Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-10
MARCHED ONCE MORE
THOUSANDS VISIT THE ILLINOIS GITf
Ana Take Part In the Mannm 9th Dem
onstratisa-lSssn4 asaer SeAxsy Pre-
scented with Memorial Letter
Other lsei3e2ts.

DEcArrR. IL. April Fifteen thou
saad veterans. womsn's relief corps.
sons Ct veterans and sight-sesrs
thronged the streets az Decatur and
crowded hotels and boarding houses
"Wednesday. II was the big day Of the
silver anniversary Of the Grand Army
of the Republic al the birthplace Of
the order. The parade took place IN
the afternoon There were =. 500 vet
Grams in line, including Gen.
W G. ysazey. commander in
chief. and staff. Department Com
mander Distin and staff. Gov
fifer and staff. the six surviving char
ter members Of old Post l. Chaplain
Lozier, John NJ. Snyder, John =
Phelps and John A. Lightfoet, of
bloomington. the first assistant sdJa-
tant general, aged II. There were sss-
iting comrades present from Missouri.
Wisconsin. Pennsylvania and Ohio de-
partments. The procession was formed
Is follows:
Dsnhnr post, Ma Ia. escort 70 commander
in chief; Commander in Chief ". q. Nezz-y
and personal stat and visiting nstona! and
department 0faccrs in Carriages, Department
Commander William l. D.stia. octemanding
Department si2r
First Division. - Senlor Vice Department
Commander J. r. EAral commanding rcp-e-
senistiTes - the twenty tfth annual eneaa,p-
ment department Of Illinois, g. A u
Second Division - Junior Vice Department
Commander y b. Thistleweo1 commanding
posts OF tue department a. n.nois a. X
according 20 nunrers and al ether soldiers
Third Dis.sior-CcxnmaAter department of
NJ Col
Siadcen. commanding; campo Of Soas 81 Vet
ersns. department o: Lsnois. according 10 rank
and Decatur Juvenile zouayes.
Lusty cheering was heard along the
gayly decorated streets. and as the
brass and martial bands played army
tunes shc old soldiers acted as they did
in 1865 when they came marching
home.
At night there were two camp fires,
one in pavilion tent where Com
mander Distin. y. j. oglesby, Cen
Veazey. Gen harden. Chaplain Lozier.
GOV. Fifer and Others delivered adj
dresses. The Woman's Relief Corps
delegates had a camp fire in the opera
house.
In the forenoon the organization of
the state convention Of the Woman's
Relief Corps was effected, Mrs. d. A
beaverton, department president. in
the chair. In seven years the depart
ment has paid out SIS, o2s In charitable
work. The convention has 567 members.
Rockford viii probably secure the 90
encampment and Thomas c. Fullerton
viii probably be the next commander.
Gen. Weary and staff will leave for
Indianapolis this morning 10 attend the
Indiana encanpnent
In the competitive drill Wednesday
afternoon the Decatur camp. Sons of
Veterans, defeated the Springfield camp
Cor purse OF $50.
Members of Gen. Stcphenson's 6rss
staff prepared the following Official
letter on the origin of the Grand army
and presented IL to Commander Veazeo
Wednesday:
.CoxRApE w G. vrAzry CoxMANpxR IN
CHIEF GRAND ARMY or THE RyrrBiIc-Sir:
The undersigned make the following statement
az the origin OF the Grand Army OF the Repuc-
lie: DR.. b. +. Stephenson was the originator of
the idea. He made the first dram OF the rifusl
The ritual was rewritten and perfected By Col
John NJ. Snyder. Capt John ;. Phelps and MAJ
Robert Mann Woods in February. Capt Phelps
brought the manuscript TO Decatur and had the
ritual printed. Meanwhile DR. stcpbensen
appointed the following staa: Gen J. G. Web
Der, A. D. c.: Captain John s. Phelps. A d. @;
Col John NJ. Snyder. Q NJ. c.; Capt John A
Lightsooi, Asst. Adit Gen. aud Maj Robert
NJ Woods Adjt Gen. Maj Robert M wcods
wrote the declaration Of principles. eons,itr-
ton charter, etc. ana had them printed At
Springfield Commander Stephenson cent
the original constitution ritual etc.
TO Decatur for revision. where Capt
Il Qe.xssA
and Others revis( them and returned
them to Springfield. where they we're again re
vised By Comm ander Stephenson and stan sns
made the permanent chart Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic. The name Grand Army WIS
suggested BY Or. Stephenson hinseif and the
words of the Republic were added at the sus-
gestion Of Capt. NJ =. kanen.
Post No. was organized with ~. r. Ks7sn
commander and George r. Stee.c aalBsant
They were granted the number Il" because oi
their assistance n getting UP the Organization
The post was organised BY Dr. Stephenson, -
sisted by Capt John s Phelps. Neither Of
the members OF the stan b as anr knowledge a
any connection Of Chaplain W. J. Rssleege
with the original organization. Col J. c.
Webber and Capt John s. Pbelpe organised
the posts IN Illinois and Maj X. NJ. Woods Vas
detailed 10 organize the state departments.
Tho conference for arranging Details o. orssui-
ration was also attended by Lieut. Col 'E6'
-
Alien. Mai A. A. North, Dr Jamee Hamilton
and Capt IL T.. Howe Col John N. snyder
organized the first post IN Chicago aoa
organized the department. ef Minnesota.
appointing Gen J. r. ssnbon provisional
commander. MAJ. Robert NJ Woods organised
the department Of Ohio appcintinf Gen n. y.
Potts provisional comm snder; department a
Indiana. Col Crawford. provisional com
mspder. department Of Wisconsin. Col Jsmcs
| X Proudft, provisional commander
In justice to the parties herein named ard
for the truth Of history ss n shall be preserved
| IN the nation st Memorial hail we make THE
statement a. this cur FIRST rneefiDr since 1tes.
| sRoBnnT M. WOODS. Adjutsnt General Joi-
| let IL.
| 'yoHr s PHuPs A. ID. C. Chicaee. Tia
'yoBx NJ svvpyn q NJ @. Castor. III
"JoHs A. IseBrFooT. Act c.. Springfield III
M r. KAssx Pest Commander No I. Decs-
tar Ill
The foregoing gives the details 81 the
preparation Of organization and for
ever settles al disputes ss 10 place
and dateA