The National tribune., 1882-04-15
ORIGIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.

The following incident regarding the or
lganization of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie viii be read with interest by many in our
city and members of the organization else
where The credit is due to the brains of
two Morgan county soldiers, Chaplain VIM.
J. Rutledge, who conceived it, and Major B.
F. Stevenson, who pushed forward the idea
10 n successful termination.
February I, 1864, some 25,G00 brave men
under General Sherman left VicksbuFg and
vicinity On what was then called "the Meri-
dian raid as Meridian and Enterprise were
almost the extreme eastern points from
which the return march was made to
Viclsb1rg. But for the failure of General
Smith TO reinforce the command with cav
airy from Memphis, they would have gone
southwark to Mobile, thus anticipating the
experiment of the Grand March to the
Sea"
While they tarried two nights and one day
at this eastern end of the raid, awaiting
General Smith and breaking up some rail-
road tracks, most of the baggage train and
provisions had been left some twenty miles
west under guard, that they might be less
encumbeTed IN the final conflict with General
POlk's force, thinking he would not tamely
yield to destruction these important railroad
connections. But as his fighting for fort
night availed him nothing he retreated
beyond their reach.
Having accomplished an important work
by the raid, they started back, via Canton,
Miss, toward Vicksburg. The first days
march brought them to the train and pro-
visions, over which they were the more
jubllant as they had been without coffee for
three days. Then they unwisely undertook
TO make up for lost time by drinking an
excess Of hot, strong coffee, and never until
then was its full effects as a stimulant made
known to many. Sleep was banished for
that night, and as there was probably no
rebel force to be feared within fifty miles
the soldiers whistled, sang, squealed neished.
and crowed all along the line The gravest
officers were not exempt from this coffee
exhileration, and bursts of laughter here
aud there indicated that the wag or wit of
that squad was perpetrating his best Jokes.
Even the staid hospital mess, with no sick
TO care for, fell into the same nervous Sleep
iess current. Though speaking especially
for the Fourteenth regiment Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, this vigil was probably kept
by most of the Fourth division of the Seven
teenth Army Corps.
Bur TO return. There was VIM. J. Rut-
ledge, regimental chaplain: Major B. F. Ste
venson, surgeon; DIR. Chafee. assistant sur
geon; Jos. Meacham, hospital steward, &c.
Each man was a marked character, but we
have not time 10 describe them now. All
were warm personal friends, yet fond Of
Joking each other. DR.. Stevenson, provoked
by THIS sieeplessness, began to moralize on
the glory OF war heing a humbug; as a man
may sometimes be left hy his comrades to
Gle on the bloody field, 'unwept, union
ored, and msuDg' and if transferred to
Paradise he must be greatly chacriDed to
see ms name mlsspciled IN the reports, leav-
ing ms friends IN doubt as TO whether it were
he or some other man. The cbaplain al
ways buoyant IN spirits and frnitfnI in
resource. replied: THAT won't annIv n vo,,
and l. Doc, for We have had no hattie ,ot
where all were killed on both sides. some
escape to tell about it; so we will he those
lucky dogs: we VIII live on after tbis land
has been subsOiled by the plowshare Of zv,r
and rebellion and slavery turned under ca
deep that they Will never sprout again and
by our peaceful fresides we'll 'shouIder o,,r
cutch and show how fields were won,
Moreover continued the chaplain "os
Knight Errantry and Masonry were wonder
kally revived during the wars of the Crp-
sades, so we in the years that lie beyond will
revive them by organizing, on q fraternal
basis, the Grand Army Of the Republic. |
You, Doctor, shall be grand mogul or COM
mander-in-chief; DR.. Chafee. your adiutant-
general; Meacham, your aid-de-camp: Scott,
your paymaster: Goldsmith, your inside
sentinel; Sam. Logan, your vidette, and / |
your chaplain. Being now organized under
this venerable oak, that may have sheltered
Indians, Aztecs, or Druids centuries ago. we |
will, after due examination, proceed to col