CIVIL WAR GAR REUNION MEDAL BADGE MADE CAPTURED CONFEDERATE CANNON CHICAGO 1900

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CIVIL WAR GAR REUNION MEDAL BADGE MADE CAPTURED CONFEDERATE CANNON CHICAGO 1900:
$35.99

HERE’S A RARE MEDAL GAR BADGE MADE FROMCAPTURED CONFEDERATE CANNON FOR THE

1900

CIVILWAR VETERANS/GAR

ENCAMPMENT IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS!

Thiscopper Medal and pin from the 1900 GAR encampment in Chicago, measures 1 7/8”with lettering on top that reads: \"On the record of our years, AbrahamLincoln\'s name appears, Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois,Illinois.\"

Theback is embossed with: \"This is to certify that this badge ismade from captured cannon. [and in script] Yours faithfully, Albert B. Shaw,Commander-in-Chief, G. A. R.\"

The manufacturer is S. O. Childs & Co., Chicago.

A very nice item from Lincoln\'s home state. Badge ismade from captured cannon!

The piece is in very goodcondition, but is missing the pin attachment.

The GAR

The Grand Army of the Republic(GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans ofthe 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 throughtheir experience of the war, the GAR became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, supportingvoting rights for black veterans, lobbying the US Congress to establishveterans\' pensions, and supporting Republican political candidates. Its peak membership,at more than 490,000, was in 1890; a high point of Civil War commemorativeceremonies. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veteransof the Civil War (SUVCW), composed of male descendants of Union veterans.

History

After the end of American Civil War, organizations were formed for veteransto network and maintain connections with each other. Many of the veterans usedtheir shared experiences as a basis for fellowship. Groups of men began joiningtogether, first for camaraderie and later for political power. Emerging as mostinfluential among the various organizations was the Grand Army of the Republic,founded on April 6, 1866, on the principles of \"Fraternity, Charity andLoyalty,\" in Decatur, Illinois, by Benjamin F.Stephenson.

The GAR initially grew and prospered as a de facto political arm ofthe Republican Party during theheated political contests of the Reconstruction era. Thecommemoration of Union veterans, black and white, immediately became entwinedwith partisan politics. The GAR promoted voting rights for black veterans, asmany veterans recognized their demonstrated patriotism. Black veterans, whoenthusiastically embraced the message of equality, shunned black veterans\'organizations in preference for racially inclusive groups. But when theRepublican Party\'s commitment to reform in the South gradually decreased, theGAR\'s mission became ill-defined and the organization floundered. The GARalmost disappeared in the early 1870s, and many divisions ceased to exist.

In the 1880s, the organization revived under new leadership that provideda platform for renewed growth, by advocating federal pensions for veterans. As the organization revived, blackveterans joined in significant numbers and organized local posts. The nationalorganization, however, failed to press the case for pensions for blacksoldiers. Most black troops never received any pension or remuneration for woundsincurred during their service.

The GAR was organized into \"Departments\" at the state level and\"Posts\" at the community level, and military-style uniforms were wornby its members. There were posts in every state in the U.S., and several postsoverseas.]

The pattern of establishing departments and local posts was later used byother 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 May30 as Decoration Day, later known as Memorial Day. (Numerous people and places claimthis credit.) In its first celebrations, people used this day to commemoratethe 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 withUlysses S. Grant and ending with William McKinley. Five memberswere elected president of the United States. For a time, candidates could notget nominated to the Republican ticket without the endorsement of the GARvoting bloc.

With membership strictly limited to \"veterans of the lateunpleasantness,\" the GAR encouraged the formation of Allied Orders to aidthem in various works. Numerous male organizations jousted for the backing ofthe GAR, and the political battles became quite severe until the GAR finallyendorsed the Sons of Union Veterans of the CivilWar as its heir. Although a male organization, the GAR admitted its solewoman member in 1897. Sarah Emma Edmonds served in the 2nd Michigan Infantryas a disguised man named Franklin Thompson from May 1861 until April1863. In 1882, she collected affidavits from former comrades in an effort topetition for a veteran\'s pension which she received in July 1884. Edmonds wasonly a member for a brief period as she died September 5, 1898, however she wasgiven 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. Itheld an annual \"National Encampment\" every year from 1866 to 1949. Atthat final encampment in Indianapolis, Indiana, the fewsurviving members voted to retain the existing officers in place until theorganization\'s dissolution; Theodore Penland of Oregon, the GAR\'sCommander at the time, was therefore its last. In 1956, after the death of thelast member, Albert Woolson, the GAR was formally dissolved.

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