Register of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
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m (M, /> ; "i m \\\- 1 LS*i $fyW, OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES w* LINCOLN ROOM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY REGISTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES COMPILED FROM THE REGISTERS AND CIRCULARS OF THE VARIOUS COMMANDERIES BY J. HARRIS AUBIN BOSTON Published under the Auspices of the COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS January i, 1906 Press of Edwin L. Slocomb. Boston. L f 7 3 , 7 HISTORICAL SKETCH. "The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States had its inception on that saddest day, at the conclusion of the Civil War, when humanity throughout the world was shocked by the death of Abraham Lincoln. In honor of that illustrious memory and of the great cause for which we had fought; in recognition of the affectionate friendships which had been inspired among the officers of the Army then about to disband ; in historic recollection of the Society of the Cin- cinnati, which had embraced the officers of the Revolutionary Army, it was determined to form this Order; and at a meet- ing of a few officers in the city of Philadelphia the initial steps were that day taken for its organization. It was the first of the military societies which followed, or rather accom- panied the close of the War." (From General Charles Dev- ens's Twenty-fifth Anniversary Oration.) On April 15, 1865, a meeting was held at the office of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ellwood Zell in Philadelphia, to take action for the officers and ex-officers of the Army and Navy to act as a guard of honor to the remains of the Presi- dent. It was determined by those present to call a meeting of those who had served in the Rebellion on April 20th, when Colonel Zell presented a motion, which was adopted, that a society should be formed to commemmorate the events and principles of the War for the Union then drawing to a close, and that measures should be adopted to promote that object. Subsequent meetings of those interested were held and a pro- visional organization was effected at a meeting held May 31st in the room in Independence Hall where the first Senate and House of Representatives of the United States assembled and in which Washington was inaugurated. (From "The Or- 4 REGISTER OF THE LOYAL LEGION ganization of the Loyal Legion," by Colonel Zell, in "United Service Magazine", February, 1889.) Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Elwood Zell, and Captain Peter Dirck Keyser, are designated as the founders of the Order, Colonel Mitchell's insignia and diploma being Number 1. The plan of a permanent organization having been per- fected, the Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania was organized November 4, 1865, to date from April 15, com- memorating the day of the first meeting. Major General George Cadwalader was elected Commander, and Colonel Mitchell Recorder; both served also as Acting Commander- in-Chief and Acting Recorder-in-Chief respectively until their deaths in 1879. The Commandery of the State of Pennsyl- vania continued to be the acting Commnadery-in-Chief until October 21, 1885, when the Commandery-in-Chief was organ- ized. Major General Winfield Scott Hancock having become acting Commander-in-Chief in 1879, was elected the first Com- mander-in-Chief, serving until his death in 1886. The suc- cessive Commanders-in-Chief have been: General Philip Henry Sheridan, 1886; Brevet Major General Rutherford Birchard Hayes, 1889; Brigadier General Lucius Fairchild, 1892; Major General John Gibbon, 1895; Rear Admiral Ban- croft Gherardi, 1896 ; Lieutenant General John McAllister Schofield, 1899; Brevet Major General David McMurtrie Gregg, 1903 ; Major General John Rutter Brooke, 1905. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel John Page Nicholson succeeded Colonel Mitchell as acting Recorder-in-Chief in 1879, an(i * n 1885 became Recorder-in-Chief, serving continuously to the present time. Among Commanders of State Commanderies have been: General Ulysses S. Grant and Admiral David G. Farragut, New York; General Philip H. Sheridan, Illinois; Ex-Presi- dents Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison, and Gen- eral William T. Sherman, Ohio ; Lieutenant Generals John M. Schofield, Nelson A. Miles and Samuel B. M. Young, Cali- fornia. All legislative power is vested in the Congress of the Order, ;; REGISTER OF THE LOYAL LEGION ?> composed of three representatives from each Commandery, which meets quadrennially. The executive and judicial power is vested in the Command- ery-in-Chief, which consists of the Commanders, ex-Command- ers, Vice-Commanders, ex-Vice-Commanders, Recorders and ex-Recorders of the various Commanderies. It meets an- nually. Six meetings yearly is the average among the Command- eries; the proceedings generally include business meeting, collation and reading of a historical paper. Many volumes of these contributions to Civil War History have been pub- lished. A majority of the Commanderies maintain permanent headquarters and possess valuable collections of books, pic- tures and relics pertaining to the War period. A list of the State Commanderies, with names of Command- ers and Recorders elected in 1905, and with the living mem- bership January 31, 1906, is appended. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF PENNSYL- VANIA. Headquarters, Philadelphia. Instituted April 15, 1865. Acting Commandery-in-Chief 1865 to 1885. Com- mander, Gen. Charles G. Sawtelle. Recorder, Col. John P. Nicholson. In 1888 the largest in membership ; since that year has been second in number of members. Original, ; 688 Hereditary and 2d Class, 405 ; 3d Class, 2 Total, 1095. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Headquarters, New York City. Instituted January 17, 1866. Commander, Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard. Recorder, Paymaster A. Noel Blakeman. Since 1889 the largest in membership. Original, ; Hereditary and Class, 845 2d 372 ; 3d Class, 1 Total, 12 1 8. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MAINE. Headquarters, Portland. Instituted April 25, 1866. Com- mander, Ensign Edward A. Butler. Recorder, Major Henry ;; b REGISTER OF THE LOYAL LEGION 5. Burrage. During the years 1877 to 1881 no active organi- zation was maintained. Original, 128; Hereditary and 2d Class, 42; Total, 170. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF TENNES- SEE. Instituted August 29, 1866. Charter revoked May 6, 1880. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MASSA- CHUSETTS. Headquarters, Boston. Instituted March 4, 1868. Commander, Gen. William F. Draper. Recorder, Col. Arnold A. Rand, who has served since 1881. For many years previous to 1887, it was the largest Commandery in membership. Original, ; 657 Hereditary and 2d Class, 265 ; 3d Class, 2 Total, 924. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. Instituted May 6, 1868. Charter revoked. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF CALI- FORNIA. Headquarters, San Francisco. Instituted April 12, 1871. Commander, Colonel William R. Smedberg, who served as Recorder from 1871 to 1905. Recorder, Capt. John C. Currier. Original, 396; Hereditary and 2d Class, 311; 3d Class, 3; Total, 710. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF WISCON- SIN. Headquarters, Milwaukee. Instituted May 15, 1874. Commander, Capt. Irving M. Bean. Recorder, Lieut. A. Ross Houston. Original, 141; Hereditary and 2d Class, 59; Total, 200. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. Headquarters, Chicago. Instituted May 8, 1879. Com- mander, Gen. Martin D. Hardin. Recorder, Capt. Roswell H. Mason. Original, ; Hereditary and Class, 403 2d 239 ; 3d Class, 1 Total. 643. ;; ;; REGISTER OF THE LOYAL LEGION 7 COMMANDERY OF THE DISTRICT OF CO- LUMBIA. Headquarters, Washington. Instituted Febru- ary i, 1882. Commander, Gen. Adna R. Chaffee. Recorder, Major William P. Huxford. ; Original, 586 Hereditary and 2d Class, 249 ; 3d Class, 1 Total, 836. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF OHIO. Headquarters, Cincinnati. Instituted May 3, 1882. Com- mander, Gen. Willard Warner. Recorder, Major William R. Thrall. Original, ; Hereditary and 2d Class, 3d Class, 579 264 ; 1 Total, 844. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. Headquarters, Detroit. Instituted February 4, 1885. Com- mander, Major George C. Hopper. Recorder, Gen. Frederick W. Swift. Original, 222 ; Hereditary and 2d Class, 83 ; Total, 305. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MINNE- SOTA. Headquarters, St. Paul. Instituted May 6, 1885. Commander, Gen. Lewis A. Grant. Recorder, Lieut. David L. Kingsbury. Original, ; Hereditary and Class, Class, I 193 2d 109 ; 3d Total, 303. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF OREGON. Headquarters, Portland. Instituted May 6, 1885. Com- mander, Lieut. Thomas A. Jordan. Recorder, Capt. Gavin E. Caukin. Original, 46 ; Hereditary and 2d Class, 22 ; Total, 68. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. Headquarters, St. Louis. Instituted October 21, 1885. Com- mander, Gen. John C. Bates. Recorder, Capt. William R. Hodges. Original, ; Hereditary and 200 2d Class, 82 ; 3d Class, 1 Total, 283. ;; 8 REGISTER OF THE LOYAL LEGION COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA. Headquarters, Omaha. Instituted October 21, 1885. Com- mander, Col. James H. Peabody. Recorder, Lieut. Frank B. Bryant. ; Class, Class, Original, 67 Hereditary and 2d 39 ; 3d 1 Total, 107. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. Headquarters, Leavenworth. Instituted April 22, 1886. Commander, Col. Edward S. Godfrey. Recorder, Col. Eben Swift. Original, 120; Hereditary and 2d Class, 47; 3d Class, 1; Total, 168. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. Headquarters, Des Moines. Instituted October 20, 1886. Commander, Col. George W. Crosby. Recorder, Lieut. Jo- seph W. Muffly. Original, 193 ; Hereditary and 2d Class, 68 ; 3d Class, 1 Total, 262. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF COLO- RADO. Headquarters, Denver. Instituted June 1, 1887. Commander, Capt. Uriah S. Hollister. Recorder, Capt. Robert H. Buck. Original, 140; Hereditary and 2d Class, 82; Total, 222. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF INDIANA. Headquarters, Indianapolis. Instituted October 17, 1888. Commander, Col. Oran Perry. Recorder, Major William W. Daugherty. Original, 216; Hereditary and 2d Class, 119; 3d Class, 1; Total, 336. COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF WASHING- TON. Headquarters, Tacoma. Instituted January 14, 1891. Commander, Capt.