Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-12

of the regular army, will be at the disposal
| of Congress for the furtheTance of its revO-
lutionary measures, and by this means to
the views of General Grant will be at
tributed no special Importance.
The facts which bear out this argument
! are as follows:
| Not long since anew organization, called
"The Grand Army of the Republic" was
formed in every city and State in the Union
1t is composed exclusively of veterans who
served in the late war. The formation of
| this army made almost as little noise in the
country as the tall of snow flake. 1t was
not designed that it should take promin-
ent place before the public till some great
necessity for its service should arise. In
addition to the main purpose of support
ing the Government, its object was of a
benevolent nature, and by this means it
presented special attractions to the soldiers,
| till, in short time, its ranks embraced over
five hundred thousand men.
On Thursday, for the first time, the State
of New York was divided into military dis
tricts by the Adjutant General OF the or
ganization, as will appear from the follow
ing General Orders" published in the
Tribune of the following day:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMSNT OF New York;
| GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, 7
| ADJ 7 GENL's OFFICE, New York, Feb. D, lS67)
CENTRAL ORDERS, No. 81. The follow
ing named comrades are hereby detailed
and an bounced as members of the proyis-
ional staff OF this department, on duty at
these headquarters: Major George L. Ste
vens, Aid de- Camp and Assistant Inspec-
tor General; Brevet Lieutenant Francis w.
Parsons, Aidde- Camp. They will be re-
spected accordingly, and are hereby author
lied to establish and organize posts in To-
calties not under the jurisdiction of dis
trct commanders, announced in orders
from these headquarters.
2. The following named comrades are
hereby detailed and announced as temrO-
rary commanders of their respective dis
tricts, which are designated as follows:
District of Manhattan, comprising the City
and county of New York, with headquar-
ters at the Bible House, Brevet Brigadier
General Rush G. Hawkins; District of
Oneida, comprising the county of the same
name, with headquarters at Utica, Major
David f. Ritche. They will at once as
sumo command, and Will be obeyed and re-
spected accordingly.
3. To prevent informality in the muster
in of recruits in this Department, it is
hereby announced, for the information of
this command, that recruits will be mus
tered only in regularly constituted posts,
and by District Commanders in the estab-
lishment of posts, except by the Grand Com
mander, an officer of his staff or by special
authority from these headquarters. The
attention of officers particularly called to
articles ., o. IL and 10 of the rules and reg
ulations of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, and the strict enforcement of its pro-
visions especially enjoined. Staff officers
will be enrolled as members of posts, and
reported by the posts to which they belong
as upon detached service.
By order of the Grand Commander.
FRANK j. BRAMHALL,
Official Assistant Adiutant General.
ID. VAN SCHAICK, Aide-deC Camp.
INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE COMMANDERS.
In order to ascertain from an official
source the avowed objects and character of
the organization, one of our reporters called
last evening at the Office of the commander
of the forces of the District of Manhattan,
in the Bible House, and finding the apart
ment closed. proceeded to his house in Fifth
avenue, when the following dialogue en-
sued, which the reader will find bears out
the assertions which form the preface OF
this article:
Reporter (handing the colonel copy of
the above general orders )-There is a
report to the effect that the Grand Army of
the Republic, to which reference is made in
these orders, has been raised for Radical
purposes, and that it is designed to be used
against the President and his adherents,
should any trouble result from his proposed
impeachment.
Commander--If Congress should i'm
peach the President, | have no doubt as
to which side the Grand Army of the Re-
public will take.
Reporter-Will you please tell me what
are its objects, and when it was formed?
COmmander-It had its origin some time
since, in portions of the West where there
is no militia. Its objects are of benevO-
lent character; its aims to assist all its
members who may be in need.
Reporter-How many men are there en-
rolled in the organization
Commauder-Over five hundred thous-
and. All soldiers honorably discharged
are admissible. We have Democrats and
Republicans in our ranks; but all the lead
ing officers are Radicals, so you can imag-
inc how the army would be welded in case
of any national necessity.
Reporter-Then the army may be said to
have Radical character in the main?
Communicates, it is under Radical Of
fcers, and if there should be any necessity
for its services, have no doubt they would
re rendered for the purpose of supporting
Congress, if it impeached the President.
Reporter-Have arms or uniforms been
furnished to the men?
COMMUNICATIVE.
Reporter-Do they meet regularly?
Communicates, but their meetings are
secret; they meet in lodges, and only mem
bers are admitted; we are particular about
our memb Ys; all who apply for admission
are obliged to furnish papers showing their
connection with the army and an honorable
discharge.
Such was the interview our reporter had
with one of the military leaders of the or
ganization, whose replies show that this
new army may be used at any time at the
beck of Congress, to sustain its policy by
force, and to silence all opposition to the
impeachment of the President. When the
fact is realized that it is unnecessary to Gre
ate military departments" for "benevo-
lent" organization, the object of the army,
in the present crisis of the country, will
be found apparent.
AN old gentleman out West, who was
LIVING with his sixth wife said there was