National History and Formation
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, Marines and Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died. Linking men through their experience of the war, the GAR became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, supporting voting rights for black veterans, lobbying the US Congress to establish veterans’ pensions, and supporting Republican political candidates. Its peak membership, at more than 490,000, was in 1890, a high point of Civil War commemorative ceremonies. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), composed of male descendants of Union veterans.
After the end of American Civil War, organizations were formed for veterans to network and maintain connections with each other. Many of the veterans used their shared experiences as a basis for fellowship. Groups of men began joining together, first for camaraderie and later for political power. Emerging as most influential among the various organizations was the Grand Army of the Republic, founded on April 6, 1866, on the principles of “Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty,” in Decatur, Illinois, by Benjamin F. Stephenson.
The GAR initially grew and prospered as a de facto political arm of the Republican Party during the heated political contests of the Reconstruction era. The commemoration of Union veterans, black and white, immediately became entwined with partisan politics. The GAR promoted voting rights for black veterans, as many veterans recognized their demonstrated patriotism. Black veterans, who enthusiastically embraced the message of equality, shunned black veterans’ organizations in preference for racially inclusive groups. But when the Republican Party’s commitment to reform in the South gradually decreased, the GAR’s mission became ill-defined and the organization floundered. The GAR almost disappeared in the early 1870s, and many divisions ceased to exist.
In the 1880s, the organization revived under new leadership that provided a platform for renewed growth, by advocating federal pensions for veterans. As the organization revived, black veterans joined in significant numbers and organized local posts. The national organization, however, failed to press the case for pensions for black soldiers. Most black troops never received any pension or remuneration for wounds incurred during their service.
The GAR was organized into “Departments” at the state level and “Posts” at the community level, and military-style uniforms were worn by its members. There were posts in every state in the U.S., and several posts overseas.
The pattern of establishing departments and local posts was later used by other veterans’ organizations, such as the American Legion (WWI) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (WWII).
In 1868, Commander-in-Chief General John A. Logan established May 30 as Decoration Day, later known as Memorial Day. (Numerous people and places claim this credit.) In its first celebrations, people used this day to commemorate the dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers and flags.
The GAR’s political power grew during the latter part of the 19th century, and it helped elect several Republican United States presidents, beginning with Ulysses S. Grant and ending with William McKinley. Five members were elected president of the United States. For a time, candidates could not get nominated to the Republican ticket without the endorsement of the GAR voting bloc.
With membership strictly limited to “veterans of the late unpleasantness,” the GAR encouraged the formation of Allied Orders to aid them in various works. Numerous male organizations jousted for the backing of the GAR, and the political battles became quite severe until the GAR finally endorsed the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War as its heir. Although a male organization, the GAR admitted its sole woman member in 1897. Sarah Emma Edmonds served in the 2nd Michigan Infantry as a disguised man named Franklin Thompson from May 1861 until April 1863. In 1882, she collected affidavits from former comrades in an effort to petition for a veteran’s pension which she received in July 1884. Edmonds was only a member for a brief period as she died September 5, 1898, however she was given a funeral with military honors when she was reburied in Houston in 1901.
The GAR reached its largest enrollment in 1890, with 490,000 members. It held an annual “National Encampment” every year from 1866 to 1949. At that final encampment in Indianapolis, Indiana, the few surviving members voted to retain the existing officers in place until the organization’s dissolution; Theodore Penland of Oregon, the GAR’s Commander at the time, was therefore its last. In 1956, after the death of the last member, Albert Woolson, the GAR was formally dissolved. —-Wikipedia
Williamson County G.A.R. Involvement Per a 1905 Account
The first Post organized in Williamson County was organized at Crab Orchard, seven miles east of Marion, September 11, 1866. Its number was 94, with the following charter members: William A. McHaney, Moody P. Haines, John Huddleson, Andrew M. McHaney, William P. Furlong, Richard H. McHaney, Solomon D. Thompson, Francis M. Norman, Lewis, T. McHaney, John H. Davis, Duncan N. Pritchett, Christopher C. Tarpley and James Bullock. George W. Young, of Marion, was the assistant mustering officer at the organization of this Post.
There was also organized a Post at Union Grove Church and one at Marion in September and October, 1866, but the names and numbers have not been preserved. The original Post at Crab Orchard went out of existence in 1871 and another Post was organized by the same name, but numbered 518, July 1, 1885.
Another Post was also organized at Corinth in 1868, but went out of existence in 1880, and another Post was organized at the same place April 12, 1884. The names of the original Charter Members of the Corinth Post were as follows: J. L. Roberts, M. S. Strike, James Chadwell, T. M. Dorris, W.W. Weaver, Harvey Isaacs, Scion M. Otey, James A. Smiley, W. T. Gill, James A. Dorris. D. A. Stilley, H. W. Biers. Benjamin S. Weaver. William Robinson, G. W. DeWoody and Benjamin B. Griggs. Capt. Sample G. Parks, of DuQuoin was the instituting officer.
We have not the record of the names of the original charter members of all the Posts in the County, but the following is a correct list of the Grand Army Posts as they now exist in the County. Some of them are rather weak in point of numbers, some of them are in good working condition.
J. L. Parks Post 518, Crab Orchard, July 1, 1885; Carterville Post 237, Carterville, May 8, 1883; Marion Post 319, Marion, August 2, 1883; Corinth Post 434, Corinth, April 12, 1884; Dollins Post 562, Johnston City, March 24, 1886; James Adkins Post 655, Cottage Home, February 8, 1888; B. D. Caplinger Post 677, Creal Springs, September 3, 1889; Herrin Post 797, Herrin, November 26, 1903.
Total number of Posts in the County is eight, with a membership of two hundred. This shows that not more than fifty per cent, of the old veterans residing in the County are members of the Grand Army of the Republic. There have been four Camps of the Sons of Veterans organized in the County, but the one at Cottage Home is the only one now working under a valid Charter.
There are two Circles of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, one at Herrin and one at Marion.
The resolutions and the statements of the objects and the results sought to be attained by these patriotic organizations, as set out in the first part of this article, fully explain why these Societies came into existence.
For more than thirty eight years this association of veterans of the War for the preservation of the Union has been in existence: and it can be truthfully said that its influence has always been on the side of loyalty to law and the upholding of the powers of the regular constituted authorities of the Government, Municipal, State and National. And in the centuries to come, generations yet unborn will read of the organization known and called the Grand Army of the Republic; and Historians will give this organized body of ex-Union soldiers an exalted place in the temple of fame among the records of the great men. who, by their precept and example, taught the world the true lesson of popular self-government by enforcement of, and obedience to the laws of the land as enacted and interpreted by the lawful powers under the Constitution. —-1905 Souvenir History, George W. Young
See Also, G.A.R. Marion Post 319
(Data from Wikipedia and the 1905 Souvenir History, compiled by Sam Lattuca on 06/27/2013)