The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-30

General John A Logan, then commander
in-chief of the Grand Army Of sha Repub-
lie.
of General Logan. On their return home
from a southern tour Mrs. Kimball wrote
to General Logan stating that she had par
ticularly noticed the southern women deco
rating the graves of their dead fallen in
battle. aud suggested to him that, as the
commander-in-chief Of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, he should have our heroic
! soldiers. whose lonely graves were many,
scattered and unmarked, remembered in
the same beautiful way. The general was
deeply impressed with the idea Soon af-
terwsru he wrote Mrs. Kimban thanking
her for the suggestion, and stating that he
felt that such a touching tribute 70 his
dead comrades would undoubtedly meet
with general favor.
After carefully rejecting upon how he
should give the matter practical shape he
stated his ideas to General Chapman. OF
the Grand Army of the Republic staff. and
requested him to formulate them in an
order This order, modified and enlarged
BY General Logan himself, was issued TO
the Grand Army Of the Republic as Order
No. L." and May 80. 1868, was named as
the day it should go into effect. The order
was generally well received throaghous
the country, and practically obeyed by the
Grand Army OF the Republic, greatly TO
General Logan's satisfaction, as evidenced
in the following letter to Mrs. kimbali,
dated Washington, July Q, 1S6S:
Mr. DEAR FRIESD-ft is very gratifying to
me to hear, as / do day after day. from my
friends of the reception OF my Order No. IL.
As you observe, the custom Is beautiful one.
and am confident that IL viii not only never
pass away from the recollection of the Ameri-
can people. but Will more deeply tngraft itself
In their hearts, and each returning annivor-
sary of sacred decoration win increase in i'm
preSsive devotion 10 our patriot dead: and the
crowns we weave for them of never fading
laurel and tho beautiful flowers strcwn over
their graves give birth to sentiments OF love
and OF honor which bind the past, the present
and the future in one continuous chain OF ad-
miration that the life and service OF even the
humbleSt private shall never be forgotten
Yours truly, JOHN A LOGAN.
/ was a clerk at the house Of representa-
tives and General Logan's private secre-
tary at the time, ard saw all the CORE
spondence relating 10 the matter, heard
General Logan tell his friends and other
callers that be was indebted to Mrs. Kim
btsia ALO Suk ACSS4OA W NSOOtatC Jul SUI
diers' graves, saw him hand them Mrs
Kimhall's letter on the subject TO read, and
heard General Logan state to General Chip
man his views and wishes. out of which
''Order No. IL" grew, and during the presi-
Dental canvass Of that year, on which !
went with him, he received many encomi-
ums wherever he went for the Inaugural
ton of Memorial Day, and he never re-
Trained from giving Mrs. Kimball fun
credit for the idea, feeling quite content
and appreciative for the share of honor
that naturally and properly flowed TO him
for putting it into practical and permanent
operation.
Since then Memorial Day has silently
matured into tender and welcome Gus
tom throughout our land, and has addi-
tionally endeared TO the hearts OF the peo-
pie the memory of that great hearted,
brave and brilliant soldier, orator aud
statesman, John y. Logan.