Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-30
THE q. A. II. ORGANIZATION.



Prior to It's Formation.
"The history Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public, as published by Gen. Beath," said Mai.
Henry 4. Howe of Toledo to STAB reporter,
lis in the main correct. but there are few
points connected with the formation of this
noble organization Of ex-soldiers of the Union
that he has omitted and Of which Col W. H.
Hawkes. and myself are the only two men now
living who are cognizant.
"Col. Hawkes. and myself were on duty to-
gether on the staff of Gen. John Cook. who was
In command at Springfield. ILL.,. in 1865, as was
also Maj. B. F. Stephenson. who was the
founder of the Grand Army Of the Republic
During the summer OF that year i'm
mediately after the disarmament Of the
ferences with Maj. Stephenson upon the neces-
sity OF organizing in some form the ex-soldiers
OF the Union army. Stephenson was very earn
est In this matter, and on one occasion after we
had been talking the matter over he said to me
and think Col. Hawkes. present ut the
tme-'Capt. Howe, you and may not live to
see the day nor may our children, but the time
will come when this organization which have
In mind will be the greatest and grandest Or
ganization Of soldiers ever known in the world.
The words made deep impression upon
me. and / think 1 have repeated them
As have said, Maj. Stephenson
had frequent conferences with me and
with other officers who we're on duty at Spring
field, among whom 1 may mention, besides
Col Hawkes., Col. Grass, Col Martin Flood
Col. John NJ. Snyder and Col D. F. Smith He
submitted to me, and am confident he did to
some Of those have mentioned. portions Of
the ritual As he wrote it, and I made several
suggestions as to changes Of expression. which
Maj. Stephenson adopted. We discussed the
difficulties in the way of forming the org aniza-
ton. but the major was confident that these
could be overcome. He kept on with his work
on the ritual and finally it was printed at De-
catur, ILL.,, in April, 1866. In the meantime and
before the organization Of the first Grand Army
post at Decatur Hawkes. and myself had been
mustered into the provisional organization of
the Grand Army in Col Snyder's Office in the
capitol building at Springfield Col. Snyder
was then private secretary to Gov. Oglesby,
and we officers, who we're still on duty. used to
meet there and discuss matters. 1t was in his
office that we supervised the whole of the
Grand Army ritual before it was printed
II was mustered out in the fall Of IS and
went first to Arkansas, where intended to en-
gage in business, but the enterprise didn't prove
to my liking and returned north, and on Nav
., 1866, l was ordered by Mai Stephen
son-and l have the original order in
my possession-to organize @. A. r.
posts in Ohio and Michigan. Col.
mer of 1866, and then he was authorized to or
ganize the district of Ohio and also posts in
that state. where had been already engaged.in
the same duty. Both Hawkes. and myseif were
ordered by Maj. Stephenson to attend the great
soldiers and sailors convention held nj Pitts
burg on the Goth of September, 1866 and after
comforting with other commands from Ohio rs
the order stated, TO recommend for appoint
ment as department commander of the provis-
ional department of Ohio, G. A. R., some suita-
BILE person
Accordingly We attended that big conven-
ton at Pittsburg, and after comforting with
commanders and comrades recommended
Maj. Gen. b. +. Potts. formerly colonel of the
thirty-second Ohio, and he was appointed by
Mai. Stephenson September 81, 1866, the first
department commander of the provisional de-
phrtment of Ohio. l was at once appointed
senior aid on the staff of Gen. Potts and Col
Hawkes. was also appointed an aid, and we went
through the whole state Of Ohio. travelling day
and night. forming and mastering in Grand
Army posts. So successful was the work that
when the first provisional encampment was held
we reported l35 posts organized. and, as Gen.
Beath says, We would have organized larger
number, but that the rituals gave out. At the
first department encampment, held at Column
bus. Gen. Tom Young was made commander Of
the department and he appointed Col. Hawkes.
adjutant general on June 80, 1867. After this
the history Of Gen. Beath is smooth sailing"