Grand Army of the Republic in SW Nebraska

The G.A.R. emblems you see next to several cemetery plots signify the burial of a soldier that served in the Civil War. While estimates vary, the death toll from the Civil War certainly exceeds 600,000 soldiers and may well have gone beyond 800,000 people. Since the war was fought between 1861 and 1865 and youngsters barely in their teens fought along side men long in the tooth, there were still many of them alive into the 1900’s.

As an organization, the G.A.R. held many “encampments” during which the soldiers and their families at the encampment would be welcomed with open arms by the community/county hosting the same.

More than open arms were needed however to win the right to host the reunion as was noted in the McCook Tribune on February 17, 1887. The following are some the requirements listed by the G.A.R. headquarters in Grand Island to secure the right to host the 9th annual reunion in Nebraska.

Five responsible persons had to sign a written guarantee attached to the proposition to be the host region. At least 240 acres of land, platted and suitable for camping had to be provided. Seventy-five tons of hay, fifty tons of straw, one hundred cords of wood, all had to be delivered to the reunion grounds the Friday prior to the encampment. Guards had to be on the grounds for 9 days to protect the possessions of the attendees. Abundant water, enough for 3,000 teams of horses plus 50,000 people must be delivered in barrels to the camp. As needed, 40,000 tons of ice would be delivered throughout the week. The host had to purchase at least $350.00 worth of advertising and begin at least 6 weeks prior to the gathering. The list included insurance, freight paid to bring supplies in, 50 saddles to be used by the members of the encampment, no gambling houses or spiritous liquors.

McCook hosted the G.A.R. district reunion in 1898. I believe photos exist of this encampment and according the McCook Tribune, photos of the attending soldiers and I’m almost certain I have seen a photo of the following: “The arch over Main avenue, between Dennison and Dodge, will serve as the entrance to the city, and will be high and quite ornamental, with towers and span connecting, and the word, ‘Welcome’ artistically inscribed thereon.” The photo I have not seen would be the one from the actual encampment entrance which was an arch with G.A.R. across the top and Welcome in scroll form underneath. (McCook Tribune 9/23/1898)

The reunion was held from September 26th through October 4th, 1898 and while it wasn’t quite the success the organizers had hoped for (weather seeming to be part of the problem) after the first few days, the McCook Tribune covered Children’s Day: “The day opened with superb weather and an increased attendance marked the proceedings of the day. The roll call of the regiments by states and a review of the veterans occurred in the morning. The afternoon session opened with a parade of the children of the public schools of the city. About 700 of them with waving flags marched from the public-school buildings to Camp Merritt in a body, in grade order. It was a sight that cheered every heart and was one of the most enthusing incidents of the reunion.” (McCook Tribune 9/30/1898)

From the article of the same date came these tidbits of what was perhaps not so welcomed by the participants: “The injury to Comrade Horner from near Palisade, in the assault on “Morro Castle” Thursday afternoon, is regretted by all, perhaps more by Chester Walker who, in a fit of anger and pain, struck the old comrade on the head with a gun rammer, than by any one else. Walker’s ankle was sprained by having a gun carriage run over it. The old veteran’s injury is not severe. A woman by the name of Mrs. George Conners, hailing from Kansas, created quite a sensation on the grounds, Thursday afternoon, by assaulting a young girl who was riding on the ‘merry-go-round’ with her husband. There was quite a mix-up between the husband and wife. The police brought the woman before Police Magistrate Babcock, who fined her $ 5 and costs.”

The reason I have hailed back to the G.A.R. is for research on those old soldiers resting in graves in McCook. The cemetery tour committee is looking for themes for next year’s tour and since the G.A.R. erected the statue of the soldier in Riverview, I though perhaps recognizing our Civil War history might be a good fit. There is at least one Confederate soldier buried here also and according to old newspaper articles, his grave was also decorated during Memorial Day years ago by the local chapter.