The National tribune., 1894-12-20

was strongly recommended TO them by promi
nent ex-soldiers of that State.
Gen. Foster was selected to go to Spring
| field 10 investigate and report upon The
character and supposed efficiency of the sol
der organization being formed in that State
He went TO Springfield during the month Of
July, 1866, and there met Mai. B. L. Stephen
son, who had been a Surgeon in an Iilinoi:
regiment
He found in Maj. Stephenson grand and
enthusiastic friend of ex-soldiers, who had
devised a form of organization which, while
simple, had enough of mysterious and
rtualistic ceremonies to make it attractive.
| He was extremely in earnest in his descrip-
tion of his favorite plan for organizing all
! the ex-soldiers of the Union army into one
grand brotherhood for mutual protection
and benefit He communicated 10 Gen.
Foster the work in all its detail, and admin
istered to him the obligation taken by all
who enter the Grand Army, and Gen. Fosi er
became Il full-fedged member of the G. A. r.,
but he was a yeritable member at large, with
out a Department and without Post. He
gave Gen. Foster copies of all the forms of ritu-
al, blanks, etc, that he had printed or written,
with full authority 10 organize the Order at
any place he thought proper, saying: Il am
very glad to have some one take hold Of this
plan aud work it up, as they do not mani
fest much interest in the Order here i'll Hi
noiS."
HIS WORK IN INDIANA.
Gen. Foster returned to Indiana and i'm
mediately organized q post of the Grand
Army in indianapolis, designated as Post
No. /, and at The same time organized the
Department of Indiana, Of which he had
the honor OF being selected Department Com
mander. He sent Inspec ors throughout
the State 10 organize posts, and to muster
in ali exUnion soldiers who had an hon
orable discharge and who expressed desire
to JOIN the organization. Ex-s0ldiers set up
the type and printed the literature,
blanks, etc, kind, patriotic friends furnished
ample funds for the work of organization,
and within 80 days we had over 10000
members in the Grind Army of the Repub-
lie
In addition the Department mustered ex-
soldiers of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New
York, and issued 10 them charters authoriz-
ing the mastering of different Posts in these
States, because there was no other Depart
men: to apply to but Indiana for charter.
The first National Encampmcnt of the
GAR. was held at indianapolis, Ind, in
November, 1866, at which Gen. John NJ.
Palmer, Of Illinois, presided. At this En-
campmend Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, of Illi-
nois, WIS chosen National Commander, and
Gen. Foster was selected as Junior Vice
Commander.
The Department of Indiana did not report
to Stephenson or anybody else until after
the National organization in November, 1866.
But the work of organizing posts was car
red on actively, and when tie Pittsburg
Convention of soldiers aud sailors met in
Pittsburg in September, 1866, the Grand
Army OF the Republic in Indiana sent dele
gates rs representatives OF 10000 members
in that Department..
The Indiana Department established Head
quarters ut the Monongahela House. and the
first flag denoting GA. Il. Headquarters, and
the first GAR. badge worn by G. AR. man,
distinguished these headquarters and Indi-
ana soldiers at that Convention.