Information that might be helpful! Rhonda Houston Grand Army of the Republic Meant to Strengthen Soldiers' Ties The Grand Army of the Republic, 1866-1949, was established for Union Civil War veterans to continue the camaraderie that had developed among many men who considered their time served together as a brotherhood. The organization was intended to strengthen the ties that bound them through works of kindness. It was also meant to provide support, care and education of soldiers' orphans while helping any widows that did not already have access to service and support. The founders of the Grand Army sought to protect and assist disabled soldiers, "whether disabled by wounds, sickness, old age or misfortune," according to its own constitution. The brothers in battle took on the challenge of defending soldiers who died for their country to assure them proper recognition. In an article published in the September 2001 Syllabus for the Federation of Genealogical Society's Quad Cities Conference Kathleen W. Hinckley noted that Major B.F. Stephenson and Chaplain W.J. Rutledge became tent mates and close friends during Sherman's expedition to Meridian in February 1864. She said together the two men came up with the idea to form some kind of organization that would "meet and preserve the friendships and memories of the past.” After the war they corresponded for some time, according to Hinckley. She said they met by appointment at Springfield, Ill., in March 1866, to arrange for the compilation of a ritual and for the proposed order. The first post was organized at Decatur, Ill., 6 April 1866 by Stephenson and a ritual was printed under his supervision. The first state convention was held at Springfield, Ill., 12 July 1866. The first national convention of the Grand Army of the Republic was convened at Indianapolis, Ind. On 20 November 1866, Hinckley noted in her research. Representatives from Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana and the District of Columbia were present. A Web site Produced by Roger L. Heiple, Grand Army of the Republic Homepage at http://pages.prodigy.com/CGBD86A/garhp.htm takes issue with the story about the association between Stephenson and Rutledge. Heiple maintains that the discovery of Stephenson's original papers regarding the Grand Army of the Republic shoots down the theory of the two men's association. "Dr. B.F. Stephenson founded the GAR in 1866. The author is convinced he was alone in its concept, using many friends to proof read his organizational papers and constitution and to lend guidance," Heiple said. He said the story described in Robert Beath's History of the GAR was written without benefit of these original papers. "(The) story of Rev. Rutledge, as a co-founder, described by Beath, is without merit. The name of Rev. Rutledge does not appear in any of the early papers or letters. Dr. Stepenson's daughter Mary, in her book about her father, also discredits the Rutledge story," Heiple said. Regardless of who was involved in the founding of the Grand Army Republic, the organization left behind many records including administrative record books, correspondence files, post charter applications, and the post charter. Hinckley also makes reference to post descriptive books that include the name, age, birthplace, current residence, occupation, date of entry into service, rank, company, regiment, final discharge date, length of service, cause of discharge and date of entrance into the Grand Army of the Republic. Post disbandment files are available in some cases along with post record books, post rosters and transfer cards. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has Grand Army of the Republic records on microfilm for Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Main, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and West Virgina. The extent and type of record varies from state to state. Hinckley recommends searching the catalog there under the name of the state you are searching and military records. However, she also recommends a search by county and city. Also, consider a search online of the List of Military History Institute (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) Archival Holdings for the Grand Army of the Republic at http://suvcw.org/researchmhi.htm. If your family members have a history with the military The Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army will make a great addition to your military resource collection. The work references general military information from its organization 29 September 1789 to 2 March 1903. Copyright 2001, Everton Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

By the way, the "Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War" (SUVCW), of which I am a member, is the legal heir to the GAR. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rhonda Houston" <rfhouston@mindspring.com> To: <IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 2:00 PM Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] Grand Army of the Republic Meant to Strengthen Soldiers' Ties > Information that might be helpful! Rhonda Houston > > Grand Army of the Republic Meant to Strengthen Soldiers' Ties > > The Grand Army of the Republic, 1866-1949, was established for Union Civil > War veterans to continue the camaraderie that had developed among many men > who considered their time served together as a brotherhood. >