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THE G. A. tt. LOT IN SPRINGDALETho' silent m the Uewrt pl*ln.That tiny «rave*yartl O. A. K.,Bring* bank those fearful lt;|ay«lt;»f old When war raned o'er this beauteous landAnd brave men’s lives were freely soldthat freedom might- with us rent av slt;in.Drive headslones from the menial view Unzenn that mounted cannon g.ianl;Its carriage nigh unto decay;Upon its sides the M l. H. A. —Ittavc?.heroes fell the feurful'day That to;ltd country itstood true!On eatne the foe with glittering steel! Htsrn; confident! with martial I red -Kor victory.or tor conrte t ilealli. For’d quick!” the Uehel Captain cried.Out On! the3* eatne with hntcil brenth! Great God! d’.\e heat that cannon's pen Itraveling through the South on business, und happened in New Orleans, Passing down the street helmet his southern fire-eating relative, accompanied by General Beauregard and some other distinguished Southern Officers. shaking hands with his relative the later turning to his distinguished companions,said: “Gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you my cousin, Major Graham, of Madison, Ind.; he is one of those figlit’eti Yankees, hut lie’s a d— d good fellow for all that.”The Major said he spent the even-with thlt;*slt;* gentlemen, and never was more royaly entertained in his life,nothing being too good for him.Continuing his story, the Major said,the men he met in the South who were most hitter against the north were those who had never been in the army, jews, peddlers, and .small fry tradesmen who thought that kind of talk would help their trade. At one city he was invited to a banquet which was presided over by a gentleman who had been Major when the South had suirendered, and he was utterly surprised when the first toast wasScores Hi* well’rlMK their “Bravo kumicr lappisl its hrcccb“I.ot’a up ami at. ’em once mmin! ”Kortii belched urlm doath iromout its bowel The around lie thickly strewn with slain.. Such victory may «r n«**er see liinr**.The mind drffps l»iu*U to f hi* quiet spot. Wbf rc lie the la lien heroes I nave.Watched over by tlmt ru-t worn siuu That on tbc battle field mhl heath That Cor remembered viel’ry won. Sweet peace /lt;p*wr he llieir lot.The slurry flas flouts promlly oVr Brave men to whom we lieelt;U»m owe,Whose Houlslong since have wiiured ahuvr Where Blue ami Gray in friendship clasp Ilnmls in Ktcrnal, hl“s*ed love,Decreeing pcfter lor rvmnme.Then be it your solicitmle To see each com rade’s gravt* kept green: The whole 11 bright ami beau Icon** spot, An honor lot he Nat ion’s dead:Ami not a Nation's cruel blot,I'rooMhM you’vr lost all gratitude.A S. lt;\“To the Union!”Passing down the riveronthe lam-given,THE G. A, R,Its History anti KapiiL bcvelujmirtuIn This City.A. O. Hat'liman Host, No. -OMruiticis Are.Who ItsArtnv of «to us byThe subject of the lt;irand the Kepuhlie was suggested a recent visit to Springdale Cemeteryand witnessing tin* apparent neglected condition o tie* G. A. It. Int tiiere. We do not wish it understood by the words “neglected condition” that any reflection is cast on the committee wh'» have that lot in charge, and who, without pay, and for the lovethey hoar the 4 ’cause,” have donetheir best to make that sacred spot anhonor to the brave boys in blue.Nay’, no morecould bmi-kod of them,but something could he asked of alethergic public who today enjoythe liberty insured tlrnm by tin* men%■ *whose bodies now li«* dlent ’neath the sod in that lot.No more beautiful spot should be in our beautiful cemetery today; and a generous public, in memory of the brave deeds, privation- and sufferings of the soldier hoy* should -ec to the beautifying.The G. A. R. was first organizedoils boat “lt; lend. Lee,“one trip the Major hada fellow passenger bound for his oldhomein Natchez. From his hearing Major Graham sized him up to lie at least a Genera), and from his conver sation the rabbidst kind of a Southern General at that. Arriving at Natchez a number of people came on hoard who apparently knew him. But to Major Graham’s surprise they only gave him the title of Major when greetinghim, though it appeared from the conversation that he had not oven been in the war, and was then just coming home from the North where he had remained during the rebellion. This however did not keep him from considerable boasting and telling what he would do if the war should break out again. He even expressed tin* wish that it would break out so that ho could get a chance to kill a few “d—d Yankees.”up here, growing more and more In interest each year. jA charter was applied for by the Post and obtaided, dated July 2nd,I SHI, and containing the following names: J. I). Simpson, J. W. Quinn, J. P. Wells, W. A. Quigley, J. W. Senior, W. A. MeUoy, W. K. Me-LcUnd, 0.0. Fenton,J. O.Marshall, W. W. Beaty, F Binder, A|. IX Van-osdol, J. G. Moore, M. Fultz, W. S. McGill re, J. Miliican, (!. II. Peterman, J. I). Melntire, W. P. Gosnel, W. Watlington, Benj. Wells, J. Graham, T. Graham, J. O. W. Adams, W. Smith, W Todd, A. W. Henry.The Post has steadily grow? , until it today numbers a good portion of the ex-soldiers of Madison, as its members, and performing a greatdeal of good in our midst.The following is the present roster of tin* Post.Commander, Joseph O. Marshall; Sr. Vice Condr., John Wilson; Jr. Vice Com’r.,Harry Murray; Surgeon, Doc W. Freeman; Officer of the Day, M. C. Hobson; Officer of the Guard, Fred Sejmer; Quartermaster, C. I’. Richardson; Quartermaster Sar’t., John F. Hummed; Adjutant, John S. Shambaek; Sargent Major, F. A. Lounsbcrry;Chaplain, K. J S. Keenev.iClt; »M UA DICS.# Asking his friends wliat theyduring the winter of lsfJo-Or111Springfield, 111., and under tin* leadership of a Dr. IX F. Stevenson whobad gathered about jliim a number ot the soldiers of tin* war just closed. But to Decatur, III., was left the honor of establishing the first Post, No. I being formed on the night of April Uth, lKUU. Tla.* Press of tin* city had the honor of founding it,the entire staff* of the Decatur Tri-bum1, being old oldiers becomingwould do in case of another war, they replied they would have nothing to do with it. They had gone through one and they were mighty glad if was over. Ail they deMrved now was peace. The tables were considerably turned against the boasting “Mayor” when it was discovered that lie had left for California to look after some property when the w ir broke out and had forgot to come back until it was aftover.But returning to the G. A. R. post; atM adison, it numbered among its active members many who arc living today-and some that have answered the last bugle rall.|Among the former we note Major Graham, John Moon*, Jonathan Schooley, Ben Wells, A. \\\ Henry, James Clegg, Wm. Me-Clcland, Col. McClure and many others whose names we have been unable to obtain, the old roll having been lost.Alvin U. Adams, Fred Bender, Jacob Brandtmeir, J. W. Brandon, Wm. Brydon, John N Bates, John R. Baker, Andy Bowman,Wm Boekstruek, Geo. W Brenton, John W. Bishop, Jas W. Bingham, John Beeket, Louis F. Bcchman, Valentine Bedenbaek, Pat Butler, James A. Crozier, Thos Clark, Jas. Clegg, John II. Cardinal, John R. (’ravens, Oliver A. Cole, Jefferson Coopornder, Philip Conley, Louis Chapman, Wm Dorsey, Jos Dielonheim, Geo DistleSr., Wm Dietz, Jos Douglas, Jas Dufly, Thos 1 Ionian, W. 1! Demaree, Jas Dunn, B(»n F. Drake, Tlios Duncan, Roht. C. Davis, John Dickson, Dan’l IL Demaree, John M. Davis, John Fek-crt, I.ouis Frnst, Thos W. Funis, Fz k 14-1 Funis, T. W Forshee, Wm Frooks, John Fisher, Wm Freeman, O. V. Flora, A. J Grayson, John Grable, Mike Heid, Tims Graham J )hn iloagiand, Adam Grci ner, .Je Green, Jas S. Girrard; Patrick W Gilligan, Jas Gardner, Isaac M.Grny, Dan Grebe,John Oaumor,\Vm Gihhs, Augustus Gray, John R Johnson, Frank Keefe)*, U. II. Joiu*s, Patrick Kelley,James Jennings,Henry King, Roht. Harton. W, IL Harrison, Wm. Hamilton, Jared Hall, John P.Hollis, David C. Harmon,Grand D Lane, W. S. McClim\Thos.Lawson, J. \V, McQuinn, \V. F. McClelland, John Lock ridge, James 1) Melntire, Chris Liiley, W. A. McCoy, John W Linek, Salem Layton, Wm. Middleton, John Marx, John F.Moore, John A. Miller,Win.Mosser, John G. Moore, ThomasMorton, James Minor, ('onrad Miller, Byron McCracken, John Moore, ;F G Phillips, Thomas Peak, Bruce [ Prindle, James Parsons, Clem Phil-stlliVaiScaiPa1imember* at once. The young fra ternity was thus (ambled to do its own printing behind dosed doors, the order being a secret one, and four hundred copies of the ritual were soon punted mid bound for distribution. The town was placarded with notices “G. A. R. Post No. I Decatur, April 0, iMifi,” and in a diort time a large portion of the Veterans at hand wen* enrolled as members, and soon ivsuPing in the formation of Post No. 2. Posts wen*immediately formed at Springfield and from here they rapidly sp ead the first National Convention being held in Indianapolis Nov. 20th, istiff with representatives from Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana and the District of Columbia. Gen. Stephen A. Ilurl-hut of III., was elected Commander inChief and Doctor Stephenson Adjutant General.The rapid growth of the order, which had been founded on the benevo’ent plan, tlt; assist comradeswho needed help and to extend aid to his widow and orphan, as web as to maintain allegiance to the Union, soon reached Madison and a Post was formed here during Major Thos. Graham being elected Post Commander, John Childs Quarter master and Wm. Quigley Adjutant.The Post was organized in what is now known as Hoflstadt’s Hall on Main street. The membership soon became large, Madison and Jefferson county having sent her full quota of men to the field. The Post prospered at first. They had a full equipment of uniforms,guns etc., and their meetings were tin* verylife of the old town,bringing back the days they had spent in the field,then enduringsuf-fering, privation ami untold dangers, but now enjoying peace and pleasure the result of their labors. Numerous balls and entertainments were given. “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh’ given by the Post, had a run ot several nights.To show that the bitter feeling supposed to exist between the North and the South, even at a period so soon after the war, was all imaginary and especially among soldiers who had borne the brunt of the battle at the front, Major Graham related an incident in connection with the production of that play here. A relative of the Major’s, a happy, jovial fellow, hut a Southern, living in New Orleans, was visiting here at the time of the entertainment and enjoyed it immensely. Home time after this Major Graham wasMajor Graham held the office of Post Commander until 1K(»S. About that time it was claimed that the order was being used as a secret political organization, favoring tin* Republican party, this belief becoming prevalent all over the country. Manyclaim that this was a false charge.Major Graham informs us that polities never Was mentioned in the Post, though no doubt candidates soughtho vote of tin* comrades, and perhapssucceeded in obtaining them.Col. Vanosdol, on the other hand,informs us that it did mer^e largely into a political organization, which caused its final overthrow and reorganization on a nonpolitical basis,the constitution containing a clause forbidding the discussion of polities or religion in toe Posts or the nominating of any candidate by ihem. This clause was adopted at the National meeting held in Cincinnati in IKfiff.At that time the organization ban about broken up owing to the charge of politics, the Madison Post ceasing to exist that year, and though the National organization finally reorganized on the “no politics” basis it took years tocompletely recover from the stigma it had obtained under the old regime.Another thing chf rged against the order was that it kept up sectional strife, bitter feeling being engendered between the North and South* This however is denied by the promoters of the order, and was doubtless confined to individual members, and for whose loud mouth bickerings the organization was not responsible. Major Graham’s reminiscences before referred to is good proof of this, irresponsible men who never wen* in the war on either side being the loudest in their bragidocio.The organization in Madison lie dormant or rather dead until JSHJ, In April of that year, a muider of our old soldiers, some of them members of the old Post, headed by Major John IX Simpson, editor of the Star, Paul Hendricks and Capt. John Senior, met in the old Good Samaritan Hall on Second street and decided to organize a new Post. A temporary organization was completed and an invitation sent to the Department Commander, General Carnahan, who lt;ame down and mustered the Post. Major Simpson was made Post Commander, Win. Quigley,Adjutant and John Senior Quartermaster.The new Post was organized in time toinaugurateJXeoration day,May JO, in Madison, decorating the graves of their dead comrades, a beautifullips, C II Peterman, C. W, Pavey, Ed Roberts, W.n Uowon, GeorgeRingwult, Jona Rcidle, John Robinson, August Ruediger, John Rock-hold, Andy Rcidle, John W Senior, Jacob Schuler,Owen Scar IF, FdSeidle, Homer Seri rig, J S Shingleton, Andy Stephen, N II Schoolcraft, John W. Stephens, Adam Seims, John G. Sel-ig, Wm H. Smith, Charles W. Stand ley, George A Simpson, John Steel, W. H Thipman, Harry M Sherman, Isaiah Spivey, Jefferson Underwood, Gam 8 Taylor,Oscar Trigg, A I Vanosdol, Jas White,Wm Vaughn, Fred Wolf, John C White, N. W Vawter, C. W Wycotf, Chas Woodard, Jas Werning, JlobtWhite. Henry Waddle, Andy Wil-iick,Jlt; h i G Williams, Wm Watlington, W W Worley, Peter Wondle, Fd P. Weyer, John P. Zimmerman.Shortly alter organization the Post applied for and was grunted by the city a lot in the new addition of Springdale Cemetety for the burial of the Posts’(final, and of any soldiers dying.having no lot in the cemetery, or their fra uds unable to purchase one*. It was not long until it was found that th(* ground donated to the Post was too small for the purpose intended, and additional ground was donated them.On i he lot has been erected a tineflag staff from which floats the glorious stars and stripes on Sundays and other special occasions.An old mounted cannon stands at one side of the lot, on either side of which is a pyramid of cannon balls, in the midst of one of which stands a wooden sentry silently keeping guard over the Union’s dead.A number of graves are ranged o-» either side of the lot, a few being marked by the simple headstone furnished by the governmental few withno distinguishing mark at all save* the raised mound, and the remainder with a wooden hoard on which has h(H»n penciled the name of the silent occupant below. Home of the latter have become so dim that the name cannot be read.As remarked in the beginning of this article, the lot is not kept in a condition creditable to the patriotism of our citizens. This is not as it should be. The spot where rests our soldiers’ dead should be ever kept green. To them we largely owe our liberty and happiness.It is true that but few are buried here except those who have no families to lie beside, lt;r whose familiesare too poor to purchase a Jot. Butthis should make the spot all thenlt;shhitlfetlisll!eislt;tlainrtlisvaMnhifin01a),rlt;vwliUuftntlUfHacltlelt;aJChAj)AGceremony which has since been kept more sacred, for here patriotism, be-Vh
Newspaper Details
Madison Twice a Week Democrat
Madison, Indiana, US
Fri, Apr 20, 1894
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Sheyna W.
USA 25 Jul 2020
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