Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-10

(Of Missouri, Formerly OF Virginia)
discharged. and all commissioned officers
who had been rendered supernumerary
and honorably discharged IN any one Of
the several reductions OF the army, ire
spective Of length Of service, and all
commissioned officers who were actually
in service al the dennitive peace. and un-
til disbandmcnt, were entitled TO become
original members. Subsequently at the
first meeting, held IN Independence Hall,
Philadelphia, in May, 1874. this was ex-
tended 10 include commissioned officers
Of State militia or volunteers having been
in the service Of the United States over
three years, and all Continental naval
officers of like service. No officer cou ]
become an original member without con-
tributng one months pay. Each State
society was permitted 10 be a judge OF
the qualifications of its members. and to
elect a limited number Of honorary mem
bers Thirteen State societies were con-
stitutcd in the United States, and one in
France.
"rhe latter was duly organized with
consent Of the King in Council. and every
members name was first submitted TO
him, and approved before PTesident-Gene-
raj Washington ISSUED a diploma Adj
miral Count d'Estaing became president
Of the French State Society. and in 1884
sent TO General Washington the eagle
Of the order set in diamonds. as the gift
Of the French naval officers. This has
since been worn IN succession by
each president general The ribaud
IS sky-blue watercd edged with white
typisal of the alliance between France
and America. The first general officers
were his Excellency General George
Washngton c0mmander-n-chief Presi-
dent-General: Major General HoratO
Gates, Of Virginia, vice-president general;
Maior-G General Henry Knox, Of Massa-
chusetts. secretary general; BrigadieT-
General Otho Holland Williams, OF Mary
land. assistant secretary-general; Major
General Alex. MacDougall, of New York.
treasurcr-gCneraL
LEADING STATE PRESIDENTS.
Among the presidents Of the several
State societies were to be found many
historic Maior-General John Sui
livan. Of New Hampshire; BENJAMIN LIN
coin. Of Massachusetts; Nathaniel
Greene. Rhode Island; Jedediah Hunting
ton. Connecticut; Baron de Steuben, New
York: Thomas Mifiin Pennsylvania. VIII
liam Smanwood Maryland; William Moul-
tire South Carolina; LaThlan Mcintosh,
Georgia: George Weldon, Virginia, Bri6a-
dler-General Elias Dayton New Jersey
and Jethro Sumner, OF North Carolina;
and Surgeon (the Hon) James Tilton, NJ
D., Delaware.
Among the members OF the United
States were 10 be found Colonel Henry
Dearborn, OF New Hampshire; Brigadier-
Generals Rufus Putnam and John Grca-
ton. Of Massachusetts; and James NJ.
Varnum. Of Rhode Island; and Commo-
dore Abraham Whipple Rhode Island;
Iieutenant-Colouel benjamin Tallm2ge'
Connecticut: Maior-General Philip Schu-
Ter. James and George clinton. and COL
oucls Aaron Burr. Alexander Hamilton,
and Peter GansevOort OF New York;
Aaron Ogden. New Jersey; Anthony
Wayne Of Pennsylvania; Mordecia Gist
and John Eager Howard. Of MARYLAND;
Robert Kirkwool. Delaware; Daniel
Morgan. John =. J. Muhienberg, Chris
tan Fieblecr, and L'ght-Horse Henry
Lee, Of Virginia; Major-General Robert