The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-02-03
The Grand Army.
ITS ORIGIN, GROWTH, AND AIMS.

partment of the Grand Army of the Re-
public is to meet for the first time IN
the coming week, briei
sketch of its origin, make up, growth
principles, purposes, and what it has ac-
complished will not be out of place.
1t Is well known that the order is made |
up of comrades who served for longer
or shorter period in the Army of the
Union. during the rebellion of the South
ern States lsGl-5. The essential qualifl-
cation is an honorable discharge from the
Army or Navy. The question of rank or
length of service docs not enter into the
account
The first National Convention was held
at Indianapolis, Indiana, the 20th OF Nov.
1866, called by b. F. Stephenson, who
took the style of Commander-in-C hief' 4.
Al Us. 1t appears that he assumed
this title after consulting with certain
veterans and established Provisional
Department" in several states for the
purpose of organization. The object
| SpeClneu III lnc Cali WIS ipi Vi' P"' f'''
of pcrfecting the National organization
and the transaction of such other busl-
ness as shall come before the meeting
Al honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors DESTROYS of becoming members OF
the G. 4. r. were invited to attend and
each Post was entitled to one representa-
tive and one additional for each hundred
members.
| Pursuant to this call the first National
Convention met at the time and place
specified. Representatives were present
from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, New York, District of Columbia,
PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky and
Indiana The members of the convcn-
ton from the latter state outnumbered
those from all other states two to one.
Illinois had the next delegation in point
of numbers. This convention adopted
ritual and constitution and elected Gen.
| S. A. IIurlburt, of Illinois, Commander
| in-Cbicf
The second National Convention was
held in Philadelphia, Pa, January 10Th,
10th, and Eth, 1868, composed of dele
rates from 81 state departments including
Maine. The delegates from Maine were
Geo, l.. Beal, +. w. Hyde, a. T. Harris,
Edward Moore, A. b. Farnham and NJ. +.
Wentworth. At this convention Gen.
John A. Logan was elected Commander
in-Chicf.
The National organization was at that
time well perfected and in able hands
and since has met annually and made rap
id growth, year by year, until it has at
tanned magnificent proportions, with live
working departments in nearly all the
states and several of the territories, with
membership in March 1885 of 2G9, Gs4
As an illustration of the growth of the
order we give the membership for several
wears, viz: 1872, 28,774; 1870, 3I,777;
1888, l4G, 1873; 1885, 2G9, 6Si. 1t will thus
he seen that the membership is large and
the growth remarkable.
To those of our readers who attended
the National Encampment ut Portland
last June 1t Is unnecessary to say that II
is an order that the comrades take the
deepest and most enthusiastic interest in.
Probably no other organization IN the
country could gather so large an assem-
bagc of citizens from all parts of the
country as were gathered in Portland.
The roll included delegates from 3S de-
partmcnts representing 3G states and ter
ritores and department designated as
Potomac and one as the Gulf. The
crowds at Portland during the Encamp-
ment were immense but the order main
tained was phenomenal and the most per-
feet good feeling prevailed Throughout
1t was red letter day for the Grand
Army of Maine and was conceded on all
hands to be success in every detail.
DEPARTMENT OF MAINE.
The Department of Maine G.. A. r.,
was organized January 10, 1863. The
following are the Post Department Com
manders: John C. Caldwell, A. c. Ham
lin, George L. Beal, Winsor b. Smith,
Charles p. Mattocks, Isaac S. Bangs,
Daniel White, A. b. Farnham Sclden
Conner, John d. Myrick, +. NJ. Shaw,
Nelson Howard, Benjamin Williams.
The first Past organized in Maine was
No. /, at Bath and was chartered from
National Headquarters and mustered
June 2s 1867. Gen. II. w. Hyde was
Commander. Posts were organized in
the autumn of the same year at Portland,
Brunswick, Gardiner, Lewiston and Dam
ariscotta A Provisinal Department was
organized in Maine in December 1867 and
Gen. John C. Caldwell was designated as
Provisional Commander. A Department
convention was called by the Provisional
Commander and held at Portland, January
10, 1868, at which Gen. Geo l.. Beal was
elected Grand Commander, who establish
Mattocks was Assistant Adjutant Geuer
al. Thus was the order instituted in the
State and placed in good working order. |
The growth was for many years slow and |
at many times the prospect was discour-
aging. The following shows the mem
bership in the state from 1872 to 1885 in
elusive ~, 1878 ~ ai1ii; r. 1913; 10,
1908 10 l4fS; II, 1918; rs, l345; 70,
-i47l; 80, 1851; 81, 20s3; 's2, 307l; SO,
1883; 'S4, 6733; So s102. 1t will be OBJ
served that since 1880 the increase of
membership has been about five fold |
while the net gain from 1872 to 1879 was
but about two hundred, or about 10 per
cent
The practical utility of the Grand Army |
is in the keeping up of army associa-
tions, renewing old acquaintainccs the
keeping alive of that pure patriotism that
inspired heroic action and sacrifice, the
commcmoration of services of comrads
now dead and above all the administer
ing of assistance to worthy and destitute
comrads and those dependent upon them,
and the surviving friends of deceased
comrades.
The cardinal principles of the order are