The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-04-10
History Of the g. A. r.

History Of the q. A. r,
Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic.
Rutland. VT, March 4, 1891,
COMRADES
Assembled as we are at this mo-
ment in n simultaneous post
meeting, to commemorate the
founding of this our beloved Order,
twenty-five years ago, there are a
few salient points of our history
which / deem it fitting to call to
your remembrance at this time.
DR.. b. F. Stephenson, Surgeon
of the 18th Illinois infantry, and
Chaplain w. ]. Rutledge, of the
same regiment, talked, as they
marched under Sherman in Missis-
sippi in '6+, of the capacity for
good in an organization of voter
ans, and agreed, if spared, to work
out some plan to that end. In
March, 1866, they with Others met
at Springfield, Illinois, and on the
9th day of April, 1866, the first post
was organized at Decatur, Illinois;
Comrade Stephenson mastering in
the numbers, and granting them a
charter. an exact fac smile of
which ] send you herewith. The
first department encampment was
held at Springfield, Illinois, July
12th '6o, and the first national en-
campment at indianapolis, Indiana
November goth of the same year.
Comradc S. A. Hurlbut was the
first elected commandcr-in-chief
Comrade Stephenson having pro-
visionally acted as such Heretofore
and having called together the first
national encampment. The VIC
lence OF political strife at that time
involved the new order more or
less and substantially destroyed it's
vitality, especially in the section of
the country where it had its origin,
some of the departments being left
with nothing more than a mere
nominal existence. with scarcely a
post in active operation. This was
the situation at the time of the
second national encampmcnt, held
at Philadelphia, January 15,1S6S,
and continued till after the death
of its founper, Aug. 80, 1871.
His dream of an order grandlv
carrying out his noble conception
seemed only a dream never to be
realized.
At this point that peerless volun-
tcer soldier. Logan took command,
succeeded in turn by Burnside,
Devens and Hartranft. The nine
years of service as commandcr-in-
chief rendered ny these faithful anil
devoted comrades, -. all muster.
ed out forever, and the work of the
able staff officers of their admins
trations, laid deep and broad the
foundation now Sc widely built
upon, and could comradc Stephen
son have lived till now to share
with us the fruits of his years of
toll, dependency and disappoint-
ment. he would hardly recognize
this our giant-order which when he
died was apparently SC near its end.
Wisely guided and carefully foster
ed, it gathered strength eaeh year,
and to-day occupies a position of
character. be,,eiicence and inHu-
cncc second to no organization OF
our time. The same conservative
course a keep it growing a few
years more despite our increasing
death rate, but those comrades
who celebrate the semi-centennial
anniversary, twenty-five years
hence, will be few in number. 1t
is therefore for us who now turn
with thankfnlness to the founder
and to the prescrvers of our order,
to so conduct its affairs, to SO
guard it from dissension, and to so
keep it true to its immortal prin-
ciplcs, that its influence will be felt
long after the organization has
ceased to exist. In this each COM
rade has his share. each post its
measure Of effort, each depart
ment its burden, to be loyalty ac-
copied, performed and borne, with
a deep n of the privilege as
we'll as obligation that is ours.
Forward then. my comrades, into
the next quarter-century with the
one purpose animating us all, to
still farther extend our lines and to
light our camp fires set more wide
ly, not alone for our sakcs, but as
an inspiration to the new genera
ton. Shipmate, under Union Jack;
soldier, of whatever rank or arm:
marines, gallant as any; all press
ing on in this the work Of our de-
Ginning days, elbow to elbow.
stirrup' to stirrupi yard-arm to yard
arm. heart to heart. all one in the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Your comradc in f., c. and L..
w. G. VEAzEy.
commander-in-chief.