Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-21
Cooperation with the Leagues
60 Slaughter and Destroy.
ITS EFFORTS TO DEMORALIZE
THE REGULAR ARMY.
Preparations for Riot, BLOOdshed
aud RGpiRe.
Startling Disclosures
OBJ

j have come into POSSESSION OF some
facts whish feel il due 20 my own sense of
right, and to the interests and safety of the
innocent and law-abiding people to make
known. The facts to which | refer relate
to the organization known as the "Grand
Army of the Republic" and the Loyal
League"-and particularly TO the means
| and measures which they are resorting to
| in yonr city and other parts Of the State,
10 carry the election for the Radical party.
/ That l may not be accused Of Ignorance OF
what speak, or wnnton desire to get up
unnecessary anxiety and alarm, wish to
state some things which no member OF
either order will deny.
The Grand Army Of the Republic IS an
organization which was formed after the
close Of the war, composed of ex-Federal
soldiers, who had been honorably dis
charged from the service. Its design, as
stated in its ritual, was to give protection
and employment 10 HEaimed ex-Federal
soldiers to educate their children and
those of deceased comrades, and to secure
them good homes; to cultivate spirit OF
loyalty and devotion to the Union, and 70
promote the interests Of the membership.
These objects were such as TO commend
themselves to all soldiers who had fought
Tor the Union, and the membership soon
numbered large portion of the surviving
soldiers Of the Union in the Northern and
| Northwestern States, and it is now the
strongest and most compactly organized
secret order that ever existed in America.
But / am fully convinced that the object
above stated was not the true and only
purpose which the originators of the g. A.
r. had in view, and which its present
LEADERS are striving to accomplish by
means of the power of the organization.
While firmly believe the large mass OF
the membership have no other than purely
patriotic motives, am confident the lead
ers are perverting its designs to the basest
the most unpatriotic, and the most dan
gerons uses. To give fully the reasons on
which base this conclusion, / will give
an outline OF the interior workings of the
order in this section, at the risk even Of
being a little tedious.
THE ORGANIZATION.
The G. A. K. is divided into battaliops.
The second battalion embraces the Weste IN
States, in which is included Tennessee.
The local organizations are called Posts.
, All the Posts in the above States constitute
the second battalion. The officers of
Post are lst. Post Commander. I'd. Sen
Tor Post Commander. Sd. Junior Post
Commander. 4lh. Adiutant, and 9Th.
Quartermaster. The members are called
comrades" and candidates for admission
recruits" The headquarters of the q.
A. r. are at Springfield, Illinois. 1t is
essentially a military organization. The
place Of meeting is called an encampment,
or camp"
/ THE INITIATION AND OATH.
The room having been prepared in a way
10 make the initiation ceremony very i'm
pressiye the recruit" is received in the
ante-room and examined as TO his elligi-
bility, etc He is then bbndtolded and
marched into the encampment" by file
Of soldiers, passing three sentinels in the
usual manner of relief guard He is con-
Quoted to an altar, covered with the flag,
and knees before Tiff there are several,
they surround it-and in this position have
the OATH administered 10 them by the Post
Commander The oath is as binding
as il can well be made. 1t binds the recruit
70 everlasting secrecy, TO the support Of
comrades, and requires him to vote for
none but comrades or the chosen candidates
Of the order for any office of honor or trust
II also obligates him to assist comrades In
: danger, at all hezsrds The penalty for
violating the oath is DEATH. After the
oath Is taken, the bandage is removed from
the eyes Of the recruit, and he beholds
what il called "a traitor reward an open
coffin and file of soldiers in line with
guns AT aim" Next, the pledge is taken,
g the right hand Of fellowship given and tbs
. recruit Is soldier Of the 9. A. r. He i
then instructed in what follows
THE SIGNS AND GRIPS.
IL a membar wishes 70 attract the nOtics
Of a comrade on the street or in crowd
he will take the position Of a soldier (as
given in Casey's Infantry Tactics If thai
fails TO attract notice, he will then "handle
cartridge" If that fails, he will draw and
tear cartridge tSome one Of these sign
!, wiz be sure to attSsct the notice o.
a comrade, If one is present. If a comrade
sees any of these signs, it is his duty 10 an.
/ swer them-which he will do by bringing
the point Of his index finger and thumb OF
his Jeff hand together, raising at the same
time his hand on a level and directly IN
: front OF his leit breast-at the same tim'
bring smartly his right hand up, and IA
sert the fore or index finger between The
thumb and fore finger of his left hand
After these signs are exchanged, the com
: rades will approach each other stepping
of with the LEFT foot,l grasping right hand
and locking little or last fingers. Their
the following conversation will ensue:
s., Is, Cosnnofs. Have you been soldier 2
ID ID C0mradc. 1 have
Il Isl Cbmrade. " Are you a soldier
IS, 81 Cdmrdds. " am"
~ Isl Comrads, 4" To what command do yo'
belong Y'
u C5Buods. Second Battalion, Gram
Army OF the Republic
SIGNAL OF DISTRESS.
- In case of danger, or where a brother re
quires the immediate assistance Of q com
rade, he viii pronounce she word AadT
smulAc' On hearing this il is the duty q
a comrade 10 80 70 his assistance at al
q hazards.
GETTING mo CAMP.
In working your way into an Encainp
uent Of thjs Order, you will approach III
,rtor door and there inform thP viSsti