Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Barbara Stahura

Sujets

• Ejército de la Unión
• Biography
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
• Union Army
• American Civil War
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 1996
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781618585325
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Turner Publishing Company Publishers of America’s History P.O. Box 3101 Paducah, Kentucky 42002-3101
 
Co-published by Turner Publishing Company and Mark A. Thompson, Associate Publisher
 
Copyright © 1996
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
 
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of the SUVCW and Publishers.
 
The materials were compiled and produced using available information; Turner Publishing Company, Mark A. Thompson and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War regret they cannot assume liability for errors or omissions.
 
Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War were invited to write and submit biographies for inclusion in this publication. Those found within the member chapter are those who chose to participate. The biographies were printed as received, with only minor editing. The publishers regret they cannot accept responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies in this section.
 
Author: Barbara Stahura Compiler & Editor: Gary L. Gibson Graphic Designer: Elizabeth A. Dennis
 
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 96-60400
9781618585325
 
Printed in the United States of America
 
Limited Edition
Table of Contents
Title Page Copyright Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION PUBLISHER’S NOTE HISTORY OF - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War MEMBERS OF SONS OF UNION VATERRANS OF THE CIVIL WAR - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Roster
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Commandery-in-Chief is a great legislative body. It always has, and always will, find plenty upon which to legislate.
Marvin E. Hall Commander-in-Chief, 1892

Dear Brothers;
 
A project such as the writing of the history of any organization is a major undertaking, especially 114 years worth. This work is based on a history that was published and distributed to the delegates of the 1939 National Encampment by Davis * Camp of Pittsburgh.
 
I would like to thank the brothers who have helped compile the information. PC-in-C Richard C. Schlenker of Maryland had just completed a personal project of reading all the printed proceedings and making notes on each, when this book was begun. His notes on events and accomplishments of the Order are the basis of the section on the National Encampments. Jerry Orton, PDC of New York and Past National Historian, was generous with his help and loan of photos from his personal collection, and notes from his extensive research. Jerry’s dedication to preserving the history of our Order is something we are all grateful for.
 
The several photographs and illustrations found in this volume are from the following collections, and are noted as such: Jerry L. Orton (JLO), Gary L. Gibson (GLG), National Organization SUVCW (NO-SUV), and Michigan Department, SUVCW (MI-SUV).
 
The credit for the idea of putting together a history book belongs to James T. Lyons, PDC of Michigan and Past National Secretary. It was also Jim’s idea to saddle me with/give me the opportunity to compile this volume. Thanks, Jim.
 
I must also thank my wife, Beth, for her patience and understanding while I have worked on this project for the last two years. She has been very supportive of my involvement in the Sons of Union Veterans. Thank you, Beth.
 
Sincerely in F., C., and L.,

Gary L. Gibson, PDC Michigan Past National Historian February 1996
INTRODUCTION

This book represents the third (and most complete) history of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. It provides an insight into three basic aspects of the Order’s existence. The first deals with the Order’s parent organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), and its relationship to the Order through a series of historical treatises on the GAR, the GAR’s establishment of May 30th as Memorial Day, the Order’s founder, A. P. Davis, and the creation and early years of the Order. The second provides a synopsis of the Order’s various accomplishments during its almost 115 years of existence with summaries of its 114 National Encampments, and histories of its Auxiliary and military component, the Sons of Veterans Reserve. The last presents biographies of a representative cross-section of the over 4,500 members who currently make up the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and, more importantly, of their Union soldier ancestors who sacrificed so much to preserve the unity of this country during our American Civil War.
 
As an organization, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is unique among other hereditary/patriotic/ educational organizations in that it was: Created by a parent organization (the GAR) to ensure that the contributions and accomplishments of that organization and those of the individuals that it represented (the Union Veterans) would be forever remembered by this country; Created to be a perpetual organization forever living on as successive generations of sons are born; Created in the image of the parent organization to be more of a service rather than just another social organization; Granted a Congressional Charter; and Recognized as the legal heir and representative of the interests of its parent organization.
As this history will demonstrate, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War has had numerous accomplishments and has experience many milestones during its existence. Similarly, it has also had a few set backs. Probably, the most significant was its decline in membership from a high of almost 60,000 members in 1917 to a low of less than 2,000 members in the 1970s and early 1980s. Along with this loss in membership also came a considerable reduction in the Order’s ability to adequately fulfill all the responsibilities given to it by the GAR.
 
During the last five to six years, the Order has purposefully and significantly modified and modernized its basic ways of recruiting and doing business which, in turn, has resulted in more than doubling of the membership, lowering the average age of the membership and greatly improving member retention. As a direct consequence of these and other changes, the Order has been able to achieve in a relatively short period of time a much greater presence throughout the country and a resurgence of activity at the Camp, Department and National levels. This, in turn, has resulted in the Order being better able to fulfill its obligations to the memory of the GAR.
 
This trend is expected to persist well into the next Century. With the continued increase in members and creation of more Camps and Departments, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will again lead the way to help ensure that the accomplishments, sacrifices and memory of the Union Veteran remains continually before the eyes and in the hearts of the American public.
 
Keith G. Harrison, PC-in-C (Commander-in-Chief 1994-1995) Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War March 1996
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
It is with great pleasure that we introduce this publication on the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
 
We especially want to thank Gary Gibson, PDC Michigan, Past National Historian, for researching and compiling the material used in the writing of the manuscript and for overseeing the project through to its completion.
 
We are indebted to the many individuals who submitted photographs, biographies and additional historical material from which information was ascertained.
 
Turner Publishing Company leads the way in association history book publishing, and we hope that all will enjoy our newest title that chronicles the history of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
 
Dave Turner, President Mark A. Thompson, Associate Publisher
HISTORY OF

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Founder Of Our Order

I had an idea there ought to be some such an Order of the Sons of Veterans for some time before its organization. A number of others shared the opinion with me, but when I would bring the matter before the Grand Army Encampment, a majority would be found opposing it and the matter would be set aside. In the year 1880, I organized a “Junior Marching Club ”, composed of small boys, and it was so much of a success, Mrs. Davis and my son suggested to organize a permanent organization. The matter came before us strikingly by the event of Memorial Day. Who would strew the flowers on the graves of heroes when the shallow fragment of the GAR was no more? I went to work on the prospectus, mapped out the constitution and endevored throughout the summer unsuccessfully with my project.
 
On November 12, 1881, I got together 8 boys and the first camp of the Sons of Veterans was organized. The first two weeks afterwards we met again and exemplified the ritual, and it was adopted.
 
Major Augustus Plummer Davis Interview, St. Joseph (MO) Ballot August 25, 1891

Augustus Plummer Davis
By Jerome L. Orton
Augustus Plummer Davis was born in Gardiner, Maine, on May 10, 1835. As a youngster he loved the sea. This may be the reason why at age 14 he sailed to California during the gold rush. Later he joined the U. S. Navy and was discharged in 1855 after five years of service at the age of 20. He later served as a volunteer subordinate officer of the French Navy during the Crimean War. As of this date, French Naval Archives have not found records of his service.
On November 12, 1861, he was mustered as captain of Co. F, 11 th Maine Infantry for three years. On February 4, 1863, he tendered his resignation after receiving a surgeon’s certificate that read as follows:

Headquarters, Suffolk, VA. Medical Director’s Office, February 4, 1863. I have carefully examined Capt. A. P. Davis, Provost Marshall of the Post and find that he has tubercular deposits in the right lung with plursitic adhesions on that side. In consequence, I believe the exposures incedent to field service will very soon assuredly break down his health. D.W. Hand, Surg. and Med. Director, Peck’s Division.
Davis was brevete