The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-06-04

brevetted q brigadier, was made depart,
1nent commander The work of organiz
ing il 1861 and 1868 went forward with
great enthusiasm. By the end Of 1865
there we're about 100 posts in the State
The fame of the new order il Illinois and
Wisconsin attracted the attention of
Pennsylvania, Nt-w York and several 9th
er Eastern States, and it was extended to
Their borders, charters beng given By the
department Of Wisconsin, The chief post
in Philadelphia is working under a char
ter signed BY Department Commander
james *. Proudft. This is true Of posts
in other States.
There are now over forty Grand Army
departments, and there have been as high
ns 5000 posts, with membership Of near
ly half d million. The birth Of that order
resulted il bringing into existence the
Woman s Relief Corps. which has q mem
bcrship Of nearly 1000. The TWO or
ders have expended for charity many mill
ions Of dollars. They have led in patri-
otto education and demonstrations they
nave led IN suggesting and in agitating
for the establishment Of several Of the
national homes and the establishment of
al OF the State homes; they have cxer-
ciscd much influence in pension leyisla
'|"~@~+'''L'~p
wisely and justly, and they have given
us Memorial Day, with it's beautiful and
inspiring ceremonies
Wisconsin is the possesxor Of the post
that has been in existence without inter
ruptlon the greatest length Of time, VIII
Iams, No. 4. Of Berlin.
From 1868 10 1879 nearly ali Of the
Grand Army posts in the country died Of
an oVrrdoe" Of politics. 1t was along in
ISf3 that the order began it's resurrection
On a new Foundation, rigjdly excluding pol
1tcs and demanding utter Iion-fntcrfer-
encc with religious beliefs On tLa, fou.-
daton IT. 2reyg more rapidly than j; had
ri first. i EDran2 forWard ike n fright
encd fawn under Cornyuand.rg-ir-chicf
Major Merrill Of Massachusetts paul
Vandcrvoort 1f Nebraska, Col. Z r
Beath Of Pennsylvania. the one legged
drummer boy, Johnny kountZ Of 0liio
Gen. y 5. Burclett Of Washington. Cen
Fhrchild of Wisconsin. Capt. RDa Of
Minneapolis, Major William Warner Of
Kansas City, Cen. K. A. Algcr Of Michi-
gan, Judge teazcy of Vermont. AdjufaDt
.lohn Palmer OF New York and Col. A. 6.
Wesscrt Of Wisconsin.
Since then the order, from uatpral
causes, has ceased u increase II has
been growing smaller rapidly; it will con
:1nne 10 speedily grow smaller A fair
sized army corps-14, 900 viii have died
by Sept. ] next Ten years from now
there viii not :,e oDc-third as many posts
aud members as there are today. I'if-
teen ycars from now there will scarcely
be more than one post in county. Twcn-
~ gears from n0w one or two posts in the
Sthte will answer Twenty-Five. wears
fron now The Grand Army Of the Rcpub-
lie will be only memory.
Since Wcissrr', i'll 1892, there have been
ut the head o: the national organization
Capt. Jack Albums of Massachusetts Col
Tom LAWYER Of Rockford. H., CoI. Walk
er OF indianapolis and Major ClaYJson.
Illinois has' the horror Of having had AZ
the hcad Gen Holm "A. Logan two or thre.
years; cen. Stephen A. Hurbut. TWO
years; lAWlcr. one. While Clarkson is
nov resident Of NcbraSN:. he was an
Illinois soldier. tDUs giving the State four
rolninAnGers.jH-cainf
Pennsylvania hos lqd t!rce-Naaner,
tehlh; ilaMraIfL .AN.o.' e tlose who held