The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-29
meet on the Gettysburg battlefield in
happy reunion to bring back recol.
lections and talk over the stirring in
cidents of the civil strife.
THE GRAND ARMY
OF THE REPUBLIC
Secret Work and Foundation Of the
Organization Laid by Dr.. 3.
E. Stephenson.


and the foundation of the Grand
Army OF the Republic was 'aid by DR..
B. +. Stephenson of Springfield III. /
1t is said that he had thought deeply
upon the best means of banding to-
gether after the war, the men who
wore the blue, and by degrees during
the war perfected his plan. In 1866
post or two had been organized |
and he had communicated mis- idea to
many OF his army associates. 1t was
finally decided to call meeting at
Springfield, ILL.,, July IL, 1866. Ac- /
cordilgly representative soldiers were
invited from ali parts of the state, |
who met there on that day, and We're
duly mustered in and given authority !
to organize in their homes. General
John M. Palmer was made the chief |
officer and DR. Stephenson, John M.
Lynder and ]. c. Weber assisted I
him. The state of Illinois was divid- |
ed into districts and the organization
of posts was exceedingly rapid.
1t was estimated that in less than |
six months 10000 men were enrolled.
Other states hearing of the organiza-
ton, through correspondence, sent
comrades to Springfield. who were
given the work and at once, as one
writer puts it, cas- if by magic, depart
ments were organized in all north
western states"
Illinois was organized July IL, 1866.
Iowa, September 26, 1866; indiana,
November %, 1866; Kansas, Decem-
Der 81, 1866; Wisconsin, September,
1866; Connecticut, April IL, 1867;
Massachusetts May Z, 1867; Mime
sofa, August IA, 1867; Missouri, May
16, 1867; New York, April 2, 1867;
Ohio, January 20, 1867; Pennsylvania,
January 16, 1867; California, July 20,
1868; Maine, January 10, 1868; Mary
land, January 8, 1865 Michigan, May
Is. 1868; New Hampshire, May 1868;
New Jersey, January 1868; Virginia,
February u, 1868; West Virginia,
| September 10, 1868, Vermont, Octo-
Der 90, 1868; Colorado, December IL,
| 1863; Dakota, February 81, 1883;
/ Delaware, January IA, 1881; Florida,
June 10, 1884; Gulf, May Is, 1884;
Kentucky, January II, 1888; Nebraska
January %, 1879; New Mexico, July
/ 10, 1888; Oregon, September %, 1882;
Potomac, February IL, 1869, Tonnes
see and Georgia, 1884; Utah, October
! 1854; Washington territory. June 90,
1888; Arkansas, June IL, 1883.
Several of the departments died and
more recognized.
/ The first national encampment met
at indianapolis on the goth day of
! November, 1863. under the call of B.
F. Stephenson, commander-in-chief
and j. G. Weber. adiutant general,
department of Illinois s. A. Hurlbut
of Illinois was elected commander-in-
chief and B. F. Stephenson, adjutant
general.
Gen. John A. Logan Elected.
The second annual encampment
was held at Philadelphia, January Is.
16 and II. 1868, John A. Logan of
Illinois was elected cNnmander-in-
chief.
/ ne tulTu annual enCampment was
held at Cincinnati Ohio, and John A.
Logan was reelected commander-in-
chief.
1 The fourth annual encampment was
held at Washington, D. c. May IL
and IL, 1870 John A. Logan was again
elected commander-in-chief, the first
time in the history of the order where
commander-in-chief has held the
office for three terms.
After this term Gen. A. E. Burnside
was made commander-in-chief and up
to 1884, inclusive the following have
( succeeded to the place in the order
given: General Burnside succeeded
himself and held the position two
terms Charles Devens served two
| terms: John F, Hartranft, two terms
John C. Robinson, two terms William
i Earnshaw, Lewis Wagner, George S.
Merrill, Paul Van Devoort Robert B.
Beath, John S. Kountze.