was adopted the resolution that in the meetings of the posts and in official reports the military rank of members should be omitted, and each should be addressed as comrade the only exception to this rule being in the case of officers of the posts or departments, who should be addressed by their official Grand Army titles.

General John A. Logan, of Illinois, was elected Commander-in-Chief; General Joshua T. Owen, of Pennsylvania, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief; and General Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief; General N. P. Chipman, of Washington, D. C., was appointed Adjutant-General; and Col. Timothy Lubey, Quartermaster-General.

The energy of the new Commander-in-Chief and the executive ability of the adjutant-general, who, during the war, had extensive experience as a staff officer, after much labor, brought the business of the Order into a well-defined and excellent working system. Full reports were required from the different departments as to all matters pertaining to the Order, and in cases of disagreement the points in question were to be referred to the national headquarters for decision.

But that which tended most to attract public attention to the organization was the issuance of the order of General Logan early in his administration, in 1868, directing the observance of May 30th as Memorial Day, issued in General Order No. 11, as follows:

HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, Į
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 5, 1868.

General Order N0. 11.

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in the defense of their country during the late Rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city. village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late Rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of times testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn

presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us, a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude—the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III.

Department Commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.
By command of John A. Logan,
Commander-in-Chief.

N. P. Chipman,
Adjutant-General.

At the national encampment, held May 11, 187o, at Washington, D. C., the following article was adopted as a part of the rules and regulations:

memorial day.

“The national encampment hereby establishes a Memorial Day, to be observed by the members of the Grand Army of the Republic, on the 30th day of May annually, in commemoration of the deeds of our fallen comrades. When such day occurs on Sunday, the preceding day shall be observed, except where, by legal enactment, the succeeding day is made a legal holiday, when such day shall be observed."

Memorial Day has been observed as such every year since throughout the country wherever a post of the Grand Army of the Republic has been established. In most of the States the day has been designated as a holiday.

The third national encampment assembled in Cincinnati May 12, 1869, at which General Logan was re-elected Commander-in-Chief. General Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, was elected Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief; and General Joseph R. Hawley re-elected Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The encampment met under a cloud. The order had received a strong set-back from the belief which had grown up that in a measure it was a secret political society, and this had materially interfered with recruiting. To dispel this impression it was necessary that it should become generally known that the discussion of politics was forbidden in the posts, and that no comrade was permitted to use the order for political advancement. It took time to counteract such opinions, and until this was done the Order labored under much disadvantage.

As a means of making the Order more attractive the members were divided into three grades or ranks: recruit, soldier, and veteran. Those of the first grade were not eligible to office nor privileged to speak or vote in the post meetings. They could only be advanced to the second grade after two months, from the time of muster as recruit, and it required six months in the second before promotion to the third grade, and the members of the latter could alone hold the position of Commander and the other offices. Instead of being a benefit this proved a great detriment; hundreds of posts disbanded and thousands of members withdrew rather than submit to this reorganization. After a two-years’ trial of the new system it was abandoned and the Order returned to the old plan of simple muster.

A special meeting of the national encampment was held in New York city, October 27, 1869, the principal business being the adoption of a membership badge, and the appointment of a committee to revise the rules, regulations, and ritual.

The fourth annual encampment assembled May 11, 187o, in Washington city. General Logan was re-elected Commander-in-Chief; General Hawley was elected Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and General Louis Wagner, of Pennsylvania, was elected Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

General Logan recommended that the encampment enjoin the observance of Memorial Day by amendment to the regulations. He said this was the first and only organization to institute an annual commemoration to the departed heroes of the war.

The adjutant-general referred to the mass of work entailed upon headquarters by the changes of the past year. He recommended that reports of the relief work of posts should be made to department headquarters, which would show the large amounts spent in humane work by the Grand Army.

The rules were amended to cover the form of membership badge adopted at the special meeting in New York, in October, 1869.

The fifth encampment was held at Boston, May 1o, 1871, at which the system of grades, adopted in 1869, was abolished. General Ambrose E. Burnside, of Rhode Island, was elected Commander-in-Chief; General Wagner, Senior Vice-Commanderin-Chief, and Colonel James Coey, of California, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The sixth encampment was held at Cleveland, Ohio, May 8, 1872, where General Burnside was re-elected Commander-in-Chief, and General Wagner Senior ViceCommander-in-Chief, General J. Warren Keifer, of Ohio, Junior Vice-Commander-inChief. At this encampment a resolution was adopted requesting that services appropriate to the occasion should be held in the churches and all other places of worship throughout the country, on the Sabbath preceding each Memorial Day.

The seventh encampment was held in New Haven, Connecticut, May 14, 1873. General Charles Devens, of Massachusetts, was elected Commander-in-Chief, Dr. John R. Goble, of New Jersey, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Colonel Edward Ferguson, of Wisconsin, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

A badge for officers of the G. A. R., to be worn when on duty as such, or on occasions of ceremony, was adopted by this encampment.

At Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the place of the eighth encampment, General Charles Devens was re-elected Commander-in-Chief; General Edward Jardine, of New York, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Guy T. Gould, of Illinois, Junior Vice-Com

mander-in-Chief.

Chicago, May 12, 1875, was the place of the ninth encampment. General John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, was elected Commander-in-Chief; General Joseph S. Reynolds, of Illinois, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Charles T. Buckbee, of Connecticut, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The National Guard of Illinois paraded in honor of the visiting veterans, under command of General H. Hilliard, adjutant-general of the State and department commander, G. A. R.

The tenth encampment, which, up to that time, was the largest session, assembled at Philadelphia, June 3o, 1876, and lasted until the evening of July 5th. The officers of the previous year were all re-elected.

The members of the encampment were entertained by the Philadelphia posts by a carriage drive through Fairmount Park and a breakfast at Belmont mansion.

The eleventh encampment was at Providence, Rhode Island, June 26, 1877. General John C. Robinson, of New York, was elected Commander-in-Chief; General Elisha N. Rhodes, of Rhode Island, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief. and William Earnshaw, of Ohio, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The meeting held in connection with the Society of the Army of the Potomac was more largely attended, and received more of the popular attention than any that had preceded it.

The city of Providence extended its warmest hospitalities, through its municipal officers, headed by Mayor Doyle, to the visitors, first, by an excursion in the steamer Rhode Island to Rocky Point, with a clam-bake in Rhode Island style, and afterwards at a banquet in the Music Hall.

The twelfth encampment was held at Springfield, Massachusetts, commencing June 4, 1878. General Robinson was re-elected Commander-in-Chief; Paul Van Der Voort, of Nebraska, was elected Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Herbert E. Hill, of Massachusetts, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The thirteenth encampment convened at Albany, New York, June 17, 1879. William Earnshaw was elected Commander-in-Chief; John Palmer, of New York, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Harrison Dingman, of Washington city, Junior

Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The National Guard, and a large number of visiting posts, as well as the local posts of Albany, paraded on this occasion, and were reviewed by Governor Lucius C. Robinson.

A grand banquet in the Martin Opera House closed the proceedings of a thoroughly enjoyable reunion.

This was the last occasion, until the meeting this year in San Francisco, that the Grand Army and the Society of the Army of the Potomac met at the same time and place.

The fourteenth encampment was held at the Soldiers’ Home, Dayton, Ohio, June 8, 1880. General Louis Wagner was elected Commander-in-Chief; General Edgar D. Swain, of Illinois, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Colonel George Bowers, of New Hampshire, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The fifteenth encampment, June 15, 1881, was held at Indianapolis, Indiana, the place where the first was held. Major George S. Merrill, of Massachusetts, was elected Commander-in-Chief; General Charles L. Young, of Ohio, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Major C. V. R. Pond, of Michigan, Junior Vice-Commander-in

Chief.

The sixteenth encampment was held at Baltimore, June 16, 1882. It was made a national affair, by the procession being reviewed by President Arthur and General Sherman, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, who came from Washington for that purpose. Paul Van DerVoort was elected Commander-in-Chief; General W. E. W. Ross, of Maryland, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and General I. S. Bangs, of Maine, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief. It was at this encampment that the movement of the Woman’s Relief Corps was inaugurated.

The seventeenth encampment was held at Denver, commencing July 23, 1883. The Legislature of Colorado appropriated $21,000 for the purpose. This was the first appropriation to the order made by any State. The residents of the city made liberal contributions for the reception of the veterans. A camp to accommodate

15,000 men was established in the suburbs of Denver, in addition to quarters provided by private hospitality for a large number of the visitors. Governor J. B. Grant, who had been an officer in the Confederate service, welcomed the representatives of the G. A. R. on behalf of the State, extolling the beneficial effects of the Order. General Logan acted as Grand Marshal of the parade, which was the largest yet witnessed. During this encampment the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the G. A. R.—the first movement towards which had been made at the previous encampment—completed its organization. Colonel Robert B. Beath, of Pennsylvania, was elected Commander-in-Chief; Major Wm. Warner, of Missouri, Senior ViceCommander-in-Chief, and Major Walter H. Holmes, of California, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

The members of the encampment enjoyed one of the richest treats ever tendered at any encampment, in a series of free excursions to the noted places in Colorado.

The next encampment, the eighteenth, assembled at Minneapolis, July 23, 1884. Minnesota also made an appropriation for the entertainment of the delegates to the Grand Army encampment, and this was increased by a liberal subscription from the citizens of the town. Commander-in-Chief Beath was honored in being able to report the largest gain in posts and membership yet made in the history of the Order, a net gain of 1,748 in the number of posts, and 87,412 members, making the total number of posts, June 3o, 1884, 4,325, with 253,895 members in good standing. The amounts expended during the year for relief reached the large aggregate of $153,364.30.

John S. Kountz, of Ohio, known as “the Drummer Boy of Mission Ridge," was elected Commander-in-Chief; Captain J. P. Rea, of Minneapolis, Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, and Colonel Ira E. Hicks, of Connecticut, Junior Vice-Commander

in-Chief.

The nineteenth encampment assembled at Portland, Maine, June 24, 1885. The State appropriated $1o,000 towards the expenses of the encampment; the city government of Portland appropriated $5,00o, and the citizens of the place contributed an equal amount. The number of veterans present was over thirty thousand. There were 38 bands of music, 40 drum corps, and the battle-flags carried in the procession, torn by bullets and shattered by shell, created the wildest enthusiasm. But that which brought tears to the eyes of the veterans were the songs of the little schoolchildren who, some 1,200 in number, under their teachers, thronged the side-walks as they marched by. It recalled the historically celebrated fact in painting and song of the children who, at Trenton, New Jersey, strewed flowers before Washington on his route to be inaugurated at New York as the first President of the United States. That was a commemoration of the establishment of the Union of the States, the later scene was typical of the rejoicing at the preservation of the Union.

At this encampment the following departments were represented: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Dakota, Delaware, Florida, Gulf States, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas. Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Potomac, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Utah Ty., Vermont, Virginia, Washington Ty., West Virginia, and Wisconsin.