GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, a patriotic association, organized in the inter est of the surviving representatives of the military and naval forces of the Civil War, the families of those dead, and such objects as they think cognate with these. The member ship is of soldiers and sailors of the war, hon orably discharged or continuing, and State militia on active duty subject to national call during that time. It was organized in Illinois in the winter of 1865-66, by Dr. B. F. Stephen son and Rev. W. J. Rudolph, the surgeon and the chaplain Of the 14th Illinois Infantry; the first post was organized at Decatur, Ill., April 1866; the first national °encampment* was held at Indianapolis, 20 Nov. 1866. Its assigned objects are fraternity, commemora tion and assistance among the above classes; and it has aided in establishing soldiers' homes and memorials, and maintaining and educating soldiers' orphans. It also caused the institu tion of Memorial Day. It ruled in 1869 that it should not be used for partisan work, nomi nations or debates, but naturally it has been a powerful factor in political calculations and the shaping of party conduct regarding both nomination of candidates for office and legis lative action. It has also given out strong
utterances against restraining liberality in pen sion legislation, and has used its influence to prevent official restriction in the expenditure of money under such legislation. It has head quarters in Cincinnati, and in 1916 reported 5,452 posts throughout the country, almost every State being a department with a com mander. The membership was 159,863; it wits once over 400,000. The deaths, during the year ended 31 Dec. 1914, were 11,434. There is a national council of administration of 44 members. It holds annual meetings or encamp ments in the chief cities; the uniform is dark blue with black slouch hat. Its badge is a bronze star hung from a strap and ribbon flag; on the star in relief are a soldier and sailor clasping hands in front of a figure of liberty, with two freemen in the foreground, the United States flag on the sides. Consult Beath, R. B., 'History of the Grand Army of the (New York 1889) and Wilson, O. M., 'The Grand Army of the Republic under its First Constitution and Ritual' (Kan sas City, Mo., 1905). See Woman's RELIEF CORPS.