PREFACE.

When in the summer of 1886 the Twentieth National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic assembled in San Francisco, California, there was a natural desire in the community to learn all that was possible about an organization which commanded such unbounded enthusiasm and was so warmly welcomed. The press of the city published voluminous accounts of the receptions of the veterans, the history of the most distinguished among them, and many other interesting items connected with the order. These publications, though elaborate in many respects, reflecting great credit on the industrious, painstaking research of the editorial and reportorial staff, as well as numerous contributors, were necessarily inconvenient for preservation, and there was also much important data which had unavoidably to be omitted for want of space. The great value of these articles of the San Francisco press immediately previous and during the encampment caused the suggestion from many different members of the order that a work which would give in permanent and accessible form a history of the order, the record of the Twentieth National Encampment, and biographical sketches of members of the Grand Army of the Republic was exceedingly desirable and would be generally appreciated. It was under these circumstances that the book was commenced. How far it is a success will be for those personally interested to judge. It will be seen that it is a history of private soldiers as well as commissioned officers, and shows the admirable material of which the rank and file of the armies of the United States in the late Civil War were composed. They came from the different pursuits of life; they largely represented the intelligence, the moral and patriotic sentiment, and the best elements of the social and political system of the country.

Great care has been taken to be accurate in all the statements. The data has been obtained either directly from the parties themselves, their friends, official sources or reliable publications. The purpose has been to narrate the facts concerning the military, civil, and Grand Army record of each member, in a plain manner, entirely devoid of coloring. The work is a step towards an encyclopedia of the Grand Army of the Republic, and we trust that many a comrade may find a familiar name in these pages. A second volume of this work will be issued at an early date which will give the history of the Grand Army as it appears herein, and will contain the biographies of other comrades unavoidably crowded out of the first volume.

It is but proper and just that acknowledgments should be made to Past Commander-in-Chief Robert B. Beath, G. A. R., of Philadelphia, Pa., for valuable assistance and suggestions in the revision of the History.

HISTORY.

OF THE

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

ITS GROWTH AND USEFULNESS.

More than a million men were mustered out of the Union Army following the cessation of the civil war.

Four years of fierce and constant struggling in an unprecedented war had endeared the name of comrade to every true soldier.

France, under the leadership of that wonderful military genius the first Napoleon, for nearly twenty years kept all Europe in constant turmoil, but in all that lengthened period there were not as many battles as during the four years of the Rebellion, and the number killed and wounded on both sides exceeded that of the numerous wars of England from the times of William the Conqueror to the present date.

The engagements and battles in 1861, the first year of the war, and which was virtually that of preparation for the tremendous conflicts that ensued, only ending with the exhaustion of the South, numbered 156; in 1862 they amounted to 561; in 1863 they were 626; in 1864 they rose to 779, and in the few months of 1865, which was its termination, there were 135 battles, making in all 2,257.

The war commenced with the firing on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. It may be properly stated to have ended with the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, though some minor engagements occurred afterwards. General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered with the forces in North Carolina under his command April 26th, and General Kirby Smith, who commanded the last considerable body of troops of the Confederacy, on May 26th, in Texas.

In this desperate struggle of four years thousands sacrificed their lives defending the nation’s flag, thousands fell by the wayside crippled, maimed, and diseased, a great many of whom survived and are living to-day vividly illustrating the hardships of a soldier’s life. Soon those ties of brotherhood, born and cherished on the battlefield, would be broken. The conflict had ended, and the cause of good government and a free people witnessed a triumph.

Regiment after regiment was separated, and the soldier who had served his country so nobly and passed through the perils of warfare would now turn his face towards home and loved ones anxiously awaiting his return with welcoming arms outstretched.

With profound feelings of sympathy for those brave heroes who had fallen while serving their country, the soldier of the civil war returned home to follow the peaceful avocations of life, carrying with him the feeling that those ties of mutual brotherhood which prompted one another to join hand in hand and march with uniform love and

harmony, in the cause of their country’s flag, should be made perpetual; and the old bonds of fraternity and clasp of hand should be renewed.

With this purpose in view the Grand Army of the Republic was organized April 6.1866, in Decatur, the county seat of Macon County, Illinois. Its originator was Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, a physician of Springfield, Illinois, who had served during the war as surgeon of the 14th Illinois Infantry. He had spent many weeks in study and plans so that the Order might be one that would meet with the general approval of the surviving comrades of the war, and thus insure their hearty co-operation. He made a draft of a ritual, and sent it by Captain John S. Phelps to Decatur, where two veterans, Messrs. Coltrin and Prior, had a printing-office. These gentlemen, with their employees, who had been in the service, were first obligated to secrecy, and the ritual was then placed in type in their office.

Captain Phelps returned to Springfield with proofs of the ritual, but the comrades in Decatur were so interested in the project, that with the active assistance of Captain M. F. Kanan and Dr. J. W. Routh, a sufficient number of names were at once secured to an application for charter, and these gentlemen went to Springfield to request Dr. Stephenson to return with them and organize a post at Decatur.

The formation of a post was under way in Springfield, but not being ready f0r muster, Dr. Stephenson, accompanied by several comrades, proceeded to Decatur, and, as stated, on April 6, 1866, mustered post No. 1, with General Isaac C. Pugh as post commander, and Captain Kanan as adjutant. The latter gave material aid to Dr. Stephenson in the work of organizing other posts, and Dr. Routh served as chairman of a committee to revise the ritual. The title, “The Grand Army of the Republic, U. S.,” was formally adopted that night.

Soon after this, post No. 2 was organized at Springfield, with General Jules C. Webber as commander. General Webber, C0l. J. M. Snyder, Major Robert M. Woods, Major Alfred A. North, J. T. Bishop, and John S. Phelps freely gave their time and services in assisting Dr. Stephenson to spread the Order in Illinois and the adjoining States.

Nothing was done in the Eastern States about establishing posts until the opportunity was given for consultation on this subject at a national soldiers and sailors convention, held in Pittsburg, in September, 1866, when prominent representatives from Eastern States were obligated and authorized to organize posts.

The first posts so established were posts Nos. 1, in Philadelphia, and 3 in Pittsburg, by charters direct from the acting commander-in-chief, Dr. Stephenson; and post 2, Philadelphia, by charter received from General J. K. Proudfit, department commander of Wisconsin.

A department convention was held at Springfield, Illinois, July 12, 1866, and adopted resolutions declaring the objects of the G. A. R. General John W. Palmer was elected the first Department Commander. The following was adopted, acknowledging Dr. Stephenson’s services:

Whereas, The members of the Grand Army of the Republic recognize in Major B. F. Stephenson, of Springfield, Ill., the head and front of this organization; be it, therefore,

Resolved, That for energy, loyalty, and perseverance manifested in organizing the Grand Army of the Republic, he is entitled to the gratitude of all loyal men, and we, as soldiers, tender him our thanks, and pledge him our friendship at all times and under all circumstances.

The first national convention was held at Indianapolis, Ind., November 2o, 1866. There were present representatives from posts in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. General Palmer presided. General Stephen A. Hurlbut, of Illinois, was elected Commander-in-Chief. General Thomas B. McKean, of New York, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief; General Nathan Kimball, of Indiana, Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief; and Dr. Stephenson, Adjutant-General.

The objects of the Order cannot be more briefly stated than from the articles and regulations.

1. To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who united to suppress the late Rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead.

2. To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen.

3. To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount respect for, and fidelity to, its Constitution and laws, to discountenance whatever tends to weaken loyalty, incites to insurrection, treason, or rebellion, or in any manner impairs the efficiency and permanency of our free institutions; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights, and justice to all men.

Article IV. Defines the qualifications of members in the following terms: Soldiers and Sailors of the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps who served between April 12, 1861, and April 29, 1865, in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion, and those having been honorably discharged therefrom after such service, and of such State regiments as were called into active service and subject to the orders of United States general officers, between the dates mentioned, shall be eligible to membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. No person shall be eligible who has at any time borne arms against the United States.

The rules and regulations originally issued contained a preamble and twentythree articles. They, with the ritual, have been materially changed since then.

The second national encampment was held in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pa., January 15, 1868. In addition to the departments represented at the first encampment there were representatives from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Louisiana. In all there were twenty-one departments. The organization had become national in its scope, and it was clearly foreseen, would before long include all the States and Territories. To insure uniformity and secure the prosperity of the Order in its rapidly enlarging field of operations required a careful revision of rules and regulations; the removal of invidious distinctions or whatever might tend to become disturbing elements. To a certain extent this was accomplished, but, as has been very properly stated, the greatest benefit that accrued was the opportunity offered to compare various views and the bringing together for discussion of the different opinions entertained by members from all portions of the North as to what the organization should be.

The national encampment, which assembled at Philadelphia, was virtually a new departure for the Order. It gave to it stability by unity of action by the departments already organized, established headquarters at the national capital, and thus enabled a correspondence to be quickly opened with leading members of the organization and with the various departments throughout the United States. At this encampment