My great grandfather’s membership in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) provided me with a wonderful portrait of him in later life.
The GAR was a fraternal organization of Union Civil War veterans formed in 1866 in Illinois, just after the Civil War. For ninety years it provided camaraderie for Civil War veterans and advocacy for related causes, until its dissolution in 1956. The peak membership in GAR occurred around 1890. No doubt the camaraderie for these men was unique as they had a shared experience that would be hard for others to understand.
Some of the GAR causes brought members into national politics. For example, causes such as supporting voting rights for black veterans, lobbying for Memorial Day to become a national holiday, and advocating for regular veterans’ pensions were important issues to GAR members. Over the years, there was a transition of emphasis from camaraderie to political advocacy.
The tiny State of Vermont had 116 GAR posts, according to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. My great grandfather, Adrian T. Woodward (1847-1927), belonged to Post 14 (sometimes called “Roberts Post”) in Rutland, Vermont. Post 14 was organized in 1868 and named for Colonel George Roberts with the Vermont 7th Infantry, a Rutland resident, who died of battle wounds suffered at the Battle of Baton Rouge in 1862.
Apparently, Adrian was a commander of the post multiple times, as a document from the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 1918 references him as a past commander. He was definitely the commander of the State-wide GAR in May, 1920 as documented by a wonderful 27-page program for their annual gathering – the “1920 Encampment,” featuring his prominent photograph on the front page.
Adrian’s welcome message to the arriving veterans is on page 3 of the program. His welcome message is practical and logistical, with dates and times for various events and activities, as well as listing nearby discounted hotel accommodations for veterans during the days-long gathering. With a reputation for being careful with money, I was amused to read this stand-alone paragraph in his welcome message.
“Railroad rates will be the regular fare as the railroads refuse to make any concessions.”
Adrian T. Woodward, Commander of Department of Vermont, GAR, aged 73.
The photo for the front of the program must have been an important endeavor, and the actual photo has been handed down in our family. Currently, it is displayed in a double frame along with a photo of his wife, Ada Ryan Woodward.
