The National tribune., 1905-12-21
EARLY DAYS OF THE GAR.
The Work Of Dr. Stephenson and His Assistants in Founding the
Order-Iuinoiss Claim
By ROBERT MANN WOODS.

have been authoritatively and satisfac-
torily settled by the Report Of the Com
mittee on Seniority of Departments at
the sessions of that committee at Phil
adelphia at Detroit and at Milwaukee,
after exhaustive research and the pro-
duction of convincing records. The re-
port of the committee was unanimously
adopted by the National Encampment
at Milwaukee, which fixed the seniority
as follows: First, Illinois: second, Wis
consin: third, Pennsylvania; fourth,
Ohio, etc.
But in 1901, in the Report of the
Proceedings of the Department of In
diana, there appears a report, signed
by Gen. r. S. Foster, Gen. ]. r. Carna-
han and Comrade William H. Arm
strong, which was approved and adopt
ed by the Department of Indiana, in
which it is broadly asserted in many
different ways and specifications that
the Department of Indiana was the first
to give life and vigor to the Grand
Army of the Republic. and was not
only the first Department organized,
having the first actual Department
COMMANDER and the first Assistant Ad-
jutant-General, but that it had the first
Acknowledgement of the National Or
ganizatiOn.
This report, the truth of which not
having been officially denied, has en-
boldened one Of the Indiana comrades
to publish book, called 1.-The History
OF the Grand Army of the Republic
Under Its First Constitution and Rit-
ual," in which he reiterates the state
ments, which were evidently made
without knowledge of the actual facts
by the men who signed the Indiana re-
port, and adds many more statements
which are SO unwarranted by the his
tory of the formation of this grand Or
der that it becomes necessary to make
a statement of the actual conditions
which obtained at the time in question,
that those not knowing the actual facts
may not be misled, and to justify the
finding and decision of the National
Encampment and the rule of seniority
as now established.
The First Steps.
The Grand Army of the Republic was
established at Springfield, ILL.,, April /,
The first order ever issued is as fol-
lows:
headquarters Department of Illi-
nois. Grand Army of the Republic, Ad-
jutant-GeneraPs Office, Springfield, ILL.,,
April 1, 1856.
General Orders, No. 1.
The following-named officers are
hereby announced on duty at these
Headquarters:
Col. Jules c. Weber, A. D. c. and
Chief-of-Staff.
Col John M. Snyder, Quartermas-
ter-General.
Maj. Robert NJ Woods, Adjutant-
General Up. o. Box S4)
Capt. John A. Lightfoot, A. A. G.
Lieut.. John s. Phelps, A. d. C..
by order of B. F. Stephenson, Com
manding Department.
Official.
Robert NJ. Woods, Acknowledgement"
During the month of April, 1866,
eight Posts and five Districts were or
ganized as follows:
April 6, Post No. I, at Decatur, ILL.,,
Capt. Nd. F. Kanan, commanding, and
District Of Macon, Col. Isaac C. Pugh,
commanding.
The charter of Post No. 1 is as fol-
lows:
Grand Army of the Republic, De-
partment of Illinois.
To all whom 1T may concern, greeting:
Know We, that the Commander Of
the Department of Illinois, reposing
special trust and confidence in the pa
triotism and fidelity of NJ F. Kanan.
6. r. Steele, Geo. H Dunning, /. c..
Pugh, ]. H. Male, j. T. Bishop, c. Reib-
same, j. w. Routh, B. F. Sibley, j. NJ
Coltrin, Joseph Prior and A. Toland,
does, by the authority in him vested,
empower and constitute them as char
ter members of an Encampment of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, to be
known as Post No. 1, of Decatur, Dis
trict OF Macon, Department of Illinois,
and they are hereby constituted as said
Post, and authorized to make bylaws
no ont %
to do and perform all acts necessary
to conduct and carry on said organiza-
ton in accordance with the Constitu-
ton of the Grand Army Of the Republic
Done at Springfield, ILL.,. this sixth
day Of April. 1866.
"B. F. Stephenson, Commanding De-
partment; Robert M. Woods, Adju-
tant-General"
The original record book, now in DOS
session of Durham Post, No. 141. at
Decatur, ILL.,, has the following notes
under the record of Post No. /:
Sent Constitution by mail, May IA.
Sent Charter by mail, May 16.
April 10, Post No. 2, Springfield,
Gen. T. S. Mather, Com.
April Is. Dist. of VIII, Capt. A. Nc
Intosh, Com.
:. April -. Post No. 3, Morris. Col H.
ID. Day, Com.
April %. Post No. 4, Ottawa and
District OF La Sale, Col. ]. s. Lathrop,
Com.
April "a. Post No. s, Freeport and
District OF Stephenson, Gen. B. Dorm
blazer, Com.
april 81. Post No. 6, Bunker Hill,
Capt. w. o. jerks, Com.
April %, Post No. T. Hillsboro, Mai.
W. Armstrong, Com.
april Is. Post No. s, Carlinville, Col.
Thos. Phillips, Com.
April Is. Dist. of McCoupin, Gen.
John /. Rinaker, Com"
On May 1. 1866, General Orders. No.
2, was issued as follows:
General Orders, No. 2.
HEADQUARTERS Department of ILL.,
nois, Grand Army of the Republic,
Springfield, H., May /, 1866.
i. For the purpose of the further
organization of this Army the following
officers will be appointed under Section
Of Article of the Constitution. and
their names reported to these Head
quarters, viz:
Assistant Post Commander Post
Surgeon. Post Chaplain, Officer of the
Day, Officer of the Guard.
III. The duties of Assistant Post
Commander are those of a Vice-Presi-
dent.
iii. 1t will be the duty of the Post