 
 
 Maryland had the Ritual and Charter September, 1866. 
 
 Kentucky had the Riiunl and ( barter September, 1S(>(>. 
 
 New Jersey had the Ritual and Charter, September, 
 1866. 
 
 Ohio had the Ritual and Charter September, 1866. 
 
 Pennsylvania had the Ritual and Charter September, 
 1866. 
 
 Rhode Island had the Ritual and Charter September, 
 1866; not in Encampment. 
 
 District of Columbia had the Ritual and Charter Sep 
 tember, 1866. 
 
 Massachusetts had the Ritual and Charter September, 
 1866 ; not in Encampment. 
 
 Connecticut had the Ritual and Charter September, 
 1866; not in Encampment. 
 
 Kansas had the Ritual and Charter September, l<S(!(i. 
 
 New York had the Ritual and Charter September, 1866. 
 
64 History of the Grand; Army of the Republic. 
 
 To whom given: Dcunison, of Maryland; Fairleigh, of 
 Kentucky; Jardine, of New Jersey; Young, of Ohio; Hart- 
 ranft, of Pennsylvania; Shaw, of Rhode Island; Lubey, 
 of District of Columbia; Devens, Quint, and Cushman, of 
 Massachusetts; Whittaker, of Connecticut; Martin and 
 Anderson, of Kansas; McKoon, of New York; all of these 
 Commanders having received the Ritual and charter from 
 Indiana. 
 
 Yet according to the Roster ( ?) constructed since, and 
 long after the triumphs of Jnfdiana had enshrined these 
 States in thd Grand Army of the Republic and the Grand 
 Army of the Republic in the heart of the Nation, we have : 
 
 Maryland, as organizeo^Tanifetry 8th, 1808. 
 
 Kentucky, as organized January 17th, 188,3. 
 
 New Jersey, as organized January 17th, 1868. 
 
 New York, as organized April 3d, 1867. 
 
 Ohio, as organized January 3d, 18(57. 
 
 Pennsylvania, as organized January 16th, 1807. 
 
 Rhode Island, as organized March 24th, 1868. 
 
 Potomac, as organized February 13th, 1869. 
 
 Missouri, as organized May 16th, 1867. 
 
 Massachusetts, as organized May 7th, 1867. 
 
 Kansas, as organized December 7th, 18(50. 
 
 Indiana, as organized November 22<1, 1866. 
 
 Connecticut, as organized April llth, 1867. 
 
 As to Tennessee and Kentucky, see Logan s General 
 Orders. If the above "roster" is true, then the record of 
 the first National Encampment is an ignis fatuus. If anv 
 one State in that Encampment had a right to be there, it 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 65 
 
 was under the same Constitution under which .Indiana had 
 organized not only her own soldiers, hut those representing 
 the other States there represented. The only difference 
 was, she had made the most of her opportunities and priv 
 ileges given in that Constitution. If, therefore, by eating 
 too much meat she offended her brother, she should not be 
 stricken because they didn t eat enough, or any. It is not 
 egotism for Indiana to point to this Encampment as her 
 product, but it is simple, plain, unalloyed, unadulterated, 
 sublimated cheek, impudence, and contempt for her achieve 
 ments and political triumphs for any man to deny it. If 
 there is a chapter in the history of the Order of which 
 Indiana soldiers should be proud, it is that page on which 
 is written that victory which was ours in peace as well as 
 in war for the principles of Republican government. It is 
 immaterial to the Indiana Comrade of the Grand Army 
 now, where the Department of Indiana is placed in the 
 national organization, whether at the top or at the bottom ; 
 he has for his shibboleth, triumph in loyalty, obedience to 
 the laws, patriotism, and good government. 
 
 It is proper and germane hereto to recall the speech 
 made by the war governor of Inkliana, Oliver P. Morton, 
 at a public meeting on the evening following the adjourn 
 ment of this National Encampment, which was presided 
 over by General John M. Palmer. Governor Morton, after 
 expressing words of welcome on behalf of the State of Indi 
 ana to the members of the Gr;ind Army of the; "Republic, 
 said : 
 
66 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "You belong to an army that saved the Nation the 
 grandest army of any nation in the world, a citizen arniy 
 which understood well the cause for which they drew their 
 swords. The country now is in a transition period. . . . 
 We are in the midst of a revolution not outside of the Con 
 stitution., but such as occurs within constitutions. 
 The gratitude of the country is due to the men who saved 
 it, and that gratitude will grow stronger as the years go 
 by. The crippled and maimed soldiers will he nourished 
 and protected, and the apothegm that "Republics are un 
 grateful" proven false in the case of America, which will 
 take care of those to whom it owes its national existence." 
 
 Eulogy of Governor Morton is not needed. The war 
 produced no greater man. No man stood closer to the sol 
 diers than he did. No man was more loved by the loyal 
 people of this Nation than Morton. Lincoln was worshiped, 
 Morton was a part of every soldier from Indiana. His 
 heart-strings were linked with theirs. His whole life was 
 absorbed by all they did. I went with him to the battle 
 field of Fort Donelson, and saw the majestic personality 
 and dauntless, untiring energy given to the succor of Indi 
 ana soldiers, and the great sympathy go out from him for 
 the many wounded Confederates, many of whom were 
 brought to our State. I saw him again with his staff of 
 army surgeons and nurses when they came to us on the 
 Yazoo Eiver in May, 1863, to Grant s Vicksburg army. 
 Where there was pain and suffering, hardship and exposure, 
 anguish of wounds and death, Morton was there to admin 
 ister to his "boys" and relieve their distress. Wherever we 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 67 
 
 went he followed us with the care of a father. In the exec 
 utive office no want was overlooked, no need neglected. 
 Wherever the "boy," his watchful eye followed him, and his 
 great heart went out to him. 
 
 Who, then, could feel a greater admiration for their 
 heroism, a deeper love for their achievements, than the 
 man whose spirit had dwelt with them through the long 
 night of civil war? What better person than he could 
 speak for Indiana and the Nation, as he did speak to these 
 veterans, representing their comrades from every State that 
 was represented in the Union Army? It was the overflow 
 ing of a full heart for the success of our arms against dis 
 loyalty. NOT did he propose that the fruits of this victory 
 should be lost when he appealed to them to stand by the 
 principles for which they had taken up arms. If inter 
 necine strife was to follow, he proposed without any dalli 
 ance to crush it with the same spirit, and the same men 
 who had crushed the rebellion. The principles of republi 
 can government should prevail, and its enemies rooted out 
 from every spot where the germ had fastened a disloyal 
 footing. He violated no moral, religious, or civic rule when 
 he appealed to the soldiers of his State to rally against the 
 strongholds of tlie enemy, in sympathy for the "lost cause." 
 Yes, we had "a Morton in our campaign/ and although this 
 Grand Army of the Republic was a means to an end, we 
 would have won with a liko organization along the same 
 lines. 
 
 And when in later years in 1809 the Constitution 
 was made to read, "No officer or comrade of the Grand 
 
68 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Army of the Republic shall in any manner use this organ 
 ization for partisan purposes, and no discussion of partisan 
 questions shall be permitted at any of its meetings, nor shall 
 any nominations for political office he made," that moment 
 the right of fellowship was changed from what the comrade 
 ship of the field offered, to the sentiment of the lodge- 
 room, that could not under any conditions sustain the ardor 
 and support the inclination of the veteran, who felt like 
 giving his energies, active and aggressive, on the line his 
 soldier life suggested. What better service could the sol 
 dier then give his country than to keep it, as he did, by 
 every, honorable means where he placed it in 1861-65, liber 
 ated from a slavei oligarchy, and united as a gigantic na 
 tionality? What is the soldier s life? Shall he pose for 
 and pretend to be what he is not a hypocrite? 
 
 I - stood close to Morton and the national leaders in 
 1866 and 1868, and I say with pride and a satisfied con 
 science not boastingly that the organization of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic in Indiana in 1866 and 1868 did 
 more for the security of peace and good government 
 throughout the Nation than has ever since been done by it, 
 or any other organization. This was Morton s judgment 
 and the declared conviction of many other national leaders. 
 
 I know what was done in that campaign. I knew every 
 politician in the Stat:-, active, and inactive. I knew every 
 weak place, and was enabled to ht lp strengthen it. 1 was 
 not only the Adjutant of the Department, but Secretary 
 of the Senate. Thus placed in this period of our State s 
 history, I was enabled to feel the "pulse-beat" of the good 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 69 
 
 and the bad in politics, and under the leadership of iny 
 superior officers, aided in keeping Indiana in the column 
 of loyal States. In so doing, Indiana was lieild Republican. 
 The Senate and House were Republican this was the 
 struggle, to win the Legislature. And winning it, Indiana 
 gave to the United States Senate Oliver P. Morton. This 
 is what the Grand Army did in 1806 in Indiana. 
 
 In his moments of reflection, in the hour when the 
 acclaim of her soldiers came to him through their repre 
 sentatives in the General Assembly of Indiana in the reg 
 ular session of 18G7, Oliver P. Morton did not forget them, 
 when he laid down the duties of governor of the State to 
 accept the office of "United States senator, to which he was 
 elected on January 23d, 1867. His message to that body 
 on January 24th, bore these words: 
 
 " ... To that large body of friends who nobly 
 sustained me through the difficulties by which I was sur 
 rounded during the dark and perilous hours of the Rebel 
 lion, I am bound by sentiments of affection and gratitude 
 which will end only with my life. 
 
 ."To the officers and soldiers of Indiana, whose devoted 
 patriotism and heroic valor have shed 1 so much luster upon 
 the State and Nation, I return my heartfelt thanks for 
 their many manifestations of confidence and regard. My 
 Connection with them in the organization and support of 
 the army w r ill ever be the proudfest period of my life. 
 May this people hold them in grateful and affectionate 
 remembrance." 
 
70 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Following this first National Encampment of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic was the first Encampment of the 
 Department of Indiana that convened in Morrison s Opera 
 Hall on the evening of November 21?t, 18GG. An order 
 for this assembly was undoubtedly issued, but I do not find 
 It among my papers. My impression now is, that the rep 
 resentation was fixed after the Encampment was called to 
 order, from the fact that some Pests were morel largely rep 
 resented than others as delegates in the National Encamp 
 ment. I think the Posts were each allowed one vote, and 
 so many additional votes for a number above a certain 
 (membership. I remember that the Department Encamp 
 ment was at least three times larger in numbers than the 
 vote cast indicated. General Foster presented a brief out 
 line of his work as Department Commander, which com 
 prised the organization of ten Congressional Districts, and 
 the establishment of some three or four hundred Posts, of 
 which at this time one hundred and seventy were chartered. 
 
 The official record of this first Department Encamp 
 ment passed from year to year among the papers of the 
 Adjutant-General s office, into the hands of Colonel Hum 
 phrey s Adjutant-General in 1870, whose office and con 
 tents was destroyed by fire in 1871, as I have been advised. 
 1 have, therefore, my personal memoranda only of the more 
 important proceedings, from which I take the following: 
 
 "On motion of Major W. T. Jones, of the District of 
 Harrison, the Encampment proceeded to the election of 
 Department officers for the next ensuing year. 
 
History of tJtc Grand Army of the Republic. 71 
 
 "General Frank White, of Owen, nominated for Depart 
 ment Commander Major-General Nathan Kimball; Cap 
 tain S. D. Lyon, of Hancock, put in nomination Major- 
 General R. S. Foster; Colonel J. 0. Martin nominated 
 General Dan Macaulcy. Geineral Foster withdrew his name 
 for the reason he! had been chosen Junior Vice-Commander- 
 in-chief, and could not act as Department Commander. 
 
 "General Kimball received 58 votes, General Macauley 
 25 votes. General Kimball was declared elected. 
 
 "For Senior Vice-Commander, General Dan Macauley, 
 Colonel M. Peden, General Jasper Packard, Colonel Charles 
 Case, General Thomas J. Brady and Private A. C. Rowli 
 son were placed in nomination. The relsult of the first bal 
 lot was Macauley 35, Peden 8, Packard 2, Case 4, Brady 
 10, Rowlison 23. Generals Macauley s and Brady s names 
 were withdrawn, when on motion Private A. C. Rowlison 
 was elected by acclamation. 
 
 "For Junior Vice-Commander, Colonel James R. Hal- 
 lowell, Colonel E. H. Wolfe and Colonel Charles Case were 
 placed in nomination. Colonel Hallowell received 10 votes, 
 Colonel Wolfe 1 vote, Colonel Case received the majority 
 of all the votes cast and was declared elected. 
 
 "For Adjutant-General, Captain E. P. Howe and Major 
 0. M. Wilson were placed in nomination. Captain He we 
 received 15 votes; Major Wilson received 67 votes and was 
 declared elected. 
 
 "For Quartermaster-General, Colonel Samuel Merrill, 
 Colonel A. J. Hawhe, and Major John Popp were placed 
 in nomination. On the iirst ballot Colonel Merrill had 19 
 
72 
 
 1/ixf.wy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 votes, Colonel Hawhc 20 votes, Major Popp 25 votes. On 
 second ballot; the lowest candidate being dropped, Colonel 
 Hawhe received 30 votes, Major Popp 35 votes. Colonel 
 Hawhc was declared elected. 
 
 "For Council of Administration, General Thomas J. 
 Brady, Colonel 0. H. P. Bailey, Private J. K. Powers, 
 Colonel James K. Hallowell, and Colonel C. J. Dobbs were 
 chosen. 
 
 "For Surgeon-General, Dr. J. K. Bigelow and Dr. T. 
 W. Fry were placed in nomination. Dr. J. K. Bigelow 
 received 51 votes, and was declared elected. 
 
 "For Chaplain, A. Allen, J. H. Lozier, and Captain 
 Irwin were placed in nomination. On the first ballot Allen 
 received 20 votes, Lozier 21 votes, Irwin 33 votes. The 
 name of Chaplain Allen was withdrawn, and the second 
 ballot stood, Lozier 21 votes, Irwin 49 votes, and he was 
 declared elected. 
 
 "The following resolution, offered by Colonel James R. 
 Hallowell, of Parke), was adopted unanimously: 
 
 Resolved, That in the name of our fallen comrades of 
 our own proud Hoosier State, we pledge the devotion of 
 our time, our energy, our means, and, if need be, our lives, 
 in support of the principles set forth in the Constitution 
 and resolutions adopted by the National Encampment of 
 the Grand Army of the Republic/ 
 
 "On motion the Encampment dissolved. 
 
 "Attest: 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "A dj ula > it-General." 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT 8. FOSTER. (1866.) 
 
 Department Commander of Indiana and Acting Provisional National Com 
 mander, July 1866 to Nov. 21, 1866. Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief-Elect, 
 Nov. 21, 1866 to January, 1868. Department Commadner of Indiana, 1868-9. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 73 
 
 On November 22d, 18(56, General Kimball issued the 
 following : 
 "Fellow-Comrades : 
 
 "Having been chosen by you in convention assembled, 
 Commander, I now hereby assume command of tllis 
 Department, with headquarters at Indianapolis. I con 
 gratulate the* army on the happy results of the National 
 Convention of the Grand Army of the Republic in Indian 
 apolis on the 20th and 21st inst Our organization has 
 now been definitely and solidly made national. It is only 
 necessary to refer to the illustrious soldiers chosen for olh- 
 cers of the Grand Army to recall to every soldier memories 
 of toilsome inarches, weary vigils, battles, and sieges; and 
 their past records give assurance of an able, wise, and ener 
 getic administration of the weighty responsibilities imposed 
 upon them as leaders of the defenders of the Republic. The 
 principles that actuate the true soldier can never become 
 the heritage of any but a noble, generous, active, and 
 humane people. The Grand Army fitly chooses to recog 
 nize only such principles, and as faithful comrades in the 
 field let us always endeavor by our language and actions to 
 secure and maintain the same pledges, of devotion that wo 
 then and there made to that "old flag," which is emblem 
 atical of all that i.- good and great in a nation, and bravo 
 and loyal in man. Let every member of the army remem 
 ber that he is a soldier: our Posts are; camps of instruction, 
 not debating societies. Let a strict military discipline be 
 maintained and a willing respect yielded to the officers 
 whom you have elected for vour leaders. 
 
74 History of the Grand Army of the EC public. 
 
 "With an abiding faith in the justice of our claims and 
 righteousness of our principles, I recommend the widest 
 possible diffusion of knowledge of our organization, until 
 every true and tried soldier who has marched to the music 
 of the Union and worn the blue shall be mustered into 
 the Grand Army of the Republic, and every suffering,, dis 
 abled soldier, every soldier s widow and his orphan shall be 
 Relieved by the sense of justice and liberal generosity, not 
 the; charity of the Government. 
 
 "I shall cheerfully give to you in the discharge of my 
 duties all the ability I possess, and in return ask your 
 earnest co-operation to make the Grand Army in Indiana 
 all that the spirit of its laws demand and its provisions 
 contemplate. 
 
 "The officers elected the staff of this Department are 
 herewith announced : 
 
 "Senior Vice Commander, Private) A. 0. Rowlison. 
 
 "Junior Vice Commander, Colonel Charles Case. 
 
 "Adjutant-General, Major 0. M. Wilson. 
 
 "Inspector-General, Colonel A. J. Hawhe. 
 
 "Surgeon-General, Dr. J. K. Bigelow. 
 
 "Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Irwin. 
 
 "NATHAN KIMBALL, 
 "Commander, Department of Indiana, 67. A. R." 
 
 In a General Order, No. 7, the following named com 
 rades were appointed Aides-de-camp: Samuel Merrill, 
 Aide-de-camp and Inspector-General ; George IT. Chapman, 
 Dan Macauley, Henry Jordan, S. Edward Armstrong, Milo 
 S. Haseall; Thomas M. Browne, 
 
History of the Grand Army of thr. Ttr public. 75 
 
 General KiinlmlPs first Council assembled on the 9th 
 of January, 1867. Articles of incorporation of the Grand 
 Army for Indiana were ordered to be drawn as soon as the 
 new constitution could be made part thereof. The Coun 
 cil directed that no badges be sold outside of the encamp 
 ments in this Department; that no member shall receive 
 nor be permitted to pay for a badge until his dues shall 
 be paid to his Post; that a circular be issued to all Posts 
 for a memorial to he signed by all soldiers and citizens, ask 
 ing our Legislature to repeal the law permitting county 
 commissioners to assess certain taxes affecting soldiers. 
 
 The salary of the Adjutant-General was iixed at one 
 hundred dollars per month from and aftor Xov. 21st, 1S(>(>. 
 Mileage, per diem, $3.00, was allowed. 
 
 The administration of General Kimlmll was a remark 
 able one in many respects, chiefly in leaving everything to 
 be done by his Adjutant-General, with whom there was 
 always the heartiest accord and intimate fellowship. No 
 act was clone, no order ever written without the approval 
 of the General. But General KimbalFs zeal neycr flagged. 
 He kept himself well informed of the progress of the Order. 
 He almost always directed answers to letters. Anything 
 that would contribute to the glory of the Order he would 
 direct. His heart was very tender in love for the soldier, 
 and many he assisted from his own means. He would not 
 hear a soldier abused. He gave his confidence, and it was 
 not abused. 
 
 One special and important eyent that occurred in his 
 administration was the laving of the corner-stone of the 
 
76 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Soldiers Home at Knightstown on the 4th of July, 1867. 
 Of all acts of his life he regarded this to be the crowning 
 one. That ceremony is a part of Indiana history that I deem 
 worthy of preserving, and find no better place for it than 
 in this connection. 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Indiana, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Kepublic, 
 
 "Adjutant-General s Office, 
 "Indianapolis, May 27th, 1867. 
 "Comrades: 
 
 "While wo commemorate on the 4th of July, 1867, the 
 anniversary of our independence as a Nation, we should not 
 forget our achievements in the late war for the preserva 
 tion of the Union, especially on tins day, when at Vicks- 
 fourg and Gettysburg the principles of liberty and union 
 were again triumphant by the surrender of the besieged 
 citadel of the one, and the overthrow, at the other, of the 
 enemy on the battle-field. It was by such patriotic ardor 
 and devotion of the Union Army to these principles that 
 we are once more permitted to enjoy the endearments of 
 homo and the blessings of a permanent Union. The luster 
 of our arms will become brighter as time rolls on, and the 
 name of American soldier will be a synonym for bravery, 
 dauntless valor, and courage; his love of country and trust 
 in an all-wise God will cast an eternal halo around the 
 proud title, American citizen. 
 
 "The friendships, sympathy, and brotherly love formed 
 in the field were unwillingly severed, but the same princi 
 ples that actuated us there have re-united us in the peace 
 ful walks of life, under the same flag, in a great Army 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 t 1 
 
 whose mission is charity and love. Our duty now is to care 
 for our wounded comrades and to protect and educate the 
 families of deceased soldiers. Our opportunities are al 
 ways; our duty eternal. To this wise purpose our State 
 nas generously established a Soldiers Home/ Beautiful 
 grounds have been purchased, and a suitable structure is 
 now in process of erection. In consideration of our iden 
 tity as a brotherhood with the inmates of the Home/ the 
 Board of Directors have requested that the Grand Army 
 conduct the ceremonies of laying the corneir-stone on the 
 coming 4th of July. The ceremony will therefore be 
 made, under the Grand Army of the Republic, of this De 
 partment, an honor to tlirt Army and a tribute worthy of 
 the comrades whose battle-scars secure to them the honor 
 and gratitude of our noble State. For this occasion the 
 order of the day will be duly announced from these head 
 quarters. 
 
 "It is earnestly desired that comrades throughout the 
 State will commemorate the coming Fourth wherever an 
 opportunity is offered. A Grand Encampment in the Dis 
 trict of Tippecanoe at Lafayette on this day, together with 
 other Encampments in other districts, at different times, 
 should receive, as far as possible, a cordial co-operation of 
 all Posts in this Department, It is earnestly desired that 
 our greatest national clay may be made one of reunion 
 of comrades, and let the time be propitious for more 
 
78 History of the Grand Army of the He public. 
 
 closely uniting the veterans of the field in our Order of 
 brotherhood. 
 "By order of 
 
 "NATHAN KIMBALL, 
 
 "Department Commander 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 
 "Adjutant-General;" 
 
 Special Orders, Xo. 14, dated May 28th, 1867, followed : 
 
 "I. District Commanders and Commanders of Posts, 
 
 with the Adjutants thereof, are requested to meet with a 
 
 committee- and the officers of Headquarters Department, at 
 
 headquarters Post No. 1, District of Henry, Knightstown, 
 
 on Tuesday, Juno 4th, at 10 o clock a. in., to confer with 
 
 the Board of Directors of the Soldiers Home, to make the 
 
 necessary arrangements for laying the corner-stone of the 
 
 Home on the coining Fourth of July. 
 
 "By order of 
 
 "NATHAN KIMBALL, 
 "Department Commander. 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 
 "Adjutant-General," 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Indiana, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, 
 
 "Adjutant-General s Office, 
 
 ^Indianapolis, Ind., June 6, 1867. 
 "[Circular.] 
 
 "The attention of the Comrades throughout the State, 
 and especially of the members of Posts and Districts near 
 the locality of the ceremony, is called to the enclosed pro 
 gramme of exercises, to be observed at the laying of the 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 79 
 
 tf cornetr-stone ? of the Soldiers Home at Knightstown, In 
 diana, on the coming Fourth of July, as arranged at the 
 meeting of Comrades called for the purpose, at Knights- 
 town, on the 4th inst. 
 
 "It is earnestly requested that the members of the Or 
 der will spare no effort which may be necessary to make 
 this occasion what it deserved to be one of the grandest 
 ever known in our State, a credit to the Army and an honor 
 to the cause it represents. 
 
 "By order of 
 
 "KITHAX KTMP.ALL, 
 ff Commanding Department, 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 
 "A djuttni I -General. 
 "[Official.] 
 
 "A ssxislfiH I A (Ij)il(ui t-Gcncrnl." 
 
80 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 PROGRAMME. 
 ASSEMBLY SOUNDED AT 1 p. M. 
 
 Music by Band. 
 (Hail Columbia.) 
 
 Prayer Comrade A. C. Allen, 
 
 Chaplain Post No. 1, District of Marion. 
 
 Reading Declaration of Independence 
 
 Comrade 0. M. Wilson. 
 
 Adjutant-General, Department of Indiana. 
 
 Music by Band. 
 (Star Spangled Banner.) 
 
 Laying Corner-Stone. 
 
 Depositing A Hides in the Corner-Stone 
 
 Major-General Nathan Kimball, 
 
 Department Commander. 
 
 Address Comrade Governor Conrad Baker, 
 
 District of Vanderlmrg. 
 
 Prayer Chaplain IT. J. Meek, 
 
 Knightstown. 
 
 Music by Band. 
 
 Muster of Comrades and Address 
 
 Comrade William A. Cullen, 
 
 District of Rush. 
 
 Grand Officer of the Day Comrade, William Cumback, 
 of Decatur. 
 
 Grand Marshal Comrade Milton Peden, of Henry. 
 
 Assistant Marshal Comrade W. M. Cameron, of 
 Henry. 
 
History of tJie Grand Army of the Republic. 81 
 
 PROCEEDINGS AND CEREMONIES AT THE SOL 
 DIERS HOME, KNIGHTSTOWN. 
 
 Ox THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1867, ATTENDING THE LAYING 
 
 OF THE CORNER-STONE OF THE HOME, UNDER 
 
 THE AUSPICES OF THE "GRAND ARMY 
 
 OF THE REPUBLIC." 
 
 Reported for the Indianapolis Journal. 
 
 The good people of Knightstown and vicinity, wearied 
 with several days of busy preparation for the approaching 
 celebration, slept in undisturbed quiet on the night of the 
 third. Not oven a fire-cracker or torpedo, or other ebulli 
 tion of juvenile patriotism, broke upon the profound still 
 ness of the scenes, "until a national salute from Sergeant F. 
 P>. Rose s section of field artillery ushered in "The Glorious 
 Fourth/ 5 awoke the echoes along the banks of Blue River, 
 and reverberated among the hills of Henry and Rush. At 
 this sound the usually "staid and stern decorum" of the 
 quiet little town gave place to jubilant hilarity. Thousands 
 of tongues seemed instantly to have found utterance. "Vil- 
 Jainous saltpetre" exploded on every hand, and our national 
 colors were unfurled in the morning breeze, not only from 
 the top of every building, but from every door and win 
 dow, from the head of every horse and mule, in the hand 
 of every boy and girl, and from every other place to which 
 the minutest flag-staff could be attached. 
 
82 Histwy of tlic Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Country wagons, freighted with entire families, from 
 the babe in arms to the gray-haired grandsire, and ballasted 
 with huge baskets of edibles, filled every road approaching 
 the town, and rolled over the pike leading out to the 
 "Home" in a continuous procession. The "solid yeomanry" 
 of Henry, Rush and adjacent counties left their wheat- 
 fields in mid-harvest and turned out with their families and 
 work people to celebrate the day and! testify their affection 
 for our disabled heroes. 
 
 The first special train from Indianapolis arrived at nine 
 o clock, bringing His Excellency, Governor Baker, Hon. Will 
 Cumback, President of the Senate 1 , Rev. Dr. Scott, Presi 
 dent of Hanover University, and several hundred members 
 of the Grand Army of the Republic from Marion and other 
 districts. 
 
 At twenty minutes past nine the procession was formed 
 on Main Street in the folio-wing order, by Grand Marshal 
 Comrade Milton IVdcn, assisted by Comrades W. M. Cam 
 eron and Wilburn. 
 
 ORDER OF PROCESSION. 
 
 1. Chief Marshal and Assistants. 
 
 2. Music (Knightstown Cornet Band). 
 
 3. His Excellency, Governor Baker (orator of the 
 
 day) and Staff. 
 
 4. Soldiers of the War of 1812. 
 
 Blue River Lodge, Ts T o. 18, I. 0. 0. F. 
 Post No. 1, G. A. R., District of Henry. 
 Members of the G. A. R., from other Posts. 
 Citizens on foot. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 83 
 
 9. Citizens in carriages. 
 
 10. Citizens on horseback. 
 
 From Main Street the procession filed out upon the 
 Iiushville pike, and moved toward the "Home/" one and a 
 half miles distant. 
 
 The ninth section, citizens in carriages, was the most 
 important feature. Every variety of vehicular conveyance, 
 from the rudest one-horse turn-out to the "coach and six," 
 was represented, and all so hedceked with evergreens, flow 
 ers, flags, and streamers so covered with the gay and ele 
 gant costumes of their beautiful and happy occupants, that 
 country wagons looked as gay as city equipages. 
 
 The Odd Fellows made a really fine appearance, and 
 were present in numbers sullicient to indicate the prosper 
 ity of the Order in that locality. 
 
 The Grand Army portion of the procession was not so 
 numerous. The fact is, "the boys" 7 have had their fill of 
 inarching, and have ser. n so much of the "pomp and circum 
 stance of war," that they do not care to take part in parades 
 that seem insignificant when contrasted with those in which 
 they have participated. Thousands of soldiers were in at 
 tendance, but only a small proportion of theim marched in 
 procession. Men whose feet "kept time to the music of the 
 Union" from Phillippi to the Rio Grande, and from Stone 
 Tliver to the Atlantic, may well be excused from holiday 
 marches. 
 
 The venerable Major William M. Doughty, of Henry, 
 and other soldiers of 181 ?, among whom we noticed Lazarus 
 ?>. Wilson, of Indianapolis, father of Comrade 0. M. Wil 
 son, constituted the fourth section. 
 
84 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Arriving at the "Home 5 shortly after ten o clock, the 
 procession dispersed, and, mingling with other assembled 
 thousands, strolled through the groves belonging to the 
 grounds of the Institution. 
 
 A most impressive scene it was, when the crutches and 
 the wooden limbs struck the floor, and the empty sleetves 
 helped to remind us of the sad, sad story of treason and 
 murder. All seated, a blessing was asked by Governor 
 Baker, and the viands were discussed to the apparent satis 
 faction of all at the bountiful board. 
 
 The Assembly was sounded at one o clock, and a vast 
 crowd variously estimated at from eight to twelve thousand 
 persons, gathered in front of the stand which had been 
 erected in a grove opposite the old Home, and near the site 
 of the building in process of erection. The stand was dec- 
 orati d with battle-flags of the 8th, 19th, 27th, 30th, 37th, 
 43d, 51st, 57th, 69th, and 84th regiments. Before the exer 
 cises, as set clown in the programme, commenced, General 
 Kimball arrived upon the grounds with General Charles 
 Cruft and Adjutant-General Terrell. As Colonel Peden 
 was about to apologize for the absence of General Kimball, 
 supposing him to be in N~ew York, attending to his duties 
 as one of the Sinking Fund Board, the General was espied 
 working his way through the crowd, and the "leader of the 
 forlorn hope at Fredericksburg" was obliged to show himself 
 upon the stand and submit to a round or two of such cheers 
 as only Western soldiers can give. When the applause was 
 subsided, Comrade Will Cumback, Grand Officer of the Day, 
 called the meeting to order. The band played Hail Colum- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 85 
 
 bia, which was followed by an eloquent and fervent prayer 
 from Comrade A. C. Allen, Chaplain Post No. 1, District 
 of Marion. The Declaration of Independence was read by 
 Comrade 0. M. Wilson, Adjutant-General Department of 
 Indiana. Major Wilson s elocution brought out the full 
 meaning of that revered production of one of the Fathers 
 of the Republic. In this effort, not less than in his many 
 arduous labors to insure the success of the celebration., the 
 [Major acquitted himself most handsomely. He has earned 
 the gratitude of all his comrades. The Star Spangled Ban 
 ner, by the band, concluded the preliminary exercises at the 
 stand, and 
 
 LAYING OF TJI.H CORNER-STONE, 
 
 with solemn and imposing ceremonies,, was the next thing 
 in order. The vast crowd gathered about the southwest cor 
 ner of the foundation, and the Governor and other digni 
 taries and officials took their places upon a platform which 
 had hu n prepared for the occasion. The Grand Officer of 
 the Day introduced Chaplain LI. J. Meek, of Knightstown, 
 who invoked the divine blessing upon the Institution, 
 its inmates, and all who had contributed to its aid or 
 advancement. 
 
 A metallic box containing the articles was then deposited 
 in the cavity by Comrade 0. M. Wilson, when General 
 Charles Cruft, with a few appropriate remarks, read the 
 following 
 
 LIST OF ARTICLES DEPOSITED IN THE CORNER-STONE. 
 
 1. Declaration of Independence. 
 
 2. Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union be 
 tween the States. 
 
86 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 3. Constitution of the United States. 
 
 4. Constitution of Indiana. 
 
 5. Washington s Farewell and Other Addresses. 
 
 6. History of the States of the Union. 
 
 7. Ordinances of 1787. 
 
 <S. Emancipation Proclamation. 
 
 9. Chronological Record of tho Rebellion. 
 
 10. Act of the General Assembly of Indiana establish 
 ing the Soldiers Home. 
 
 11. Second Inaugural Address of President Lincoln. 
 
 12. History of the Soldiers Home from the time of its 
 organization, 10th of August, 18(15, to the 1st of April, 1867, 
 the time, of its transfer from the Association to the State 
 of Indiana. 
 
 13. Constitution and Charter of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic. 
 
 14. Circulars, General and Special Orders of the Grand 
 Army from the time of its organization in Indiana, Aug 
 ust 20, 1866. 
 
 15. Message of Governor Oliver P. Morton, delivered 
 to the General Assembly of Indiana, January 11, 18G7. 
 
 1(5. Governor Baker s Message to the Legislature, com 
 municating reports in reference to the Indiana Sanitary 
 Commission, and Memorial of the Board of Trustees of the 
 Indiana Agricultural College. 
 
 17. Adjutant-General W. H. H. Terrell s Reports of 
 Indiana Soldiers. 
 
 18. Report of the Indiana Military Agency to the Gov 
 ernor, December, 1864. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 87 
 
 19. Senate and House Keports of the Getaeral Assembly 
 of the Committee on Military Affairs. 
 
 20. Keport of Adjutant-General Laz. Noble, from Jan 
 uary 1, 18(>o, to November .!:>, 1864. 
 
 The eap of the stone was then placed over the box, and 
 General Xathan Kimball, Commanding Department of In- 
 tliana, stepping forward, read the following ceremonial ad 
 dress prepared for the occasion : 
 
 GEXEUAL KIMBALI/S ADDKESS. 
 
 "Comrade* and FeHoii -Citizcns: 
 
 "On this great national day we have assembled to lay 
 fin s corner-stone, the emblematic support of the Home of 
 our wounded and disabled comrades. 
 
 "We dedicate this Home to our comrades, whom battle- 
 scars have made priceless jewels in the tiara of our national 
 crown. Their history is co-eternal with the scenes and events 
 of many battle-fields, where they so nobly gave themselves 
 a sacrifice. 
 
 "Within this corner-stone we record our remembrance 
 of the many painful and toilsome marches, and the patient 
 endurance through the long night of war: and in this re 
 membrance, with our ranks thinned, though not broken, we 
 pledge to them and to each other that, come weal or woe, 
 the same old flag shall protect us as a nation as long as an 
 arm can be raised to strike, or a voice to plead in its defense*. 
 
 " Let the cannon with its battle-clouds bring to the mem 
 ory of our comrades the day of peril. [One salute of can 
 non.] Him who shall dare to strike the flag, emblem of 
 
88 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 all that is good and great, let the earnest sound warn. [Two 
 salutes of cannon.] 
 
 "Now peace has come with her enticing charms, and the 
 battle-field is losing its horrors. Encircling that scene of 
 desolation and violent decay, rounded knoll, deep ravine, and 
 undulating plain, once seamed and dented with earthworks, 
 now grass-grown, spread out the ripening harvests to greet 
 the peaceful morn. In the midst of this glad serene, %ith 
 malice toward none, with charity for all/ let us remember 
 the duty of the hour; our duty to our country, our duty to 
 the Supreme Ruler, whose providence blesses this Nation 
 to-day as the soil of freedom. Our duty to the world is to 
 hold intact our nationality to prove that we are a free, sov 
 ereign, and independent people, controlled by that instru 
 ment which was conceived in purity and born in patriotism 
 our Constitution. May its ensign, that has commanded 
 respect and veneration in the gloom of Oriental despotism, 
 guiding the wandering American with its morning stars, and 
 at sunset blending its hues with the vault of heaven to shield 
 and protect him, that made the solitary pilgrimage at Val 
 ley Forge and crossed the ice-bound waters at Trenton with 
 victor}- gleaming upon it, that has been unfurled from the 
 snows of Canada to the halls of Montezuma and amid the 
 solitudes of every sea, the symbol of resistless and beneficent 
 power; that has led the free to victory and triumphed ova- 
 treason may it ever be like the guardian angel over this 
 Home, and under its folds may this chosen spot, consecrated 
 this day, be forever sacred and honored." 
 
 At the conclusion of the address, the stone was cemented 
 to its place, over which tattoo was sounded, and the Rev. 
 
Histwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. SO 
 
 Dr. Scott, President of Hanover College, in an eloquent and 
 appropriate prayer, concluded the ceremonies. 
 I lieturning to the stand, the crowd occupied every avail 
 able inch of sitting or standing room where there could be 
 the remotest possibility of hearing the oration. The Grand 
 Officer of the Day introduced His Excellency, Governor 
 P>aker, as the orator of the day, who secured the closest atten 
 tion of his immense audience during the delivery of his 
 address, which occupied about forty-five minutes. 
 
 INCIDENTAL MATTBKS. 
 
 SERGEANT ROSINS ARTILLERY, 
 
 Which furnished the thunder, without which no Fourth 
 bf July could be duly celebrated, was manned by one gun- 
 squad from Indianapolis and another from Knightstown, all 
 of the Fifteenth Indiana Battery. The neat and soldierly 
 appearance of the men, and their, gentlemanly deportment, 
 and the highly artistic manner in which they performed their 
 part in the programme, elicited much praise. Their "sa 
 lutes," which pointed the emphasis of the address by Gen 
 eral Kimball, were fired with the most accurate precision. 
 It seemed to the spectators as if a perfect understanding 
 existed between the General and the guns. 
 
 THE NEW BUILDING. 
 
 Most of our readers are aware that the last General As 
 sembly relieved the voluntary associations, which had prcvi- 
 (msly supported the Soldiers Home, of the care and mainte 
 nance of that institution. An appropriation was made for 
 its support, though not on a very liberal basis, and a fur- 
 
90 Ilistwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 tlier appropriation was granted for the erection of a perma 
 nent building to take the place of the inadequate and in 
 convenient structures now in use. The new building now 
 being erected under the supervision of the Commissioners, 
 Messrs. Hannaman, of Marion, Hill, of Rush, and Hubbard, 
 of Henry County, will be one hundred and fifty feet long, 
 sixty feet wide, and three stories high. The first story will 
 bci thirteen feet, and the other two twelve feet each, from 
 floor to ceiling. It is intended to afford ample accommoda 
 tions for two hundred inmates, besides the families of the 
 Superintendent and the Steward. Kitchen, hospital, laun 
 dry, and bathing-rooms will all be in the main building. 
 
 Another event marked the administration of General 
 Ivimball. Reference is made to it in Beath s History, p. 77, 
 as follows : 
 
 "The failure to convene the National Encampment dur 
 ing the year gave occasion for considerable criticism, and a 
 number of leading comrades felt it necessary to strongly 
 advise the Commander-in-chief of the evil consequences of 
 such delay. 
 
 General Beath expresses it very mildly. The fact w^as, 
 Stephenson, as Adjutant-General, was not supported in his 
 own State as he should have been, and 1 1 iwral llurlbut, as, 
 Commander-in-chief, was apathetic from the same cause. 
 "At the same time," as Beath truly says, "Stephenson, 
 though thoroughly devoted to the Order, . . . lacked in 
 the requisites? For the methodical conduct of office business. 7 
 
 As early as April, murmurs came from Eastern States, 
 those especially that were given the work at Pittsburg, of 
 
<>f the (irand A run/ of Ihc Republic. 91 
 
 the neglect and indifference to appeal- by the National Head 
 quarters. Some of this correspondence even requested the 
 officers of our headquarters,, to- write and even go over to 
 Springfield to sec what was the matter. We had not felt 
 any neglect, because probably we were in an advanced stage 
 of organization, and needed no help, yet we knew General 
 Hurlbut s administration was a failure. It is true*, as Beath 
 says, other Departments found it necessary to provide their 
 own supplies, such as rituals, regulations, etc. However, 
 we interceded upon these complaints. We found Stephen- 
 eon lacking in about everything, chiefly thorough organiza 
 tion, which he frankly admits in his report in January, 
 18G8, to the National Encampment. 
 
 Eeporting these facts and the general apathy to Depart 
 ments making inquiries simply fanned the flames to an 
 almost open rebellion. The condition of National Head 
 quarters was the subject of much correspondence. The ten 
 sion at last became so great that General Kimball directed 
 correspondence with certain Departments, with a view of 
 bringing the consequences of further neglect to the knowl 
 edge of General Hurlbut, in such a way as to make him feel 
 that he was in a way partly responsible. Accordingly in 
 April, I addressed communications to the several Depart 
 ment Commanders, who had written to Indiana Headquar 
 ters. The answers of several of these gentlemen follow: 
 
92 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "Saratoga Springs, 
 
 "April 18th, 1867. 
 f< General: 
 
 "Your communication of the 13th inst., in which by 
 direction of General Kimball, Commanding Department of 
 Indiana, Grand Army of the Republic, you request a con 
 ference of the Department officers of Indiana, Ohio, Penn 
 sylvania, and ISTew York, at a very early day, at some con 
 venient place, is received and carefully considered. The 
 proposition impresses me favorably, and I assent to it, be 
 lieving that much good must result from such a conference. 
 "is it desirable that the proposed conference be par 
 ticipated in by certain able men from the Eastern States, 
 where 1 , by agencies emanating from this Department, our 
 Order has been extended, and where provisional organiza 
 tions exist? 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "JAMES B. MC!VEAN, 
 "Grand Commander., Department of New York, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Republic." 
 
 Answers with other suggestions coming from other 
 Btates, General McKean was again written to, and advised 
 of this correspondence, His reply follows: 
 
 "Saratoga Springs, May 20th, 1867. 
 
 Cf l\1ajor 0. M. Wilson, Adjutant-General, Dejiartment of 
 Indiana. 
 
 "Dtnr Sir: I have been looking with interest for fur 
 ther action in pursuance of the plan suggested to me in your 
 communication of the 13th ult., but your continued silence, 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 93 
 
 save your note of April 23, loads me to think that some un 
 expected obstacle has been interposed. Is the proposed con 
 ference abandoned? I trust not, believing that great good 
 may nay, must result from it. Indeed I deem some such 
 movement to be of the la.-t importance.. Without it arc we 
 not in danger of disintegration, or a stagnation akin to 
 death? I will assume, however, that the conference is only 
 a question of time. 
 
 "You have reasons for not inviting the officers of the 
 Eastern Departments, and of course I yield the point. Do 
 like reasons weigh against inviting those of the Departments 
 of Maryland and the Potomac, especially the latter? Would 
 it not be well to have officers, whose headquarters are at the 
 capitol of the country, in conference with us? I simply 
 query. 
 
 "T am, faithfully yours, 
 
 "JAMES MCKEAN/ 
 
 From the Department of Ohio, General Thomas L. 
 Young, Department Commander of date May 29th, wrote: 
 "I am exceedingly anxious to meet you at Philadelphia, but 
 am afraid that circumstances will prevent my doing so. 
 However, I shall ho there if within the possibilities, and at 
 all events I think 1 shall got Captain Shocklcy to go. ... 
 The Order is rapidly growing in Ohio, and by next fall it 
 will be strong enough to be felt for good." 
 
 Similar letters were received from General A. W. Den- 
 nison and Colonel Sparhawk, of Maryland; Colonel Lubey, 
 of Washington, D. C. ; Colonel Fairleigh, of Kentucky; and 
 others. As I remember now, there were twelve or fifteen 
 
94 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 persons in this conference ., hold at Philadelphia, all Depart 
 ment officers, from some half-dozen or more States. The 
 conference and its results are thus stated in Beath s History : 
 
 "A conference of influential members was held in Phil 
 adelphia to consider this matter, and the consent of Senior 
 Vice-Commander-in-chief was obtained to a proposition, 
 that he should himself convene the encampment, if another 
 appeal to headquarters should pass unheeded." 
 
 This was the chief purpose of the conference, to have 
 McKean convene the National Encampment, provided Na 
 tional Headquarters refused on application to do so. This 
 Kvas the proposition of the Indiana Department, as the most 
 effective means to the end sought a reorganization, before 
 the Order should fall into a demoralization from which pos 
 sible death might ensue. 
 
 It was understood we were to await the development 
 of events. General Wagner, of Pennsylvania, was to com 
 municate with National Headquarters, ascertain the true 
 condition of things there, and act accordingly, advising 
 General McKean and the other Departments, In the mean 
 time the dedication of the Soldiers Home of Indiana 
 claimed our attention. After that great event we again 
 took up the one issue that now seemed to prevail through 
 out the whole Order its demoralization and the deposition 
 of its Conimander-in-chief. 
 
 For information we wrote to General Wagner, and re 
 ceived from him the following reply: 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 95 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Pennsylvania, 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, No. 204 South S, 
 
 "Philadelphia, Sept. 7th, 1867. 
 "Major 0. M. Wilson, Adjutant-General, Department of 
 
 Indiana, Grand Army of the Republic, Indianapolis, Ind. 
 
 "Dear Major: Yours of the 5th inst. is received. I 
 wrote twice to General Hurlbut about that general conven 
 tion, but have no reply to either letter. 
 
 "We in Pennsylvania have voted Army Headquarters, 
 as at present constituted, worse than useless,, and endeavor 
 to run our organization in accordance with the spirit of our 
 Constitution without interference from Springfield. 
 
 "Nobody seems to know when that general convention 
 will ])o ( ailed, but when it does mnet we must put some one 
 at the helm who will give some little attention to the gen 
 eral business of our army. In this rests my only hope for 
 the future usefulness of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 T should be pleased to hear from you again. 
 " Your truly, 
 
 "Louis WAGXER/ 
 
 General Wagner correctly expressed the situation. Tt 
 was simply impossible to get an answer from Xational 
 Headquarters to any letter, not only upon this, but upon 
 every other subject. General Mclvean was in close touch 
 with all the representatives of that, conference, and with 
 others whose wishes and feelings were in accord. He was 
 advised to act. He had prepared his order summoning the 
 encampment, when a letter to him, presumably from Gen 
 eral WagneT, called a halt. A letter of the same tenor was 
 
96 J7 \xlnry of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "received from General Wagnetr at Indiana Headquarters as 
 follows : 
 
 "Unofficial. 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Pennsylvania, 
 
 "Grand Army of the. Republic, 
 
 "Philadelphia, Nov. 2d, 1867. 
 "Major 0. M. Wilson, Indianapolis, Ind. 
 
 "Dear Comrade: Yours of October 28th received. I 
 think we will get a convention in January; if General Hurl- 
 but don t call it then, off with his head/ 1 write to-day to 
 Stephenson for information as to date, so that we can call 
 State encampment without interfering with the General 
 Convention. I am glad to hear of your success. We are 
 doing equally well. 
 "Yours truly, 
 
 "Louis WAGNER/ 
 
 Awakened at last to a sense of his duty, the second Na 
 tional Encampment was ordered by General Hurlbut to as 
 semble in Philadelphia on the 15th day of January, 1868. 
 It w^as composed of 120 delegates. And it was fortunate 
 for the life of the Order that it was held in Philadelphia, 
 the headquarters of and surrounded by other well-organized 
 Departments. Had they waited for their organization upon 
 the first administration of the national body, there would 
 not have been a State represented there. Eleven of those 
 Departments had been started at Pittsburg in September, 
 186G. The sessions were held in Independence Hall. What 
 little work was done will be mentioned hereafter. General 
 John A. Logan was elected Commander-in-chief, and the 
 Order started again with renewed energy and new blood. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 97 
 
 It would seem, when all the facts are considered, that 
 Indiana had again, and for the second time, been chiefly 
 instrumental in preserving the organization. Yet it was at 
 this encampment that men sought to destroy the very prin 
 ciples which had enabled the Department to vivify and sus 
 tain the Order. 
 
 On the 16th day of September, 1867, District Command 
 ers were requested to meet at Terre Haute on October 2d, 
 at Headquarters Post No. 1, District of Vigo, to consider 
 measures pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the 
 "army"; and on the 9th of October, by General Order, No. 
 7, upon request of the 1 . District Commanders, "a convention 
 of this Department" was called to assemble at Department 
 Headquarters, October 22d, 1867, "to receive and adopt an 
 additional degree for our Ordcir in this Department, . . . 
 and the transaction of such other business that may be 
 brought before the assembly." 
 
 The proceedings of this Department Encampment would 
 doubtless to-day bel considered an unwarranted interference 
 with the sovereign right of a member of Congress, and an 
 impertinence for the soldier to express his political convic 
 tions; nevertheless, Indiana soldiers stood for all these res 
 olutions expressed, and indorsed the plan and policy of the 
 Department at that day. And I venture whether in or out 
 of the Grand Army of the Republic, they endorse to-day 
 every sentiment uttered then. 
 
 These proceedings were published and distributed to all 
 the Posts. Theiy were, in part, as follows: 
 
98 History of tlic Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "\YIIEUEAS, By the Act of Congress approved 
 bounties, additional bounties, and pensions were allowed the 
 soldiers and sailors of the army, navy, and marine forces 
 of the United States in the: late war for the suppression of 
 treason; and 
 
 "WHEREAS, Said bounties., additional bounties, etc., havo 
 been passed upon, and allowed by proper authority, but 
 from some cause unknown to us the payment thereof is 
 delayed or withheld from a large number of the soldiers 
 and seamen of the several States, to the great injury of 
 the needy. Therefore, 
 
 "lie It Resolved, By the Grand Army of the Eepublic, 
 Department of Indiana, in Delegate Convention assembled, 
 that the senators and representatives in Congress from the 
 State of Indiana be requested to inquire into the cause or 
 causes of the delay in the payment of said bounties, addi 
 tional bounties, etc., and should it appear upon such in 
 quiry that further legislation is necessary to carry into 
 effect the former act of Congress on the subject, we earnestly 
 request that such further legislation may be promptly had 
 as will at once ensure the payment of said bounties with 
 out delay. 
 
 "In obedience to the foregoing resolutions, the under 
 signed, a Committee appointed for that purpose, herewith 
 transmit for your information and consideration a copy of 
 said resolutions, and respectfully but urgently request that 
 you will see to it that our comrades are no longer deprived 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 99 
 
 of the benefits of that which they have so nobly earned, and 
 for which they have sacrificed so much. 
 "Your obedient servants, 
 
 "JOIIX N. FRANKLIN, 
 
 "LEWIS Guess, 
 "F. M. HOWARD, 
 "R. II. LLTSON, 
 ^NATHAN Km BALL/ 
 
 ( To Major- General Kiniball, Commanding l/ie Department 
 
 of Indiana^ Grand Army of the R&public } and Comrades 
 
 of the Convention: 
 
 "Your Committee on plan and policy, to be adopted by 
 the Army in this Department, respectfully submit the fol 
 lowing statement of our policy. 
 
 "THEODORE W. McCoy, 
 
 "Chairman. 
 
 " WHEREAS, The National Convention of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, which assembled at the city of Indi 
 anapolis, on the 20th day of November, 186G, did, in its 
 resolutions adopted on the 21st day of the same month, 
 declare, in substance, that the Grand Army has a policy. 
 Therefore, 
 
 "Be It Resolved, By the Grand Army of the Republic, 
 of the Department of Indiana, in convention assembled, 
 that the principles declared in the following resolutions are 
 those which were the mainspring of our actions in the, past, 
 and by which we are to be governed in the future: 
 
 "llcxolrcd, 1st, That the Grand Army of the 1 Republic 
 is organized to maintain in civil life those great principles 
 
100 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 for which it stood in arms under the National Flag; that 
 it stands pledged to crush out active treason; to advance 
 and support active loyalty; to secure sound constitutional 
 liberty to all men; and to vindicate everywhere, and at all 
 ftimes, the full and complete rights of every loyal American 
 citizen, against all combinations of force or fraud, that may 
 attempt to deny or deprive them of such rights. 
 
 "Resolved, 2d, That we pledge all the power and influ 
 ence which, as individuals or as an association, we can legit 
 imately wield, in the most especial manner, to those gallant 
 men who stood fast by the country in the hour of its agony, 
 in the rebellious States; and who, through all manner of 
 Josses and injuries persecutions by force and persecutions 
 under color of law maintained their integrity and vindi 
 cated their loyalty; and we solemnly declare that no power 
 that we can use shall be neglected until they are thoroughly 
 and completely protected in the active exercise of every 
 right of American Freemen, through the entire country 
 over which our Flag floats. 
 
 "Resolved, 3d, That as our Government owes its very 
 .existence to those who stood faithfully by it in the hour of 
 its peril, its destinies are safe in the same trustworthy 
 hands; and, therefore, loyal men should alone control the 
 affairs of this country. 
 
 Resolved,, 4th, That as the rebels have 1 , by shooting 
 down in cold blood not only soldiers but citi/cns, whose only 
 offense has been fidelity to the Government, too clearly indi 
 cated their policy to be thalt of unceasing warfare against 
 those who have either direct! v or indirectly contributed to 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 101 
 
 the success of our arms, it is the duty of all those in author 
 ity to put forth the most strenuous efforts to bring to speedy 
 punishment all those who are implicated in these atrocities, 
 and that those who are interposing obstacles in the way of 
 just kt in such cases, are alike the enemies of society and 
 the country. 
 
 "Resolved, 5th, That, Congress should, in justice and 
 right, pass a law further equalizing the .bounties of soldiers 
 and sailors, and should devise, if possible, some more speedy 
 manner of paying the same. 
 
 "Resolved, 6th, That as the National Debt was neces 
 sarily incurred by the General Government in its successful 
 efforts to crush an unholy armed rebellion against its 
 authority, and as the debt was largely increased by the 1 fac 
 tious opposition of its enemies in the North, who threw 
 every impediment which they could devise in the pathway 
 of the armed forces of the Union, and because it is the price 
 which was paid for the inestimable blessing of civil liberty 
 and the maintenance of the Government, it is a sacred obli 
 gation which the nation must not violate, and we stand 
 pledged to oppose every attempt, from whatever source, or 
 in whatever form it may come, to sully the Nation s honor 
 by repudiation. 
 
 "Resolved, 7th, That it is just and right that those 
 who, by their treason, involved the nation in debt, should 
 bear a portion of the burdkm of payment, and that to secure 
 this end we believe the taxes and tariffs should for the pres 
 ent be equalized and reduced to such an extent as to pro 
 duce a revenue sufficient only to meet the current expenses 
 .of the Government, and pay the interest on the public debt. 
 
104 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ers of said Districts/ the following Commanders are here 
 with announced: 
 
 "I. First District, composed of the counties of Posey, 
 iVanderburg, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Pike, Gibson, Knox, 
 and Davies; Commander, Comrade H. M. Scott, headquar 
 ters, Petersburg, Pike County. 
 
 "II. Second District, composed of the counties of 
 Dubois, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Scott, Wash 
 ington, Orange, Martin, and Jackson; Commander, Com- 
 .rade George F. Huckeby, headquarters, New Albany, Floyd 
 County. 
 
 "III. Third District, composed of the counties of Jef 
 ferson, Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley, Jennings, Bar 
 tholomew, and Decatur; Commander, E. A. Litson, head 
 quarters, Madison, Jefferson County. 
 
 "IV. Fourth District, composed of the counties of Shel 
 by, Rush, Franklin, Union, Fayette, Wayne, and Hancock; 
 Commander, E. H. Wolfe, headquarters, Rushville, Rush 
 County. 
 
 "V. Fifth District, composed of the counties of Brown, 
 Morgan, Johnson, Marion, Hendricks, and Putnam; Com- 
 inlander, George F. McGinnis, headquarters, Indianapolis. 
 
 "VI. Sixth District, composed of the counties of Sul 
 livan, Greene, Owen, Clay, Vigo, Parke, Vermillion, Mon 
 roe, and Lawrence; Commander, T. C. Crawford, headquar 
 ters, Terre Haute. 
 
 "VII. Seventh District, composed of the counties of 
 Fountain, Montgomery, Boone, Clinton, Tippecanoe, War 
 ren, Benton, and Carroll; Commander, R. H. Milroy, head 
 quarters, Delphi, Carroll County. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 105 
 
 "VIII. Eighth District, composed of the counties of 
 Hamilton, Madison, Grant, Tipton, Howard, Miami, Cass, 
 and Wabash; Commander, Wm. O Brien, headquarters, 
 Noblesville, Hamilton County. 
 
 "IX. Ninth District, composed of the counties of 
 Henry, Delaware, Randolph, Jay, Blackford, Wells, Adams, 
 and Allen ; Commander, Thomas M. Browne, headquarters, 
 Winchester, Eandolph County. 
 
 "X. Tenth District, composed of the counties of Kos- 
 ciusko, Whitley, Huntington, Noble, De Kalb, Steuben, La 
 Grange, and Elkhart; Commander, 0. T. Chamberlin, head 
 quarters, Elkhart, Elkhart County. 
 
 "XI. Eleventh District, composed of the counties of 
 White, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, Fulton, Marshall, Starke, 
 St. Joseph, La Porte, Porter, and Lake; Commander, 0. S. 
 Witherill, headquarters, South Bend. 
 
 "II. All Posts in this Department before they can re 
 ceive the Department, or second degree, adopted at the 
 State Encampment October 23d, 1867, will have to conform 
 to Article XIL, Sec. 2 and Article XIV., Sees. 1 and 2, 
 Constitution Grand Army of the Republic. District Com 
 manders will be held responsible to their District for fail 
 ing to enforce these provisions in any Post that claims to 
 have a right on the District roster. Posts failing to com 
 ply will be reported to headquarters. 
 
 "III. No comrade will be permitted to advance to the 
 second degree whose dues are not paid to his Post, and 
 whose position in his Post is not such as to justify his com 
 rades in recommending him for promotion. 
 
106 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "IV. Counties heretofore known as Districts will be 
 classed hereafter as Divisions., and the officers thereof, and 
 of Posts composing the Districts herein designated, will re 
 port to their respective District Commanders for further 
 orders. 
 
 "V. District Commanders will require the provisions 
 of the Constitution of the Grand Army of the Eepublic to 
 be strictly enforced, and in all respects comply with the in 
 struction thereof. 
 
 "VI. Each District Commander, as soon as possible, 
 will report his organization, its condition and strength, and 
 its wants, and designate what Posts are entitled to receive 
 the Department, or second degree, adopted at the Grand 
 Encampment of this Department, Oct. 24th, 1867. 
 
 "By order of 
 
 "NATHAN KIMBALL, 
 
 "Commanding Department. 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 
 "Adjutant-General." 
 
 The above order is given in full. As to the second par 
 agraph, it don t read or sound like any I ever wrote. Had 
 I been asked before reaching it in this writing, if such an 
 order was ever made, or existed, I would have said, emphat 
 ically, "No; never was such an order written." I have no 
 knowledge of any "Department" or "second degree" made 
 by any encampment in Indiana. I never knew or heard of 
 a "Department" degree. If it sprung out of that meeting 
 of District Commanders, and the State Encampment was 
 then called upon to adopt what they did, no record can be 
 found thereof. I never saw such degree administered. And 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 107 
 
 again, such degree could not have been promulgated as a 
 .part of the secret work, unless authorized by the national 
 body, as there was a few years later. 
 
 But this "second degree" never took root; no such degree 
 was ever grafted on our system. I cannot explain the exist 
 ence of this order. At this time, .however, there was in 
 the Department a strong political party among the more 
 prominent soldiers in the State. They were preparing for 
 the campaign of 18G8, in which the Grand Army, in Indi 
 ana, became a potent factor, and carried its favorites into 
 office. It may be this "whilom" "second degree" was cre 
 ated to that end ; if so, I have no knowledge of the fact. 
 The official orders of Major 0. T. Chamberlin, Command 
 ing 10th District, and Major 0. S. Witherill, Commanding 
 1st District, and the order of General E. H. Milroy, Com 
 manding 7th District, as late as November, 1867, make no 
 mention of the "second degree." There is not a word or 
 letter in my possession having reference to this "degree. 7 
 I do not remember of ever receiving an inquiry concerning 
 it. I have no knowledge of what it was, what grade or 
 class it sought to establish, as a part of the Department 
 system. If it was anything it was political, which, despite 
 all assertions to the contrary, the Department of Indiana 
 was never found in "innocuous desuetude." 
 
 Again, there was no need of a degree. The campaign 
 of 1868 was fought openly. Colonel Conrad Baker was 
 candidate for Governor, and no concealment was made or 
 effected by Grand Army men, when called to rally again 
 around their "Old Commander," General U. S. Grant, for 
 President. 
 
108 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 I would not have this order considered a part of the 
 history of our Department. It $> a derelict. 
 
 Captain James E. Carnahan, who had been from the 
 first in 1866 active as an aide-de-camp in organizing the 
 Order in Tippecanoe County, and elsewhere, would proba 
 bly, of all other men, have known of such degree, whether 
 in the Encampment or not. He has no such recollection. 
 Under the Department Order of Nov. 1st, 1866, Captain 
 Carnahan was substituted for Captain Stein, who was pre 
 vented from serving by reason of professional duties. As 
 District Commander, Carnahan became the mascot of the 
 soldier. He quickened the energies of the ic boys" and 
 roused in them an enthusiasm for the organization. Eight 
 strong Posts were established in his county, chiefly the re 
 sult of his work. He was sent as a delegate to the first 
 {National Encampment in November, 1866, and there his 
 methods and practical knowledge found ready support in 
 the work of that Encampment. Through all our campaigns 
 in 1866, 1868, and 1870, his skill, energy, and zeal in organ 
 ization greatly contributed to the success of the organiza 
 tion itself, and the Grand Army felt this upheaval not only 
 in our own State, but elsewhere. His career in the Grand 
 Army in those days was the primer work for his after life. 
 His genius and magnetic touch with the "boys" carried 
 him beyond the limits of our State, from a Department 
 aide to that in after years of Inspector-General, and then 
 for two terms as Judge Advocate-General on the National 
 .Staff under the reorganization, and later to the position 
 of Department Commander of our State, to which position 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 109 
 
 lie was re-elected by the unanimous vote of the Encamp 
 ment. He was also made Provisional Department Com 
 mander of Tennessee and Kentucky upon the reorganiza 
 tion of the Order. He has also honored himself, as well as 
 the Order, as the author of a Jfe^nal Digest of the opin 
 ions and rulings of the Judge "" Advocates-General of the 
 Order. For this work of labor, and doubtless love, he never 
 received any compensation, even for expenditures made 
 (another instance of the national organization taking and 
 iusing something without remuneration, but charging for 
 everything it produces or produced at that period. This 
 digest was not only approved and adopted by the National 
 Encampment at Denver, but it became the foundation-stone 
 upon which ex-Commander-in-chief Beath built his "Blue 
 Book," or what is or was called the "History of the Grand 
 Army of the Bepublic." 
 
 It is a pleasure to speak of my old comrade and asso 
 ciate in this Order, now known as General Carnahan, he 
 having obtained the commission and rank of Brigadier- 
 General, as Adjutant-General of Indiana, and Commander 
 of the National Guard of the State, and thus allude to his 
 services as an aide in our first organization of the Grand 
 Army, for it was then and there as an organizer of bodies 
 of men, he started at the first round in the ladder, and 
 to-day stands at the pinnacle, the Supreme Commander of 
 one of the greatest brotherhoods in America. 
 A man, therefore, of Carnahan s taste for degree work 
 would have had some knowledge of a degree, if any such 
 had been introduced in our State, as this General Order, 
 
110 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 No. 8, contemplated, and because of his want of any knowl 
 edge of such degree, its mention in this General Order is 
 simply intensified and deepened in mystery. 
 
 Many other comrades who gave their time and energies 
 to the organization in those years rose to distinction and 
 fame, but have since crossed the Great Redoubt, and re 
 united with the "boys," whose immortality was won on the 
 .battlefield. Others are left a few to close up the ranks, 
 with their faces to the front, only waiting for the last mus 
 ter and "Taps." 
 
 It was left to General Foster to command in the great 
 campaign of 18G8, when he was again brought to the front 
 by the second annual Encampment of the Department on 
 January 29th, 1868, and elected Department Commander. 
 iGreat interest was taken in the Order at this time. It had 
 become strong and forceful. Its influence was felt through 
 out the State, sufficiently so to provoke rivalry and struggle 
 (for position in its ranks. But I never heard it charged that 
 (the Grand Army was being used for any one person s polit 
 ical aggrandizement. General Foster s first "General Order" 
 soon brought all members together in generous, friendly 
 rivalry. 
 
 The Order follows: 
 
 "Headquarters Department of Indiana, 
 
 "Grand Army of the Republic, 
 
 "Adjutant-General s Office, 
 "Indianapolis, Ind., January 30th, 1868. 
 "General Orders, No. 1, 3d S. 
 
 "I. By virtue of an election in convention assembled 
 at Indianapolis, January 29th, 1868, in pursuance of Gen- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 1 1 1 
 
 eral Orders, Xo. 9, 2d Series, dated January llth, 18t>8, 
 I hereby assume command of this Department. 
 
 "II. Our fellowship in the "Grand Army of the Eepub- 
 lic" can only be perpetuated by an earnest and sincere co 
 operation, individually, and as Posts, with the efforts of 
 your officers, chosen by yourselves in this great Brotherhood, 
 and your Grand Commander asks that whatever will direct 
 the prosperity and advancement of the interests of the 
 Grand Army be willingly and cheerfully accorded. 
 
 "III. The Adjutant-General having, by the late Na 
 tional Convention convened at Philadelphia, Pa., January 
 15th, 1868, been made an officer to be appointed by the 
 Grand Commander, such officer is herewith announced, 
 with the "Staff" elected by the Convention of this Depart 
 ment, on January 29th, 18G8 : 
 
 "Senior Vice Grand Commander: Major-General 
 Charles Cruft, Terre Haute. 
 
 "Junior Vice) Grand Commander : Colonel George Hum 
 phrey, Fort Wayne. 
 
 "Inspector-General: General Thos. \V. Bennett, Liberty. 
 
 "Quartermaster-General : Colonel Samuel Merrill, 
 Indianapolis. 
 
 "Surgeon-General: Dr. L. D. Waterman, Indianapolis. 
 
 "Grand Chaplain: Eev. L. H. Jainieson, Indianapolis. 
 
 "IV. Adjutant-General: Major 0. M. Wilson, Indi 
 anapolis. 
 
 "By direction of the Constitution of the "Grand Army/ 
 they will be respected and obeyed accordingly. 
 
 "E. S. FOSTER, 
 "Official." "Commanding Department. 
 
112 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 The character and influence of the Order at this time, 
 in Indiana, may be judged by the prominence of the men 
 chosen for the "Grand Council." They were active, espe 
 cially as counselors, and were in close fellowship with head 
 quarters. The year 1868 produced the closest and hardest 
 struggle to retain the supremacy of the soldier, politically 
 speaking, that Indiana had ever experienced. Though Na 
 tional and State candidates were soldiers, it is a fact that 
 a certain class turned aside chiefly from local influences, 
 personal dislikes produced by national issues distrustful 
 as well as jealous of the soldier, whom this class charged as 
 an excuse for their conduct, with a desire on his part to 
 appropriate the orifices, and thus militarize the Government. 
 
 To be sure, the soldiers generally lined up with the Ee- 
 publican party, because they were intelligent and were not 
 to be influenced by evil counsels against a party which they 
 knew had sustained, and would in the future carry out from 
 principle every pledge made them during the war. At the 
 same time, it may as well be admitted, we had to carry on 
 bur fight absolutely against the dictation of a certain line 
 to pursue, dictated from National Headquarters, which, if 
 adopted, would have been our disintegration, as I shall 
 notice hereafter. However, it may be mentioned here that 
 we won, though by a bare majority, electing Colonel Conrad 
 Baker governor. 
 
 General Order, No. 2, 3d Series, dated January 30th, 
 1868, which follows, anticipated this campaign. There was 
 no attempt made to conceal the positive fact that, while we 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 1 13 
 
 advocated and asserted charity as a cardinal tenet of the 
 Order, we practiced fraternity and politics, and so long as 
 the soldiers themselves made no protest and the rule has 
 over been and is observed to this day there was no moral 
 /or legal obligation to prevent the exercise of the sovereign 
 right in him to avow and execute his own will in what 
 ever way he thought best. The election, then, was held in 
 October, and I merely mention in passing, if any soldier 
 votes were lost it was because the soldier was out of the 
 State. 
 
 The order follows : 
 
 "I. The Grand Council of Administration, elected by 
 the convention of this Department, January 29th, 1868, 
 and the Executive Committee, chosen at the same time and 
 iplace, are herewith announced for the information of this 
 Department : 
 
 Nathan Kimball, Indianapolis.- 
 Walter Q. Gresham, New Albany. 
 George W. Lambert, Terre Haute. 
 John E. Cravens, Madison. 
 Thomas M. Browne, Winchester. 
 
 "II. Executive Committee: 
 
 "First Congressional District: Wm. F. Wood, Kockport. 
 
 "Second Congressional District: W. Q. Gresham, New 
 Albany. 
 
 "Third Congressional District: M. C. Garber, Madison. 
 
 "Fourth Congressional District: W. W. Dudle} 7 , Cen- 
 terville. 
 
 "Fifth Congressional District: E. F. Hitter, Indian 
 apolis. 
 
112 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 The character and influence of the Order at this time, 
 in Indiana, may be judged by the prominence of the men 
 chosen for the "Grand Council." They were active, espe 
 cially as counselors, and were in close fellowship with head 
 quarters. The year 1868 produced the closest and hardest 
 struggle to retain the supremacy of the soldier, politically 
 speaking, that Indiana had ever experienced. Though Na 
 tional and State candidates were soldiers, it is a fact that 
 a certain class turned aside chiefly from local influences, 
 personal dislikes produced by national issues distrustful 
 as well as jealous of the soldier, whom this class charged as 
 an excuse for their conduct, with a desire on his part to 
 appropriate the offices, and thus militarize the Government. 
 
 To be sure, the soldiers generally lined up with the Ee- 
 publican party, because they were intelligent and were not 
 to be influenced by evil counsels against a party which they 
 knew had sustained, and would in the future carry out from 
 principle every pledge made them during the war. At the 
 same time, it may as well bo admitted, we had to carry on 
 bur fight absolutely against the dictation of a certain line 
 to pursue, dictated from National Headquarters, which, if 
 adopted, would have been our disintegration, as I shall 
 notice hereafter. However, it may be mentioned here that 
 *we won, though by a bare majority, electing Colonel Conrad 
 Baker governor. 
 
 General Order, No. 2, 3d Series, dated January 30th, 
 1868, which follows, anticipated this campaign. There was 
 no attempt made to conceal the positive fact that, while we 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 113 
 
 advocated and asserted charity as a cardinal tenet of the 
 Order, we practiced fraternity and politics, and so long as 
 the soldiers themselves made no protest and the rule has 
 ever been and is observed to this day there was no moral 
 lor legal obligation to prevent the exercise of the sovereign 
 right in him to avow and execute his own will in what 
 ever way he thought best. The election, then, was held in 
 October, and I merely mention in passing, if any soldier 
 votes were lost it was because the soldier was out of the 
 State. 
 
 The order follows : 
 
 "I. The Grand Council of Administration,, elected by 
 the convention of this Department, January 29th, 1868, 
 and the Executive Committee, chosen at the same time and 
 iplace, are herewith announced for the information of this 
 Department : 
 
 Nathan Kimball, Indianapolis.. 
 Walter Q. Gresham, New Albany. 
 George W. Lambert, Terre Haute. 
 John E. Cravens, Madison. 
 Thomas M. Browne, Winchester. 
 
 "II. Executive Committee: 
 
 "First Congressional District: Wm. F. Wood, Kockport. 
 
 "Second Congressional District: W. Q. Gresham, New 
 Albany. 
 
 "Third Congressional District : M. C. Garber, Madison. 
 
 "Fourth Congressional District: W. W. Dudley, Cen- 
 terville. 
 
 "Fifth Congressional District: E. F. Ritter, Indian 
 apolis. 
 
114 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "Sixth Congressional District: F. C. Crawford, Terre 
 Haute. 
 
 "Seventh Congressional District: A. 0. Benm, La 
 fayette. 
 
 "Eighth Congressional District: James Pratt, Logans- 
 port. 
 
 "Ninth Congressional District: Samuel A. Kelsey, 
 Knightstown. 
 
 i "Tenth Congressional District: 0. T. Chamberlin, 
 Elkhart, 
 
 "Eleventh Congressional District: H. S. Foote, Craw- 
 fordsville. 
 
 "By order of 
 
 "E. S. FOSTER, 
 "Department Commander. 
 
 "0. M. WILSOX, 
 
 "Adjutant-General." 
 
 The Honorable A. H. Conner was chairman of the Re- 
 jpublican State Central Committee in this year. He was a 
 deader of men magnetic, resourceful, an engine of energy, 
 true to his friends and his party, and fearless in the right. 
 With him Department Headquarters was in close touch, 
 and many days and nights the "boys" were in the saddle, 
 moving upon some outpost of the enemy, that had been un 
 masked by Conner. 
 
 The strength of the Department on May 1st, 1868, may 
 be judged from the General Orders, No. 4, 3d Series, which 
 may, be likened to a Commander unmasking his batteries 
 and deploying his column in line of battle. 
 
Uixlwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 115 
 
 "I. The division of a Department into Districts hav 
 ing been abolished by the National Convention convened at 
 Philadelphia, Pa., January loth, 1868, District Command 
 ers are herewith relieved from duty in their respective 
 Districts. 
 
 "II. General Order, ]STo. , dated Headquarters Grand 
 Army of the) Republic, Washington, D. C., February, 1868, 
 directing that all Posts in every Department be classified in 
 numerical order, according to the date of their organization, 
 the following numbered Posts are herewith arranged accord 
 ingly, and will hereafter be known by the number herein 
 designated. v 
 
 [The list of Posts that follows was prepared from re 
 ports received at Department Headquarters in response to 
 paragraph 5 of Department Orders, Xo. 3, 3d Series, dated 
 Feb. 6th, 1868, long before Xational Orders, so directing, 
 were received. I think the suggestion went from Indiana 
 Department. We found it necessary to unwind, and we 
 had some correspondence with General Logan on the ques 
 tion. Paragraph 5 was as follows: "Each Post will for 
 ward to these headquarters a roster of its officers elected for 
 thei ensuing term, together with a full list of members be 
 longing to the Post. Communications will henceforth be 
 addressed to Encampment officers. Changes occurring among 
 officers in Posts will be promptly reported to Department 
 Headquarters, that no error may be made in addressing the 
 proper officer." The Department roster showing the date 
 of muster, the active Posts were easily numbered. Many 
 weaker Posts, failing to meet a "special" assessment and 
 
116 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 the additional "per capita" tax, failed to report, and thus 
 lost their place on the roster. It was found, eventually,, to 
 their advantage, for they consolidated with some other Post 
 in their county, and by thus merging their fellowship, be 
 came more effective and useful. The stronger and remain 
 ing Posts were thus classified, some of which were not the 
 first organized in a county.] 
 
 Pest No. 1, Floyd County, will be known as Post No. 1. 
 
 Post No. 1, Clark County, will be known as Post No. 2. 
 
 Post No. 1, Washington County, will be known as Post 
 No. 3. 
 
 Post No. 1, Harrison County, will be known as Post 
 No. 4. 
 
 Post No. 1, Knox County, will be known as Post No. 5. 
 
 Post No. 1, Marion County, will be known as Post No. 6. 
 
 Post No. 1, Vigo County, will be known as Post No. 7. 
 
 Post No. 1, Bartholomew County, will be known as Post 
 No. 8. 
 
 Post No. 1, Johnson County, will be known as Post No. 9. 
 
 Post No. 2, Johnson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 10. 
 
 Post No. 1, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 11. 
 
 Post No. 1, Kosciusko County, will be knoAvn as Post 
 No. 12. 
 
 Post No. 1, Fountain County, will be known as Post 
 No. 13. 
 
 Post No. 1, Ripley County, will be known as Post No. 14. 
 
 Post No. 1, Vanderburg County, will be known as Post 
 No. 15. 
 
Ilislwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 117 
 
 Post No. 1, Dearborn County, will be known as Post 
 No. 16. 
 
 Post No. 1, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 17. 
 
 Post No. 1, Tippccanoe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 18. 
 
 Post No. 1, Boone County, will be known as Post No. 19. 
 
 Post No. 2, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 20. 
 
 Post No. 1, Miami County, will be known as Post No. 21. 
 
 Post No. 1, Shelby County, will be known as Post No. 22. 
 
 Post No. 1, Wayne County, will be known as Post No. 23. 
 
 Post No. 1, Allen County, will be known as Post No. 24. 
 
 Post No, 1, Clay County, will be known as Post No. 25. 
 
 Post No. 3, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 26. 
 
 Post No. 1, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 27. 
 
 Post No. 1, Switzerland County, will be known as Post 
 No. 28. 
 
 Post No. 1, Howard County, will be known as Post 
 No. 29. 
 
 Post No. 1, Marshall County, will be known as Post 
 No. 30. 
 
 Post No. 1, Union County, will be known as Post No. 31. 
 
 Post No. 1, Wabash County, will be known as Post 
 No. 32. 
 
 Post No. 2, Wayne County, will be known as Post No. 33. 
 
 Post No. 1, Elkhart County, will be known as Post 
 No. 34. 
 
118 History of tlie Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 2, Switzerland County, will be known as Post 
 No. 35. 
 
 Post No. 2, Dearborn County., will be known as Post 
 No. 3G. 
 
 Post No. 1, Monroe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 37. 
 
 Post No. 4, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 38. 
 
 Post No. 1, Jefferson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 39. 
 
 Post No. 1, Madison County, will be known as Post 
 No. 40. 
 
 Post No. 2, Shelby County, will be known as Post No. 41. 
 
 Post No. 1, Warren County, will be known as Post 
 No. 42. 
 
 Po-st No. 1, Clay County, will be known as Post No. 43. 
 
 Post No. 1, Grant County, will be known as Post No. 44. 
 
 Post No. 2, Jefferson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 45. 
 
 Post No. 3, Johnson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 46. 
 
 Post No. 2, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 47. 
 
 Post No. 1, Vcrmillion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 48. 
 
 Post No. 3, Dearborn County, will be known as Post 
 No. 49. 
 
 Post No*. 4, Johnson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 50. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 119 
 
 Post No. 2, Kosciusko County, will be known as Post 
 No. 51. 
 
 Post No. 1, Parke Count} 7 , will be known as Post No. 52. 
 
 Post No. 2, Boone County, will be known as Post No. 53. 
 
 Post No. 3, Boone County, will be known as Post No. 54. 
 
 Post No. 2, Fountain County, will be known as Post 
 No. 55. 
 
 Post No. 1, Hamilton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 56. 
 
 Post No. 1, Noble County, will be known as Post No. 57. 
 
 Post No. 1, Jay County, will be known as Post No. 58. 
 
 Post No. 1, Montgomery County, will be known as Post 
 No. 59. 
 
 Post No. 2, Parke County, will be known as Post No. 60. 
 
 Post No. 1, Whitley County, will be known as Post 
 No. 61. 
 
 Post No. 3, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 62. 
 
 Post No. 2, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 63. 
 
 Post No. 4, Boone County, will be known as Post No. 64. 
 
 Post No. 2, Montgomery County, will be known as Post 
 No. 65. 
 
 Post No. 1, Putnam County, will be known as Post 
 No. 66. 
 
 Post No. 2, Tippecanoe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 67. 
 
 Post No. 2, Warren County, will be known as Post 
 No. 68. 
 
 8- 
 
120 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 1, Cass County, will be known as Post No. 69. 
 
 Post No. 1, Jennings County, will be known as Post 
 No. 70. 
 
 Post No. 4, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 71. 
 
 Post No. 2, Allen County, will be known as Post No. 72. 
 
 Post No. 5, Boone County, will be known as Post No. 73. 
 
 Post No. 1, Fayette County, will be known as Post 
 No. 74. 
 
 Post No. 1, Lawrence County, will be known as Post 
 No. 75. 
 
 Post No. 5, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 76. 
 
 Post No. 3, Kosciusko County, will be known as Post 
 No. 77. 
 
 Post No. 2, Lawrence County, will be known as Post 
 No. 78. 
 
 Post No. 1, Clinton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 79. 
 
 Post No. 2, Clinton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 80. 
 
 Post No. 1, Sullivan County, will bei known as Post 
 No. 81. 
 
 Post No. 1, Delaware County, will be known as Post 
 No. 82, 
 
 Post No. 2, Delaware County, will be known as Post 
 No. 83. 
 
 Post No. 3, Delaware County, will be known as Post 
 No. 84. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 121 
 
 Post No. 1, La Porte County, will be known as Post 
 No. 85. 
 
 Post No. 5, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 86. 
 
 Post No. 2, Bartholomew County, will be known as Post 
 No. 87. 
 
 Post No. 1, Carroll County, will be known as Post No. 88. 
 
 Post No. 2, Elkhart County, will be known as Post 
 No. 89. 
 
 Post No. 1, Henry County, will be known as Post 
 No. 90. 
 
 Post No. 2, Henry County, will be known as Post 
 No. 91. 
 
 Post No. 1, Jackson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 92. 
 
 Post No. 2, Jay County, will be known as Post No. 93. 
 
 Post No. 5, Johnson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 94. 
 
 Post No. -4, Kosciusko County, will be known as Post 
 No. 95. 
 
 Post No. 1, Lake County, will be known as Post No. 96. 
 
 Post No. 2, Lake County, will be known as Post No. 97. 
 
 Post No. 2, Miami County, will be known as Post No. 98. 
 
 Post No. 3, Montgomery County, will be known as Post 
 No. 99. 
 
 Post No. 4, Montgomery County, will be known as Post 
 No. 100. 
 
 Post No. 3, Parke County, will be known as Post 
 No. 101. 
 
122 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 1, Randolph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 102. 
 
 Post No. 2, Randolph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 103. 
 
 Post No. 3, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 104. 
 
 Post No. 4, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 105. 
 
 Post No. 2, Vigo County, will he known as Post No. 100. 
 
 Post No. 2, Wabash County, will be known as Post 
 No. 107. 
 
 Post No. 1, Dccatur County, will be known as Post 
 No. 108. 
 
 Post No. G, Marion County, will he known as Post 
 No. 109. 
 
 Post No. 3, Lake County, will be known as Post No. 110. 
 
 Post No. 3, Tippecanoe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 111. 
 
 Post No. 3, Wayne County, will be known as Post 
 No. 112. 
 
 Post No. 1, De Kalb County, will be known as Post 
 No. 113. 
 
 Post No. 2, Madison County, will be known as Post 
 No. 114. 
 
 Post No. 2, Monroe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 115. 
 
 Post No. 1, Posey County, will be known as Post No. 116. 
 
 Post No. 4, Tippecanoe County, will bei known as Post 
 No. 117. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 123 
 
 Post No. 5; Tippecanoe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 118. 
 
 Post No. 3, Vigo County, will be known as Post No. 119. 
 
 Post No. 2, Grant County, will be known as Post 
 No. 120. 
 
 Post No. 6, Tippecanoe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 121. 
 
 Post No. 4, Parke County, will be known as Post 
 No. 122, 
 
 Post No. 7, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 Xo. 123. 
 
 Post No. 2, Fayette Count)*, will be known as Post 
 No. 124. 
 
 Post No. 2, Carroll County, will be known as Post 
 No. 125. 
 
 Post No. 1, Franklin County, will be known as Post 
 Xo. 126. 
 
 Post No. 2, \\1iitley County, will 1)0 known as Post 
 Xo. 127. 
 
 Post No. 3, Switzerland County, will be known as Post 
 No. 128. 
 
 Post Xo. 3, Grant County, will be known as Post 
 No. 129. 
 
 Post No. 1, Hancock County, will be known as Post 
 No. 130. 
 
 Post No. 3, Clay County, will be known as Post No. 131. 
 
 Post No. 3, Carroll County, will be known as Post 
 No. 132. 
 
 Post No. 3, Fountain County, will be known as Post 
 No. 133. 
 
124 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 5, Parke County, will be known as Post 
 No. 134. 
 
 Post No. 8, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 135. 
 
 Post No. 2, Eipley County, will be known as Post 
 No. 136. 
 
 Post No. 3, Allen County, will be known as Post No. 137. 
 
 Post No. 9, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 138. 
 
 Post No. 2, Marshall County, will be known as Post 
 No. 139. 
 
 Post No. 3, Shelby County, will be known as Post 
 No. 140. 
 
 Post No. 3, Miami County, will be known as Post 
 No. 141. 
 
 Post No. 10, Marion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 142. 
 
 Post No. 3, Clinton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 143. 
 
 Post No. 2, Posey County, will be known as Post No. 144. 
 
 Post No. 2, Hamilton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 145. 
 
 Post No. 1, Warrick County, will be known as Post 
 No. 146. 
 
 Post No. 2, La Porte County, will be known as Post 
 No. 147. 
 
 Post No. 1, Fulton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 148. 
 
 Post No. 3, Jefferson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 149. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 125 
 
 Post No. 4, Shelby County, will be known as Post 
 No. 150. 
 
 Post No. 5, Shelby County, will be known as Post 
 No. 151. 
 
 Post No. 4, Wayne County, will be known as Post 
 No. 152. 
 
 Post No. 4, Jefferson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 153. 
 
 Post No. 3, Hamilton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 154. 
 
 Post No. 2, Hancock County, will be known as Post 
 No. 155. 
 
 Post No. 2, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 156. 
 
 Post No. 2, Putnam County, will be known as Post 
 No. 157. 
 
 Post No. 4, Lake County, will be known as Post No. 158. 
 
 Post No. 1, Perry County, will be known as Post 
 No. 159. 
 
 Post No. 2, Sullivan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 160. 
 
 Post No. 3, Warren County, will be known as Post 
 No. 161. 
 
 Post No. 3, Wabash County, will be known as Post 
 No. 162. 
 
 Post No. 1, Scott County, will be known as Post No. 163. 
 
 Post No. 3, Pcsey County, will be known as Post No. 164. 
 
 Post No. 3, Putnam County, will be known as Post 
 No. 165. 
 
126 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 6, Shelby County, will be known as Post 
 No. 166. 
 
 Post No. 7, Tippecanoe County, will be known as Post 
 No. 167. 
 
 Post No. 3, Whitley County, will be known as Post 
 No. 168. 
 
 Post No. 4, Wabash County, will be known as Post 
 No. 169. 
 
 Post No. 3, La Porte County, will be known as Post 
 No. 170. 
 
 Post No. 3, Sullivan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 171. 
 
 Post No. 3, Hancock County, will be known as Post 
 No. 172. 
 
 Post No. 2, Jennings County, will be known as Post 
 No. 173. 
 
 Post No. 5, Lake County, will be known as Post No. 174. 
 
 Post No. 2, Perry County, will be known as Post 
 No. 175. 
 
 Post No. 1, Bush County, will be known as Post No. 176. 
 
 Post No. 4, Vigo County, will be known as Post No. 1771 
 
 Post No. 5, Wabash County, will be known as Post 
 No. 178. 
 
 Post No. 4, Delaware County, will be known as Post 
 No. 179. 
 
 Post No. 5, Delaware County, will be known as Post 
 No. 180. 
 
 Post No. 4, Miami County, will be known as Post 
 No. 181. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 127 
 
 Post No. 2, Scott County, will be known as Post No. 182. 
 
 Post No. 3, Fayette County, will be known as Post 
 No. 183. 
 
 Post No. (>, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 184. 
 
 Post No. 6, Parkc County, will be known as Post 
 No. 185. 
 
 Post No. 2, Washington County, will be known as Post 
 No. 186. 
 
 Post No. 4, Hancock County, will be known as Post 
 No. 187. 
 
 Post No. 1, Owen County, will be known as Post No. 188. 
 
 Post No. 1, Spencer County, will be known as Post 
 No. 189. 
 
 Post No. 1, White County, will be known as Post No. 190. 
 
 Post No. 2, White County, will be known as Post No. 101. 
 
 Post No. 3, Washington County, will be known as Post 
 No. 192. 
 
 Post No. 4, Sullivan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 193. 
 
 Post No. 1, Porter County, will be known as Post 
 No. 194. 
 
 Post No. 3, Jay County, will be known as Post No. 195. 
 
 Post No. 5, Vigo County, will be known as Post No. 196. 
 
 Post No. 5, Sullivan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 197. 
 
 Post No. 2, Porter County, will he known as Post 
 No. 198. 
 
 Post No. 3, White County, will be known as Post No. 199. 
 
128 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 7, Shelby, County, will be known as Post 
 No. 200. 
 
 Post No. 2, Cass County, will be known as Post No. 201. 
 
 Post No. 1, Martin County, will be known as Post 
 No. 202. 
 
 Post No. 6, Sullivan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 203. 
 
 Post No. 4, Washington County, will be known as Post 
 No. 204. 
 
 Post No. 2, Eush County, will be known as Post No. 205. 
 
 Post No. 2, Franklin County, will be known as Post 
 No. 206. 
 
 Post No. 3, Eush County, will be known as Post No. 207. 
 
 Post No. 2, Howard County, will be known as Post 
 No. 208. 
 
 Post No . 3, Elkhart County, will be known as Post 
 No. 209. 
 
 Post No. 3, Howard County, will be known as Post 
 No. 210. 
 
 Post No. 1, Steuben County, will be known as Post 
 No. 211. 
 
 Post No. 1, Greene County, will be known as Post 
 No. 212. 
 
 Post No. 1, Gibson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 213. 
 
 Post No. 3, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 214. 
 
 Post No. 4, Clay County, will be known as Post No. 215. 
 
 Post No. 3, Scott County, will be known as Post No. 21 6. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 129 
 
 Post No. 4, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 217. 
 
 Post No. 4, Clinton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 218. 
 
 Post No. 5, Jetfferson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 219. 
 
 Post No. 5, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 220. 
 
 Post No. 2, Spencer County, will be known as Post 
 No. 221. 
 
 Post No. 7, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 222. 
 
 Post No. 2, Noble County, will be known as Post No. 223. 
 
 Post No. 8, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 224. 
 
 Post No. 6, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 225. 
 
 Post No. 2, Vermillion County, will be known as Post 
 No. 226. 
 
 Post No. 1, Jasper County, will be known as Post 
 No. 227. 
 
 Post No. 4, White County, will be known as Post No. 228. 
 
 Post No. 3, Randolph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 229. 
 
 Post No. 4, Putnam County, will be known as Post 
 No. 230. 
 
 Post No. 5, Putnam County, will be known as Post 
 No. 231. 
 
 Post No. 9, Morgan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 232. 
 
130 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post ISTo. 5, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 233. 
 
 Post No. 5, Montgomery County, will be known as Post 
 No. 234. 
 
 Post No. 3, Henry County, will be known as Post 
 No. 235. 
 
 Post No. 6, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 236. 
 
 Post No. 7, Hendricks County, will be known as Post 
 No. 237. 
 
 Post No. 3, Spencer County, will be known as Post 
 No. 238. 
 
 Post No. 4, Carroll County, will be known as Post 
 No. 239. 
 
 Post No. 4, Bush County, will be known as Post No. 240. 
 
 Post No. 7, St. Joseph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 241. 
 
 Post No. 1, Huntington County, will be known as Post 
 No. 242. 
 
 Post No. 1, Pike County, will be known as Post No. 243. 
 
 Post No. 5, Clay County, will be known as Post No. 244. 
 
 Post No. 3, Perry County, will be known as Post No. 245. 
 
 Post No. 1, Pnlaski County, will be known as Post 
 No. 246. 
 
 Post No. 7, Sullivan County, will be known as Post 
 No. 247. 
 
 Post No. 4, Dearborn County, will be known as Post 
 No. 248. 
 
 Post No. 4, Fountain County, will be known as Post 
 No. 249. 
 
History of ike Grand Army of the, Republic. 131 
 
 Post No. 4, Randolph County, will be known as Post 
 No. 250. 
 
 Post No. 2, Gibson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 251. 
 
 Post No. 1, Stark County, will be known as Post No. 252. 
 
 Post No. 2, Owen County, will lie known as Post No. 253. 
 
 Post No. 6, Delaware County, will be known as Post 
 No. 254. 
 
 Post No. 2, Greene County, will bo known as Post 
 No. 255. 
 
 Post No. 4, Posey County, will be known as Post No. 256. 
 
 Post No. 3, Gibson County, will be known as Post 
 No. 257. 
 
 Post No. 2, Pike County, will be known as Post No. 258. 
 
 Post No. 5, Wayne County, will be known as Post 
 No. 259. 
 
 Post No. 3, Pike County, will be known as Post No. 260. 
 
 Post No. (>, Wabash County, will be known as Post 
 No. 261. 
 
 Post No. 4, Henry County, will l)e known as Post 
 No. 262, 
 
 Post No. 5, Henry County, will be known as Post 
 No. 263. 
 
 Post No. 8, Tippecanoe County, will bo known as Post 
 No. 264. 
 
 Post No. 2, Decatur County, will be known as Post 
 No. 265. 
 
 Post No. 2, Knox County, will be known as Post No. 266. 
 
 Post No. 4, Elkhart County, will be known as Post 
 No. 267. 
 
132 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Post No. 4, Hamilton County, will be known as Post 
 No. 268. 
 
 Post No. 2, Stcubcn County, will be known as Post 
 No. 269. 
 
 The discriminating mind will not fail to discover the 
 tendency of loosening the girth of District Commanders, and 
 making every Post a potentiality and independent factor; 
 nor will it fail to comprehend the impetus this number of 
 Posts gave to the campaign. It was hard for the soldier at 
 that day to resist the fellowship of his comrades. If he was 
 not in active co-operation, he was in sympathy with him, 
 and only when o their elements of organization, called prin 
 ciples of government, were brought into the Order, did he 
 hesitate and finally withdraw, or step aside from participa 
 tion. Let no unkind word criticise the Grand Army of that 
 day. It was organized for tlie soldier, and in every way it 
 could be wrought for his good and promotion, there was a 
 fitting acquiescence in directing it to such consummation. 
 It was no Young Men s Christian Association. It was no 
 prayer-meeting entertainment. It was a fellowship of Vet 
 erans. Whatever there was, was not too good for him. He 
 carried with him that old habit of "getting there/ If what 
 he wanted did not lie before him, or come to him, he went 
 after it. And if, in later years, he preferred othetr ways of 
 pursuit in comradeship, if increasing years tempered his 
 ardor, and he chose the methods of ceremony and piety to 
 preserve in memory the fellowships formed in army life, it 
 ishould not be said the organization was wrong then, and 
 right now. It was right then, because he made it so. Nor 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 133 
 
 was he arraigned for believing so. He simply exercised the 
 right declared to exist. He didn t say one thing and mean 
 another, hater events proved the error in adopting new 
 [methods, by which the old should be destroyed, in so doing 
 eliminating him as a factor in the very government he had 
 made it possible to enjoy. 
 
 The average strength of the&o Posts was probably 100. 
 What I would call a sympathetic membership was probably 
 three to five times greater. When it is considered, there 
 fore, that within a year this great influence disappeared to 
 almost become a memory, it must be understood that only 
 some grave act was done in violence of his prerogative as a 
 soldier to enjoy in this organization, antagonizing thei orig 
 inal plan upon which he entered it. 
 
 These causes I shall now consider. 
 
 , An additional paragraph of this order, in obedience to 
 an order of the Philadelphia National Encampment of Jan- 
 Tiary 15, 1868, required an assessment of one dollar upon 
 each Post, and in addition thereto the assessment of ten 
 cents per member carried on the rolls. At this distance of 
 time it seems strange that such action should be recom 
 mended by our own Past Department Commander, General 
 Kimball, a delegate in that Encampment. It was accepted 
 at the time with the declaration that such means was the 
 only salvation of the Orde>r. But this action was not gener 
 ally approved in the Department. It was the first step to 
 wards our dissolution. The Department of Indiana had not 
 only sustained itself, but helped others. We were not insen 
 sible to our obligations to the National organization, but 
 
134 Histwy of tlic Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 just at this time to be called upon to pay for something from 
 which we had derived no benefit was more than we felt justly 
 bound to ask our comrades to do. 
 
 Nevertheless the "order" went out with misgivings,, and 
 in order to sweeten it, so much of General Order, No. 6, 
 dated Washington, February 18, 1868, went out with it, 
 as follows: 
 
 "I. It is the earnest desire of the Commander-in-chief 
 to have the Grand Army of the Eepublic on a strong work 
 ing basis at the earliest moment possible. No similar organ 
 ization in this or any other country ever espoused nobler 
 (purposes or possessed greater power for good. 
 
 "Previous military experience has taught the value of 
 Consolidated effort. Discipline lies at the foundation of all 
 enterprises which look for their success to the co-opeiration 
 of individuals scattered over large territory. Orders must 
 be promptly obeyed, and the rules and regulations strictly 
 enforced, if we are to hope for any good to result from our 
 efforts. No comrade can have studied the object which we 
 seek to attain without having perceived many ways in which 
 by a trifle labor or contribution from each, great good can 
 be accomplished. But all effort is futile until our organ 
 ization is perfected, and o j ur strength concentrated into one 
 harmonious body working as a single person. 
 
 "To effect an early and efficient consolidation of the 
 Order is the first object sought by the Commander-in-chief, 
 and this done he will then have some plans to submit, which 
 it is believed will elicit not only the approval of comrades 
 everywhere, but will compel the admiration of those who 
 
History of the Grand Army of the, Republic. 135 
 
 now regard the Order with distrust, or look upon it as 
 ephemeral., and a thing of hut a day. All communications 
 sent to these headquarters pertaining to the business of the 
 Grand Army must come through the ordinary channels." 
 1 This appeal came morei like a moan, but appeal it was, 
 for the condition of the Order niquired strong persuasion to 
 hold it to the* lines drawn at Philadelphia. But the real 
 purpose of this order was never brought to the surface. The 
 fine hand of Chipman, Logan s Adjutant-General, is seen 
 in this order. To be sure, there was much to anticipate 
 from "united effort," and "concentrated strength," but what 
 he meant by "consolidation of the Order" no one knew. 
 There was nothing to consolidate) it with. The inducement 
 Coffered of some great plans being conceived for the glorifi 
 cation of the comrade, some sensational coup d etat, which 
 he would behold in awe and admiration, never materialized. 
 The "order" itself at this time was an enigma, because in no 
 sense was a sentiment required to stimulate Grand Army 
 men generally to action, and we did not accept the infer 
 ences of the "order" as justifiable by any means. 
 
 The idea of introducing an iron rule of "discipline" by 
 subjecting membetrs to a military code of ethics, exacting 
 pro-nipt obedience under an implied threat of dismember 
 ment, was carrying the rule of authority to extremes suf 
 ficiently, at least, to lead many to declare the time had gone 
 by for any such pomp and parade for men, whose lives had 
 been beaten in the crucible of war, to give their approval to 
 any such observance, which neither true fellowship nor the 
 natural laws of companionship required from them. 
 
136 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 > The mere act of transmitting these orders to the several 
 Posts provoked the thought that the Department was becom 
 ing imperious; that we were willingly encouraging a spirit 
 of military rule that every soldier was glad to escape from 
 when mustered out of service. Because it was the duty of 
 the Department to aid in the execution and enforcement of 
 all orders from National Headquarters in almost every 
 case reluctanfjy done there were those who did not hesitate 
 to censure Department Headquarters for its seeming con 
 currence with the spirit of the order. And because, as 
 Adjutant-General of the Department, I always sought to 
 mollify or have revolved some part; or the entire order that 
 one notably "dishonorably discharging members" I was 
 given to understand from National Headquarters the "order 
 must be obeyed." 
 
 General Foster did not like the idea of creating a dicta 
 torship in the Grand Army, and did not affect to conceal 
 his disapproval of the spirit shown to create a kind of mil 
 itary aristocracy, or cabal of martinets. The spirit of re 
 sistance to the letter and spirit of these orders met with no 
 other remonstrance from Department Headquarters, for the 
 simple reason that, as organized, we were not prepared for 
 such exactions and tribute. 
 
 When that Philadelphia Encampment pretended to 
 amend the rules and regulations, the proper thing to Imve 
 (done would have been to submit such work to the different 
 Departments for ratification or rejection. Instead, one hun 
 dred and twenty men presumed to act and change the very 
 law that gave the organization existence; to take from its 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 137 
 
 members vested rights in the Order. They could not legally 
 exercise such power. They did not represent the entire 
 Order. The work they did was to destroy. Their assump 
 tion of arbitrary rule and power, as if a soldier s member 
 ship was a boon by their grace, not by having fought his 
 Country s battles, was enough to awaken contempt for and 
 quicken their exit from the Grand Army of the Republic 
 ^which it did. It mattered not whether he had come out of 
 the war with an empty sleeve, a companionless leg, or a dis 
 eased body, if ho didn t come up to their standard of what he 
 ought to do and ~be in the Grand Army, he was unfit to be 
 regarded as an honorable soldier, and he was to be so posted. 
 
 I speak from the record: In General Order, No. 8, 
 dated February 29th, 1868, National Headquarters, the 
 Commandeir-in-chief promulgated the following "revised 
 regulations of the Order" : "The name of a dishonorably 
 discharged member shall be forwarded to the Headquarters 
 of the Army, through the proper channel, for the informa 
 tion and guidance of the several Posts throughout the 
 United States/ 
 
 This was the revision made at Philadelphia January, 
 1868. It will be seen that the above Posts of the Indiana 
 Department were organized prior to this revision, and under 
 the original first Constitution. This provision, therefore, 
 was another step towards our disintegration, for the simple 
 reason that we saw no reason to so stigmatize our comrades 
 after we had invited them into fellowship. 
 
 The Grand Army men of Indiana never sought to con 
 ceal their political affinities. They helped a comrade as wil- 
 
138 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ]ingly outside as within the Order, whatever his politic;?. 
 They saw no reason to justify the prescription of a com 
 rade just because he could not sustain his membership with 
 them. We were not in favor of delivering our principles to 
 the debasement of a comrade, by publishing him over the 
 . United States as unworthy, not from service in the war, but 
 for some whim or caprice of a few men, who would have him 
 conform to certain sentimental notions of fellowship. We 
 refused to forward such names. Further, we refused to 
 sanction the "discharge" of comrades for the causes pre 
 scribed. If any names were sent to Department Headquar 
 ters, they never got any further, and no action was taken 
 on them. 
 
 Tt is not worth the time to argue that the Grand Army 
 was not at this time political. It was, and the country 
 knew it. Its declaration of principles, Article 1., Sec. 2, 
 par. 5, reads: "For the establishment and defense of the 
 late soldiers and sailors of the United States, morally, social 
 ly, and politically,, with a view to inculcate a proper appre 
 ciation of their service to the country and to the recognition 
 bf such services and claims by the American people." It 
 was under this Constitution we were organized, and no 
 where in this instrument was any such power given as these 
 IGeneral Orders contained. And at this Philadelphia En 
 campment, with the results of the campaign of 186G before 
 them, and the strength of the Order in the larger States at 
 that time, they sought to change/ this declaration of princi 
 ples. It was a stormy, violent session, one side claiming 
 the organization should remain as it was, avowedly political; 
 
History of the. Grand Army of the Republic. 139 
 
 the other declaring that politics had destroyed its influence 
 in the West, which the facts show wast false,, so far as Ohio, 
 Kentucky, and Indiana were concerned. And other States 
 might be mentioned. Out of this contention came this dec 
 laration, "that this association does not design to make nom 
 inations for office, or to use its influence as a secret organ 
 ization for partisan purposes." Nevertheless it was a "rose/ 7 
 and it smelt just as sweet, with this deceitful, shambling 
 declaration. 
 
 It was the opinion of our delegates, Generals John 
 Coburn, H. D. Washburn, Morton C. Hunter, and J. P. C. 
 Shanks, that but for the incautious expression concerning the 
 West by General Dan Sickles, he would have been elected 
 Commander-in-chief, instead of Logan. 
 I General Coburn, writing to me later, says: "It is hard 
 to say whether tin s is better than to try and keep it out en 
 tirely. There are precious few copperheads in the Grand 
 Army, and perhaps it may be made more efficient by hoist 
 ing the flag and making a square fight as political soldiers. 
 . . . . The Grand Army is a flank movement, in my 
 judgment, and should have been so conducted, but our 
 friends thought it best to put it at the head of the column, 
 and with it attempt to storm the enemy s works. To fail 
 now in this shape is a final disaster, and not easily retrieved. 7 
 
 Out of this Encampment came Logan, and from Logan 
 came these orders. Also a revised Eitual. 
 
 Additional paragraphs from orders of National Head 
 quarters were promulgated in General Foster s General 
 Order, No. 4, May 1st, 1868 : that of April 9th reporting 
 
140 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 decisions as to eligibility to membership, advising caution 
 as to admission of members, the doctrine of "once a com 
 rade always a comrade/ "suspension of members, disbanded 
 Posts, and their restoration " ; of April 13, as to rejection of 
 candidates, and decisions thereon for restoration, and the 
 matter of dues. Posts were advised that, failing to report 
 on any of these requirements would have to be reported to 
 National Headquarters which I do not think was ever 
 done, as to all the requirements. 
 
 It was certainly thought at the time that conditions of 
 (environment were different in Indiana than elsewhere, and 
 if or this reason, among others, our comrades did not want 
 to be handicapped by officialism and too much "red tape." 
 They were intelligent and very loyal, and no power on earth 
 could suppress them in declaring their political affiliation 
 and determination to combat disloyalty in any guise. Had 
 we been organized as a purely moral and charitable organ 
 ization, we would probably have gone and "labored" with 
 these erring brethren, but as party organization was the only 
 means now of preventing rebel ascendancy, the soldiers went 
 to that party. In the field they fought best organized, and 
 with "less Chaplain," so they naturally preferred organiza 
 tion at this time to sustain the same party that stood by 
 thean in war; and it required no second appeal "to arms" 
 for them to rally when they read the following additional 
 paragraph 11, of General Foster s General Order, No. 4: 
 
 "XI. The attention of soldiers throughout this Depart 
 ment is called to an organization in the State known as and 
 called the Union White Boys in Blue/ This society is more 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 141 
 
 than it pretends to be. Its influence is pernicious, and its 
 designs are believed to be to restore rebels to power and 
 demand for the South full reparation for all damages occa 
 sioned by the war, and if it can, to compel the Nation to 
 pay the rebel debt, but first to repudiate our own national 
 debt. It invites to its membership all soldiers opposed to 
 the National Congress and the lawful government of the 
 United States. Its leaders are politicians whose ambition 
 has been defeated in their efforts to reduce the Republic to 
 a condition of anarchy, to disrupt the Nation, to secure for 
 eign intervention, to effect our national destruction and dis 
 honor, and to overthrow the government by conspiracy and 
 treason. Failing in all this, they now seek to mislead the 
 unwary by epithets and denunciations of everything that 
 went to restore the Union, and with glozing tongue and sup 
 ple morality they embellish the dogmas of their party with 
 extenuations and justifications for the lost cause/ and jus 
 tify the barbarous cruelties of Andersonville prison pen. 
 The soldiers of Indiana who yet revere the memory of their 
 fallen comrades cannot affiliate with this class of soldiers 
 and citizens who proclaim themselves loyal, but who have 
 stolen the livery of heaven to serve the devil in/ ?; 
 
 At this time I know it was thought that no organization 
 was too good in Indiana to have a little politics in it. It 
 would have been pardoned in Holy Writ. The confidence 
 felt that the Grand Army would "take 1 care of these fellows" 
 as we did was very satisfying. 
 
 Every National Order now seemed incomplete without 
 a long list of "rejected candidates of the Grand Army of 
 
142 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 the Eepublie and names of those "dishonorably discharged/ 
 the former without reason assigned. Among the many thou 
 sand I find only six from Indiana : four from Post 72 and 
 two from Post 275., sent direct, presumably, from Post to 
 National Headquarters. 
 
 The chief event marking General Logan s first adminis 
 tration, and which indelibly connects his name with the 
 Grand Army, and retrieves it from many mistakes of his 
 staff,, was his General Order, No. 11, dated Washington, 
 May 5th, 1868, directing the observance of May 30th "for 
 the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorat 
 ing the graves of comrades who died in defense* of their 
 country during the late rebellion." 
 
 This order was sacredly observed by the Department of 
 Indiana. 
 
 In communicating by General Order, No. 5, 3d Series, 
 dated Sept. 21st, 1808, the several National Orders received 
 from June 22d, 1868, sufficiently indicate that the inevitable 
 was approaching: "Where it is found possible for Posts 
 to comply with these sections, the facts will be so reported,, 
 and directions will then be given enabling them to be placed 
 again upon the Department roster. Comrades will fully 
 understand that where a Post is carried on the Department 
 roster, it must be reported to National Headquarters as an 
 active Post, as this Department will be held responsible 
 for the percentage of dues from that Post. Non-active Post:? 
 are not reported." 
 
 "Posts failing to comply with the provisions of the above 
 sections of General Order, No. 4, 3d Series, . . . within 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 143 
 
 ten days after the end of the present quarter, Sept. 3d, will 
 be dropped from the roster at these headquarters, and re 
 ported to National Headquarters, by order of the Com 
 mander-in-chief." 
 
 It may be noticed here that many Posts made an effort, 
 and some succeeded, under the above admonition to reor 
 ganize : notably, No. 1, Jay County ; No. 4, Randolph Coun 
 ty; No. 2, Elkhart County; No. 4, Hancock County; No. 1, 
 Gibson County; No. 1, Hamilton County; No. 3, Hush Coun 
 ty; No. 1, Henry County; No. 1, Union County; No. 7, Mor 
 gan County; No. 1, Monroe County; No. 3, Elkhart County; 
 No. 1, Vigo County; No. 3, Gibson County; No. 1, Pike 
 County; No. 1, Knox County; No. 5, Sullivan County; No. 
 1, Fountain County; No. 2, Tippecanoe County; No. 2. 
 Knox County; No. 1, Morgan County; No. 4, Randolph 
 County; No. 3, Tippecanoe County; No. 2, Elkhart County; 
 No. 5, St. Joseph County; No. 3, Clay County; No. 7, Vigo 
 County; No. 1, Fayette County; No. 1, Allen County; No. 
 3, Miami County; No. 3, Pike County; No. 1, Montgomery 
 County ; and No. 4, No. 2, Boone County. George W. Ross, 
 in Ripley County, was authorized to organize Posts in the 
 3d Congressional District, Jefferson County, No. 1; Cap 
 tain Ed. R. Kerstetter, in the 10th Congressional District: 
 Colonel G. 0. Behm, of Post No. 1, Tippocanoe, was author 
 ized to convene Council of Posts and consolidate them in 
 Tippecanoe County with No. 2, Franklin County. 
 
 The above Posts I find among my records as those com 
 plying with Department General Order, No. 3, 3d Series, 
 some! seeking and others effecting a. reorganization, on pay- 
 
144 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 merit of assessment, dues, etc. All such were supplied with 
 the new Ritual that came to us in May. 
 
 On June 22d, 1868, General James C. Veatch, who was 
 organizing the 1st Congressional District, was written to as 
 follows : 
 
 "I send you General Order, No. 4. Nothing ever done 
 in Vanderburg; Warrick, at Newburg, is dead; Perry lan 
 guid; look to Spencer; Pike in good condition, as far as 
 organized; Gibson ditto; Davies none; Knox two. Much 
 can 1 be done in your District. I send you blank applications, 
 and, if possible, put a Post in every township. 
 Anything you may need to assist you, call upon me." 
 
 Also on same date, to Major W. W. Carter, Bowling 
 Green, Clay County, I wrote as follows: 
 "It is a pleasure to congratulate our comrades upon their 
 success, especially where there has been so much fault-finding 
 and jealousy of the soldier. You have a large field of labor 
 before you, and, if properly engineered, no fears of your suc 
 cess need be entertained. You can now organize your Dis 
 trict with more than an eye foi your country s good your 
 own. As in 1866, we had to carry this State, and now we 
 have a rebel organization in our midst known as "White 
 Boys in Blue." They are meaner and stronger than is gen 
 erally known. I send you General Order, No. 4. This will 
 show number of Posts in each county in your District. 
 Lawrence needs strengthening. Monroe ditto. Greene ditto. 
 Sullivan revived. Vigo revived. Clay revived. Owen re 
 organized. Parke revived, and Vermillion ditto. 
 Whatever you may want in the way of assistance, call 
 upon us." 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 145 
 
 So also to General Jasper Packard, of date June 26th, 
 I wrote: 
 
 "I send you a number of blank applications to assist you 
 in organizing your District. Also General Order, No. 4, 
 showing number of Posts in your District. Jasper County 
 has but one Post, at Benssalaer ; Newton, none; White, four; 
 Pulaski, one, at Medaryville; Fulton, one at Bochester I 
 have written to Colonel Shryock; Marshall, two, at Plym 
 outh and Bourbon; Starke, one, at Knox; Porter, two, at 
 Valparaiso and Hebron; Lake, five* they need reviving; St. 
 Joe, seven need reviving; La Porte, three need attention. 
 
 "The greater majority the greater the strength to the 
 ticket. Anything you may desire in the way of blanks and 
 documents will be furnished you. The new Bitual and Con 
 stitution will be forwarded to each Post upon organization. 
 If Posts cannot forward fee, forward application without 
 it, making statement thereon of such fact." 
 
 The above were duly signed, 
 
 "By order Commander, 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "Adjutant-General." 
 
 Bearing directly upon the subject matter of these com 
 munications, I later, on August llth, 1868, made a few 
 suggestions to General N. P. Chipman, Adjutant-General, 
 Grand Army of the Republic, Washington, D. C., touching 
 matters especially affecting the 1 Order in our Department. 1 
 do not hesitate to give this letter entire to these pages, verba 
 tim et literatim as far as present type affords : 
 
146 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "August llth, 1868. 
 "Gen l N. P. Chipman, 
 "A. -a., G. A. E. 
 
 "Dear General: I am convinced by experience in the 
 G. A. R. having been longer connected with the Order offi 
 cially than, I believe, any other person, that the only thing 
 that can posibly#102 over 9, 49 / dg from @A#38#2 89. 
 I@348.E4G. 82,454^X29.* 4922. -3.#5#H 20 #9. I. 
 722<38H. H4626IL477 X3# CP59P402. In some a 
 484@238A28H. 64al63H. 2llo3in # 2P7217.S 29 of 
 Dept. a 47.97H, or LI#H with the National Council. 
 "Fraternally,, 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 " Ad jt. -General" 
 
 I have been asked, "Why not write; this letter out in long 
 hand?" I answer, "There are a numjber of reasons: first, 
 it would subserve no purpose that affects present conditions; 
 second, it was very personal in its character this I remem 
 ber; and third, I have forgotten the Code Cipher/ 7 My 
 impression now is, General Chipman agreed with me. 
 ! The fins spun theories and sentimental organism of 
 national officers simply made it impossible to hold the 
 organization to its former strength in our Department under 
 the exactions that far exceeded the line of wisdom and com- 
 iflon sense. There was nothing then in the Order to re 
 quire or support such epauletism. As I read these orders 
 now they seem silly, bombastic. Men were not living then 
 to pay allegiance, or homage to the pomp and pageantry of 
 individual arrogance, and as future events proved, there was 
 a limit to this parade of parvenu virtue. Organized for 
 
Ilistwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 147 
 
 political purposes, so far as selecting worthy soldiers for 
 otlicc and electing- them, it accomplished its purpose, and 
 put the affairs of state in the hands of their friends. And 
 not only in Indiana, but other States felt the injustice of 
 such military exaction and punctilious observance of "rules," 
 for which no other support than good-fellowship was orig 
 inally intended or required. 
 
 It was with this light before him that the Commander- 
 in-chief called a Council at Philadelphia for October 1st, 
 1868, to which Department Commanders and their Adju 
 tants were invited, "as matters of great interest to the wel 
 fare of the Order will be discussed." 
 
 I went to this Council. From correspondence we had, 
 1 learned that tjhe contractor to manufacture the badge had 
 for some reason failed to comply with his contract (I think 
 the plate had been destroyed by fire this was the badge 
 adopted at the Philadelphia Encampment January, 1868), 
 and that the Ritual, also adopted at the same; time, could 
 not be used without the badge, as one dovetailed the other. 
 This was a part of the work, we assumed, that was to be 
 done over again, and it was in the desire to get back again 
 the old Ritual, made by Stephenson, that induced our De 
 partment to be represented. 
 
 Some little change was made in the badge, but as to the 
 Ritual, the Council appointed the following named commit 
 tee, with instruction to revise it, and, in connection there 
 with, to consider the subject of degrees; also to recommend 
 a uniform for the Order, to report at the next National En 
 campment. This committee was named as follows : James 
 
148 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Shaw,, Jr., Providence, E. I. ; Louis Wagner, Philadelphia, 
 Pa. ; A. H. Quint, New Bedford, Mass. ; 0. M. Wilson, In 
 dianapolis; T. W. Higginson, Newport, R. L ; Thomas L. 
 Young, Cincinnati, Ohio; F. W. Sparling, Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 Before taking up the subject of the Ritual, I desire to 
 speak of this badge adopted by the Council. It was the 
 original, with the addition of an eagle surmounting, and a 
 circular pendant, that was intended to express the rank of 
 the comrade wearing it. There were only twenty-three 
 grades, or styles of this badge, signifying as many officers 
 or grades in the Order. The private s badge could be had 
 for 40 cents up to $25, as he might prefer, according to the 
 quality of the metal, or his cupidity or vanity. It required 
 a three-page circular to announce this badge and its vari 
 ous colors and designs, in enamel, silver, and gold, all of 
 which could be! had of National Headquarters only. In the 
 parlance of latter-day expressions, National Headquarters 
 had then, and, I learn, has continued "to have and to hold" 
 "the cinch" on supplies. 
 
 Then later, probably from the fact that revenue was not 
 coming in fast enough by sale of these badges, "a commis 
 sion for all officers of the Grand Army of the Republic 
 . has been adopted by these National Headquarters, 
 and is now ready for distribution." This commission was 
 surmounted with "the national eagle"; it bore the fac 
 simile signatures of the Commander-in-chief, Adjutant- 
 General, and Assistant Adjutant-General. Officers who had 
 served under the administration of General S. A. Hurlbut 
 "would be furnished with commissions containing his por- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 149 
 
 trait; price, on paper,, 50 cents; on pink satin, $2.50. Or 
 ders will be setnt to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Nation- 
 til Headquarters." To any comrade securing orders for not 
 "less than 25 certificates" was offered a "satin certificate, or 
 commission." 
 
 It was as much this spirit of greed and speculation upon 
 the Order, that invited contempt, ridicule, and disgust for 
 and of the men who sought to "make money" out of the 
 cupidity of the soldier, that led to indifference, and from 
 indifference to refusal to have anything to do 1 with the Order, 
 as then managed and conducted at National Headquarters. 
 The Assistant Adjutant-General was at the time holding a 
 Government position in Washington pension agent, I be 
 lieve. He became involved in some questionable transaction 
 in office, as we then understood, and disappeared. I know 
 in Grand Army of the Republic circles extreme efforts were 
 made to hush the affair, but it eventually gained publicity. 
 The few who knew refused to talk. Following this develop 
 ment, and weary of the iron rule and methods of adminis 
 tering Grand Army affairs, with General Lucius Fairchild, 
 of Wisconsin, and other noble spirits and lovers of the first 
 principles of the Order, Indiana joined with him and other 
 leading representatives to overthrow the Logan dynasty and 
 place GeneTal Robert C. Schenck in command. But the 
 Quartermaster s Department was too strong, and Logan was 
 re-elected. On the veriest technicality, Indiana and other 
 Departments werei excluded until after the election. The 
 Quartermaster-General though our warm, personal friend,, 
 especially of Department Commander Foster had the 
 
150 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "cinch" and held it, because we had opposed his peculation. 
 The extravagance in his Department Quartermaster-Gen 
 eral continued into 1869 and 1870, for the aggrandizement 
 of a few martinets; and because we would not buy badges 
 and "commissions" and pay on demand all "assessments" 
 and submit to whatever exactions they saw fit to impose in 
 many ways, principally on Posts that had once been active, 
 but now could no longer stand the strain, and had "gone out 
 of commission/- and because the Department would not pay 
 the "per capita tax" for men once members, but now no 
 longer affiliating, being unable and unwilling to demand 
 from Post and comrade what we knew they did not owe, 
 and where they did owe could not pay for these causes we 
 were "held up," and met their malediction, and denied our 
 constitutional rights and representation on what we insisted 
 was our right, on what we claimed our just and proper rep 
 resentation to be, and for which we stood ready to meet all 
 legal demands. 
 
 Under such impositions, conditions, and restraints, is it 
 any wonder the Order in Indiana gradually dissolved? It 
 was at this Philadelphia Council that tho spirit of pecula 
 tion, well concealed by de-signing men, took its first breath, 
 that eventually blew strong enough, as will be seen, to over 
 throw the first and only great organization that founded 
 on Stephenson s Ritual and Constitution. 
 
 A new Eitual must be made 1 the syndicate required it 
 for revenue. 
 
 The first meeting of this committee was called for March 
 3d, 1869. 1 was then Department Commander. On Febru- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 151 
 
 ary 13th, 18 G9, General Shaw writes me of the second meet 
 ing! in Washington on the 4th, saying, "We have received 
 many suggestions and some entire manuscripts of rules and 
 regulations and Ritual. ... I think we shall be able 
 to greatly improve both, . . . and I hope place the 
 Grand Army of the Republic on a firm footing" something 
 we all realized to be vital to the. Order. I heard nothing 
 further from Genera] Shaw. He had my views. I didn t 
 want anything but the Stephenson Ritual. I wasn t in sym 
 pathy with the committee s work, and Shaw let me alone. 
 The third National Encampment assembled at Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, May 12th and 13th, 1869, in pursuance of General 
 Order, No. 20, Washington, March 25th, 18G9, which con 
 tained the resolution of the Philadelphia Encampment of 
 1SG8, requiring the levy by Departments of one dollar on 
 each Post to reimburse the then Adjutant-General for 
 what purpose is not stated "the balance to be retained by 
 the Quartermaster-General for the benefit of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic" and "holding the Department Com 
 manders responsible for the collection," etc. Indiana, Illi 
 nois, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and other States were at first 
 excluded "hadn t paid their bills" but were finally admit 
 ted to the gracious privilege! ( ?) to act as negatives, and, to 
 their credit be it ever remembered, to oppose what is to-day 
 only a memory to some of us a degree Ritual. 
 
 At this Encampment the Ritual authorized by the Phil 
 adelphia Council was presented and adopted. It embraced 
 three degrees, the Recruit, the Soldier, the Veteran. The 
 Adjutant-General was directed to print the entire work for 
 
 the use of the Order. 
 10- 
 
152 Ilislwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 As a member of this Committee I sought the restoration 
 of our first Eitual. I disapproved of the great cumbersome 
 secret work stolen, I believed, from some secret ancient 
 order. Later in life I discovered this to be so. I protested 
 against the degrees, saying even what we had was mqre thali 
 enough. I remember the morning when we assembled to 
 report the revision. Shaw and I were walking together, 
 when he said: "Wilson, you may not see through some of 
 this now, but you will after while one of these days." I 
 answered him, "Our boys will never work under degrees. 
 They will have nothing to do with whatever is different from 
 what was required of them in the service." 
 
 Time proved the truth of my declaration. 
 
 The Encampment then passed resolutions putting in ef 
 fect this Eitual with its grades, and providing for "an entire 
 reorganization which should be accomplished at the earliest 
 moment," reads General Order, No. 1, May 22d, 1869. Fur 
 ther in this order, the Commander-in-chief, Logan, re-elected 
 in Cincinnati, speaks of "the imperative necessity of prompt 
 ness in transmitting all reports and dues to his headquar 
 ters." The "utmost activity" is urged. The "necessity of 
 implicit obedience to the; rules and regulations" commanded. 
 Also, "the new Rituals, rules, and regulations, with all 
 blanks, quarterly returns, etc., can be obtained only through 
 these headquarters. AH orders will be promptly filled." 
 This was the continuation of the beginning of the end 
 Speculation through National Headquarters in the Quarter 
 master-General s Department. 
 
Histwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 153 
 
 At this time we all knew what politics meant, and among 
 ourselves we made no effort to conceal our purposes. We 
 knew, too, that certain national officials had aspirations that 
 materialized before the country later. We could understand, 
 too, what the following paragraph meant, in General Or 
 der, No. 20, convening this Cincinnati Encampment: "A 
 complete roster of the; Posts throughout the United States, 
 giving locality of Posts and officers, would be of great ser 
 vice at these headquarters, and enable a more rapid com 
 munication when the Commander-in-chief may desire to 
 reach the Posts direct upon any matter proper to be sub 
 mitted in that manner. It is therefore directed that, upon 
 th.e receipt of this order, Posts prepare such roster, and 
 forward it to these headquarters direct." 
 
 Anybody can read between these lines the purpose, yet 
 in a former General Order, No. 6, Feb. 18th, 1868, all busi 
 ness, etc., "must come through the ordinary channels," My 
 recollection is that we never furnished National Headquar 
 ters with such complete roster, nor asked the Posts to do so. 
 
 Yet in the very face of the purpose concealed in this 
 Order, No. 20, Logan takes a re-election, on a declaration 
 of principles absolutely antagonistic and revolutionary to 
 the successful execution of such order. His Order, No. 1, 
 promulgating the resolutions adopted at thei Cincinnati En 
 campment, made their enforcement imperative. 
 
 These resolutions deserve a place in this history as the 
 means and contributing cause the chief cause of the dis 
 ruption of the Grand Army, not only in Indiana, but 
 throughout the country. They are as follows: 
 
154 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Resolved, That in order to put in operation the system 
 of grades, the following is adopted: 
 
 "1st. That those who are now eligible to the third 
 grade shall include 1 , upon taking the several obligations, all 
 present and past officers and members of the National En 
 campment and of the several Department Encampments, 
 and all present and past Commanders, Vice-Commanders, 
 (Adjutants, Quartermasters, Surgeons, and Chaplains of 
 iPosts, together with all members of the Grand Army of the 
 Republic who shall have been members eight months; pro 
 vided, that the above mentioned shall be in good standing 
 in the several Posts and Departments, and free from all 
 dues on the 1st day of July, 1869; and provided, that they 
 take the several obligations prior to the 1st day of Septem 
 ber, 1869. 
 
 "2(1. That all comrades in good standing and free from 
 all dues on the first day of July, 1869, who have been mem 
 bers two months, shall constitute the second grade; pro 
 vided, that they take the obligations of the first and second 
 grades prior to the 1st day of September, 1869. 
 
 "3d. All recruits received on or after the 1st day of 
 July, 1869, together with all comrades, not taking the obli 
 gations of higher grades to which they are entitled, shall 
 upon taking the first obligation constitute the first grade. 
 
 "4th 
 
 "5th. Neither the Department nor Posts in arrears 
 shall receive the Ritual, sign, or passwords, only at the dis 
 cretion of the Commander-in-chief. 
 
 ! "6th. Every comrade now entitled to the third grade, 
 as well as all entitled in the future, shall pay a fee of ten 
 
Histwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 155 
 
 cents on advancement, the same to go to the National En 
 campment. Department Headquarters shall be held respon 
 sible for the payment of said fees to the National Encamp 
 ment and Posts to Department Encampments. 
 
 "7th. The dues to the National Encampment for the 
 ensuing year shall be 4 cents per capita, upon each mem 
 ber borne on the reports of Departments and Posts, the same 
 to be paid in four equal payments July, October, January, 
 and April." 
 
 Under these resolutions, General Order, No. 4, National 
 Headquarters, July 21st, 1869, the Commander-in-chief 
 promulgated additional instructions and regulations for 
 their enforcement, and as to admitting comrades to the 
 grades, presenting the ultimatum of a "muster out" unless 
 obeyed. 
 
 This assumption of power simply paralyzed the Order. 
 There was no authority, express or implied, in the regula 
 tions, or giveft by the Encampment for such an arbitrary, 
 revolutionary order. The so-called -reorganization was not 
 by virtue of any power given by that instrument. It was 
 based on the resolutions, passed by an Encampment that 
 exceeded its power and authority. They were passed as in 
 structions as to the method of introducing the grades. No 
 such plenary power, however, could be given, or was in 
 tended to be vested in the Commander-in-chief, to take from 
 a comrade his membership, acquired under the Constitu 
 tion in the form and manner there given. If, as he pre 
 tended to do, he could exceed or extend the limits of the 
 letter and spirit of the organic law, he could likewise change 
 its force, abrogate 1 , and demolish it at will. We held that 
 
156 History of the Grand Army of the Republic: 
 
 these resolutions were simple* declarations, not laws; that 
 they could not carry a law into effect. Their mission was 
 to aid in the exercise of authority given by the Constitu 
 tion, simply directory to the Commander-in-chief, the crea 
 ture of these regulations, and that the Encampment could 
 only direct and empower him as the Constitution permitted. 
 But these resolutions not only enforced restrictions, but en 
 larged the organic law and assumed to impose commands in 
 violence of that law, and the Commander-in-chief ignored 
 not only the law, but the constitutional rights of every com 
 rade in the Order, when he directed every comrade to re- 
 muster for membership, or forfeit it. 
 
 I never believed General Logan was personally cogni 
 zant, or even formulated a single one of these orders. He 
 left the work and executive duties to members of his staff. 
 He was an exceptionally honorable and pure man, and 
 never would do indirectly what he coul<d not conscientiously 
 do directly. He placed confidence in those around him, and 
 assumed that in their positions they were doing no more 
 than authorized to do, and doing it within the letter of the 
 law; and when some of the most ardent workers in the 
 Order opposed his re-election in 1870, he understood the 
 reason to be not personal, but for the overthrow of a set of 
 parasites, in whom he had confidence. He did not want 
 re-election, but his staff did. A re-election meant change 
 of headquarters and staff. The history of the Order con 
 firms the fact that the Quartermaster-GeneraPs Department 
 was the power behind the throne. 
 
 General Beath, in his "History," speaking of these 
 grades, says: "In considering the disappointing results of 
 
History of the Grand Army of Ihe Republic. 157 
 
 this new departure, it must be remembered that the Order 
 was then in a condition of great depression, and that some 
 change seemed absolutely necessary to maintain the mem 
 bership and stimulate recruiting." The sole and only mis 
 take was, the East tried to put it on a new footing make 
 out of the old a new Order, and they failed. General Beath 
 should know, and probably he did know, that the Grand 
 Army in nearly every Department was strongest in 1868-9. 
 He knew, too, that it was the* morbid, "goody-goody" in the 
 Order, for sentimental degree work, that began to seep its 
 powers. He knew, too, that when he and his confreres 
 would cloak the cardinal principle of the Order by crying 
 "Charity, charity," they were putting a penny in the slot and 
 taking a shilling out. 
 
 As the Adjutant-General of the Department of Indiana 
 at that time, I know we were never stronger that is, wo 
 carried our organization, as such, at a higher mark than 
 was generally known; but the false position taken by many, 
 knowing it was false I use the word with a full knowledge 
 of its meaning and, while using the 1 Order for their own 
 personal preferment, at the same time cried out "Amen!" 
 from the front seat of the synagogue, whenever some small 
 soul would denounce 1 us as political assassins. These same 
 men, whose hypocrisy became in time so illy concealed, 
 wrought up such a feeling of bitterness that men refused to 
 succor them, and rather than play the part of Janus, quietly 
 stepped aside, and their Posts naturally dwindled to a mere 
 name. We called them our Triah Heaps." This was the 
 condition when General Foster resigned. He had done ev- 
 
158 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 erything in his power to hold his Department from dissolu 
 tion. But he saw the inevitable, and the effect of such a 
 glamour and pageantry; and he knew veteran soldiers would 
 not submit to such tinselry and ceremony to please their 
 own or any other man s vanity. However, his administra 
 tion embraced the period effected by the Philadelphia En 
 campment, and the introduction of the innovations pro 
 duced there. As early as February 17th, 1868, we saw the 
 drift of the Xational Headquarters to absorb every privi 
 lege heretofore exercised by Departments, especially in mo 
 nopolizing the printing of all supplies. By direction of 
 General Foster, I addressed a letter to General Chipman, 
 the Adjutant-General, upon the subject of printing the Rit 
 uals and other supplies required by our Department. A 
 copy of that letter is before me; it reads: 
 
 "I am directed by the Commander of this Department 
 to say that he hopes the printing of the Ritual will be given 
 to each Department where such work can be done at the 
 lowest rate; . . . that if Washington city prices can 
 compete with our own prices, he does not feel inclined to 
 ask any better privilege for his own Department. 
 
 "This Department has a Grand Army printer, and the 
 corps of printers to whom such work has been assigned is 
 composed entirely of comrades, and since one of the cardi 
 nal principles of our organization is mutual assistance, he 
 thinks this can be better exemplified by just such means used 
 at home, and whatever benefits that may in any way accrue 
 from the order in this Department, can be better appreci 
 ated by the comrades directly than indirectly. He therefore 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 159 
 
 requests that so much of your communication in reference 
 to the printing of Rituals in Washington city be modified, 
 so that his Department may continue to exercise this privi 
 lege and derive the benefits for the interests of all comrades 
 in the Department of Indiana. 
 
 "I am, sir, 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "Adjutant-General" 
 
 "P. S. Our Rituals have not cost us 1 cent per copy. 
 The Headquarters at Springfield endeavored to compel us 
 to pay their prices, 10 cents, but the officers of this Depart 
 ment were unwilling to encourage such an enterprise." 
 
 I regret that the answer to this request and the further 
 correspondence on this subject is not in my possession. How 
 ever, as it will be seen hereafter, National Headquarters 
 made no concession, but exacted its tribute in enriching prices 
 for every kind of supply, against which we unavailingly 
 protested. 
 
 When it is remembered that from the first Order in 1866 
 we printed every kind of supply, and gave thousands upon 
 thousands to our own comrades, and others, in different 
 States, it will not be wondered with what revolt we turned 
 against this barefaced, systematic peculation. And because 
 General Foster would not submit to the many schemes, ema 
 nating from Xational Headquarters, his Adjutant-General 
 had to get the censure, in many cases; and the same Adju 
 tant-General generally had the privilege of reply, and took it. 
 
 On December 23d, General Foster resigned his position 
 as Department Commander, in the following letter: 
 
160 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "To the Council of Administration, Grand Army of the Re- 
 public, Department of Indiana. 
 
 "Comrades: I have the honor to tender to you my res 
 ignation as Department Commander. A multiplicity of pri 
 vate business prevents me from paying attention to the in 
 terests of the Department, and a sense of duty compels me 
 to adopt this course. 
 
 "I take this opportunity of testifying to the efficiency and 
 energy of Major 0. M. Wilson, Adjutant-General of the De 
 partment, to whose efforts the magnitude and good condi 
 tion of the Order are due. 
 
 "R S. FOSTER." 
 
 Upon General Charles Cruft, Senior Vice Grand Com 
 mander, Department of Indiana, devolved the duties of the 
 office, and on Dec. 24th, 1868, he was notified as follows: 
 
 "Dear General: The resignation of Major-General R 
 S. Foster, Grand Commander of this Department, devolves 
 the command thereof upon yourself. His resignation has 
 been forwarded to the) Council of Administration. What are 
 your instructions? Is it your desire to assume the duties 
 of Grand Commander? 
 
 "Your obedient servant. 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "Adjutant-General/ 
 
 On the same date the following communication was sent 
 to the Council of Administration: 
 
 "General: I have the honor to enclose herewith the res 
 ignation of Major-General R. S. Foster as Grand Com 
 mander of this Department. The Senior Vice Grand Com- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 161 
 
 inander, General Charles Cruft, has been notified that such 
 resignation leaves him in command until a Grand Com 
 mander shall be appointed by the Grand Council. 
 "1 have the honor to be., very respectfully, 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 Adjutant-General. 
 
 "MAJOR-GENERAL XATTTAX KTMBALL, 
 "Chairman of Grand Council/ 
 
 I do not believe it is even to this day generally known 
 that General Foster resigned the office of Department Com 
 mander. The time was so near for the State Encampment 
 that no order was issued, as I remember now, announcing 
 such resignation, and it was deemed best, and for the good 
 of the Order, that no mention should be made of it to the 
 Posts. 
 
 Foster s resignation had long been contemplated. He 
 saw the impossibility, under the series of orders from Na 
 tional Headquarters, of carrying out the instructions to re 
 organize the Order. He wa> disgusted with the play of marti 
 nets, whose brief authority in the Grand Army civic organ 
 ization as it was exceeded the most absolute discipline in 
 the war. This parade of authority was not palatable to any 
 of us, and we sought by every means to stop even overthrow 
 it, for the simple reason that it was placing the Order 
 upon a planei we believed its founder never intended it to 
 occupy. 
 
 When argument failed, backed up as it was with evidence 
 of impossibility to conform to the exactions made of individ- 
 
162 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 uals and Posts to retain membership, then to avoid further 
 contention and! be released from further responsibility, Fos 
 ter saw his way clear to throw off his mantle of authority 
 by resigning. 
 
 To be sure, this act left the Indiana Headquarters in my 
 hands, though throughout my whole service as Adjutant- 
 General, I had naver presented a question to either Foster 
 or Kimball that had not been approved, with discretionary 
 power to act. The implicit confidence, therefore, given me 
 by these Commanders was never abused. My authority was 
 carte blanche. Hence Foster s resignation was simply the 
 stepping down or going out of office and leaving the door 
 open for me to shut. 
 
 That the end was noar I knew, unless orders were mod 
 ified. We were not willing to surrender our prestige of 
 1866 and 1868. At the same time wo realized we could not 
 then make the Order efficient along the lines of its first years 
 and with this feeling of distrust it was not an easy selec 
 tion of a successor. 
 
 I do not remember whether General Kimball, as Chair 
 man of the Council, or whether I, as Adjutant-General, 
 issued the order for the 4th State Encampment, which con 
 vened in the following January, 1869. 
 
 As I now remember, some forty Posts forty-one, I 
 think responded to the order. I was chosen Department 
 Commander. The records o>f this Encampment wcro turned 
 over to my successor, Colonel Humphrey, and lost, as here 
 tofore mentioned. The burden, with all my efforts to keep 
 it off Foster, fell at last upon myself. The officers-elect were 
 
History of ike Grand Army of the Republic. 163 
 
 announced in Genc/ral Orders, No. 1, 4th Series, dated Indi 
 anapolis, May, 1869. 
 
 "I. The following officers, chosen at the recent State 
 Encampment, are herewith announced for the information 
 of this Department : 
 
 "Commander: 0. M. Wilson, Indianapolis. 
 
 "Senior Vice-Commander: J. E. Hallowell, Eockville. 
 
 "Junior Vice-Commander : J. Turnock, South Bend. 
 
 "Assistant Inspector-General : E. S. Eobertson, Fort 
 Wayne. 
 
 "Assistant Quartermaster-General: W. M. Wiles, Indi 
 anapolis. 
 
 "Assistant Surgeon-General : Samuel Davis, New 
 Trenton. 
 
 "Grand Chaplain : N. S. Smith, Fort Wayne. 
 
 "II. Private M. G. McLain is herewith announced 
 as Assistant Adjutant- General, and will be respected 
 accordingly. 
 
 "III. It is gratifying to announce that the efforts made 
 by your past officers towards advancing the position of our 
 Order to a closer brotherhood have not been in vain. 
 A new work embracing an entire change of the unwrit 
 ten work in three parts, and an elaborate constitution w r ere 
 adopted at the last National Encampment held at Cincin 
 nati, May llth and 12th, and will soon be promulgated to 
 the Order. When received at these headquarters, notice will 
 be made and full instruction issued, which will be given to 
 Posts by an aide-de-camp. 
 
 "All Posts retaining their organization are requested to 
 report at once by letter to the Assistant Adjutant-General. 
 
164 History of the Grand Army of i/te Republic. 
 
 "Posts arc requested to carry out General Orders, No. 21, 
 of National Headquarters, designating the 29th and 30th 
 clay of May to decorate the graves of our deceased comrades, 
 and promptly report their proceedings to these headquarters. 
 
 "IV. Though the spirit and letter of our Constitution 
 makes the Grand Army of the Republic a Soldiers Brother 
 hood, yet to successfully prove our sincerity, it must have 
 that cordial unanimity and purity of purpose at every 
 threshold to preserve intact its great principles, and perpet 
 uate its richest blessings. Our opportunities arei always; our 
 duty eternal. Jn our Order it is not the province of an offi 
 cer to command : only execute! what others may direct, and 
 direct only in what may be given for guidance in the gem- 
 eral interest and welfare of all. In this spirit, with this 
 duty, is this trust and honor received. 
 
 "0. M. WILSON, 
 "Department Commander. 
 
 "Official. 
 
 "M. G. MCLAIN, 
 
 "Assistant Adjutant-General/ 
 
 There were several reasons for the delay in issuing this 
 order. One was a feeling, pretty general, that the Grand 
 -Army had about performed its mission, as first conceived. 
 The new plant that had been set out at Philadelphia was 
 slow to take on its growth. Another reason was my in- 
 ability to find the right man for Adjutant-General, until 
 McLain was developed. Another reason was, I was Secre 
 tary of the Indiana Senate, and could not give my time, 
 nor did I want to commit mv army duties to another until 
 
History of tUe Grand Army of the Republic. 165 
 
 [ could co-operate with him, though in this time there was 
 much, correspondence with Posts. McLain fortunately was 
 State Librarian, and, as custodian of the State House, se 
 lected one of the vacant Senate Committee rooms for head 
 quarters. Our efforts, however, were directed more to hold 
 ing the Order together than to strengthen or expand it, pre 
 ferring to let time work out a solution of issues made at 
 the Cincinnati Encampment. 
 
 Nevertheless, as will lx> seen from the following, the 
 Department of Indiana was ydt strong enough and suffi 
 ciently recognized to carry out Department orders for the 
 "decoration of graves of our deceased comrades/ 7 in obedi 
 ence to Genoral Orders, No. 21, National Headquarters. 
 
166 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ORDER OF PROCESSION AND CEREMONIES OX 
 
 DECORATION DAY AT CROWN HILL 
 
 CEMETERY, ON SATURDAY, 
 
 MAY 29TH, 18G9. 
 
 By the Ladies of Indianapolis, under the Auspices of the 
 Grand Army of ike Republic. 
 
 ORDER OF PROCESSION. 
 First Division. 
 
 1. Pioneers of Indianapolis. 
 
 2. Police of Indianapolis. 
 Myers Band. 
 
 City Battalion, commanded by General Fred Knefler. 
 
 5. Soldiers Orphans. 
 
 6. Ladies in charge of Decoration. 
 
 7. Governor Baker and Staff. 
 
 8. Department Commander G. A. II. and Staff. 
 
 9. Members of G. A. R. and ex-Soldiers U. S. A. 
 
 10. Masonic Orders. 
 
 11. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
 
 Second Division. 
 1. Martial Band. 
 
 U. S. Arsenal Guard. 
 Ministers in Carriages. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 167 
 
 4. U. S. Officers in Carriages. 
 
 5. State Officers in Carriages. 
 G. County Officers in Carriages. 
 
 7. City Officers in Carriages. 
 
 8. Temperance Organizations. 
 
 9. German Maennerchor and Societies. 
 
 Third Division. 
 
 1. The Press. 
 
 2. Sabbath Schools. 
 
 3. Merchants and Manufacturers Exchange. 
 
 4. Board of Trade. 
 
 5. Butchers Associations. 
 
 0. Officers of Benevolent Institutions. 
 
 7. Schools of Indianapolis. 
 
 8. Citizens in Carriages. 
 
 Marshals. 
 
 Chief Marshal Comrade Daniel Macauley. 
 
 Assistants Charles F. Hogato, J. William Bradshaw, 
 and Joseph P. Wiggins. 
 
 Marshals First Division Comrades E. F. Ritter and Lea 
 W. Munhall. 
 
 Second Division Comrades Frank Erdelmyer and Chas. 
 AY. B rouse. 
 
 Third Division David Braden and Henry L. Benham. 
 f The first division will form in the order above named on 
 East Ohio Street, right resting on Meridian Street. 
 
 The second division will form on West Market, west of 
 Circle and Meridian streets, right resting on Ohio Street. 
 11 
 
168 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 The third division will form on East Market and East 
 Circle Street, right resting on northeast cormir of Circle and 
 Meridian streets. 
 
 Divisions \viJl form in such time as -to he ready to move 
 promptly at 1 o clock p. in. 
 
 Kach "Order " or Association" will .take its place and 
 number in its Division, and report its arrival to the Chief 
 Marshal or his assistants, at the corner of Meridian and Ohio 
 -treats. Any "Order" or "Association" not vet reported will 
 join the Third ..Division and report it.- presence to the 
 Marshal. 
 
 All associations are requested to furnish their own trans 
 portation, if possible. 
 
 The different Orders on foot will take ihe street-cars at. 
 the end of the line of inarch, which . will be north on Merid 
 ian to Si. Clair Street, and west on St. Clair to Illinois. 
 where the cars will be entered l>// l//c /jrorrsxian mi///, as fas; 
 :i> the column mores up. ; 
 
 Care should be taken, upon entering the cars, to preserve 
 the order of the procession, as it will be re-formed before 
 i litering the Cemetery. 
 
 Citizens are advised to take the street-cars to the Cem 
 etery during the morning of the 2<)tli, in order that no con 
 fusion or disappointment may result, from the fact that all 
 the ears are secured for the procession at one o clock. 
 
 There will be ample time and accommodation for all to 
 return to the citv. 
 
 I ).\\ 11:1. M.\< ATLKY. 
 
 (hi of Marshal. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. \W 
 
 OKDKK OF CEHKMONY. 
 
 Upon Reach-in y the Cemetery the: Following Order will be 
 Observed in the Ceremony of Decoration. 
 
 I. "Assembly." 
 
 2. Reading General Order, No. 21, National Head 
 quarters. 
 
 3. Hymn, ".My Country, Tis of Thee." Under direc 
 tion of Prof. Black. 
 
 4. Prayer, by Rev. Robert Sloss. 
 
 5. Ode, "Our Heroes." (Quartette. 
 
 (!. Burial Service; by the Grand Army of the Republic, 
 Rev. L. II. Jameson, Chaplain of Post No. (5, officiating. 
 
 7. Salute, by Zouave Battalion. 
 
 8. Decoration of tlu> ({raves, by the ladies of Indian 
 apolis. 
 
 I). Oration, by Comrade John Coburn. 
 10. "Star Spangled Banner." by Band, and a National 
 Salute, by the Hackleman Battery. 
 
 II. Benediction, by Rev. Henry Day. 
 
 0. M. WILSOX, 
 Department Commander, Mqtster of Ceremonies. 
 
 General Orders. No. 2, 4th Series, of the Department, 
 July 3d, 186!), promulgated General Orders, No. :>, National 
 Headquarters, June 8th, 1801), containing the "resolutions 
 heretofore mentioned, adopted at the Cincinnati Encamp 
 ment in May, I860. 
 
 There was a time when we numbered over 300 Posts, but 
 consolidation under Kimball and Foster had brought the 
 
170 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 number down to less than 100 when I was chosen Depart 
 ment Commander. In the latter part of General Foster s 
 administration the number stood at 268,, but this number 
 shrank very materially for the reasons stated, and at this 
 time, June 8th, 1869, the orders of the Department might 
 just as well have been issued "To whom it may concern/ 
 for the orders, requiring extraordinary obligations and im- 
 ]x)sing uncalled-for and ceremonious details for reorganiz 
 ation .> made it impossible to carry into force any one of their 
 provisions. And in addition to this state of affairs, pro 
 duced by Logan s order on the "resolutions," came this 
 announcement in Circular 1 of date June 25th, 1869 : 
 
 "All blanks, . . . leaves of absence, transfers, dis 
 charges, descriptive books for Adjutants, and applications 
 for membership to the grades of recruit, soldier, and vet 
 eran will be furnished to Posts, through their respective 
 headquarters, at the following rates: 
 
 "Rituals, seven (7) in a set, containing the work, three 
 grades, $3.00 per set. 
 
 "Rituals, bound in cloth, $5.00 per set. 
 
 "Rules and regulations, $10.00 per hundred copies. 
 
 "Proceedings of the Xational Encampment, $20.00 per 
 100 copies. 
 
 "Applications (three forms), $1.00 per 100 copies. 
 
 "Adjutant s reports, 10 cents per copy. 
 
 "Quartermaster s reports, 8 cents per copy. 
 
 "Post descriptive books, $3.50 per copy. 
 
 "Inspector s reports of all kinds, 10 cents per copy. 
 
 "Assistant Adjutant-General s reports, 10 cents per 
 copy. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 171 
 
 "Assistant Quartermaster-General s reports, 10 cents 
 per copy. 
 
 "Post-Surgeon s relports, 5 cents per copy. 
 
 "Medical Director s reports, 10 cents per copy. 
 
 "Judge Advocate s reports, 10 cents per copy. 
 
 "Leaves of absence, transfers, and discharges, $5.00 per 
 100 copies. 
 
 "Posts will make; prompt requisition upon their respect 
 ive Department Headquarters, accompanied with the cash 
 for books, blanks, etc., and Departments will in turn make 
 requisition upon these headquarters." 
 
 Certainly. This already systematized "hold-up" and 
 official robbery I called it so then, and I call it so now 
 under the cloak of promoting a great fraternal brotherhood 
 of soldiers, declared Department, Post, and comrade dis 
 loyal if its behests were not promptly met. The idea that 
 a comrade in this organization, founded only on comrade 
 ship and good-fellowship, should be required to have a 
 "leave of absence" from his Post, or a "transfer," or a 
 ^discharge" ! that there should be "an inspector" to report 
 the material, mental, physical, and presumably sanitary 
 condition of his Post! that there should be Post "descrip 
 tive books," lest he, should desert, probably, and wander 
 off to some other camp of veterans and fraternize, because, 
 mayhaps, some old "coffee cooler" was there who had 
 "drunk from the same canteen" with him ! No, it was not 
 this. It was to manufacture something out of which money 
 could be filched from comrades, under pretense of the lib 
 erty to enjoy the right of fellowship in this Order. These 
 
172 History of the Grand Army of the Repubftc. 
 
 matters were all freely discussed by our comrades, and 
 condemned. 
 
 1 remember MeLain, my Adjutant-General, when we 
 got. this order, after reading it, interspersed with divers 
 figures of speech, looked up at me; as I was standing by 
 his side watching the effect upon him, and exclaimed: 
 "What do they take us for, anylioiu damn fools?" "Evi 
 dently so, Me," I replied; "however, we will give the boys 
 a chance to say something/ General Orders, No. 2, 4th 
 Series, followed, with marked emphasis: 
 
 "Post Commanders and officers of the Department arc 
 requested to assemble at Department Headquarters Julv 
 l r lst, 18(19, for the purpose of receiving instruction in the 
 late revised rules and regulations governing the Grand 
 Army of the Republic. Posts desiring a reorganization, to 
 v be represented in this assembly, must proceed to elect new 
 officers prior to the 21st, and come iiji irlth the assessment. 
 . . . It is expected all reports will be made promptly." 
 
 These "assessments" were to pay "an adequate salary of 
 the Assistant Adjutant-General and Inspector-General/ All 
 ill is was in "obedience to orders 7 Iroim National Headquar 
 ters. Further : 
 
 "Comrades will see that they are now entering upon a : 
 work unlike the former, and which will require the earnest 
 effort of officers to inaugurate throughout the Department, 
 
 "It is found impossible to calculate the dues of many 
 Posts, and in order to enable all who desire to enjoy the 
 lew-fits of the new work to stand on an equal ground with 
 others, an assessment on the comparative membership has 
 
History of f/ie Grand Army of tlie Republic. 173 
 
 been declared the most acceptable method of attaining the 
 end sought. 
 
 "The now constitution ]>< nulls an assessment of 50 
 cents on each member. The emergency must he great to 
 demand this. That of this Department is great, but not 
 greater- than, it is thought, will bo covered bv the present 
 assessment, which, when paid, will entitle the Posts to re 
 ceive the new work, and not before. 
 
 "Posts that have failed to report within one year will 
 not receive notice. All Posts to whom notice is sent, fail 
 ing to- comply with the above orders prior to July Mst, 
 
 The spirit of this order cannot be interpreted now as it 
 was then. Tho Xationa! "order" was sent with our order 
 that the souree of instructions might be known. "There 
 was not a Po<t that was not in sympathy with Depart mom 
 Headquarters. Tho schedule of prices for blanks, etc., wa- 
 -ont along. Aiany PoMs never answered. Some sarcasm 
 accompanied some of the answers. One said: "Can t raise 
 money enough to buy a "leave of absence 7 to come up to 
 headquarters to see you about it." Another: "The Post 
 is in too deep a hole. - One wanted a "thousand" commis 
 sions pink satin to distribute fo the poor/ One was: 
 \Ye II see Grant about it." These 1 recall, but they alway.- 
 tame on separate slips of paper, not on the ollicial letter. 
 except in one case where it was added as a postscript. 
 
 Even to reorganize meant the entail merit of an expense 
 that was considered unwarranted and exorbitant a system 
 of tribute that was denounced and repudiated. 
 
174 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 However,, the broadest latitude was given the Posts 
 without imposing harsh measures. Everything was left to 
 their own desire, and that all might have a voice, a year s 
 time was authorized to elapse from the time restrictions and 
 exactions were placed around and upon their old Post or 
 ganization under the plain, simple, all-sufficient Stephen- 
 son Constitution and Eitual. 
 
 Though the proceedings of this assembly on the 21st of 
 July, 1869, were lost in the following year, with others as 
 heretofore shown, I remember the spirit of the meeting and 
 the discussions by a large number of the comrades. Some 
 represented Posts reorganized; others came to fully know 
 the situation, and what was best to be done, and the easiest 
 way to do it. It was a query, what was to become of mem 
 bers who had failed to report, because there were no regular 
 meetings of the Post to report to, and others who had been 
 dropped, and yet the Post had failed to keep up a proper 
 organization. In the face of this "sea of troubles," I de 
 clined to enforce "obedience to orders," and directed the rep 
 resentatives to build up and hold thejir Post organizations, 
 as it had always existed, until I could explain the situation 
 to National Headquarters. 
 
 While we were satisfied we were doing all things for the 
 best, and would eventually be able to> soften down some of 
 the iron-clad features of General Orders from National 
 Headquarters, on that same day, July 21st, 1869, was pro 
 mulgated General Orders, No. 4, National Headquarters, 
 transmitting "additional regulations relative to admitting 
 comrades to the grades of recruit, soldier, and veteran." 
 
I 
 
 
 MAJOR O. M. WILSON. (1866.) 
 
 Adjutant-General Department of Indiana and Acting Provisional National 
 Adjutant-General, July 1866 to Nov. 21, 1866. Adjutant-General-Elect, Depart 
 ment of Indiana, Nov. 1866 to Jan. 1868. Adjutant-General Department of 
 Indiana, Jan. 1868 to Jan. 1869. Department Commander, Jan. 1869 to Jan. 
 1870. 
 
History of flic Grand Army of ilia, Republic. 175 
 
 Had this order been received during our session, the De 
 partment of Indiana would then and theiv have "tied up." 
 
 So far as> the Department was concerned., the erncial test 
 was now being made. I knew it was impossible to try to 
 hold our organization to a strict compliance with the (Jcn- 
 eral Order, Xo. -1, and so reported to National Headquar 
 ters., stating that I would endeavor to enforce it, but the 1 
 innovation was so great I thought the Posts would be un 
 able to maintain their organization. 
 
 On September loth, 1SG1), General Order, Xo. 3, 4th 
 .Series, Department of Indiana, was issued to this effect: 
 
 "I. After consultation with National Headquarters, 
 and upon a decision of the Judge, Advocate, the Depart 
 ment Commander assumes the responsibility, and hereby 
 Orders, that the time for instructing all members in the new 
 work he extended to the 1st dav of October, 1S(>9. Com 
 rades must understand that no further extension of time 
 will he granted. II thev do not take advantage of the oppor 
 tunity by that date, they will be out of the Order, and to 
 re-enter it will have to go through the same forms, and sub 
 mit to all the probations now required of persons who have 
 never teen members. 
 
 II. Directs the Posts to prepare for inspection. 
 
 llf. Asks Posts to be prompt in forwarding dues, and 
 per capita tax levied by National Headquarters upon each 
 member of the various grades of the Order. 
 
 "IV. In organizing and enlisting members, the strict 
 est caution is required, and under no circumstances shall 
 any be allowed to advance from one grade to another unless 
 
176 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 such person has proven himself, in former actions and con 
 nections with the Order, worthy of the trust about to be 
 confided in him. The officers of the different Posts are 
 expected to enforce all orders promptly and conform, strictly 
 to the revised rules and regulations governing the Order. 
 
 "V. Posts wishing to reorganize under the new work 
 will report the fact to these headquarters. 
 
 "VI. (1) Since the inauguration of the new work- 
 July 1st, 1869, the number of the Posts of this Department 
 will hereafter be known according to the date of their re 
 organization. Each Post, if it desires, will in connection 
 with its number, select the name of some comrade whose 
 memory it may especially cherish, by which it may be 
 designated. 
 
 "(2) .... 
 
 "(3) The organization of the following Posts is here 
 by announced : 
 
 "No. 5, at Vincennes, Knox County: Commander, J. S. 
 Ostrander. 
 
 { "No. 39, at Madison, Jefferson County : Commander, X. 
 A. Logan. 
 
 "No. 72, at Fort Wayne, Allen County : Commander, W. 
 H. Davis. 
 
 "No. 17, at South Bend, St. Joseph County : Command 
 er, Joseph Turnock. 
 
 "No. 115, at Ellettsville, Monroe County: Commander, 
 Henry Eakin. 
 
 "No. 243, at Petersburg, Pike County : Commander, 
 David M. Tyler." 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 177 
 
 Organization in this paragraph meant "re-organ ization." 
 "VII 
 
 "VIII. ... No doubt many comrades find it dif 
 ficult to realize that from the crude and uncertain condition 
 of the Grand Army of the Eepublic in former days it would 
 be impossible for any sudden transition to a better state, 
 but our fraternity has been advanced beyond a mere asso 
 ciation to an enviable position among the benevolent orders 
 of the age., and in its mission it seeks the accomplishment 
 of all that would make a great Xation proud of its name, 
 and that inborn patriotism of its people to one country and 
 one flag. Comrades desiring its fellowship must seek its 
 outposts: the camp is not pitched under the footfall of the 
 recruit. 
 
 "By order of the Commander,, 
 
 "0. M. WILSOX, 
 
 "M. G. McLAix, 
 
 "Assistant Adjutant-General/ 
 
 It must be borne in mind that Ehis National General 
 Order, No. 4, July 21st, 1809, was to enforce the revised 
 rules of May 12th and 13th, 18G9, made at Cincinnati En 
 campment, bearing on arrearages, dues, assessments, and 
 per capita tax, as a kind of purgative preparation, to apply 
 ing the "resolutions" of that Encampment, putting in force 
 or providing a method for putting in force and operation 
 the new Ritual of three degrees. 
 
 This re-creation of the Order lacked many essential in 
 gredients for success, aside from the above. Departments 
 ivere compelled to buy their supplies of every kind from 
 
ITS Hisluj ij of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 National Headquarters at several hundred per cent above 
 war prices, when the Department of Indiana never. charged, 
 as a rule, for any supplies of any kind furnished- its Posts. 
 There may have heen exceptions in some cases, but I cannot 
 now recall a single instance where a charge was made upon 
 or exacted from any Post for Rituals, Constitutions, blanks, 
 etc., of any kind. As I now remember, the Charter fee was 
 supposed to cover all these essentials. The conditions under 
 which we were organized seemed to he either overlooked, or 
 will fully ignored when this General Order, No. 4, was pro 
 mulgated, which virtually made it impossible for a Post 
 to exist. I had asked the privilege of furnishing my own 
 Department wSth blanks, etc., and I protested emphatically 
 in plain language against the charge for Rituals, blank re 
 ports, etc., but to no avail. My request was denied, i 
 knew it would be. 
 
 Rather than sacrifice the truth of history for brevity s 
 sake. 1 give here this General Order. No. 4, dated July 
 21st, ISOi), National "Headquarters. Washington: 
 
 "Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic. 
 "Adjutant-GeneraTs Office, 411 F Street. 
 
 "Washington, I). C., July 31, . 1S09. 
 "General Orders, No. 1. 
 
 "J. The following additional regulations relative to 
 admitting comrades to the grade s of Recruit, Soldier, and 
 Veteran are hereby published for thej information of the 
 ollicers and members of the Grand Army of the Eepublic, 
 and thev will be governed accordingly: 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 179 
 
 a l. All officer* and members of the Xational Encamp 
 ment and Department Encampments, and all officers of 
 Posts who have or may hereafter receive the work of Re- 
 emit, Soldier, and Veteran, will make out and file with the 
 Post of which they are members the three forms of applica 
 tion to said grades, and at the same time pay to the Post 
 Quartermaster the regular fee of ten (10) cents required 
 by the Rules and Regulat ions. 
 
 " . All past ollict . rs and members of Departments, and 
 all past officers and present, members of Post* who are en- 
 tilled to the gradds of Recruit, Soldier, or Veteran, shall, 
 before receiving the new work, make out and file with the 
 Post of which thev are members the regular forms of appli 
 cation for membership. The. applications will he referred 
 to a committee, whose duty il will he to examine the appli 
 cants discharge or muster-oul papers, and call upon the 
 Post ^iiartrjrmas.tcr and ascertain their standing with his 
 Department; if found in good standing and clear from all 
 dues, thev will he mustered as provided by the Ritual, with 
 out ballot and without unnecessary delay. The foregoing 
 regulations are nteesi-ary in order to eompN te the Po>t rec 
 ord of membership. 
 
 "o. Charter members and officers of Posts that have 
 not been organized eight months shall receive the IK w work 
 of the three grades: Provided, that thev are in good stand 
 ing and free from all dues. 
 
 "Thn other members of such Posts will be admitted to 
 Hie several grades as they become eligible. 
 
180 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "4. The charter members of new Posts, upon their 
 organization, will be instructed in the work of the three 
 grades. 
 
 "II. The Department dues to the National Encamp 
 ment will be at the rate of two (2) cents per capita per 
 annum for the quarter ending 1 March 31, 1809, and there 
 after at the rate of four (4) cents per capita per annum. 
 
 "III. Department, and Post Commanders will take 
 notice that the Rules and Regulations, and resolution of the 
 National Encampment, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, make it 
 the duty of the Adjutant-General to furnish all blanks re 
 quired for the use of the Grand Army of the Republic; also 
 the Ritual, Rules and Regulations. 
 
 "IV. The prices of the Rules and Regulations, and 
 blanks, necessary for the use of the Grand Army of the 
 Republic, as announced in Circular No. 1, C. S., are hereby 
 revised, and will be furnished as follows: 
 
 "Assistant Adjutants-Getneral, Assistant Quartermasters- 
 General, and Medical Directors reports without charge; 
 Rules and Regulations, $5 per 100 copies to Departments, 
 and $6 to Posts; applications for membership, same as stat 
 ed in Circular; Post Adjutants* reports to Departments, at 
 $5 por 100 copies; Post Surgeons and Quartermasters re 
 ports to Departments, at $1 per hundred (100) copies; 
 Inspectors reports to Departments, at $3 per 100 copies; 
 Leaves of Absence, Transfers, and Discharges, to Depart 
 ments, at $5 par 100 copies. The Post descriptive book is 
 ruled to embrace every fact contained in the application for 
 (membership, and contains four full quires, and it is very 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 181 
 
 important that each Post be provided with one in starting 
 out with the new organization. 
 
 "V. The Commander-in-ehiof desires to call special at 
 tention to the Surgeons reports, which, if filled out as pro 
 vided for. will furnish much valuable 1 information for our 
 organization, and it is earnestly hoped that every Post Sur 
 geon will make careful examination, and report the facts 
 called for therein. 
 
 "VI 
 
 "VII. Departments arc 1 called upon to IK; prompt in 
 making quarterly reports at the time called for, and if there 
 are any Posts who have, not reported within the time spec 
 ified in tin? Rules and Regulations, they will lie reported as 
 delinquent. All reports from the Assistant Adjutants- 
 general, Assistant Quartermasters-General, Assistant In 
 spectors-General, and Medical Directors, should be forward 
 ed through National Headquarters to the proper officers. 
 
 "VIII. General Orders from these headquarters will 
 be furnished to Departments in numbers sufficient to supply 
 each Post with a copv, free of charge. 
 
 "IX. . . . ." 
 
 "l>y order of 
 
 ".JoiiN A. LOGAN, 
 "( Commander-in-chief. 
 "\V.M. T. COLLINS. 
 "- 1 djutant-Genjeral" 
 
 Comrade* must remember that between then and now 
 more than thirty years have passed: then thev were active, 
 and iilled with the enthusiasm that would riot submit to re- 
 
 12"* 
 
182 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 straint or imposition with the indifference they would now ; 
 they needed no formula to hold their fellowship as com 
 rades ; they had not been off "the front" so long that they 
 had to be taught what it was to "touch elbow" as com 
 rades all were veterans, and they regarded this "Kitual 
 business," as it was designated, "play soldiers." Posts could 
 not reorganize unless they paid their dues and assessments. 
 This, then, was the ultimatum, not the fact that you were 
 a comrade. You must pay old dues, etc., under an old or 
 ganization, that was now practically wiped out, if you 
 wished affiliation in this new order of things. You must 
 pay for something this new condition had abrogated and 
 made- impossible to exist. Members, feeling the restraint 
 not imposed when they took their obligation, felt no desire 
 to continue their membership; and thus whatever course 
 either took, if they reorganized, each man would have to 
 file his application for new membership, and for this he 
 was taxed, and then his Post would have; to tax him to pay 
 its assessment, and this to be repeated in the process of 
 advancing through all the grades, which, as it was often 
 expressed, involved neither charity, fraternity, nor loyalty, 
 but the payment of money without any value received, or 
 future reward promised greater than at present enjoyed. 
 
 Either by mail or in person at Department Headquar 
 ters these matters were the subject of discussion. I remem 
 ber a committee from a Post in Boone County, I think 
 came down for "instructions." We had just received Gen 
 eral Order, No. 5, from headquarters, and I read it to them. 
 One of its provisions related to a "certificate of member- 
 
t History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 183 
 
 ship." "What s the use of such rigmarole ? v exclaimed one 
 of the boys. "Certificate? By golly, our certificate s forty 
 rounds ! That s all we want. No fellow wants to bring 
 his certificate to me! that he s a soldier, or a G. A. R. man ! 
 I 11 prove him mighty quick." 
 
 This was simply one of the many instances of a spirit of 
 resistance to innovation. Howevetr, there was one feature 
 in this Order that attracted attention, and it, for the time, 
 gave hope that some good or personal benefit might yet 
 come to the comrade if in thei Order; that was the proposed 
 insurance feature. It met with approval* At the same 
 time doubt was expressed if it would not be so hedged, and 
 made so exclusive as to admit only certain ones to its ben 
 efits. For instance, the Veteran grade only, thereby com 
 pelling a comrade to pass up through the others, with his 
 dues, assessments and tax before he could be eligible to re 
 ceive the insurance. It met also with suspicion that it was 
 an additional device for somebody to make money off the 
 Order; to make a new bureau, or department of insurance, 
 to pension on good salaries certain parasites that were al 
 ready feeding on the Order. 
 
 The circumstances surrounding this "Order," the pur 
 poses it sought, led to the following Department Circular, 
 dated October 4th, 1869 : 
 
 "CIRCULAR. Provision is made in the rules and reg 
 ulations governing our Order for assessing Posts in case of 
 exigency to meet certain Department expenses. The Com 
 mander is not willing to ask the payment of an additional 
 assessment for the purpose expressed in the following parts 
 
184 I/isf-wi/ of the (irand Army of tlto Republic. 
 
 of (ienoral Order. Xo. 5, dated Washington, 1). C., Septem 
 ber l-")lh. IS(iJ), as follows: 
 
 "*JI. It is hereby ordered i:i accordance with Sec. !), 
 Art. VI.. of the Revised Rules and Regulations, that the 
 National Council of Administration convene in special 
 meeting on the fourth Wednesday of October proximo, at 
 1 J o clock noon, iii th< ; city of Xew York. 
 
 III. The National Council of Administration hav 
 ing, through a majority of its members, approved, by letter, 
 of the recommendation of the Committee), appointed by the 
 National Kncanipinent to examine into the jti ai-ticability of 
 organizi.ng a scheme of co-operative life insurance Tor "the 
 ( rand Ai my nanndy, to call an extra session of the Na 
 tional Encampment, it is hereby ordered that a special meet 
 ing of the National Encampment assemble on the fourth 
 Wednesday of October proximo. 1^ o clock noon, in tho city 
 of NCAV York. 
 
 " The following subjects will be submitted for action by 
 this special meeting yiz. : 
 
 "I. T \ ne extension of time for muster beyond the first 
 day of September to old comrades. 
 
 " 2. To adopt or reject the report of the committee 
 Appointed to look into the practicability of connecting a life 
 insurance plan with the (Jrand Army of the Republic. 
 
 : 3. To adopt a badge, commission, and certificate of 
 membership for the organization. 
 
 " 4. To consider several other subjects of importance 
 which will be brought before the Encampment. : 
 
 Great stress was laid in this General Order upon the im 
 portance of this joint meeting of the two highest powers 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 1S5 
 
 of the Order. Every subject for consideration fed my desire 
 to attend that Council. I thought I saw a means of pre 
 venting a disintegration of the Order, by adopting insur 
 ance. The extension of time for muster was also imperative, 
 and if it was possible to put it off without a limit, by mak 
 ing it essential to have every man insured, so much the bet 
 ter. The fourth object, "to consider several other subjects/ 1 
 determined my purpose to be there, for I concluded, if ex 
 traordinary power could be used, as it had been in several 
 instances, it could be used again, though my conviction- 
 then were that the Council would be asked to pronounce 
 upon and confirm the rigid rule 1 , that had been prescribed 
 for reorganization. 
 
 The "Circular" concluded with tin s paragraph: 
 
 "Though a sufficient sum is in the Treasury in defray 
 the expenses of the Commander and Inspector-General t<> 
 this National Encampment, yet he prefers to secure the 
 credit of the Department at National Headquarters Ivy pay 
 ment thereto from this fund of dues and accounts than by 
 appropriating this money. Therefore, upon consultation 
 with Department officers, this Circular is issued to J osts 
 and comrades to act in the premises as they may think best. 
 by remitting whatever amount thev mav please. Reorgan 
 ized Posts are re<|ucst(/fl to send to the Assistant Adjulant- 
 (ieneral whatever suggestions thev desire, upon the subject 
 matter before the l^ncampmdnt, that the Commander mav 
 have the benefit of their wishes in the Council. 
 
 "By order of the Commander, 
 
 "M. G. Me LAI: \, "0. M-. WILSON, 
 
 "Assistan t Arfju tan t-Gcneral." 
 
186 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 I went to this Council as Department Commander. 1 
 think I was the only representative from our State. The 
 Department of Indiana was again honored in having her 
 Commander chosen the presiding officer of the Council, on 
 motion of Adjutant-General N. P. Chipman, who prefaced 
 his motion with the statement that "he was entitled to the 
 distinction by reason of being the; Senior Grand Army man 
 in the Council and Order." I have given his words exactly 
 as uttered, because they were significant then, and may be 
 now, coming from the source they did, for Chipman always 
 recognized Indiana as having first established a de facto 
 organization. 
 
 It became my duty, as presiding officer, to appoint the 
 several committees. The Committee on Badge was thus 
 appointed. Their recommendation wa,s adopted. It is the 
 badge worn to-day, with one or two minor changes since 
 made. 
 
 The gentleman bringing forward the insurance scheme 
 proved in almost a breath that no single session of a Coun 
 cil could consider a proposition that involved the machin 
 ery and expense it required for introduction, and the mem 
 bers soon saw, and, seeing, wearied with the details of a 
 bubble so colossal, and on motion the whole subject was re- 
 ferred to a committee with power to act along the lines sug 
 gested to obtain a Charter from Congress, if thought ad 
 visable. The Commander-in-chief was, on motion, made 
 chairman of this committee. There was some quiet censura 
 for permitting this schefme to be brought into the Grand 
 Army councils. The plan was to tack it, obligations and 
 all, on to the Ritual. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 187 
 
 The declaration made at the Cincinnati Encampment 
 was re-affirmed, in this, that the members of the Order who 
 should ret-muster should be entitled to the third degree- 
 that of Veteran. 
 
 Thus, again, by resolution was the Eitual to be en 
 forced, as follows : 
 
 "That all comrades of the Grand Army of the Kepub- 
 lic, made such under the old organization prior to the 1st 
 day of November, 1869, and not in violation of the quali 
 fications prescribed by Art. IV., Chap. 1, Bevised Eules and 
 Regulations, shall be eligible to the third degree of the pres 
 ent organization upon taking the several obligations; Pro 
 vided, they shall be in good standing in their several Posts 
 and Departments, and free from all dues at the time of 
 their application; and, provided further, that all comrades 
 and Posts of the* organization, who, having had the oppor 
 tunity, shall willfully neglect or refuse to make application 
 for membership under the new organization on or before the 
 31st day of December, 1869, shall be deiprived of the priv 
 ilege accorded by this resolution; and, provided further, 
 that all other comrades of Posts not last above described shall 
 make application for membership under the new organiza 
 tion on or before the next regular meeting of the National 
 Encampment." 
 
 The assumption and unalloyed, sublimated arrogance of 
 the few gentlemen constituting this Council needs no head 
 light for an exposition of their purpose; it is in the resolu 
 tion. I denied and repudiated the doctrine that the Grand 
 Army "made a comrade"; that his membership depended 
 
188 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 upon making a new application; that this body had the 
 power, right, or authority to prejudge a comrade for his re 
 fusal to make such application within a certain time, after 
 which he should he excluded; and that all other comrades, 
 not members, must accept these imperialistic conditions by 
 a certain time, or be forever barred. 
 
 Tlie spirit of the resolution was aimed at chiefly west- 
 ern Departments., notably Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, 
 Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Kentucky. But few of these 
 States were represented according to my memory now. 
 
 Tlia action of the body denoted this one purpose to 
 wipe out the organization of 18(>(> that a few chosen spirits 
 might build up a new Order upon its ruins. How or upon 
 what principles it was not declared. The strength of the 
 Order had proven to be in the West. National Headquar- 
 ters, with Colonel Timothy Lubey as Quartermaster-General, 
 (contracting for and controlling all supplies, found an obsta 
 cle and a troublesome one, in the; Department of Indiana, 
 that was able, and preferred, to furnish its own Posts with 
 all supplies without charge. 
 
 There were many and serious conflicts in this Council 
 and out of it, waged against the States mentioned, for not 
 supporting National Headquarters, and it accordingly be 
 came necessary to destroy their power. We did not want 
 the Revised Ritual; the Kast did; it loved the "pomp and 
 circumstance of parade better than we did. Another con 
 tention was, so far as the Department of Indiana was con 
 cerned, against sustaining National Headquarters with a 
 printing bureau, and the demands made upon us for an 
 
Histoiry of the Grand Army of the Republic. 189 
 
 assessment that never was,, and never could be, in the nature 
 of things, collected after the edict of exclusion had been pro 
 mulgated in National Orders. 
 
 General Foster had not attended any of these Encamp 
 ments or Councils, and I was compelled,, generally, to stand 
 alone in all the struggles of 1807, 68 and 01), especially in 
 this Council. 
 
 The other " subjects of importance" were various and 
 many; chiefly, however, that one whereby members could 
 be hold in the Order. There were advocates of the Ritual, 
 arid others who said they doubted "if it would work." Gen- 
 oral Shaw, its chief advocate, and chairman of the Kitual 
 Committee, suggested a plan he thought would interest and 
 unite the comrades, and hold them in the organization. This 
 plan was, that members should be chosen by their Posts to 
 present at stated times a paper on. some experience, event, 
 or incident of their service. To be sure, this suggestion met 
 no opposition, and it afterwards became the subject of Gen 
 eral Order, No. 0, dated Washington, November 4th. 1809. 
 Hut this Order never became effective in the West, at least, 
 because of the practical character of the organization. 
 
 In this Council I was asked by General Shaw how the 
 grade had beeui received in Indiana. I did not hesitate to 
 say that I had never been in sympathy with this Ritual, as 
 General Shaw well knew, we being on the Kitual Commit 
 tee together; that this Ritual with its three degrees had over 
 shot its purpose, that of uniting the men; that instead of 
 bringing the soldiers together within a certain boundary, 
 according to their services, it made it possible for everyone 
 
190 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 to reach the grade of Veteran by simply joining the associa 
 tion, so that if his service did not entitle him to any such 
 distinction, the Grand Army,, by leveling the highest to trie 
 grade of the lowest, and calling by name a title his service 
 did not justify, made him such by this KituaL If he was 
 not a Veteran in war, this Order could make him such by 
 calling him one. by simply a paper declaration, whether or 
 not he had borne the heat and burden of the days of 1861 
 and 1865. Many good and worthy comrades objected to thit 
 process of leveling up as a Veteran, even by name, the man 
 who never got decently far enough to the front to be bap 
 tized in an engagement. To be sure, there were soldiers by 
 virtue of their muster as such. At the same time I would 
 not be understood as detracting from their patriotism and 
 willingness to meet any order and obeiy any command, but 
 if the fortunes of war did not take them to the front, or, i! 
 at the front, did not lead them into action, there could not 
 be that entire supreme fellowship of comradeship with thosfe 
 who had felt the heat and passion of battle:. If we must 
 have degrees, this line was not properly drawn. There was 
 an indifference among my comrades to remuster, for it can 
 not be denied that during the war there was a broad distinc 
 tion between many men, simply called soldiers, and a Vet 
 eran, that denoted ho had been tried in action. 
 
 It may seem strange that these sentiments met with a 
 hearty approval, in the face of the "resolution" the Council 
 had adopted. Some explained, saying, "Wait and see." 
 Others said, "We re all on a common level." "Then why," 
 I asked, "do we need a Ritual of grades ? We never recog- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 191 
 
 nized one above! the other in Indiana of those who had an 
 honorable discharge. We stand on the common platform r as 
 soldiers/ If the sentiment of comradeship can t hold men 
 together, no Eitual can." Because, I declared, the General 
 Order dismissing, suspending, and discharging any comrade 
 from the fellowship of the Order, under and in pursuance 
 of any resolution of instruction to the Commander-in-chief 
 putting in force this Eitual, or for any purpose whatsoever, 
 was unconstitutional and void; that any additional or sup 
 plementary provision of power, not expressly given in the 
 Constitution, that was imposed, assumed, or exercised by 
 this or any other Encampment by resolution to enforce the 
 written work of the Order, was unwarranted, unsoldierly, 
 illegal, and revolutionary, and without precedent; that such 
 resolution and General Order could not take from a com 
 rade his right of fellowship, nor work a forfeiture of his 
 membership in the Order, nor exclude him from the privi 
 leges of the Order; that by his own act only could he be 
 denied the right of affiliation, other things being equal. 
 
 Because, I say, for these declarations I was regarded in 
 almost open rebellion, then it was that either General Chip- 
 man or General Whitaker, of Connecticut I forget which 
 one it was spoke up : "I believe it ? s a fact, ain t it, Wil 
 son, that you Western men don t care a damn for cere 
 mony?" "But you always get there," piped in my insur 
 ance friend. Whitaker was one of the men I instructed at 
 Pittsburg. He know, probably as well as anyone, the spirit 
 that moved the "army" in the campaigns of 1866 and 1868. 
 There was not a comrade who took the obligation at Indiana 
 
192 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Headquarters at Pittsburg, who was in this Council, but felt 
 what 1 said to be true. They admitted that the Grand 
 Army, as then conceived and organized, was a powerful po 
 litical Juggernaut. They remembered, too-, that at that 
 time the condition of the country demanded that the men 
 who stood together in war should now stand together in 
 peace that peace might be preserved and perpetuated. In 
 the nature; of things it could not be otherwise. President 
 .iohnHm had made his "break" with Congress and the "party" " 
 (hat had earr t icd him into power was the party that sus 
 tained the soldier in the war. His apostasy naturally roused 
 them to bitter denunciation, and they turned one to the 
 other to find the same feeling of fellowship and resolve with 
 de-si re for loyal expression as they felt when in the army as 
 soldiers. The smell of powder had not yet got out of their 
 clothes^ and ihev round in this organization so far as Indi 
 ana was concerned all they could desire for political faith. 
 
 And here I feel it my dutv to digress for a statement. 
 The soldiers naturally resented disloyalty from any and 
 every source, of whatever phasu, whether to the flag, the 
 laws of the land, or "the powers that be." But it was not 
 only the soldier, hut the loyal sentiment of the North that 
 resented an insult, come from whatever source. When. 
 therefore, President Johnson, "swung around the circle," -he 
 invited opprobrium, if noi attack, from the loval masses. At 
 Indianapolis he met with rebuke- a stormv one, even dan 
 gerous. It was called by Johnson s allies a "mob/ The 
 (iraud Army was charged with inciting this tumult. It was 
 simply a spontaneous gathering of people to see the man 
 
History of the (Intnd Army of tho Republic. 19o 
 
 who could "turn his coat." as Johnson had. lie wanted to 
 speak : they did not want in hear him. lie insisted, they 
 "persisted, and in good nature prevented him from deliver 
 ing his "copy of the Constitution," as revised hv him. To 
 he sure, soldiers were there, as a part of the commonwealth 
 of i ndiana. They were not armed, nor did they come there 
 for trouble. But when one man standing near me hollowed 
 Hurrah Tor Jell Davis!" tlh-n trouble began: and if con 
 fession will do any good for the soul for righteous deed- 
 done in the flesh, then I now here confess that I broke my 
 cane over that fellow s head, and whether from force of ilr.j 
 Ulo\vy or what not. lie sought fresh air on the edu e of tho 
 crowd. Then a shot came, and Stewart fell. In a moment - 
 time the r officers had the murderer in their dutches; one 
 whom I remember. I ryor Devol. commanded myself and 
 Major John X. Scott, standing by me, to assist in "taking 
 this man to jail." We felt bound to obey. It was a strug 
 gle, to get him there. 1 walked to the left, and sometimes 
 to the front of Devol, telling the enraged men to "keep 
 back : let the Jaw take its coursa" Scott and I brought up 
 other comrades to the assistance of these officers, one of 
 whom was Hi Minnick. 
 
 It was a fearful night. After this shooting, then it was 
 you could have called that crowd a "mob" / / Johnson had 
 (if/tiin /ippcarcfl. But I want to say for the truth of history, 
 the v.irand Army, as an organization, had no more to do with 
 this assembling than tin 1 opu ol I*onu>. j 
 
 AYhitaker and others who took the obligation from .Indi 
 ana were not disposed to take from us any prestige. They 
 
194 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 understood that we sought for and organized this Order for 
 what it was, and for what we might accomplish with it. 
 There was no effort at concealment. They knew that Ste- 
 phenson, Webber, and Mathetr had said to us, the "Hoosiers 
 could put it on its feet," because we "had a Morton in he 
 campaign." How, then, could it have been otherwise than 
 political ? 
 
 And after two long, hot campaigns, both having popular 
 soldiers for leaders, Baker for governor and Grant for Pres 
 ident, and having elected them and thus realizing the ad 
 vantage of organization as a body of soldiers, it is not oTif- 
 ficult to understand the effect such a change would produce, 
 as now made in the Eitual and the "resolutions." They saw 
 that such innovation did not contemplate the continuance 
 .of the plain, simple organization we started with, and which 
 had united the boys" to cheer together again for the old 
 flag. We thought that was Eitual enough. If the Order 
 did not respond to National Headquarters just as others 
 thought we should, it cannot be said we did not respond to 
 our duty in Indiana, for which we were organized. That 
 was our paramount duty. 
 
 If now, therefore, this aggregation of soldiers was to be 
 directed in another channel than that which had been "cut" 
 in Indiana, it should have been given the opportunity to 
 study the approaches to what was suddenly made a transfor 
 mation scene, from camp-fire to the more solemn observance 
 of forms and ceremonies that had no place in the soldier s 
 life. 
 
Pltstory of the Grand Army of the Republic. 195 
 
 There* is no question that the Order by this time had 
 taken on a semi-moral-sanctimonious garb of charitable 
 righteousness, and made to appear other than what its then 
 Constitution provided it was and should be. This was shown 
 in the discussion of the Declaration of Principles in the 
 Philadelphia Encampment. The fact is, we had never 
 placed any tenet above political necessity, and many of our 
 comrades had no other knowledge of the purpose of the 
 Order than to maintain the results of the war, through the 
 great political party that had stood for the country. So that 
 when it was sought to place another interpretation upon the 
 cardinal tenets of the Order, whereby politics should be 
 ignored, in words as well as deeds, many concluded the mis 
 sion of the Grand Army of the Republic had been accom 
 plished, and they were not in a frame of mind to accept any 
 formula, or subscribe! to any doctrine or rule that prescribed 
 other methods for preserving the fellowship of army life 
 than those formed in the field and trench, in bivouac and 
 battle. If such ties of friendship could not muster the 
 "boys" at a "camp-fire," a ceremony that never entered into 
 any part of the soldier s life could not do so. 
 
 Not only in our own, but this condition and sentiment 
 prevailed in other States. My correspondence with General 
 Thomas L. Young, of Ohio, Colonel Fairleigh, of Louis 
 ville, Ky., General A. W. Dennison, of Baltimore, General 
 Webber, of Springfield, 111., General J. B. McKeen, of New 
 York, and others indicated that they were working along the 
 same lines, and generally with the same success. It was from 
 fear for the campaign of 18G8 that led a number of Depart- 
 
1<T) //ixlury of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ment ollicers to meet in that conference in Philadelphia to 
 prevent ilu 1 disaster of a dissolution of the Order in Hurl- 
 hut s hands. 
 
 The Order was considered a political necessity, and, 
 knowing this, those \vho participated in that conference op 
 posed any change in the Declaration of Principles. Thus iT 
 IIIMV lie seen there was an "irrepressible conflict" in th" 
 .Order, one that could not possibly, under thei present con 
 dition, he assuaged by the introduction of degrees, to receive 
 which a member must remuster under a new and forma! 
 application for membership. In other words, there must 
 and was ordered to lie an entire reorganization. At this 
 time the Order in Indiana was strong too strong to be seri 
 ously affected, for it drew closer together and worked more 
 effectually from strong centers. So long as there was no 
 peremptory order denying our right to conduct the organ 
 ization as we had done, we continued along the lines laid 
 down hv the original Constitution in the broadest spirit of 
 fraternity, exercising the spirit of unlimited charity in very 
 
 t * O 1 / , / 
 
 many ways and promoting to an unexampled degree a spirit 
 of loyalty for the success of the Republican party. If, there 
 fore, what we had done brought success and prosperity as 
 we were, why change ? 
 
 It was not until November 4th, 18(59, that National 
 Headquarters promulgated the proceedings of this Council. 
 Despite this order, and the force of the preceding orders, 
 there were a few who desired, if possible, to meet all require 
 ments to retain a membership in the organization, but pro 
 tested against a reorganization. Whatever they . did, this 
 
Illstwy of the Grand Army of the Republic. 197 
 
 was an inevitable condition, and there was not sufficient sup 
 port in many localities to revive sufficient interest to re 
 establish a Post. -The few Posts that lived existed more in 
 form than by practical effort. The great organization in 
 Indiana had about dissolved. I do not recall a single prayer 
 for success, nor a single word of reproach. The. inevitable 
 was not denied, nor sought to be avoided. What existed was 
 by the grace of a few men who stood for the principle that 
 required no king for ruler nor Pope to bless the fellowship 
 of men, comrades in war. The few remaining Posts that 
 existed under these conditions sent their delegates to the 5th 
 State Encampment where inv successor. Surgeon Lewis 
 Humphreys, of South Bend, was, on January 5th, 1870, 
 chosen Department Commander. It was with sorrow, vet 
 with a feeling of relief and the consciousness of dutv ardu 
 ously and faithfully performed that 1 reliiio;iishe 1 the com 
 mand of the Department, after four vears of service to build 
 up and maintain for my comrades this great brotherhoo d. 
 I know Colonel Humphreys made an effort to hold together 
 the few remaining Posts. What the Department strength 
 was, we have no means of knowing, since as mentioned the. 
 records were in his administration destroyed bv tire. 
 
 Having been chosen at this; 5th State Encampment a 
 delegate to tho National Encampment that convened at 
 AYashington, May llth, 1870, my last work in the Order, as 
 heretofore mentioned, was the effort, with other comrades, 
 notably General Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin to elect 
 General Schonck, of Ohio, Commander-in-chief. Though 
 Indiana was delinquent for reports, I was given a place in 
 
198 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 this Encampment. Here the murmurs against the new Rit- 
 ual and Regulations adopted at Cincinnati, May, 1869, be 
 came so emphatic and pronounced that the dissolution of the 
 Order was predicted, unless the whole system was at once 
 abrogated and annulled. Modifications were made to such 
 an extent that the mere concession thus far gained by the 
 enemies of the grade system indicated that i n another year 
 it would be entirely abolished. And so it was, but the seeds 
 of discontent had been sown, and the fruit was that of the 
 Upas tree. Posts hitherto brilliant and strong went down, 
 until, under the influence of General Order, No. 1, May 22d, 
 1869, Circular No. 1, June 25th, 1869, and General Order, 
 No. 4, July 21st, 1869, the soldiers of not only Indiana, but 
 other States were driven out of fellowship with the Order. 
 After two years of ineffectual effort to establish this ill-fated 
 Ritual it was set aside in 1871. But the blight had fallen 
 on many who have never re-entered the Grand Army. Our 
 soldiers had already been notified they were no longer con 
 sidered members of the Order. Instead of .following tilt- 
 overthrow of this Ritual with an order as generous as the 
 other was harsh and rei-establi)shing the relation of comrades 
 Who had, without fault or cause on their part, been so ruth 
 lessly set aside, and the wrong then and there undone, and 
 these comrades not have been required to re-muster as though 
 they had never stood an affiliated member of the Order, it 
 was permitted to .stand, in mockery of the noblest effort 
 made by man to organize and cement a brotherhood, that 
 never had a parallel among a people, because there is lut 
 one comradeship, and that is the comradeship of army life, 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 199 
 
 and such as that formed in the Civil War finds no ties as 
 strong as those that knit the souls of men, on the march, 
 in the bivouac, or on the field of battle. 
 
 Upon surrendering my duties as Department Command 
 er, I submitted the following report: 
 
 "The duties of Commander of this Department were 
 assumed by me when there had ceased to be manifested any 
 further interest in our Order, as it was then constructed, 
 but there being a hope that something would be done by the 
 National Encampment then soon to meet, by which the 
 Grand Army would pass into a purer and higher state of 
 organization, I accepted the trust and waited the issue. 
 
 "In due time, the National Encampment assembled, and 
 in its wisdom perfected, as far as possible from the crude 
 matter, a closer bond of brotherhood for the soldiery of the 
 Nation, retaining the name of the Grand Army of the Re 
 public, transforming the Order itself to a higher grade, 
 Introducing three degrees and making it truly a fraternal, 
 charitable, and loyal association. The entire change of Rit 
 ual and revision of the Constitution made it difficult to many 
 comrades to realize that anything of a superior character 
 could emanate from that which was crude, incomplete, and 
 unsatisfactory, and time revealed the fact that what was 
 considered easy in the beginning was difficult to overcome 
 jn the end namely, prejudice against the Order for capac 
 ity to do good. 
 
 "With this Order in this Department, a complete cha- 
 otic state existed with few, if any, to lend a hearty encour 
 agement, I endeavored to put the new machinery to work. 
 
200 II \slvnj of llic Grand Army of ike Republic. 
 
 In June List, by order from National Headquarters, the 
 Commanders of western Departments with their Assistant 
 Adjutants and Inspector-Generals, were directed to meet the 
 Adjutant-General at Chicago to receive full instructions in 
 the unwritten as well as the written work. The Commander 
 and Adjutant-General and Inspector-General were there and 
 duly instructed. 
 
 "By degrees Posts in the very best localities in the State 
 weru established. Though few, their character justifies the 
 assumption that the Order is permanently lodged, and will, 
 with proper encouragement, continue to increase and prosper. 
 The restrictions imposed upon the admission of comrades to 
 the now work by the National Encampment, involving much 
 dissatisfaction and an apparent lethargy, a special session 
 of the Xational Encampment was called to assemble in N"e\v 
 York city on the 27th day of October, 18G9. . . . 
 
 "You have been made acquainted with every step taken 
 in the National Encampment by its orders, as well as in this 
 Department by its orders, and! everything that has trans*- 
 pired since the beginning of tliei last Commandership. There 
 has been, indeed, little to do other than keeping in clos? 
 touch and companionship with the Posts, and receiving from 
 them their reports. When our comrades can be brought to 
 the proper appreciation of our Order, and a true realization 
 of its character, they will not wonder that the Grand Army 
 of the Republic of 18(!9-7 is so different in its composition 
 and material from what it was in 180fi-fi8, when its door 
 stood wide open, bidding for all soldiers to enter therein, 
 without qualification as to character or morals only com- 
 
History of Ike (h an<l Anni/ of the Republic. 
 
 201 
 
 radeship. Not so now. He who would claim fellowship 
 with our Order of to-day must come to it with a full under 
 standing of the responsibility he has assumed, and in the 
 faith of a true soldier lie must stand true, and if faithful, 
 his reward will be great and his fellowship beloved. The 
 fraternity of our association assures our comrades that they 
 are not forgotten. Our charity enfolds the Christian vir 
 tues, and the better ways of life, seeking to mould them into 
 one, pervading sentiment and emotion alike for the living 
 and the dead. Our loyalty seals that bond of unity to one 
 country and one flag and makes us a, brotherhood unlike all 
 others, but with an aim higher than all. 
 
 "0. M. WILSOX, 
 
 "Commander Department Indiana. 
 Indianapolis, January oth, 1870." 
 
 1 know I was criticised for this "parting word," but I 
 answered: "Nowhere have 1 surrendered my principles. I 
 have asserted only what is claimed. Otherwise 1 assert 
 what I know to be true, and characteristic of the soldier. 7 * 
 
 Lest there be men to-day who may have forgotten the 
 underlying force of the Grand Army of the Republic as 
 given to and conducted in Indiana in 1806, T>7, (58, Y>9, let 
 me quote a few sentences from the old first Ritual. The 
 comrade was asked upon initiation if he was "prepared to 
 take an obligation to sustain the cause of your country . . . 
 with your arms, your voice, and your vote"; then this lan 
 guage in the obligation administered which embraced not 
 only every patriotic but every moral obligation and duty: 
 that he would "sustain for all offices of trust and profit, other 
 
202 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 things being equal, at all times, the citizen soldier of the 
 Republic." And this is the charge by the Post Commander : 
 "Instead of choosing for our rulers honest, upright, and capa 
 ble men, whose actions were guided by/ the welfare of their 
 country, we have too frequently honored those who labored 
 for self-interest, anc8 had no sympathy for the people; hence 
 the late terrible rebellion. Toi prevent like, recurrence in 
 the future, this army has been enlisted. . . . Place 
 soldiers and only loyal men in office, and treason will hide 
 its hideous head. " 
 
 I venture no truer, nobler sentiment than contained in 
 tbe old Ritual can bo found in the range of inspiration for 
 faith and deeds. The men who took that obligation were 
 those who answered their country s call to arms in 1861 : 
 men who could build bridge s, drain swamps, cut down for 
 ests, and turn rivers, as well as march with the weight of 
 accouterments and eighty rounds of ammunition ; men oT 
 the office, the workshop, and the plow ; men who could mend 
 their own clothes, repair their own guns, and construct their 
 own tents; men who became as familiar with the sword and 
 bayonet as they were with the axe and spade; men skillful 
 on horse, who did not halt at a river, or stand awed at a 
 mountain; men who fought as heroes, who had wives, chil 
 dren, and family altars; men who met dangers as immor 
 tals, and overcame them; men of sagacity, tactful, impetu 
 ous in assault, of intrepid courage; men who marched under 
 a burning sun, or under the stars, indifferent to he ground 
 upon which they would find the enemy of their flag. Cool 
 and deliberate in council; calm and collected amidst every 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 203 
 
 danger, brave in battle, noble, generous, active, and humane, 
 they were worthy of the cause, and the cause was worthy of 
 them. Do such men require the sentiment of a Eitual for 
 fellowship ? 
 
 We were not different from our comrades elsewhere, but 
 our environment was different. We met conditions, the neb 
 ula; of which was the encrusted treason in the Knights of 
 the Golden Circle. But we wanted no ceremony by which to 
 express our loyalty to the flag. The comrade felt that 
 he stood the symbol in that economy of force s from which a 
 people had drawn their prosperity and greatness. He, bet 
 ter than all others, could teach the true lesson of the war. 
 Though his flag and guidon had been folded away, and the. 
 old musket and carbine and saber were being run into "plow 
 shares and priming-hooks," and all that, was left him was 
 the memory of his comradeship with all its brilliant deeds 
 and heroic sacrifices of the days of 1861 and 65, he was not 
 willing to accept any substitution for this fellowship. He 
 !had proven that the man who loves his country with the fer 
 vor of a patriot takes his chance to die for it in fighting for 
 the principles underlying that patriotism that has its strong 
 est revelation in actual w r ar. When he went to the front, he 
 took his chance s for life in carrying out his convictions of 
 right and duty. Such men are the exponents of a faith that 
 leads up to a higher type of manhood than is generally found 
 in that class who are constantly intruding themselves or their 
 opinions among men as leaders of parties; a class who more 
 often mistake the true worth) of men, because measured by 
 their own small souls. 
 
204 History of the (Jrand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Those comrade s of earnest, positive convictions did not 
 hesitate to express them in acts. It was this kind of patri 
 otism that dissolved all differences of political opinions 
 among the soldiers of Indiana, and united them to sustain 
 the laws of their country; that gave to them in return its 
 gratitude and bounty. It was this kind of patriotism thai 
 withdrew from all alliances that required a new creed to 
 make comradeship among soldiers. Jt was enough that this 
 comradeship should meet the conditions of good-fellowship 
 in service and an honorable discharge. No tie could possibly 
 be stronger. Xo ceremony could impress ilie old soldier with 
 greater love fora comrade. Had these conditions been per 
 mitted to eixist as all sufficient, in their simple and unalTeeted 
 form, the (Jrand Army of the. Republic would embrace, in 
 membership a body of men whose very presence together 
 would be an object lesson, to be carried in the minds of gen 
 erations to come, a.s men knit together as soldiers of the 
 Civil War, not bv the bauble of ritualism, no part of which 
 entered into their soldier life. Their membership with 
 Posts can give them no special distinction; yet all the dis 
 tinction some have, or could get as soldiers, is given them 
 by such membership in being thus brought in contact with 
 men who need no such affiliation to make for them the name 
 as soldier or sustain their record as such. 
 
 Good-fellowship is what the soldier first desired, and this 
 could be bad only by those who had made a record in service. 
 We all know that a soldier who has seen service can prove 
 himself, and that one who attempts to make a record is 
 quickly detected as an impostor, provided tliu muster-rolls 
 
J/istory of the Grand Army of t /iv Republic. 205 
 
 can be had showing the service of the regiment or command. 
 It does not need, therefore, any organization to protect the 
 soldier from an impostor. While an "honorable discharge" 
 is a worthy badge of honor, it is not every discharge that has 
 for its support service in the field. And it is because there 
 is a class found in big!) places whose record of service 
 does not connect them with service at the front, that many 
 prefer to seek their companionship among Veterans, whose 
 life with its war infirmities gives evidence of that proper 
 sympathy felt by every soldier, because lie knows what it was, 
 to sustain with him the relation of comradeship. 
 
 When, therefore, methods were sought to color this life 
 with pomj) of display and ceremonious exactions, to enable 
 the soldier to sustain the, relation of fratdrnitv bv a cere 
 mony that could not add to the glnrv of his achievements, nor 
 give him a greater prestige than he had deservedlv won; 
 when it was sought to enforce: "charity along other lines 
 than those which every honorable instruct tha.t could ennoble 
 man, led him naturally to observe, without reservation or 
 hesitation, then it was that he "halted" and asked whether 
 his loyalty and service now demanded of him a creed that 
 was not written for his guidance in war, nor to sustain him 
 in fellowship with the only men who arc entitled bv the; 
 kind of service they rendered to the title "Comrade." 
 
 Two-thirds of the soldiers of tho Civil War now living 
 to-day are not in alliliation with thu Grand Armv of the Ee- 
 public, simply because the original plan of the organization 
 Jims been changed from thei broad open door of good -fellow 
 ship to a close and secret conclave that brings no such boon 
 
206 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 to the Veteran as the old camp-fires of 1866 did, at which 
 every "boy" who wore the blue stood, and with as big a heart 
 and soul as though he were fed with all the sentimental 
 sanctity of ritualistic observance and lodges-room prayers. 
 
 I was always opposed to the idea of building up the 
 Grand Army of the Republic with a sentiment born of con 
 flict. The soldier s life had sufficient interest without the 
 aid of any artificial light to glorify it. The men who first 
 handled this organization regarded certain tenets as the 
 physician did the preparation of certain pills it was nec 
 essary to sugar-coat them to got them down. There are 
 men living to-day who know how vital it was in 1866 and 
 ,1868 to sustain the party in power that carried the country 
 through the war; and they know, too, that in Indiana, Illi 
 nois, and some other States, that conditions existed that 
 tended by ties of family, party associations and otherwise, to 
 influence the soldier and alienate them from the faith that 
 governed them in the service; and though political affinities 
 were the chief aim, charity and fraternity were also made 
 cardinal tenets that would hold fast many, and thus also 
 preserve political supremacy indirectly as an incident. 
 
 True, charity and fraternity were principles, worthily 
 bestowed and asserted in those days, because the heart of 
 the "boy" was mellow then, and there existed many cases 
 for the fulfillment by him of the law. But such conditions 
 disappeared as the years passed, and to-day there is no need 
 of organized "charity" among the veterans. The Govern 
 ment has provided, most royally, homes for the feeble and 
 aged comrade, and he lives now in the mellow years of mem- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 207 
 
 ory, to look back upon those days when his loins were strong, 
 his step firm., his eye clear, and his strength sufficient to 
 endure the ordeal of a soldier s life. Hisi life now is best 
 in the fellowship of his comrades, that fellowship only that 
 was found at the "camp-fires," in the "bivouac," on the 
 "march/ on "skirmish line and in battle." Whatever will 
 make peaceful this life, whatever will give zest to these 
 memories, he will promote aaj his supreme right and privi 
 lege to enjoy. 
 
 It is in memory of those days, and the association with 
 my comrades, in the field, and peaceful walks of life after 
 the war, with whom I helped] win for our native State the 
 record she made in war. and in peace, that I am led to write 
 these pages, with the desire that they be understood, and 
 "naught be set down in malice against them," because they 
 refused to accept any other methods to perpetuate ties of fel 
 lowship than those of comradeship, which their Anglo-Saxon 
 blood twisted in a scarlet line of flame on many battle-fields 
 of the Civil War. 
 
 OLIVEK M. WILSON. 
 
 Kansas City, Mo., March, IDOL 
 
Un flDemoiiam. 
 
 Since writing these pagos, the life of Major-General 
 Robert Sand ford Foster has been closed summoned by the 
 Great Commander to eternity and the companionship of the 
 celestials. He stood in life for thd best, the truest, the high 
 est of earth s offerings. He walked among his fellows with 
 .in upright step, courteous, respectful, honestly obedient to 
 and serving the noblest impulses given mankind to enjoy, 
 with signal patriotic ardor through the Civil War, and a 
 conscientious observance of the precepts of divine law, and 
 the statutes for man s government. 
 
 He. died a good citizen, a soldier, an uncrowned king. 
 In the fullness of time, of all that ennobles a life, there i.- 
 no blemish to mar, no stain to tarnish, no shadow to cloud., 
 no act to dishonor the chivalry of the knightlv manhood of 
 "Sandy" Foster as he entered the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 "Taps 7 here for him were caught up in the echoing 
 notes of the "reveille - there, and the soul awakened with 
 the same kindly smile and friendly hand to say "Good- 
 mornina ." 
 
THE INDIANA STATE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS 
 MONUMENT AT INDIANAPOLIS. 
 
 Height 280 feet; diameter base of shaft, 25 feet; diameter of pedestal, 54 feet; 
 diameter of terrace and steps, 196 feet, 6 inches. Cost, including elevator, stair 
 way and statuary, $400,000.00. 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GRAND ARMY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REPUBLIC. 
 
 1866 
 
 14 
 
 211 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GRAND AMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. 
 
 SECTION 1. The Soldiers and Sailors of the Vol 
 unteer Army and.* Navy of the United States,;] 
 during the rebellion of 1SG1-5. actuated by the 
 impulses and convictions of patriotism and of etcr- j 
 nal right, and combined in the strong band of fel- | 
 lowshipancl unity by tire toils, the dangers and the j 
 victories of a long and vigorous!} waged war, feel . 
 themselves called upon to declare, in definite form I; 
 of words and in determined co-operative action, ij 
 those principles and rules which should guide thcj 
 earnest patriot, the enlightened freenran and thc j j 
 Cliristian citizen of the Republic, in his course of 
 action; and to agree upon those plans and huv.sij 
 which should govern them in a united and system- L 
 afcic working method; with which, in some mea- j 
 sure, shall be effected the preservation of the grand 
 results of the war, the fruits of their labor and toil, 
 so as to benefit the deserving and worthy. 
 
 213 
 
214 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 SEC. 2. The results which are designed to be 
 accomplished by this organization are as follows : 
 
 1st. The preservation ol those kind and frater 
 nal lee-lings which have bound together, with the 
 strong cords of love and affection, the comrades in 
 arms of many battles, seiges and marches. 
 
 2d. To make these ties available in works and 
 results of kindness, of favor and material aid to 
 tho.<?<? in need of assistance. 
 
 3d. -To make provision where it is not already 
 done, for the support, care ar.d education of sol 
 diers* orphans, and for the maintainance of the 
 widows of deceased soldiers. 
 
 4th For the protection and assistance of disabled 
 soldiers; whether disabled by wounds, sickness, 
 old age, or misfortune. 
 
 5th. For the establishment and defense of the 
 late soldiers and sailors of the United States, 
 morally, socially and politically with a view to 
 inculcate a proper appreciation of their services 
 to the country and to a recognition of such ser 
 vices and claims by the American people. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 QUALIFICATION OF MEMRER8. 
 
 SECTION 1. Recruits presented for enlistment in 
 the Grand Army of the Republic shall be honora 
 bly discharged soldiers or sailors of the United 
 States Volunteer or Regular Army or Navy, and 
 shall exhibit their discharges on enlistment, or 
 shall produce satisfactory evidence of having been 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 215 
 
 honorably discharged. No soldier or sailor, who 
 has been convicted by court-martial of desertion, 
 or any other infamous crime, shall be eligible to 
 membership. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 SECTION 1. This association shall be composed 
 of National, State, County and Precinct organiza 
 tions, and shall be called The Grand Army of the 
 Republic. 
 
 The National Organization shall be known as 
 the Grand Army of the Republic. ** 
 
 The State Organization shall be known as De 
 partment of ( .) [Name of State.] 
 
 The County Organization shall be known as Dis 
 trict of ( ,) [Name of County.] 
 
 The Precinct organization shall DC known as Post 
 No. , of ( ) [Name of city, town, town 
 ship, ward or precinct.] 
 
 SEC. 2. The officers of the Grand Army of the 
 Republic shall be one Commanding officer, one 
 Adjutant General, one Assistant Adjutant Gen 
 eral and one Quartermaster General. This body 
 shall be composed of two delegates from each De 
 partment. Two alternates shall, also, be elected 
 from each department. 
 
 SEC. 3. The officers of each Department shall. be 
 one Department Commander, one Adjutant General 
 one Assistant Adjutant General, and one Quarter 
 master General. This body shall be composed of 
 
2 IB TTisfory of fJte Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 one delegate from each District of the Department, 
 and shall meet once a year and may hare special 
 meetings, when ordered by the Department Com 
 mander; the Council of Administration concur 
 ring 
 
 SEC. 4. The officers of each District shall be one 
 District Commander, one Assistant Adjutant Gen 
 eral and one District Quartermaster. This body 
 shall be composed of one delegate for every ten 
 members of the Army in the District, and shall 
 have general supervision of the Posts and the es 
 tablishment of new Posts in the District. 
 
 SEC. 5 The~-offlcers of each Post shall be one 
 Post Commander, one Adjntant and one Quarter 
 master. 
 
 SEC. 6. The duties of Commanding officers shall 
 be essentially those of a Presiding officer, and in 
 the absence of the Commanding officer, the mem 
 bers present in camp shall select a member to per 
 form his duties pro tempore. 
 
 SEC. 7. The duties of the Adjutant Generals, their 
 Assistants and Adjutants shall be essentially those 
 of a Secretary. 
 
 SKC. 8 Quartermasters shall perform the du 
 ties usually appertaining to a Treasurer and shall 
 have general supervision of all accounts and dis 
 bursements. 
 
 SEC. 9. Officers of the Day, Officers of the 
 Guard, Orderlies and such other officers as are 
 necessary for the transaction of business, shall be 
 detailed by the commanding officer. 
 
History of the Grand Army of Hie Tic public. 217 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 SEC. 1. There shall be^annually elected by the 
 members of the Grand Army of the Republic and 
 of each Department and District, a committee of 
 five persons, who shall be called the Council of 
 Administration. 
 
 SEC. 2. The Council of Administration shall 
 have charge of the working interests of the army ; 
 may propose plans; may specify objects of cha r- 
 ity ; may make contracts, subject to a vote of the 
 camp with which they are connected, and shall 
 approve of all bills and accounts presented by the 
 Quartermaster, before they are paid. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 DUES AND REVENUE. 
 
 SEC. I. Each member of the Army of the Re 
 public shall pay not less than OIK- dollar on enlist 
 ment to the Quartermaster ot the Post where he 
 is enlisted. 
 
 SEC. 1. There shall be collected, by the Post 
 Quartermaster, from each member, ttie sum of not 
 less than rive cents per week. 
 
 SEC. 3 There shall be transmitted to the Quar- 
 termastei General of the Department, at the. end 
 of each month, twenty-live per cent of all receipts 
 of each post, from fees and dues. These amounts 
 
218 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 shall constitute the fund of the army, for inciden 
 tal expenses, and for carrying out the objects and 
 aims of the army. 
 
 SEC. 4. Disbursements of money from the De 
 partment Treasury, in behalf of any of the objects 
 of the Grand Army of the Republic, shall be made 
 only after a vote in favor of such disbursements, 
 from two-thirds of the District Encampments. 
 Incidental expenses and salaries shall be paid on 
 the order of the Department Commander. 
 
 SEC. 5. In cases where individual charities de 
 mand, more funds than are in the treasury of a 
 Post, application may be made to Department 
 Headquarters, for assistance. 
 
 SEC. 6. Army Headquarters may assess their 
 incidental expenses on Department Headquarters, 
 and District Encampment may assess, sufficient 
 funds for its incidental expenses on the posts in 
 such district. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 REPORTS. 
 
 SEC. 1. A monthly report sliall be made direct 
 to the Adjutant General of the Department, by 
 the Commander of each Post, attested by the Ad 
 jutant, of the number of members at last report, 
 and the number of new members, and the number 
 who have ceased to belong; together with a state 
 ment on the condition and working prospects of 
 the Post, and a record of their proceedings for the 
 month. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 219 
 
 SEC. 2. The Post Quartermaster shall make his 
 monthly report direct to the Quartermaster Gen 
 eral of the Department; transmitting the funds 
 required by section 3, of "article 5, of this Consti 
 tution. 
 
 SEC. 3. The District Commander shall send to 
 fcne Adjutant General of the Department, a report 
 of each monthly meeting at District Headquarters, 
 with the result of their action. 
 
 SEC. 4. The Department Commander shall send j 
 an annual report to the Adjutant General ot the |! 
 Grand Army of the Republic, of all the operations!, 
 in his Department; combining the reports of the 
 Adjutant General and Quartermaster General. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 CHARTER. 
 
 SECTION 1. No Post shall be recognized by any 
 of the members of the Grand Army of the Repub 
 lic, unless regularly established by orders from 
 Department Headquarters? mid chartered by the 
 Department Commander and Adjutant General. 
 
 Applications for a charter must be accompanied 
 by the charter fee of ten dollars. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 SECTION 1. Any failure of any Post, or any 
 other organization of this army, to comply with 
 
220 TTiatnry nf fltr Grand Army of tlie. Republic. 
 
 3 
 
 any of the provisions of this Constitution, shall 
 render it liable to forfeiture of its charter and 
 exclusion from the benefits and privileges of mem 
 bers of this army. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 SECTION 1. This Constitution may he nmem1e<l 
 at any time, by the Grand Army of the Republic, 
 approved by two.-JJiirds of the Department organ 
 izations. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 REGULATIONS 
 
 < > F T n !: 
 
 -jf i|f fffpHtt 
 
 INDIANAPOLIS: 
 
 DOWNEY & BROUSE, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS. 
 
 1866. 
 
REGULATIONS. 
 
 OPENING. 
 
 At the hour fixed for assembling, the signal three taps 
 on the drum., or other call, will be given, and all the officers 
 present for duty will take their positions, as follows* : 
 
 Post Commander At the head of the hall. 
 
 Sen. 1 ice / . ( . At the opposite end. 
 
 Post Adjutant Three paces to the right, and one pace 
 in front of the P. C. 
 
 Post Q. M. Three paces to the left, and one pace in 
 front of the P. C. 
 
 Officer of the Day One pace to the right, and one pace 
 in front of the P. C. 
 
 Officer of the Guard One pace to the right, and one pace 
 to the front of the Sen. Vice P. C. and in charge of the Re 
 serve Post. 
 
 Tlie Sentinel at tlie Out-post Will repair at once to his 
 Post, and secure the main entrance. 
 
 The Sentinel on dutu at the Reserve Will at the same time 
 secure the inner entrance, and allow no one to enter with 
 out the countersign, nor during the opening exercises. 
 
 The P. C. will then command, Attention! when the roll 
 will be called and each officer will rise in his place, salute 
 and report. 
 
 The P. C. will then address the Officer of the Day: 
 
 Who are these here assembled ? 
 The Officer of the Day salutes and replies: 
 This is an encampment of tlie Grand Army of the 
 Republic. 
 
 The P. C. answers the salute and inquires: 
 Are all present duly enlisted soldiers of the Grand Army ? 
 The Officer of the Day replies: 
 I will at once make the G. E. and report. 
 223 
 
224 History of ike Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 The Officer of the Day then commences on the right, 
 makes the round of the camp, receiving the pass from each 
 one present, coming back on the left, salutes and reports: 
 
 I find all present to be nicttiibers of the Grand Army. 
 
 The P. C. then commands, AHcnlioii! when all rise; then, 
 1 nrinlc I\ < $t, and the Chaplain invokes the Divine Benedic 
 tion. All in camp, not physically disabled, will remain stand 
 ing until the conclusion, when, without orders, they will be 
 seated. 
 
 The P. C. then says: 
 
 This eneampnient is now open for the discharge of all 
 duties that may conic properly he fore it. 
 
 Call for the reports of permanent officers, in the follow 
 ing order: 
 
 Poxt Adjutant conveying proceedings of the previous 
 meeting. 
 
 I oxt Q. If. giving the receipts of the last meeting and 
 disbursements since. 
 
 ConiiiiithrK of V.niniiiHttioii on the qualification of Re 
 cruits. 
 
 Balloting on application of candidates reported duly 
 qualified. 
 
 GUAUD MOUNTING. 
 The P. C. will command: 
 Let tho Assembly be sounded. 
 The officer of the Guard will then command: 
 
 Fall in, Guard. 
 
 The Guard, previously detailed, will then fall into line. 
 The O. G. will assign a competent soldier to each prominent 
 post the out-post Sentinel and the Sentinel at the inner en 
 trance and proceed to relieve the old guard. 
 
 The Officer of the Day will, at the same time, pass out 
 beyond the reserve post and the inner entrance of the camp, 
 having a general oversight of the reserve and out-posts, dur 
 ing the process of relieving guard. 
 
 Upon arriving at the out-posts, should the Sentinel be 
 found with any prisoners in charge, the O. G. will demand: 
 
 Why are these men detained here? 
 
History of tltu Grand Army of the Republic. 22") 
 
 Sentinel. I found them wandering near our lines witli- 
 out the proper pass. 
 
 0. G. to jti isonei s. What was your object in approach 
 ing our lines? 
 
 I rixunn-*. A desire to enlist in the Grand Army of the 
 Republic. 
 
 O- d. Spies also seek to enter, that thev may the better 
 betray. 
 
 Prisoners. "We be irue men and no spies." We have 
 already served in the armies of the Republic, and have re 
 ceived an honorable discharge. 
 
 (If they are now in the service, the languag-j will be 
 varied to correspond with the facts.) 
 
 0. G. We welcome all true soldiers, and if, on examina 
 tion, we find you qualified according to the regulations of 
 the ( i! rand Army, we will gladly receive you into our ranks. 
 Do you fully understand and heartily sympathize with the 
 objects for which the Grand Army has been enlisted? 
 
 Prisoners. We do. 
 
 0. G. Are you prepared to take an obligation to sustain 
 the cause of your country at all times in camp, on the 
 battle-field, or in the more quiet walks of civil life with 
 your arms, your voice, and your vote, against all her ene 
 mies, whether in high or low places? and are you prepared 
 to unite with those who would secure by all proper guaran 
 tees the cause for which we risked our lives in the field? 
 
 / riwm i-x. We arc? thus prepared. 
 
 O. G. Guard, conduct these strangers to the Oilicer of 
 the Day for further examination. 
 
 The Guard then marches them to the Officer of the Day, 
 who is found near to and in advance of the Reserve Post. 
 The Sentinel at the out-post is relieved and falls in with the 
 escort. 
 
 The O. G., saluting the O. D., reports: 
 
226 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Sir, these men were found by the Sentinel wandering 
 near our out-po>sts, and seeking admission to oar camp. 
 They claim to have been true soldiers of the Union, and 
 desire to onlist in the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 0. D. Do they know what they seek? 
 
 0. G. I have questioned them, and they profess some 
 knowledge of the purposes for which the Grand Army is 
 being mustered,, and avow a willingness to assume the obli 
 gations of recruits. 
 
 0. D. Strangers, you have already expressed a knowl 
 edge of and a willingness to take upon you an obligation to 
 sustain the objects of this Grand Army. But, before permit 
 ting you to proceed, it is required that you take an obliga 
 tion of secrecy. Are you now ready to do so? 
 
 Each answers. I am. 
 
 0. D, You do, each of you, upon your honor as a man 
 and a soldier, and in the presence of these witnesses, your 
 former companions in arms, promise that you will never 
 divulge to any living being any questions that may be asked 
 of you while in this camp, except to a comrade of this Order 
 anything that you may see or hear while in this carnp, and 
 that you will true answers make to all question:? that may 
 be asked of you. 
 
 Each replies. I do so promise. 
 
 The O. D. then inquires of each his name, age, present 
 residence, occupation, where born, in what organization he 
 served, and whether he has received an honorable discharge. 
 These answers being satisfactory and sustained by the rolls, 
 the Officer of the Day will say: 
 
 You will remain in charge of the Guard, until 1 report 
 your presence and wishes to the Commandant of this Post 
 and learn what are his farther orders. 
 
 The O. D. then approaches the inner entrance and in 
 structs an orderly. 
 
History of tlie Grand Army of the Republic. 227 
 
 Report to the Adjutant that I have in charge former sol 
 diers of the Republic, brave defenders of the American Un 
 ion, who desire to enlist in the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 The Orderly turns, salutes and reports from the reserve: 
 
 Sir, the 0. D. is without the camp, with former soldiers 
 of the Republic, who seek to be enlisted in the; Grand Army. 
 
 The Post Adjutant turns and salutes P. C. and reports: 
 
 Sir, the 0. 1). lias approached, the reserve with recruits, 
 who desire to be admitted to our camp, that they may enlist 
 under our banner. Is it your pleasure that they now be 
 admitted ? 
 
 P. C. Have they been proposed and duly elected? 
 
 Post Adjt. They have. 
 
 P. C. Have the requirements of your Department 
 been complied with? 
 
 Pott Q. J/. They have. 
 
 P. C. You will report to the Officer of the Day, and 
 ascertain if the recruits are properly qualified and prepared 
 for admission. 
 
 The P. Adjt. goes out to the O. D., salutes, and says: 
 
 Sir. T am directed by the Commander of this Post to 
 inquire if you have carefully examined your charge? 
 
 0. D.l have. 
 
 P. A. Are! you satisfied that they have honorably and 
 faithfully served in the armies of the Republic, and received 
 therefrom an honorable discharge? 
 
 0. D.l am. 
 
 P. A. You will then prepare the recruits for tha cere 
 mony of enlistment, 
 
 The O. D., turning and saluting the Officer of the Guard, 
 instructs him to prepare the recruits. This is done by divest 
 ing them of their coats and hoodwinking them. 
 
 The P. A. returns to the P. C., salutes and reports: 
 
 15- 
 
228 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Sir, I have complied with your instructions, and the Oili- 
 ccr of the Day now awaits your orders. 
 
 P. 0. Let the alarm be given, and the camp prepared 
 for aetion. 
 
 The drums now sound the long roll, the Post Battalion 
 is formed by the Post Adjutant into two lines, facing each 
 other. The Coffin, with Flag, Bible, and Swords, is placed 
 six paces in front of the P. C., a guard fully accountered imme 
 diately in the rear. 
 
 Everything being in readiness, the Post Adjutant salut 
 ing, addresses the P. C.: 
 
 Sir, the camp is prepared. 
 The P. C. returns the salute, and says: 
 Direct the 0. D. to enter with his charge. 
 The P. A. goes to the entrance the door is thrown open 
 arid says: 
 
 Sir, the Commander of this Post directs that you imme 
 diately conduct your charge before, him. 
 
 The Officer of the Day then directs the Officer of the 
 Guard to follow with the escort, guiding the recruits; enters 
 the camp and advances to the center of the room, where he 
 is halted by a sentinel on duty. Giving the countersign, he 
 passes around the room, and, arriving in front of the P. C., 
 is halted by a second sentinel. The countersign being found 
 all correct, he passes on, and, arriving in front of the S en. 
 Vice P. C., is again halted by that officer with: 
 
 Sen. Vice P. C. Who comes there: 
 
 0. D. Officer of the Day with recruits, on our way to 
 the quarters of the P. C. 
 
 Sen. Vice P. C. Have these recruits been properly ex 
 amined and found worthy ? 
 
 1 0. D. They have been carefully examined and ques 
 tioned, and deemed worthy of enlistment. 
 
 Sen. Vice P. C. Too much caution can not be observed 
 in the introduction of strangers. The enemy are seeking 
 opportunities to learn our mysteries. But the punishment of 
 
History of the Grand Army of ike Republic. 229 
 
 spies an(| traitors is swift, and their detection sure. What 
 evidence have you that these men aro true to our sacred 
 cause ? 
 
 0. I). Their history is written in our archives., and 
 their answers, on examination, are in accordance therewith. 
 Here is thrt proof of their honorable service and discharge as 
 shown by the rolls. 
 
 Sen. Vice P. ( . It is sullicient. You will at once con 
 duct them to the Commandant of the Post. But remember, 
 ever, that Traitors SHALL l>c punished. 
 
 The whole encampment responds: 
 
 The Penalty of Treason is DEATH! 
 
 The O. D. then commands, FORWARD, MARCH; conducts 
 the recruits forward past the center of the room, files to the 
 right across the room, near to the coffin, halts them, and 
 the P. A. commands: 
 
 Attention, guard. Shoulder arms. Beady ! Aim ! 
 
 The O. D. commands quickly: 
 
 Hold! These are loval soldier^ of tli< Republic, seeking 
 the quarters of the Commandant of the Post. 
 
 The P. C. then demands: 
 
 Eecover arms. Shoulder arms. Order arms. 
 
 The P. A. then commands: 
 
 Whom have you here? 
 
 0. D. Sir, I present these men as recruits for enlist 
 ment in the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 P. (-. Whence do they come? 
 
 > 0. I). The}- were found near our outer lines, inquiring 
 the way to our Camp. 
 
 P. 0. What evidence have you that they are what they 
 claim to be? 
 
 0. D. They have taken the test, and passed a satisfac 
 tory examination. 
 
230 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 Sen. Vice P. C. They have presented a good record, sus 
 tained by the evidence of the iclls. 
 
 Post Surgeon. They have been carefully examined, and 
 we have pronounced them sound and fit for duty. 
 
 P. C. With all these vouchers in your favor, there can 
 be no hesitation in receiving you fully into the ranks of the 
 Grand Army. But before intrusting you with the secrets of 
 our organization, we require of you, as we have required of 
 all; that you take upon you the obligations by which are 
 united in solemn covenant all members of this great associa 
 tion. Having gone thus far, are you willing to proceed ? 
 
 Each Recruit. I am. 
 
 They are then instructed by the Guard to kneel in front 
 of the coffin place the left hand on the cross-swords and 
 the Bible raise the right hand, pointing upward. The Post 
 Adjutant will then administer the following oath: 
 
 You do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, 
 and these witnesses, your former companions in arms that 
 you will never, under any pretense, nor for any purpose what 
 ever, make known the secrets of this encampment. That yon 
 will never make known, or cause to be made known, either 
 directly or indirectly, any of the pass^- words, grips, signs, or 
 any information whatsoever, by which any of the hidden mys 
 teries, work, or ritual, of this band of comrades may be 
 known to the uninitiated. You do further solemnly swear 
 that you will neve 1 ! wrong a soldier or his family, nor suffer 
 others to wrong them, if in your power to prevent it; but 
 that you will, on all occasions, when not inconsistent witli 
 the duty you owe to God, your Country, and Yourself, be 
 friend him and his family. That you will, on all occasions, 
 prefer him, or assist him to obtain employment; that, if need 
 be, you will extend the hand of charity, first to him, as one 
 of those by whose side you have fought for your country; 
 that you will sustain for all offices of trust and profit 
 other things being equal at all times, the Citizen Soldier 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 231 
 
 of the Republic. You do further swear that you will be 
 governed by the lawful rules and regulations of this En 
 campment, and yield implicit obedience to the Encampment 
 of which you may be a member, and to all the lawful rules 
 and orders of the Grand Encampment, to which this is sub 
 ordinate; and you further promise and declare, that should 
 any books or papers, belonging to this Encampment, come 
 or be placed in your hands, you will neither print nor copy, 
 nor permit to be printed or copied, any part or portion 
 thereof, except by special permission of the. Grand Kiu-.inip- 
 ment. You do further swear that you take this obligation 
 upon yourself, without any mental reservation or equivoca 
 tion, under no less a penalty than that of being treated and 
 punished as a Spy and Traitor by this Order. So help you 
 God, and keep you steadfast. Be firm be true. 
 
 Several voices now exclaim: 
 
 Behold the proper reward of the perjured Traitor! 
 
 And at the same moment, the heads of the recruits are 
 uncovered, and they see before them, as they kneel, the open 
 coffin, with spade, shovel, and the usual implements used in 
 Military executions; and the Guard drawn up in front, rep 
 resenting a firing party. The Recruits then rise and are ad 
 dressed by the P. C.: 
 
 COMRADES : You have now, of your own free will and 
 accord, taken upon yourselves the most solemn and binding 
 OATH that it is possible for man to give or receive, and en 
 rolled yourselves; in the most powerful Army ever enlisted 
 since the foundation of the World 1 ; and it now becomes me, 
 as the Commander of this Post, to explain to you the nature 
 of this organization and the necessities for such an order. 
 I You were blindfolded for the purpose of calling up viv 
 idly to your recollection the dark gloomy days, months, 
 and years of the rebellion the better to enablei you to thank 
 God for his kindness to us as a people, in that, as it were, 
 Egyptian midnight of National darkness. In being caused 
 to march around this Encampment, blindfolded as you were, 
 
232 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 it will, no doubt, forcibly remind you of many a lonely mid 
 night hour,, in which you groped your way toward the ene 
 my s camp; or., perhaps, bring to your remembrance some 
 horrid scene of some well-contested field after the battle., 
 when you administered to the wants of your dying comrades, 
 when the dark angel of Death was hurriedly closing the last 
 life scene of many a bravo soldier, by whose side you fought 
 that day. May God help us to profit by the solemn lessons 
 of the past! You will recall to mind the fact that in 1861, 
 soon after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as the Chief 
 Executive of this Nation, the traitors hand was put forth 
 to ioosen the fraternal tics of this glorious Tnion; to break 
 the almost impregnable breastworks of its defenses, and to 
 cause the dark waves of treason so to swell and surge against 
 the bulwarks of our National Capital, as to threaten the en 
 tombing of the Union beneath the stygian depths. Then all 
 true men, regardless of party antecedents, werei aroused, and 
 the Nation awoke from that "sweet dream of peace" and the 
 fancied security it had enjoyed during nearly a century. 
 Never did a Nation more promptly vindicate the chivalry and 
 prowess of her sons in arms. Never, in the annals of his 
 tory, was any country so severely, so causelessly tested. Our 
 fathers had] demonstrated that man is capable of self-govern 
 ment, and that with a free people, the majority must rule. 
 Our Constitution had secured to us every blessing the human 
 heart has any right to desire in this world. Our Govern 
 ment had spread thef broad a^gis of its guardianship over 
 every member of its family, and while it secured him from 
 oppression at home, it threw the panoply of its same protec 
 tion around him when abroad alike in the Courts of Kings 
 and the hamlets of their subjects. 
 
 But, my friends, let us turn from the more gloomy past 
 to the more/ hopeful and glorious future; and may the sol 
 emn scenes which you have just witnessed teach you that 
 great and important lesson of human life, that nothing is left 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 233 
 
 for us to do hut our duty to the living. And while we cher 
 ish in fond remembrance the recollection of our martyred 
 comrades, left, us pledge ourselves anew to the glorious Union 
 Bequeathed us by our Revolutionary fathers: to the wives 
 and children of those who will return to us no more forever; 
 and to the living representatives of the gallant army of the 
 Union, the saviors of the Country. 
 
 Instead of choosing for our rulers, honest, upright, and 
 capable men. whose actions were guided by the welfare of 
 their Country, we have too frequently honored those who 
 labored for self interest, and had no sympathy with the poo- 
 pie; hence the late terrible rebellion. To prevent a like re 
 currence in the future, this army has been enlisted. The 
 ground we stand upon towers transeendentally above all party 
 considerations. Place soldiers and only loyal men in oil ice, 
 and treason will hide its hideous head, no more to lie seen 
 and felt in this land. 
 
 How many poor maimed soldiers do you see without em 
 ployment, trving to get a position where they may bo able 
 to earn their bread without being compelled to perform hard 
 manual labor, whilst other able-bodied men, who never heard 
 a gun fire, are occupying most of the oflices of profit. A 
 soldier can scarcely get employment there seems to be a 
 conspiracy against him. To remedy this evil is a part of the 
 business of this Order, but not its entire mission. 
 
 I will now call your attention to the great and main ob 
 ject of this Order: The protection and education of families 
 of deceased soldiers. Of the many hundreds of thousands 
 who went to the field, thousands never returned, but belong- 
 to that mighty army of martyred patriots, who paid thei for 
 feit of their heart s blood on the field of battle, or lie buried 
 in the vicinity of some General Hospital. The majority of 
 these departed patriots haves families at home who depended 
 entirely on their earnings for support. It is the duty of the 
 people to feed, clothe and educate them. Tho farmer, me- 
 
234 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 chanic, or day laborer,, as the case may be, is induced by his 
 devotion to his country to leave his wife and children, and 
 inspired by patriotism, he trusts mother, wife, sister and 
 children to the care of friends, to meet the enemy on the 
 open field. They read of the terrible slaughter and loam 
 that he is among the peaceful I)I-:AD! Their only prop takun 
 from them. This is but a parallel case to those you can find 
 in any city or village. Our organization takes the little ones 
 and gives them a home alike comfortable 1 and respectable, 
 and compels society, not only to do them justice, but to honor 
 and respect them, as children of departed p.itriots, who fell 
 in defence of our free institutions. 
 
 This, my friends, is the principle of the organization to 
 which you have attached yourselves, and may Uod, the great 
 Commander of all, guard and protect this Order and all its 
 members, and aid us in his infinite wisdom; mav he evr 
 assist the Commander of this Post, to so command as will 
 be to the interest of this Nation, which has nursed and pro- 
 tected us with the care and fondness of the mother for her 
 child. May he guide and direct the Commanders of the dif 
 ferent Districts and Departments of the United States, so 
 that they will ever have an eye single to the good of man 
 kind, an d for the everlasting preservation of our noble 
 institutions. 
 
 The P. C. will then proceed, with the assistance of the 
 Adjutant, to ijistruct the Recruits in the signs and grips 
 after which the P. C. will say: 
 
 Comrades, you have passed through the ceremony of En 
 listment and Muster, and now, with pleasure I greet you as 
 (Members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and trust you 
 Will continue worthy and honored members. You will now 
 take your seats as members of this Encampment, 
 
OLOSTXU CEEEMOISriES. 
 
 / . C. Attention, Post! 
 
 Comrades will come to the position of "Attention" and 
 salute. 
 
 ./ . C. Comrades, our labor for this night is done. We 
 part but only, God willing, to meet again. 
 
 Comrades. Amen . 
 
 P. C. I now declare this Encampment closed until 
 
 - o clock., next - - evening, when we will again 
 
 assemble here. Eight and Left face. Break Ranks. March! 
 
 At the command March, comrades will clap their hands. 
 
APPENDIX TIL 
 
 A committee consisting of Past Department Command 
 ers General R. S. Foster and James R. Carnahan and Com 
 rade William H. Armstrong was authorized by their Depart 
 ment in 1900 to prepare a sketch of the birth and early his 
 tory of the Grand Army of the Republic in Indiana. This 
 committee made its report to the State Encampment held 
 at Logansport, May, 11)01. Those, comrades participated in 
 the first organization in lcS(>(>, and were familiar with every 
 act and event of that time. 
 
 From this report I take the following extracts: 
 As a historical fact, to the Union soldiers of Indiana 
 is due the credit of breathing the first breath of life into the 
 great soldier organization that was in l<S(>f) christened The 
 Grand Army of the Republic, and the a.ctual birth-place of 
 the infant society was in the city of Indianapolis. Four 
 men, two of them yet living, are responsible for the 1 birth 
 of this body of associated and affiliated Union veterans of 
 the Civil War, Dr. B. F. Stcphenson, late a major, and sur 
 geon of Volunteers of Illinois, Governor Oliver P. Morton, 
 General R. S. Foster, and Major Oliver M. Wilson, of Indi 
 ana. The author of the first Ritual and Regulations was 
 Surgeon B. F. Stephenson, and, as will be seen from the 
 facts herein set forth, with the writing of these two doc 
 uments his work in . the original organization practically 
 ceased. 
 
 237 
 
238 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 "The intention of Dr. Stephenson was to bring about an 
 organization of the Union veterans, but thei special object or 
 purpose to be attained thereby does not seem to have been 
 very clearly defined in his mind. The material furnished by 
 his Ritual and Constitution was magnificent,, but with this 
 material he was unable either to plan and lay the founda 
 tion, or rear the superstructure; it was a quarry of splen 
 did but undeveloped stone, for which lie needed the master 
 workmen and skillful builders to take it from the mine and 
 work out the plans and adapt them to great and good uses. 
 He found the master mind in Oliver P. Morton, the builder 
 in General II. S. Foster, and his no loss efficient assistant, 
 Major Oliver M. Wilson. 
 
 "How was this great structure builded, wherein was 
 found the incentive? Two purposes brought about the en 
 thusiasm, and the determination in the mind of Morton to 
 put the work of SttJphenson into actual living form and 
 shape. One motive was political,, and the other was to unite 
 the energies and work of the Union veterans in a channel 
 that would conduce to their ultimate welfare personally. 
 It was to l)e a union of interests politically and for their 
 benefit in future legislation. The year of 1866 began with 
 a great political contest, to be waged by the men who had 
 opposed the Union cause on one side, and on the other the 
 men who, like Morton, though not himself an actual sol 
 dier, had been a strong tower of strength to Abraham Lin 
 coln and the national arms, and the steadfast and devoted 
 friend of the soldier in blue from 18(51 to 1865. Morton 
 had by some melans learned of Dr. Stephenson and of his 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic,. 2.39 
 
 desire to bring a<bout a soldier organization, and of his fail 
 ure to attain his desires. It was at first thought that this 
 proposed organization could not be made effective in Indi 
 ana. At the request of Governor Morton, General Foster 
 went to Springfield, Illinois, to see and consult with Dr. 
 Stephenson. This was in the month of July, 1806. Gen 
 eral Foster s account of his interview with Dr. Stephenson 
 is as follows : 
 
 " I called upon Major Stephenson in Springfield, and 
 he took me to his office; he there told me of a Ritual he 
 had written for an ex-Union soldiers organization, and 
 read portions of it to me from manuscript, explaining the 
 object and plan of the Order. 
 
 " I thought it was just what we wanted in Indiana, and 
 so told him. He said he had trouble in getting the "boys" 
 there to take hold of it; that it was a good thing; that he 
 would be glad to have me bring it to Indiana and organ 
 ize it in our State. He manifested great anxiety and zeal 
 in getting it introduced, and expressed himself as very 
 anxious that we should introduce it in Indiana. He ad 
 ministered to me the obligation of the Ritual for this pur 
 pose, and gave me the Constitution and Ritual. Hei gave 
 me the manuscript of both the Ritual and the Constitution. 
 I brought them to Indiana, and at once communicated 
 with Major Wilson, and fixed a time and place to meet a 
 few chosen comrades to whom I administered the same 
 obligation that I had taken from Major Stephenson from 
 a strip of paper. These comrades became the nucleus for 
 a Department organization my first charter members. No 
 
240 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 commission or warrant was givon to me by anyone claim 
 ing to be authority in the Order; such an assumption to 
 commission me was never claimed or exercised by Stephen- 
 son; I was left to do as I thought best; but after consult 
 ing with my comrades upon giving them the obligation 
 I w r as made., by their unanimous vote, Department Com 
 mander under the form of tho Constitution I had brought 
 from Major Stephenson, and at once commenced the organ 
 ization of the State. The comrades chosen by me to receive 
 the first muster in the Order. in Indiana were Major Oliver 
 M. Wilson, General Dan Macauley, Colonel William II. 
 Schlater, Colonel Cyrus J. Dobbs, Major J. N". Scott, Cap 
 tain Eli Bitter, and two or three others whose names are 
 now forgotten. Our names were enrolled upon our Char 
 ter, and this was displayed at our headquarters as our 
 authority to organize the Grand Army of the Kepublic. * 
 
 "When it was found that the soldiers in Indiana were 
 enthusiastic over the organization, and after a good many 
 thousands had been enrolled in Posts, and after a vast 
 amount of printing had been done. General Foster sent 
 Major Wilson to Springfield to consult with Major Stephen- 
 son, as to what then was and would be expected of us in 
 pushing the Order to such strength, and beyond the limits 
 of Indiana, for one of General Foster s aides had stepped 
 over into Michigan and organized one or more Posts in that 
 State. Tell him/ said Foster, Ve 7 ve drawn an elephant/ 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 241 
 
 "At no time from the time that the first little band of 
 comrades received and took upon themselves the obligation 
 of the Grand Army, read from the original manuscript 
 which General Foster bald received from Dr. Stephenson 
 this in July, 18(i<] until the first formation of the Na 
 tional Encampment in Indianapolis, November 21. 18G(>, 
 did General Foster, or any Post, or the Indiana Depart 
 ment report t Dr. Stephenson or any other person or per 
 sons outside of the Department of the Indiana Department 
 of the Grand Army of the Kepnblic. . . . There was no 
 badge of the Grand Army of the Republic devised, or made 
 to designate the memlx^rship until it was devised bv Major 
 Oliver M. Wilson and Captain A. (). Behm, of Indiana, 
 and adopted by the/ Department of Indiana, and then was 
 manufactured in Lafayette, Indiana." 
 
APPENDIX IV. 
 
 ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR CONRAD BAKER, UPON 
 LAYlXli THE CORNER-STONE OF THE SOL 
 DI KHS HOME, JULY 4th, ISO?. 
 
 ft Fellow~CitizGnSj Ladies ami Gentlemen: 
 
 "To tin 1 joint action of the. Grand Army of the Repub 
 lic and the Trustees of thi 1 Soldiers Home are we indebted 
 Tor the happy* blending O f the two patriotic objects which 
 have assembled us here to-day. 
 
 " It is meet and proper that the commemoration of the 
 laying of the corner-stone of the grandest political struct 
 ure that man ever reared or Providence ever blessed should 
 on this day be associated with the laying of the corner-stone 
 of a Home for those who have been disabled in battling to 
 preserve this grand political structure from destruction. 
 
 It is also fit and proper that these twin offerings, both 
 sacred to patriotism, should be made under the auspices of 
 an association of citizen-soldiers lately composing a part 
 and still bearing the name of the Grand Army of the 
 Republic. 
 
 "But while it is true, as already intimated, that the 
 Declaration of Independence was and is the corner-stone 
 of our national existence, it ought not to , be forgotten that 
 this stone was and is built upon and supported by broad 
 and deep pre-existing foundations. 
 16- 243 
 
244 Jlifdorij of the Grand Army of tlic Republic. 
 
 "These foundations, to which I now invite your indul 
 gent attention, consist : 
 
 "First Of that Union which constitutes us one people, 
 and without which independence and national existence 
 never could have become realities; and, 
 
 "Secondly Of those immutable (principles of truth and 
 justice, for the support of which the fathers pledged their 
 lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. 
 
 "The first proposition, then, to which 1 propose to 
 speak is, that tho Union was and is one of the grand foun 
 dations upon which our independence and nationality are 
 based. 
 
 "What, then, is .the nature of the Union ? what its ori 
 gin, and what the causes which brought it into being? Is 
 it a league between sovereign States, independent not only 
 of all the nations of the earth, but independent of each 
 other, or is it a Union of the entire people of one vast coun 
 try as ond undivided nation, all owing allegiance to the 
 same Government, of which they themselves are the archi 
 tects and builders? 
 
 "As a starting point in the consideration of these ques 
 tions, we have thirteen distinct and separate British Col 
 onies, all founded on charters, proprietary grants or royal 
 governmental commissions, emanating from the British 
 crown and defining the boundaries of these colonies, re 
 spectively. 
 
 "The colonies, although existing separately under these 
 charters, grants, and commissions, occupied contiguous ter 
 ritory, had a common origin and for the most part the 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 245 
 
 colonists spoke the same language. Their situation was 
 such that their welfare, if not their very existence, required 
 that there should be some common government for the reg 
 ulation of their external affairs with the rest of the world, 
 to which all should be alike subject. For many years after 
 the planting of theso colonies, they all had this necessary 
 common government for the regulation of their external 
 concerns, under and as a part of the British Kingdom, to 
 whose crown they in the fullest manner acknowledged their 
 allegiance. 
 
 "But whilst these colonies all owed and acknowledged 
 their allegiance to the British Crown, each of them had, 
 for a long time, enjoyed the blessings of local self-govern 
 ment in relation to their domestic affairs and internal reg 
 ulations. They acknowledged themselves as part of the 
 British Empire, to be bound by all treaty stipulations made 
 by it with other nations, and also that they were subject to 
 the legislation of the British Parliament, so far as related 
 to their commercial intercourse with the world, and all 
 other subjects on which a uniformity of legislation was nec 
 essary or desirable for all portions of that Empire. They 
 claimed, however, that being British subjects, they were 
 entitled to all the rights of Englishmen, prominent among 
 which was the right of trial by jury, and the right to be 
 exempt from being taxed save with the consent of their 
 immediate representatives. They submitted for many years 
 to the most unjust restrictions upon their trade and com 
 mercial intercourse as between themselves as well as be 
 tween them and the outside world, without questioning the 
 
246 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 power of Parliament to impose these restrictions. When, 
 however, Parliament went one step farther and attempted 
 to levy internal taxes in the shape of stamp duties, etmbrac- 
 ing within their scope nearly all the daily transactions of 
 life, they remonstrated and boldly denied the power of Par 
 liament to impose such burddns. The controversy, which 
 this attempt on the pa.rt of Parliament to tax the Colonies 
 without their consent, gave rise to the Continental Congress 
 of 1705, which may be regarded as the germ of the Amer 
 ican Union. 
 
 "Although each colony had a local Legislature, they were 
 separate and distinct political communities, and had, by 
 their organic structure, no power to unite for any purpose 
 Avithout the consent of the British Government, and as a 
 consequence a union of the people of the colonies for the pur 
 pose of resisting the aggressions of the parent Government 
 was one step towards revolution. 
 
 "The colonial Legislative Assemblies consisted of three 
 separate and distinct branches, the concurrence of all of 
 which was necessary in the passage of laws. These branches 
 consisted, first, of a Governor chosen directly or indirectly by 
 the dependent upon the Crown. Second, a representative 
 assembly chosen by the people; and third, a Council or Upper 
 House selected by the representatives of the people with the 
 concurrence or subject to the negative of the royal Governor. 
 For many years the Colonial Legislatures had exercised the 
 exclusive and unquestioned right of levying all the internal 
 taxes which were imposed upon the colonists, and of grant 
 ing or refusing such supplies to the King as to the Legis- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 247 
 
 lature might seem proper. With perhaps a single exception, 
 no reasonable complaint could be made against any of the 
 colonies of a want of liberality in responding to the King s 
 requisitions for supplies. The colonists insisted that, being 
 British subjects, they were entitled to all the rights of Brit 
 ish citizenship, and that as resident citizens of England could 
 not be taxed except with the consent of their representatives 
 in the House of Commons, and as it was impracticable that 
 tbe colonies should be represented in Parliament, it followed 
 that the people of the colonies could only be taxed with the 
 consent of their representatives in the Colonial Legislative 
 Assemblies. Parliament, on the other hand, claimed the 
 unlimited power of legislating for the colonies in all cases 
 whatsoever. 
 
 "Here, then, was an issue between the people of the col 
 onies on thoi one hand, and the Parliament on the other, 
 which could only lie settled by the yielding of one party to 
 the claims of the other, or by the stern arbitrament of the 
 sword. 
 
 "The history of the times, and the faeis set forth in the 
 Declaration of Independence, show how reluctant the Fathers 
 were to resort to extreme measures for redress of grievances. 
 They say in that instrument that at every stage of the oppres 
 sions of which they complained they had petitioned for re 
 dress in the most humble manner, but that their petitions 
 had been answered by repeated injury. 
 
 "How calm, considerate and dignified was the conduct 
 of the men of the Revolution when compared with the pro 
 ceedings of those who recently rebelled against the author 
 ity of a government in which they were not only fully rep- 
 
248 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 resented, but over which they exercised an undue control. 
 In the one case evetry peaceable measure was exhausted for 
 the redress of real grievances, and resistance was only sanc 
 tioned as a last resort. In the other, without any real cause 
 of complaint, war was invoked as a remedy against appre 
 hended evils. Looking at these two examples of resistance 
 to constituted authority in the light of their respective re 
 sults, who can doubt that God is just, or that He governs 
 in the affairs of men ? 
 
 "The stamp act received the royal assent on the 22d day 
 of March, 1765, and thereby the power of Parliament to 
 tax the colonies in the absence of representation was at 
 tempted to be. exercised to the fullest extent and in the most 
 oppressive manner. 
 
 "On the 6th day of June, of the same year, in the House 
 <bf Representatives of Massachusetts, James Otis, of Boston, 
 advised c the calling of an American Congress, which should 
 come together without asking the consent of the King, and 
 should consist of committees from each of the thirteen 
 colonies, to be appointed respectively by the delegates of 
 the people without regard to the other branches of tlie 
 legislature. 
 
 "The suggestion was adopted. Otis and two other mem 
 bers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives were 
 appointed delegates to the proposed Congress, and letters 
 were sent to every legislative assembly on the Continent, 
 proposing that committees of the several assemblies should 
 meet at New York on the first Tuesday of the following 
 October, to consult together and consider of a united repre 
 sentation to implore relief/ 
 
History of the Grand Army of tlie Republic. 249 
 
 "In pursuance of similar action on the part of other col 
 onies, the first Continental Congress met in the city of New 
 York, on the 7th day of October, 17G5. It consisted of del 
 egates from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, 
 Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware, New 
 Jersey and New York. New Hampshire, although unrep 
 resented by delegates, had pledged her people in advance to 
 abide by the result, and Georgia evinced her interest in the 
 anatter by sending a messenger a thousand miles by land to 
 obtain a copy of the proceedings. 
 
 "Virginia and North Carolina were not in any way rep 
 resented in this first Anwk-an Congress, although they 
 were both in full sympathy with the people of the other 
 colonies. 
 
 "As bearing on the formation and nature of the Amer 
 ican Union, it is interesting and important to note the man 
 ner in which this first Congress was constituted. Did it rep 
 resent the local colonial governments of the respective col 
 onies, or did it represent the people? To answer this ques 
 tion, it is only necessary to state the manner in which the 
 delegates were appointed. In Massachusetts, Ehode Island, 
 Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and South Carolina, 
 the governor and Council, both constituent parts of the leg 
 islative power, were entirely ignored, and the appointments 
 were made by the House of Representatives. 
 
 "In Delaware and New Jersey the popular branch of 
 the Legislature did not even act in its organized capacity, 
 but the delegates from those colonies were named by letters 
 of appointment, signed by the individual meanbers of the 
 Houses of Representatives of these colonies respectively; 
 
250 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 and in New York the Legislative Committee of CoTrespond- 
 ence, appointed by the popular branch of the Legislature of 
 that colony, constituted its delegates to the Congress. 
 
 "Here, then, we see that in the first Continental Con 
 gress the delegates did not represent the local governments 
 of their respective colonies, but that they did represent the 
 people of the colonies from which they were sent, That 
 they were appointed not by the local governments, but by the 
 popular branches of the Colonial Assemblies., as the imme 
 diate and most convenient organs of the popular will. 
 i "The Congress thus assembled entered immediately on 
 the consideration of the grounds on which they would base 
 their efforts to vindicate American liberty and American 
 rights. Whether they should build on tha rights secured by 
 their respective charters or on natural justice became the 
 question. Some were for reiving on their charters and 
 pleading the rights thus secured, but Christopher Gadsden, 
 of South Carolina, saw that this was basing American lib 
 erty on too narrow a foundation and would result in divis 
 ion and destruction., as their charters diffetred and some of 
 the colonies had no charters from the Crown at all. 
 
 " We should stand/ said this sturdy patriot, upon the 
 broad, common ground of those natural rights that we all 
 feel and know as men, and as the descendants of English 
 men I wish the charters may not ensnare us at last by 
 drawing different colonies to act differently in this great 
 cause. Whenever this is the case, all will be over with the 
 whole. There should bo no New England man, no New 
 Yorker on the continent, but all of us Americans/ 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 251 
 
 " These views/ said Bancroft,, prevailed, and in the pro 
 ceedings of the Congress the argument for American liberty 
 from royal grants \vas avoided. This is the first great step 
 towards independence. Dummer has pleaded for colony 
 charters; Livingston, Gadsdefn, and the Congress of 1765 
 provided for American self-existence and Union by claim 
 ing rights that preceded charters, and would survive their 
 ruin/ 
 
 "It is worthy of remark that the question between char 
 tered rights and natural justice has repeated itself in our 
 subsequent history. Those in after years who have been 
 the peculiar advocates of State sovereignty are the legitimate 
 descendants of the men who, in our controversy with Great 
 Britain, were willing to base American liberty on no firmer 
 foundation than the words of a King contained in a royal 
 charter, a royal proprietory grant, or a royal governor s com 
 mission ; while those: who have manfully insisted on the par 
 amount sovereignty of the entire American people, have 
 with Gadsden and the Continental Congress of 1765 always 
 maintained that human rights are older and more sacred 
 than mere chartered rights, and that charters and constitu 
 tions are only valuable as they tend to secure natural rights 
 and promote human happiness. 
 
 "The Stamp Act, the passage of which gave birth to the 
 Congress of 1765, having been repealed in 1766, that Con 
 gress never re-assembled and had no successor until 1774. 
 In the meantime the controversy went on between the Brit 
 ish government and the colonies, as to the powers of the 
 former over the latter. The form of the exactions was 
 changed, but the substance was insisted upon with increase^ 
 
252 History of the Grmd Army of the Republic. 
 
 pertinacity. Port duties on the necessaries of life were sub 
 stituted for stamp taxes, and the legality of their assessment 
 was denied and their collection resisted with the same 
 sturdy determination that had been previously put forth in 
 relation to the Stamp Act. 
 
 "Again, Union became the watchword of the people, and 
 Join or Die rang out as the motto of these real Sons of 
 Liberty. 
 
 "As early as July, 1773, Dr. Franklin advised the assem 
 bling of a general Congress of all the colonies, giving as a 
 reason for this advice that the strength of an empire de 
 pends not only on the union of its parts, but on their read 
 iness for a united exertion of their common force/ 
 
 "Virginia, although unrepresented in the Continental 
 Congress of 1765, was the first to move in the call of that 
 of 1774. The House of Burgesses of Virginia met in May, 
 1774, and soon after the meeting news was received that 
 the port of Boston was to be closed by an act of Parliament 
 on the first day of June following. They forthwith passed 
 an order designating that day as a day of fasting, humilia 
 tion and prayer, to implore the Divine interposition for 
 averting the heavy calamity which threatened destruction to 
 their civil rights and the evils of civil war, and to give them 
 one heart and one mind firmly to oppose, by all just and 
 proper means, every injury to American rights/ 
 
 "This action, as might have been and doubtless was ex 
 pected, brought down upon them the displeasure! of the 
 royal Governor,, who immediately dissolved the House. But 
 the members immediately re-assembled in another place, and 
 declared that all the colonies had a joint interest in the late 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. ?53 
 
 proceeding of Parliament, and advised the calling of a gen 
 eral Continental Congress. In accordance with this recom 
 mendation a convention of the people o<f Virginia was held, 
 by which seven persons were appointed to represent the peo 
 ple of that colony in a General Congress to be held at Phil 
 adelphia in the following September. 
 
 "Massachusetts promptly seconded the motion of Vir 
 ginia for a Congress, and other colonies soon followed their 
 example by appointing delegates. Here again the delegates 
 were the representatives of the people, and not the repre- 
 (Sentatives of the local colonial governments. They were ap 
 pointed either by conventions of the people or by the pop- 
 Ailar branches of the Legislatures acting for the people. 
 
 "These delegates met at Philadelphia In Congress on the 
 5th day of September, 1774, and designated themselves in 
 their proceedings as /The Delegates appointed by the good 
 people of the colonies. All the colonies were, represented in 
 this Congress except Georgia. 
 
 "Being without a written constitution or compact of 
 union, and not yet seriously contemplating independence, the 
 Congress of 1774, in imitation of that of 1765, resolved that 
 each colony should have one vote, but to prevent this from 
 being drawn into precedent theiy declared as a reason for 
 this action that they could not procure reliable data for 
 determining the importance of each colony. 
 
 "This Congress, after declaring the rights of the people 
 of the colonies and setting forth the grievances of which 
 they complained, prepared an agreement of non-intercourse 
 with the mother country, which was signed by all the mem 
 bers and recommended to the; people for their adoption until 
 
254 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 their grievances should be fully redressed. They adjourned 
 on the 26th day of October, having first recommended that 
 another Congress of all the colonies should be held at Phil 
 adelphia, on the 10th day of May, 1775, unless their griev 
 ances should be betfore that time redressed, and that dele 
 gates to the new Congress should be appointed without 
 delay. 
 
 "In the meantime, the Colonial Government of Massa 
 chusetts was revolutionized. Parliament had attempted to 
 subvert their charter by changing the mode of selecting the 
 Council, so as to insure the subserviency of that branch of 
 the Legislature to thq Crown and Parliament. Popular in 
 dignation was so aroused by this fresh act of aggression that 
 the new Councillors were compelled to resign. Writs of 
 election had been issued for a new House of Representatives, 
 but the royal Governor, in consequence of the compulsory 
 resignation of the Councillors, countermanded by proclama 
 tion the writs of election. 
 
 "The people, in disregard of the Governor s proclama 
 tion held their elections, and the members-elect met pursu 
 ant to the precepts. There being no council, and the Gov 
 ernor failing to recognize the members elected to the House 
 of Representatives, of course they had no power under the 
 Charter to legislate. The members of the House adjourned 
 from Salem to Cambridge, and resolved themselves into a 
 Provincial Congress, and the people of the colony sanctioned 
 this proceeding by generally yielding obedience to their 
 authority. 
 
 On the 19th of April, 1775, the battle of Lexington was 
 fought, and on the 10th of the succeeding month the Con- 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 255 
 
 tinental Congress met in Philadelphia. The delegates had 
 [been chosen partly by conventions of the people, and partly 
 by the popular branch of such of the Colonial Legislatures 
 as were then in session ; but these latter appointments were 
 all subsequently ratified by conventions of the people. 
 
 "At the opening of the session all the colonies were 
 represented except Georgia and Rhode Island, and five days 
 afterwards the. delegates of the latter appeared, leaving 
 Georgia alone unrepresented. Congress continued in session 
 until the first day of August, when they took a recess to the 
 *5th day of September. Soon after their re-assembling, all 
 the colonies, including Georgia, were represented. Civil 
 war had actually commenced, and Congress at once became 
 the organ of the united resistance of the colonies to the 
 mother country. It at once assumed the control of the leg 
 islation of the continent, and instead of considering itself 
 tlie agent of the local colonial governments it acted as the 
 representative of the majesty of a united people, and advised 
 the colonies what they should do in the matter of recon 
 structing their local governments, put the country in a state 
 of defense, and assumed control of the military operations 
 of the colonies. It devised ways and means for conducting 
 the war, organized a continental or national army by 
 adopting the army raised by the New England Provinces, 
 and then, under the command of General Ward, and by 
 directing troops to be raised 1 by Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
 Virginia, to join the army near Boston, which was desig 
 nated by Congress as the American Continental Army ; and 
 was ordered to be paid out of the Continental treasury. On 
 the 15th day of June, 1775, George Washington, one of the 
 
256 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 delegates from Virginia, was unanimously chosen by Con 
 gress to be the Commander-in-chief of the Continental 
 forces. In Washington s commission,, the style of f the Unit 
 ed Colonies was for the first time adopted, and the defense 
 of American liberties was assumed as the great object of the 
 Union. In a letter of instructions which accompanied this 
 commission, the General was enjoined by Congress to make 
 it his special care that the liberties of America received no 
 detriment. 
 
 "Here, then, we have a national Congress, a national 
 Army, a national Treasury and a national Union, without 
 a single State in the Union. What, then, becomes of the 
 oft-repeated assumption that the States made the Union, 
 and can therefore unmake it at pleasure by withdrawing 
 therefrom ? 
 
 "The Continental Congress, finding that their cherished 
 idea of a reconciliation with the mother country on the 
 basis of justice and freedom was a delusive hope, on the 
 [Fourth day of July, 1776, adopted the Declaration of Inde 
 pendence, the colonies voting unanimously therefor, and 
 sent it forth to the world. 
 
 "What evidence does this instrument contain as to the 
 pre-existence of the Union and its nature? Let it speak 
 [for itself, and judge ye whether its utterances are doubtful 
 either as to the existence! of the Union, or the authority up 
 on which Congress acted in making! the Declaration. 
 
 "Its first sentence reads as follows : 
 
 " When, in the course of human events, it becomes nec 
 essary for ONE PEOPLE to dissolve the political bonds which 
 have connected them with another, and to assume among 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 257 
 
 the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to 
 which the laws of nature and of nature s God entitle them, 
 a decent respect for the opinions of mankind requires that 
 they should declare the causes which impel them to the 
 separation/ 
 
 "One People! What stronger or more emphatic expres 
 sion could have been employed to indicate the oneness of our 
 beloved country? The clause just quoted from the Declara 
 tion shows that prior to and on the morning of the 4th day 
 of July, 1770, there were political bonds connecting the 
 One People of the thirteen colonies with another people, 
 even the people of Great Britain; that this connection pre 
 vented this One People from exercising among the Pow 
 ers of the earth that sovereignty to which they were enti 
 tled, but which they had never possessed; and for the pur 
 pose of dissolving this connection and enabling this One 
 People to assume among the Powers of the earth the sep 
 arate and equal station which was rightfully theirs, is the 
 declared object of this immortal instrument. Our fathers, 
 in declaring their independence, did not usher into the 
 world thirteen independent sovereign nations or States; 
 but they did introduce into the family of nations one peo 
 ple, one nation, composed of the united people of thirteen 
 colonies, bound together in the same bundle of the Union, 
 and they claimed for this One People/ one, and only one, 
 separate and equal place among the Powers of the earth. 
 Let us thank the Euler of the Universe that His Provi 
 dence made good thej declaration of 177(>, and through that 
 same Providence directing the minds, nerving the arms and 
 encouraging the hearts of the patriotic,, brave and good men 
 
258 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 of our own generation, we are to-day, after the lapse of 
 nearly a century, still one people, occupying one, and only 
 one, separate and equal station among the Powers of the 
 world. 
 
 "But the evidence contained in the declaration in favor 
 of our national unity and the paramount sovereignty of the 
 people of the entire Union does not stop here. Let me quote 
 in your hearing a portion of its concluding sentence. It 
 reads thus : 
 
 " We therefore, the representatives of the United Slates 
 \of America in general Congress assembled, appealing to the 
 Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our inten 
 tions, do in the name and Inj the authority of the good peo 
 ple of these colonies solemnly publish and dleclare that these 
 United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and in 
 dependent States/ 
 
 "Here is the title deed of our nationality made in the 
 name and by the authority of the good people of the United 
 Colonies, acting through their chosen representatives in the 
 general Congress. Does any one of the original thirteen 
 States claim to be! sovereign and independent? If so, she 
 is estopped from dating her sovereignty and independence 
 prior to the Fourth day of July, 1776, for in the declara 
 tion she acknowledges her previous colonial condition and 
 her want of equality of station among the powers of the 
 earth. Each of the States was born independent in the 
 Union, but not independent o<f the Union. And the State 
 that would destroy the Union would become the murderer 
 of the mother who bore her, 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 259 
 
 "Are we told that the articles of confederation which 
 preceded the Constitution of the United States was a com 
 pact by its terms between independent sovereign States? 
 This must be granted, but with the admission should go the 
 fact that these articles of confederation never were ratified 
 and never became effectual until the War of the Eevolution 
 had nearly been concluded. The ratification took place and 
 Congress first met under thorn in 1781 and peace came in 
 1783. The Union was a verity for six years and more prior 
 to the ratification of these articles, and they, being a depart 
 ure from the grand principle of national unity, announced 
 f in the Declaration of Independence, were soon given up for 
 the Constitution of the United States, which again spoke 
 the national will by the authority, not of the States, but of 
 one united people. 
 
 "One other historical incident bearing upon the same 
 point, and I conclude this branch of the subject. 
 
 "When the Commissioners of France, Great Britain and 
 the United States met in Paris, in August, 1782, to con 
 clude a treaty of peace, the British Commissioner produced 
 a commission in the language of a then recent act of Par 
 liament, by which the King was authorized to conclude a 
 peace with certain colonies therein named, the thirteen col 
 onies being named separately in the act. Mr. Jay, one of 
 the American Commissioners, objected to the sufficiency of 
 this authority, and refused to proceed with the negotiations 
 until the British Commissioner returned and procured in 
 structions authorizing him to treat with the Commissioners 
 of the United States of America/ and the treaty was then 
 
 17 
 
260 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 made between France, Great Britain, and the United States ; 
 the Commissioners of each representing one sovereign and 
 independent power. 
 
 "This historical review clearly shows that Mr. Lincoln 
 was right when he declared in his first message to Congress 
 that the States have their stains in the Union, and they 
 have no other legal status. If they break from this, they 
 can only do so against law and by revolution. The Union, 
 and not themselves separately, procured their independence 
 and their liberty. By conquest or purchase the Union gave 
 each of them whatever of independence or liberty it has. 
 The Union is older than any of the States, and in fact it 
 created them as States. Originally some dependent colonies 
 made the Union, and in turn the Union threw off their 
 dependence for them, and made them States such as they 
 are. Not one of them ever had a State constitution inde 
 pendent of the Union/ 
 
 "So spoke the good President 5 to his countrymen, and, 
 though being dead, so he still speaks. May the people ever 
 heed his words, and remember that the Union has been the 
 source of all our political blessings in the past, and is the 
 foundation of all our hopes for the future ! 
 
 "The Declaration of Independence, as we have seen, as 
 sumed the previous existence of the Union, and declared the 
 national independence. It did more, it proclaimed the in 
 alienable rights of men, and these rights thus proclaimed, 
 constitute another of the broad, deep foundations of Amer 
 ican institutions and introduces the second topic proposed 
 for your consideration. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 261 
 
 "In the light of the grand historic transactions of the 
 last six years which have so gloriously vindicated our nation 
 al unity, may we not to-day repeat with a new emphasis the 
 words of our fathers that We hold these truths to be self- 
 evident; that all men are created equal; that they are en 
 dowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that 
 among these are life, liberty., and the pursuit of happiness. 
 
 "This sublime utterance was., as I have said, one of the 
 broad, deep foundations upon which the fathers of the 
 Itupublic built the infant nation, and though they and we 
 as to a portion of our people for a time practically ignored 
 the truths thus uttered, under the alternate smiles and chas- 
 tenings of the Supreme Judge of the world, to whom they 
 appealed for the rectitude of their intentions, we have grown 
 and prospeied until the Grand Republic lias become the 
 beacon light as well as the marvel of the world. 
 
 "Although the Constitution of the United States cor 
 rected the error which had been committed in the Articles 
 of Confederation, as to the nature of our Union, and the 
 relation of the several parts to each other, and to the whole, 
 and so far restored us to the principles of the Declaration 
 of Independence it recognized, while ashamed to pronounce 
 or record the name of that monster iniquity, chattel and 
 hereditary slavery. Thus we presented to the world the 
 spectacle of a great republic built on the foundation of a 
 perfect equality of rights among men, and yet practically 
 denying to a portion of its people the enjoyment of all their 
 rights. Slavery so blinded the minds and hardened the 
 hearts of the nation that the national government, in all its 
 
262 History of the Grcmd Army of the Republic. 
 
 departments, executive, legislative., and judicial, bowed 
 down at the shrine of the monster. It claimed protection 
 under the flag of freedom wherever it floated, and de 
 nounced as traitors and infidels all who denied its preten 
 sions. At last, under the pretence of vindicating the Con 
 stitution, it attempted to overthrow the Eepublic, and build 
 upon its ruins a political monstrosity, called a confederacy, 
 of which human bondage instead of the inalienable rights 
 of man was to be the chief corner-stone. Although the 
 national conscience was so debauched as to be no longer able 
 to perceive the horrors of slavery, a vast majority of the 
 people still loved the Union of their fathers, and God in 
 His goodness made this love our school-master to bring us 
 back to the love of liberty, not as a mere sentiment, but as 
 a living, energizing universal principle. By showing the 
 nation that either the Union or slavery must die, he edu 
 cated us up to the point that sanctioned the issuing of the 
 proclamation that rang out freedom to the land and to all 
 the inhabitants thereof; and the people said Amen; and 
 the Grand Army of the Eepublic said Amen; and slavery 
 died amidst its worshipeTs, the Union was saved, and a re 
 generated Eepublic shouted Amen. 
 
 "However difficult it may be under certain complications 
 to apply in practice the great doctrine of equal rights among 
 men, is it not wonderful, notwithstanding all the lessons of 
 experience, that man, whose breath is in his nostrils, should 
 even in our own day arrogate to himself the possession of 
 rights which he denies to his fellow-man. And how con 
 temptible 1 and cowardly does this claim of superior rights 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 263 
 
 become when it is based upon the assumption, true or false, 
 that it exists because the man who makes the claim is supe 
 rior to him as against whom it is made. 
 
 "If one man or one race of men is weaker than, or 
 inferior to another, is it not an imputation upon the wis 
 dom and justice of the God of nature to assert that the 
 weaker man or weaker race is endowed by nature with 
 inferior rights; that the Supreme Ruler of the universe so 
 legislates as not to protect the weak against the strong, but 
 the strong against the weak. That He is the God of tilie 
 proud, the arrogant, and the powerful, but not the God of 
 the weak and the lowly. That he is a respecter of persons, 
 Jmt not a respecter of righteousness. Surely such doctrines 
 find no sanction in the Declaration of Independence, or in 
 the teachings of Him who enjoined that all things whatso 
 ever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
 them, for this is the law and the prophets/ 
 
 "If one man or race of men claims superior rights and 
 greater protection from society and government in the bat- 
 tJe of life, because of his or its supposed superiority to an 
 other man or another race, prudence would seem to dictate 
 that the claimant should take out a policy against the acci 
 dent of his being mistaken in the assumption. 
 
 "Fortunately, companies now exist that are willing to 
 insure against accidents of all kinds. 
 
 "If the assumed superiority does exist, so much the 
 greater is the reason that the inferior and the weaker should 
 enjoy the protection of equal rights and equal laws. If it 
 does not exist, the claim is based on a falsehood, and must 
 therefore fall. 
 
264 History of Hie Grand Army of tlie Republic. 
 
 i "The Declaration of Independence does not proclaim the 
 absurd doctrine that all men of the same race are created 
 equal, and that as among themselves they are entitled to 
 certain inalienable rights, but that as to other races they 
 are not equal, and do not possess, or may be despoiled of 
 their rights. Again, if a superior race may deny to an 
 inferior race the enjoyment of equal and impartial rights, 
 why may not a superior man deny to an inferior man of 
 the same race the same thing? I defy mortal man to show 
 why the logic that proves the one proposition will not prove 
 the other. The result of such logic would be that the most 
 superior man in the nation must govern all thcs rest, and to 
 be consistent we would all have to bow to some shrewd fel 
 low like Louis Napoleon, and say, We await your superior 
 pleasure; your will is the law; you are the Government by 
 divine right of superiority/ 
 
 "This is not the time nor the place to discuss mere par 
 tisan questions, but on a day consecrated to liberty, and in 
 the presence of so many of its noble and gallant defenders, 
 may we not with entire propriety consider the rights of 
 humanity and the practical application of the principles of 
 the Declaration of Independence to the duties of life? 
 
 "Believing such considerations to be appropriate to the 
 occasion, I have no hesitancy in saying that the suppression 
 of the rebellion and the consequences which have already 
 flown and which are still to flow therefrom must, at no dis 
 tant day, place the Nation on the broad platform of the 
 Declaration of Independence, and consequently assure to all 
 classes of our citizens of every race, equal and impartial 
 civil and political rights thenceforth and forever. 
 
History of ihe Untnd Army of the llepubllc. 265 
 
 "In my judgment, the sooner this consummation is 
 reached the better will it be for the country, and the sooner 
 will the Republic bo prepared for that high mission among 
 the nations of the earth which we all believe God in His 
 providence designs it to accomplish. 
 
 "When and by what particular instrumentalities this re 
 sult is to be attained may not now be certainly determined, 
 but I must be permitted to express the opinion that as to 
 those States which have always been true* and loyal to the 
 Union, and none of whose rights have ever been forfeited by 
 treason or rebellion, the question must be left to the volun 
 tary action of the people of the States respectively, and that 
 these loyal States should freelv, and without unnecessary 
 delay, concede that which justice and sound policy unite in 
 demanding. 
 
 "By such a course the General Government will assume 
 no questionable powers: our traditional policy as to the 
 proper sphere of State and Federal action will be preserved : 
 a, just confidence will be manifested by the national author 
 ities in those* States whose people have never heretofore fal 
 tered in the hour of trial, and a broad line of demarkation 
 will be drawn between that confidence which uninterrupted 
 loyalty deserves, and that distrust which past rebellion justly 
 inspires. 
 
 "That justice will be done, and impartial rights accord 
 ed, and that, too, at no distant day, by all the loyal States, 
 should not be doubted, and if, in the end, it shall be found 
 that one or two semi-loyal States have bound themselves to 
 the dead past, and are determined not to profit by the les 
 sons of experience, with all the other States firmly planted 
 
266 History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 ion the immutable principles of right and justice, and with 
 all the power of the General Government on the side of free 
 dom and equal rights, how easy will it not be to bring up 
 these reluctant States to the common level by an amendment 
 of the Constitution,, without a resort to the exercise of doubt 
 ful Congressional powers. 
 
 "Gentlemen of the Grand Army of the .Republic, allow 
 me, on behalf of myself and the Trustees of the Soldiers 
 (Home, to thank you for your presence and for your partic 
 ipation in the laying of the corner-stone of this Home for 
 your disabled comrades. You have illustrate*! your devo 
 tion to the Union, and to the great principles upon which 
 our institutions are based, on many a well-contested Held, 
 and your State and your country recognize you as the wor 
 thy descendants of the noble men who declared and achieved 
 our independence. 
 
 "To perpetuate friendships formed on the march, on the 
 battlefield, and around your camp-fires during the war; to 
 keep the fires of liberty ever bright and burning on the altar 
 of your hearts, and to minister to the wants of your brother- 
 soldiers when trouble or distress overtake them, you have 
 associated yourselves together under the name of the Grand 
 Army of the Eepublic. We bid your brotherhood Godspeed, 
 and trust that the blessing of the Father of all, and the 
 benedictions of a grateful people may attend each of you 
 through life. 
 
 "And to you, the honored inmates of tin s Home, I desire 
 to say that, however much we may regret that the) provision 
 made for its establishment and your comfort, is not as ample 
 
History of the Grand Army of the Republic. 267 
 
 as could have been desired, still you may rest assured that 
 the people of Indiana in grateful recognition of your ser 
 vices, toils and sufferings, will in due time supply all that 
 may be lacking to make this institution a Home for those 
 who gave for their country all that man can give, life only 
 excepted. That you may lead peaceful and happy lives in 
 this institution, and at last through the mediation of the 
 Son, be admitted to the Father s House in which there are 
 many mansions, is not only the prayer of myself, but the 
 prayer of all present." 
 
APPENDIX V. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 It may be interesting to show the decay of the Order 
 from 1870. According to Beath s History of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, 21 Departments and 180 represent 
 atives composed the 2d National Encampment held! at Phil 
 adelphia, January 15th, 1868. 
 
 At the 3d National Encampment, held at Cincinnati, 
 May 12th, 18G9, were 23 Departments and 79 representa 
 tives and officers. 
 
 At the 4th National Encampment, held at Washington, 
 May llth, 1870, were 1.9 Departments and 52 representa 
 tives and officers. 
 
 At the 5th National Encampment, held at Boston, May 
 10th, 1871, were 17 Departments and 68 representatives and 
 officers. 
 
 At the 6th National Encampment, held at Cleveland, 
 May 8th, 1872, were 16 Departments and 75 representatives 
 and officers. 
 
 At the 7th National Encampment, held at New Haven, 
 May 14th, 1873, were 16 Departments and 48 representatives 
 and officers. 
 
 At the 8th National Encampment, held at Harrisburg, 
 May 13th, 1874, were 15 Departments and 51 representa 
 tives and officers. 
 
 269 
 
270 History of the Grmd Army of the Republic. 
 
 At the 9th National Encampment, held at Chicago, May 
 12th, 1875, were 14 Departments and 78 representatives and 
 officers. 
 
 At the 10th National Encampment, held at Philadel 
 phia, June 30th, 1876, were 22 Departments and 100 De 
 partment officers and representatives. 
 
 At the llth National Encampment, held at Providence, 
 June 26th, 1877, were 12 Departments and 96 officers and 
 representatives. 
 
 At the 12th National Encampment, held at Springfield, 
 Mass., June 4th, 1878, were 14 Departments and 85 rep 
 resentatives. 
 
 At the 13th National Encampment, held at Albany, N. 
 Y., June 17th, 1879, were 19 Departments and 114 officers 
 and representatives. 
 
 At the 14th National Encampment, held at Dayton, June 
 8th, 1880, were 19 Departments and 114 representatives and 
 officers. 
 
 From this time forward the Order began to revive, but 
 without reaching any great maximum, keeping pretty nearly 
 balanced, year by year, in membership. 
 
 "Previous to the adoption of the grades, it had been 
 claimed 250,000 members were enrolled. Less than 25,000 
 remained when the system was abolished. ... Of those 
 who remained there was a large number who deemed the 
 radical changes a grave error of judgment." (Beatles His 
 tory.) I am glad to find that my convictions and proph 
 ecies upon the introduction of the degrees and the conse^ 
 quent disruption of the Order affirmed by my friend and 
 comrade, General Beath. 
 
History of the Grand Army of the, Republic. 271 
 
 If the roll of that membership, previous to the introduc 
 tion of the degrees, and the abolishment of the first Uiitual, 
 [thus absolving every member from its obligation], could 
 have been called on the 5th day of January. 1870, many 
 would be missing; and if called ten years later, fewer still 
 would be found to answer. If called to-day, a voice 1 here 
 and there would lie heard only an echo of the past, lint 
 few of the men who were? in the Order in 18(>(>-7() are in 
 the Order to-day. 
 
RETURN TO the circulation desk of any 
 University of California Library 
 
 or to the 
 
 NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station 
 
 University of California 
 
 Richmond, CA 94804-4698 
 
 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS 
 
 2-month loans may be renewed by calling 
 (510)642-6753 
 
 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing 
 books to NRLF 
 
 Renewals and recharges may be made 
 I 4 days prior to due date 
 
 DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 
 DEC 2 1 2004 
 
 "2 2 2004 
 
 DD20 6M 9-03 
 
U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES 
 
 1 A .. 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY