The National tribune., 1885-09-24
Origin of the GAR.

To THE EDITOR: Your issue of the 2O;b ME
contained an article from v A. Jones. Iient
ltth ky. Cav, claiming for Capt Compiler
10Th Pa, part of the honor of originating tina
order OF the GAR. 1 was present at the meet
ing mentioned near Charlotte, n C.. and took
an active part in it, After choosing Presi-
dent and Secretary, committee was appointed
tot which was one) to present to the meeting
name Tor the organization Among tho Dst,,es
presented were Grand Army of the Reprih;.e,
National Legion and = Loyal Legion" Ter
lengthy discussion the meeting adopted ths
name OF " National Legion" Officers of the Ma
tlonal organization were then elected. none of
whom can remember at this date. exceDf NV
self, and L have forgotten the Office | held. Wa
were then directed to organize State Corns
which was done Immediately. Below / give
yon the roster of the Maine Corps. National
Legion, taken from the minutes now before me
Grand Marshal, Geo. 4. Manning; Marshal. c. c.
Noyes; Treas. II. A. Burpee; Adit- Cen E!ton W.
Ware; Asst Adjt-Cien. c. c. PoiutIexter. O NJ
IL ~ y VI Beard; A. Q. NJ, J. L. MuiIigsa. Ncnilers:
e. Z. Bartlett, 8. G.. Pillsb;ry, ~ x. Willis. g.. o.
Brown, Il. j.. Whitten G. L. Hale N r, y;',,i1
worth and J. p. Fall
Official: Elton W. WARE AdTt-Gen.. National
Legion of Maine, Charlotte v C., Feb I9 I8s5
Is was then agreed that after We returned to
our respective States we should keep u3 the
organization, making it general by ads1i ting
ali soldiers, sailors and marines Who took ulrt
IN sGppreSsing the rebellion. In pursuance OF
that agreement the following circular was iss.ed
by the Grand Marshal of Maine:
OLDTowS ME April 10. 1853
CohRADE: Your initiation fee OF $40 i n9,,v fi,.a
10 the National Legion; also your first oua~;crIy
dues OF 81. If not paid heretofore please toward
the amount on receipt of this.
GEO. \. MANNING, Grand Marshal Maine C,.rr,z
National Legion. -
ELTON w. WARE, AdJt-Gen.
A short time after issuing the circular yyens
PACK TO my regiment, and did not return to
Maine until July following, hearing nothing
from the National Corps, and the organization
collapsed.
cannot now remember who was President
or Secretary of the first meeting; whether
Capt. Compiler sat on maple tree cut down
by SoO AK, or whether he sat on the ground
as most OF the rest of Us did; but presume
Lieut.. Jones is correct.
Now, comrades, with the above facts kefcrs
US, can we honestly divide the honor of origi.
mating our grand Order with Comrade Stcfhen-
son? Let US hear from you
Lieut. Jones says that while confined at Co
Iumbla, ). G., Capt. McKaye and two others
composed the song "Sherman's March to the
Sea-. Now, have a copy of the song, written
by myself from the original before it was ever
sung in public, and while they were discussing
whether it was rider" or horsernan"
came out of the darkness" which says Com
posed by Adj't Byers and set to ans;c by Lieut..
Rockwell" Now, if Capt. Mckaye had any-
thing to do with it did not know it. If be
had L would like TO hear from some eomrads
that knows it. / would not like to answer the
last roll-call without knowing and Coiug him
Iustice.-GEo. 4. MANNING, Lewiston, Idaho,