The Washington times., 1903-10-04
Oldest Military Society, But
One, in United States to
Meet Here on Occasion of
Sherman StatueUnveiling.
Organized in City of Mexico
Fifty-six Years Ago-lts
Members Famous in Union
and Confederate Armies.

The Aztec Club or 1871 VIII celebrate
its ffty-sixth anniversary in Washing
ton on October 13 In order to observe
nttingly the auspicious occasion, the
Club will hold a banquet in the Shoreham
Hotel on that night. The local com
mittee that has charge of the arrange
ments is hopeful that as many as 200
members viii be present at the banquet.
In view OF the fact Dat the club viii
meet in Washington simultaneously
with nearly all the other military socie
ties of the country which will attend
the unveiling of the Sherman statue on
October 10 an unusually large attend
ance is looked for
The Aztec Club is the oldest of the
military societies In America, except the
Order of the Cincinnati. which dates as
far back as 1888 1t was founded in the
City of Mexico on October 10, 1s47, by
the officers of the American army Of
occupation. Its object was to provide
a clubhouse for the entertainment of the
officers and their guests while in tho
city.
The original home OF the club was the
handsome house of Senior Boca Negra.
the United States from Mexico. and was
located not far from the headquarters
of General Scott, the commander-in-
chief. There were about 160 active mem
bers of the club during the occupation
OF the City of Mexico and two honorary
members-Gen. Winfield Scott and Chap
lain John Mccarthy.
ORGANIZATION Made Perpetual
Before the evacuation of the city of
Mexico il was decided TO perpetuate the
organization, and for that purpose off,
GERS were elected for term of five
years Accordingly an election of Off
GERS was held in 1852. but there was no
meeting of the club until 1867. In 1871
It was decided to admit to membership
officers who had served in any part Of
Mexico during the war, and in 1882 II
was decided that officers killed in battle
I'm Mexico before the formation of the
club might. upon application of a son or
nearest blood relative, be admitted to
the roll of membership to be represented
by the son or the relative. and again. in
1887 a similar privilege was granted to
all oficers who had died during the war
ton to the membership was made in 1889
when the words Navy or Marine Corps"
were inserted in the constitution after
the word army.
The large majority of the original one
hundred and sixty members of the club
attained high rank and distinction In
the army and in political life in the
years that followed the war. Two Of
Them became presidents of the United
States-Franklin Pierce and U. S.
Crant-and seventy-one became general
officers in the United States and Con-
federate armies during the civil war, or
since that time.
Notable List of Officers
They we're Brig. Gen. J. J. Abercombie,
Mai Gen. r. Allen Mai Gen. J. c. Bar
nard, Gen. C. T. Beauregard Brig. Gen.
C. A. Blake. Brigadier General and Gov
ernor of South Carolina, Blanding, Maj.
Gen. J. NJ. Braman. Brig. Gen. Horace
Brooks. Brig. Cen w T. II. Brooks, Maj.
Gen. r. c. Buchanan. Mai. Gen. George
Cadwaladie. Brig. Gen A. Cady, Mai.
Gen. p. st. George Cooke, Brig. Gen. T.
T. Fauntleroy. Maj. Gen. w. H. French.
Brig Gen. d. VI. Frost, Maj. Cen. r. c.
Catlin. Mai. Gen A. Gibbs. Brig Gen. c.
c. Gilbert, Brig. Gen. A. II. GLADDEN..
Gen U. S. Grant Brig. Gen. J. B. Gray
son. Brig. Gen Maxey Gregg. Brig Gen.
p " Hagner, Mai. Gen. Schuyler Ham
ilton, Lieut.. Gen W j. Hardee. Mai
Gen. W. S. Harvey. Maj. Gen. J. P.
Hatch. Brig. Gen. W. S. Henry. Mai
Gen. William Hoffman Mai Gen Joseph
Hooker. Major General r. Huger
Gen Joseph z. Johnston. Mai. Gen
Philip Kearny. Gen. Robert f. Lee
Maj. Gen. a. Lowell Maj. Gen c. B
Mcclellan. Brig. Cen $ MeGowan
Brig. Gen W w Mackall, Brig. Gen. G
McKinstry Mai Gen. J. 3. Magruder
Brig. Gen A. c. Myers. Maj Gen. w A
Nichols, Maj. Gen. l. y. Palmer. Mai
Gen. Robert Patterson. Lieut.. Gen. J
c. Pemberton, Brig. Gen. Andrew Por.
ter, Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter, Maj
Gen William Preston, Maj Gen. G. w
Rains. Mai Gen J. L. Reno, Brig. Gen
r. s. Ripley, Brig Gen. o. L. Shepherd
Brig. Gen. H. II Sibley. Maj. Gen. c. F
Smith. Mai Gen. C. w. Smith, Maj. Gen
NJ. L. Smith, Maj. Gen. p. F. Smith
Brig Gen. William Steele, Brig. Gen. c
p. Stone, Maj. Gen. G. Sykes. Brig. Gen
J. b. D jOdds MAJ Ten H. d rover
Brig. Gen. c. S. Tripler. Maj. Gen. d. f
Twiggs. Mai. Gen Earl Van Dorm, Maj
Gen. Cadmus N. Wilcox. Brig. Gen. J. S
williams. Brig Gen. T. Williams. Maj
Gen. J. N. Withers.
Few at Last Roll Call.
OF all the 100 officers who were mem
bers OF the club during the occupation
Of the City OF Mexico. those who were
alive at the last roll call OF the clul
were Col. J. ID. Blanding. Brig. Gen c
c. Gilbert. Mai Gen. Schuyler Hamilton
Mai Gen. l. n Palmer.
Only twenty-nine out OF the BOG officer
who served in the Mexican war anc
elected to membership in the club ar,
now living The greater number OF thes'
officers are now represented IN the clul
by descendants and blood relations.