Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-17
BENNISON BROS BENNISON BROS BENNISON BROS|

such purpose The 30th day Of May in each
year is established memorial day OBJ
served by the members of the Grand army
in commemoration of the deeds of their
fallen comrades.
The Grand Army of the Republic was
rganized one year after Lees army
urrendered at AppomattoX. The first post
was organized at Decatur, Illinois, on April
6, 1866, by DR.. b. f.. Stevenson, the twelve
original charter members being as follows ::
M. f. Karnan, q. r.. Steele, Geo. Ii. Dun
ming, |. g. Pugh j. II. Male j. f. Bishop
G. Reibsame, j. W. Roath, b. B. Solev, j.
N Cotton, Jas Prvor and A. Toland. From
that original post at Decatur the order
spread rapidly until today nearly every
locality locality in the loyal states Of the north
Army of the Republic. The member
ship forms at mighty army, superior
in strength and numbers to the great stand
ing armies of Europe; and when it is re
membered that this great organization is
governed by Quasi-lnilitary laws, ana regu-
lations; that all the officers are designated
by military titles; and that all the meetings,
reunions and encampments are conducted
according to military form and usage, it may
indeed be said that the Grand Army of the
Republic is mighty standing army of vet
erans-as mighty IN peace as in war, because
it is the conservator of peace and loyalty and
a living monument to the supremacy OF the
law and of the union.
The history of the Grand Army of the Re-
public in Nebraska dates from December lst,
1870, at which time the first post organized at
Kearney, receiving its charter. 1t was not
until January |, 1876 that a second post was
organized Post No. 2 being formed at Fort
Omaha. Since 1876 the growth CT the
order in Nebraska has been RAPID.
The last published report of the department
commander of the state reveals the fact that
there are 30l posts in Nebraska with "A total
membership of 1,442 comrades in good stand
tlh IN hn 1nc Anvn n1 "a Law a n
ory of ,345 comrades who have been laid TO
RESI- on flames eternal camping ground" was
solemnly and appropriately honored.
The notable event in each year history OF
the grand army in Nebraska is of course the
annual reunion. These gatherings have been
held at Omaha, Lincoln, Beatrice Fremont
Central City, Grand Island, Hastings and
kearney, the most successful ones having
been held at Grand Island. The reunions
are not only attended largely by the veterans
of the state, but by the citizens generally
and crowd of 100000 people is not an un-
union % camps camps - For "' the com
ing five years the annual reunions
will be held at Grand Island, the citizens OF
that city giving bonus of $4,000 for the
privilege of having these important state
gatherings. At the annual reunions the
"boys" fight anew the battles of the war and
renew old army acquaintances and live over
again the life of the camp fire, the march and
bivouac. Sham battles are fought and some
very creditaole 'imitaton naval conflicts
have been given-the smoth grassy prairie
furnishing an admirable substitute for the
placid waters of Hampton Roads. The
writer believes that a more effective or
realistic scene was never witnessed in the
west than tho sham battle between the
"Monitorn aud the "Merrimac" at the Grand
Island reunion few years since The bat
tie" occurred at twilight, at an nour when
the broad grass covered prairie bore strik
ing resemblance TO the waters OF old ocean
when undisturbed by wind or zephyr. The
sham battle ships we're startling models of
their famous namesakes and in their evoluions
over the level prairie they most etfectaally
recalled the great naval battle at Hampton
Roads. The fight and explosion OF the shells,
the heavy roar of artillery, the flash from the
mortars and the smoke which surrounded the
scene combined to remove all sense OF the
ridiculous and TO render the scene most I'M
pressiye one
Here in Omaha the order Is represented by
two posts, George A. Custer post No and
u. s. Grant post No. 40. The latter post,
named in honor of the illustrious com
mander received its charter on August IS,
1882 General Charles T.. Manderson was
the first post commander and was reelected
10 the same position the year following.
While Grant post No. 40 recognized the
authority Of tho state department, II was the
idea of It's founders 10 make IT as much OF
social club as anything else. Its hall was
elegantly furnished, and an initiation fee OF
$l5 was exacted of all new members. The
high initiation fee naturally secured q