New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-26
MEMORIAL DAY.
ITS FIRST SUGGESTION CREDITED TO MRS. KIM
BALL. OF PHILADELPHIA.

meEdfto- oJThe Tribune
Sir: As one knowing the facts, permit me 10 say
that the credit Of first suggesting Memorial Day
belongs to Mrs. Henry S. Kimbal, of West Phiiadei
phia, Penn. The suggestion was made by her III
1868, to General John A. Logan, then Commander'in
Chief Of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Mr. and Mrs KImball were old friends OF General
Logan's On their return home from a Southern tour
Mrs. Kmball wrote to General Logan stating that
she had particularly noticed the Southern women
decorating the graves OF their dead fallen In batue
and suggested to him that, the COMMANDMENT Chic
of the Grand Army of tho Republic he should nave
heroic soldiers, whose lonely graves were many
scattered and unmarked remembered In the same
beautiful way. Tho General was deeply impressed
with the idea. Soon afterward he wrote Mrs. KIM
ball. thanking her for the suggestion, and stating that
he felt that such touching tribute 10 HIS dead COM
rades would undoubtedly meet with general favor
After carefully rejecting upon how he should give
the matter practical shape, he stated his IDEAS 10 o
eral Chapman, Of the Grand Army OF the hepnpho
STAFF, and requested him TO formulate them In an oruer
This order. modified and enlarged by General Logan
himself, was issued 10 the Grand Army OF the RcpuoIc
az Order No. H." and May 30, 1868, was named
as the day it should go into effect The order was
generally well received throughout the country, ana
practically obeyed by the Grand Army Of the ke
public greatly to General Logans satisfaction, as
evidenced In the following letter TO Mrs. kimban'
dated Washington, July o, 1868:
My Dear Friend 1t is very gratifying to me to near
do day after day from my friends Of the reception OF
my Order No IL As observe. the custom is beau
tlfui one and confident that 1t viii not only never
pass away from the recollection Of the American people
but win deeply ngra itself IN their hearts and each
returning anniversary OF sacred decoration will increase In
impressive devotion to patriot dead and the crowns
for them Of fading laurel and the besutu
their give birth to sentiments
and OF which bind tho past the present ana inc
future in one continuous chain Of admiration that LIE
and service Of the humbiest private shall never Dc
forgotten Yours truly,
JOHN A. LOGAN.
was a clcrk at the House Of Representatives., ana
General Logans private secretary at the time. and
all the correspondence relating to the matter,
that he was indebted TO Mrs. Kmbal for the sug
geston to decorate our soldiers graves, saw him
hand them Mrs. Kimbalrs tho subject to
read, and heard General Logan state TO General
Chapman his views and wishes out OF which Order
No. IL" grew, and during the Presidential canvass
of that year, on which went with him, he received
many encOmums wherever he went for the inaugu
ration of Memorial Day. and he never rralnad
from giving Mrs. Kimbal full credit for the idea,
icclng quite content and apprccative for the share
Of honor that naturally and properly flowed to hun
for putting 10 into practical and permanent opera
ton.
Since then Memorial Day has silently matureh
into tender and welcome custom throughout our
land, and has additionally endeared TO the hearts
the people the memory of that greathearted, brave
and brilliant soldier orator and statesman JOIN A.
Washington, d. c.. Aug. 10. 1889.