The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13

| thereto, which may prove of in
terost to many of our readers,
and which will also serve as reply to several
| letters of inquiry upon the subject.
From 1861 TO 1861 Surgeon Benjamin F.
| Stephenson aud Chaplain William J. Rut-
| ledge, both of the 14th Ill., were terminates and
bosom companions. This regiment formed part
of Shernian's expedition to Meridian in Febru-
airy, 1864 and while on this campaign they had
| many conversations upon the suggestion of
| CHAPLAIN Ru,ledge that tho soldiers so closely
allied in tho fellowship of suffering would,
when mustered out OF service, naturally desire
some form of association that would preserve
The friendship aud the memories of their COM
mon trials and dangers.
As they talked together on the march or in
bivouac, this thought expanded, and they
agreed that if spared they would together
work out some such project. They both loft
the s.rvcc in June. 1864. and after some corre-
spondencc between them the subject they
came together in Springfield. H.. in March,
1866. and arranged ritual for the proposed
organization. Prior to this time, however, Dr.
Stephenson had given much thought to the
sllject, and had orig mated ritual which was
| with some slight changes adopted and OH the
9th day of April 1866 DIR. Stephenson, assisted
by Capt. John S. Phelps formerly of the 32d
H., organized at Decatur, H., the first Post of
the Grand Army of the Republic, which was
called Post /.
Post 2 was formed at Springfield three
months later and in October 1866, Depart
ments had been formed in Illinois, Wisconsin,
Indiana Iowa. Minnesota, and Posts in Ohio
Missouri. Kentucky, Arkansas District of Co.
lumbia. Massachusetts New York, and Penn
syvania The first National Convention was
held at indianapolis Nov. 90, 1866, in pursu.
ance of a call issued by DR.. Stephenson. Pro.
visonal Con- mander-in- Chief. Gen. S. A. Hurl-
but, of Illinois, was elected Commander in Chief,
and DR.. Stephenson was elected Adjutant- Gem
eral OF the Order. At the next annual Ehcamp-
meat held ut Philadel phia JAN ID. 1868. Gen.
John A. Logan WAS elected Commander-iii- Chief,
and it was during his administration that the
beautiful custom Of observing n Memorial Day in
honor OF our departed heroes was inaugurated
by the following General Orders:
HEADQUARTERS CEAxD ARMY OF TIE REPUBLIC
ADJUTANT GEHEnAI.'s OFFICE, i45 lfTH ST.
| WAsHiSGToS. d. u May D. 1858.
| General Orders No. H.
J. Tnc 30h day of May, 1868. is designated for The
| purpose of s,rcwing with flowers or Otherwise
decorating the graves of comrades who died III de-
Tense of their country during tho late r. bslliou,
and wlioSc bodies now lie III almost every city vii
Hge. and hamlet chufcliyarti ia tl,c land. In this
observance no form of ceremony Is prescribed, but
Posts and Comrades viii IN their own way arrange
such filt, services aud stlmonials OF respect
circumstances viii permit.
We are organized, comrades, our Regulations
tell us, for the purpose among other things. Of
| preserving and strengthening those kind aud fra
ternaI feelings which nave bound together the sol
! diers sailor. and nariies who united To suppress
! the late rebellion" What aid to secure
! this result than cersbing tendery The memory of
our heroic dead, who made their breasts u barsi-
c.de between our country aud It's foes? Their so!
der lives were he rerce of freedom TO "A race in
ciiaGs, aud their deaths the tattoo Of rebeliious
! tyranny in arms. We siionld guard their graves
with sacred vigilance All TINT The consecraied
wealth and taste OF tie Nation can add 10 their
ndornn,ent and security il but fitting tribute to
t,arai ftc
foot tread rrdely on siict ialowed grounds Let
pleasant paths invite tie Coming and going Of rev.
creht visitors ana fond mourners Let rnndni-
ism OF avarce or negleci. no rayaacs of time testify
TO the present or to The coming generations hat we
| have forgotten as people the cost Of free and
| undivided Rcpnbic.
If other other eyes grow dull, her hands slack
aud oicr hearts cold ia The solemn trust. ours shall
keep IL well long tile lig aud warmth of life
shat! remain to us
Lei ,i=, then. at HE time appointed gather around
their sacred reuinns aud garland the passion!ess
mounds above them with the choicest flowers of
Sprii2tnie lei us raiee above them The dear Old
flag they saved from dishonUr; let us i'll this solemn
| presence renew our pledges TO aid ana assist
| these whom they have let nmonG Us sacred
c!,:rge upon Naions gratitude the soldiers and
sailors widow aud orphan.
If. II IL lie purpose OF the Commander IN Chief
to inausuIate this observance with the hope that it
Will be kept up from year To year. while survivor
OF the war TeuiGus TO honor tic memory Of his
departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public
press 10 lend its friendly aid III bringing 10 the NO
tce of comrades in ali parts Of the country in time
| Iii. Department. CouAanders will use efforts to
| make This oidcr effective.
By order of Jons A. LOGAN. COMMANDMENTS
| Chief
| y. T. CHiPMAN, Adjntant- General.
| Official: ~ +. COLLINS, A. AG.
There were some who at first doubted the
| wisdom OF insttuting such au observance, but
! time has shown that it has not unnecessarily
| kept alive the memories OF the war, has e
| fostered animositics that should be buried in
| oblivion, and its annual observance has been
and must continue to be perpetual object les
| son in patriotism; for when the Grand Army of
! the Republic shall have been mustered out, the
custom will be kept up by the Sons of Veterans,
whose duty it will be to see that the graves of
their fathers shall be ever kept green and pa
triotic people will be ever ready to approve.
One matter occurred after Gen. Logan's
election as COMMANDMENTS Chief that by some
| was assumed as having n political bias, but as
matter of fact the political work or bias of
| the Grand Army had spent its force before
Gen. Logan became Commander in Chief. He
was opposed to any partisan action by Posts,
and placed himself on record i'll his official
addresses TO the Order.
President Johnson in August 1867, had re-
questcd the resignation OF Secretary Stanton.
| Mr.. Stanton refused to resign and Gen. Grant
was appointed Secretary of War at interim.
Gen. Grant SO served until January 13, 1868,
when the Senate refused to concur in the
moval of Mr.. Stanton, and Gen. Grant at once
left the War Office and Mr.. Stanton took pos
session. On February q, an order was issued
by the President dismissing Secretary Stanton
from office, and appointing Adjt.Gen. Lorenzo
| Thomas Secretary ad interim: but Mr.. Stanton
refused to acknowledge the legality of the
order. Mrs. Logan has described what follow
ed in an article which appeared in our columns
and which we now republish
Mr.. Stanton refused to surrender the Office
and ordered Gen. Thomas to return to his
desk and duties in the Adjutant- Generals
| Office. Dir. Stanton's courage and GOODNESS at
this critical moment meant much to this coun-
try; but to stand single-handed and alone and
thwart the unknown schemes of this menda-
cious President was moro than he felt he could
do. Neither did the patriotic men OF the
Nation intend that he should. For some time
the movements of the President had been
watched most critically by men who had de-
cided that lie should not betray the party and
the country. ISL
"Gen. Logan was then Commander-in- Chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic. He lost
no time in seeking Secretary Stanton, and
assured him that that organization was prepared
for the emergency, explaining to him that at
that moment great many of these men we're
quietly patroling the City of Washington,
ready at moments notice to take up the arms
they had SO recently laid aside If need be to
protect the Government and maintain its