The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-07-25
COOPERATION WITH THE LEAGUES TO
SLAUGHTER And DESTROY.
Its Efforts TO DsmoraLin the Regular Army
Preparations for Riot, BlOOdshed
and ,Rdpine.
Startling Disclosures!
FrFrom the Nashville Union and Dispatch.

rFrom the Nashville Union and Dispatch,
have come into possession of some
facts which | feel it due to my own
n o fright, 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 MS the "Grand Army of the
Republic" and the Loyal Lcague'-
and particularly to the means and
measures which they are resorting to
in your city and other parts Of the
State, to carry the election for the
Radical party. That l may not be &C
cused orignorance of what | speak, or
II wanton desire to get up unnecessary
anxiety and alarm, l wish to state
some things which no member OF
either order will deny.
The Grand Army of the Rep .blic is
an organization which was formed at
ter the close of the war, composed of
ex Federal soldiers, who had been
honorably discharged from the service.
Its design. as stated in its ritual, was
to Give protection and employment to
manned ex-Federal soldiers to edu-
cate their children and those OF de-
ceased comrades, and to secure them
good homes; to cultivate a spirit Of
LOYALTY and devotion to the Union, and
to promote the interests OF the mem
bership. These objects were such as
to commend themselves to all soldiers
who had fought for the Union, and
the membership soon numbered u large
portion Of the surviving soldiers ofthc
Union in the Northern and Northwes
tern States, and it is now the strongest
and most compactly organized secret
order that evcr existed in America.
But | am fully convinced that the
object above stated was not the true
and only purpose which the o%riginators
ofthe G.. A. II. had in view, and which
its present leaders are striving to &C
complish by meanso of the power of the
organization. While | firmly believe
the large mass Of the membership have
no othorthan purely patriotic motives,
] am confident that the leaders are
~perverting its designs to the basest,
the most unpatriotic, and the most
dangerous uses. TO give fully the
reasons on which l base this conclu-
sion, / will give IN outline OF tlle inte-
rior workings of the order in this sec
ton, at the risk wen Of being a little
tedious.
TIE ORGANIZATION.
The G.. A. r. is divided into battal-
ions. The second battalion embraces
the Western States, in which is incllr
ded Tennessee. The local organiza-
tions are called Posts. All the Posts
in the above States constitute the sec
ond battalion. The officers of q Post
are
LIST. Post Commander.
Cd. Senior Post Commander.
Sd. Junior Post Commander.
4th. Adjutant.
9th. Quartermaster
The members are called "comrades,"
and candidates for admission are
c~ruits." The headquarters of the g..
A. r. are at Springfield, Illinois. 1t
is essentially a military organization.
The place of meeting is called an en-
campment, or scamp"
THE AND OATH.
The room having been prepared in
Il way to make the initiation ceremony
very impressive, the recruit is re-
ceived in the ante-room and examined
as to his eligibility, etc. He is then
blindfolded and marched into the zen
campmcnt' by q file of soldiers, pas
sing three sentinels in the usual man
ner of a relicfguard. He is conducted
to an altar, covered with the flag, and
kneels before tiff there are several.
they surround it-and in this position
have the oath administered to them by
the Post Commander. The oath is rs
binding as it can we'll be made. 1T
binds the recruit to everlasting secrcsy,
TO the support OF coinrades, unu IT,
quires him to vote for none but com
rades or the chosen candidates of the
order for any office Of honor or trust.
1t also obligates him to assist com
rades in danger, at all hazards. 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 "a traitors reward
an open coffin and a file of soldiers in
line with guns sat aim" Next, the
pledge is taken, the right hand Of fel-
lowship given and the recruit is a sol
der of the G. A X. He ID then in
structed IN what follows:
THE SIGNS AND GRIPS.
Ii a member wishes to attract the
notice OF a comrade on the street Or in
a crowd. he will take the position of a
soldier (a5 given in Casey's Infantry
Tactics.) II that fails to attract no.
tice, he will !"draw and tear" cartridge.
II that fails, he will "handle cartridge"