The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-07
THE @. A. R. ORGANIZING.
A Georgia Department to BIO Estab
nshed-Statistic of the Organization

! A Georgia Department to BIO Estab-
lished-Statistics of the Organization.
The Grand Army of the Republic is get
ting a big foothold in the south, and new
department, the Georgia department, will
soon be organized. Posts are now organized
at Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, Tallapoosa
and Savannah. The Atlanta post is the
! strongest, with Savannah pushing her close
! for first place Posts are about to be organ
! lied at Brunswick, Dalton, Tunnel Hill,
jasper and Elhiay. Six posts already
| organized gives Georgia charter as de-
| partment. which will be asked for as soon
q. another post is organized. The new de-
nartment viii be called the department of
Georgia.
There has been a great deal Of inquiry
in regard to the strength of the Grand Army
Of the Republic and the men who fought
on the union side in the war. Different esti-
mate have been given by the different depart
mems at Washington in regard to the
number of union men who enlisted.
The last estimate issued from Washington
this month gives the following facts: That
there were 3, rs, 800 enlistments in the union
army and navy from April, 1861, to April,
1865. As many re-enlisted the probable
number of men who entered the service
was 2, 350000. OF that number only 100000
are now living.
For the year ending March 81, 1887, 3,406
members of the grand army died; for the
year ending March 81, 1880, 4, 4S3 comrades
of the grand army reserve passed away
the death rate exceeding ~ per day. June
30, 1888, there were 1896, 245 members of the
Grand Army of the Republic Unless there
is a large increase of recruits from the
400, 600 now outside of the order the men,
bership will have decreased to less than
200, 900 in few years. The percentage of
deaths for the next ten years will be much
larger than it has been for the past ten
years.
1t is also estimated that in this depart
ment there are now 900 veterans who are
eligible to the Grand Army of the Republic
who have not yet identified themselves
with the order.
There was expended for charity by all the
posts in this country which has been off,
cially reported through the proper channels,
S2l5, 915 10 in one year ending June 80,
1885, which does not include thousands of
dollars which have been given by mem bers
of the order privately, in aid of less for
tunate comrades.
March 81, 1887, there were thirty-eight de-
partments, ssh posts, who made official
In addition there were sol posts
who did make returns to national head
quarters.
March 81, 1888, there were forty depart
ments, reporting 6,2s3 posts; there are 422
delinquent posts who did not make returns,
making total of 6,705 charter posts in the
country. The net gains for the year ending
March 81, 1888, are two departments, 472
posts reporting and SO, $50 comrades in good
The assets of the Grand Army of the Re-
public held by the quartermaster general
are as follows: Cash on hand June 80, 1888,
$14, 225 "a; due from departments, 81 ,919 43;
United States bonds Of 1907, $4,000 (mar-
ket value 1873, $50, 4S9; total, $50, 615 81.
There are no liabilities.
The Women's Relief Corps numbers at
present 65, 900 women, who were organized
five years ago to extend to the Grand
Army of the Republic their support. Last
year they expended and turned over to
posts a cash aggregate of $73, 2S9 80.
Veterans and members of their families
have been assisted to the number of 14,774
during the year ending June 80, 1888. In
the five years of their existence as an organ
ization they have expended upward of
$250,000. They have a fund on hand at
present of s10,454 80. They ask the con-
tinued confidence and support of the Grand
Army of the Republic in their work of post
aid as well as in behalf of soldiers homes,
soldiers orphans homes and whatever
patriotic work, state or national, which
may be of interest and help to the Grand
Army of the Republic.