Loyal Legion of the United States

Loyal Legion of the United States. The Loyal Legion of the United States was founded on April 15, 1865, by Brevet Major General Joshua Chamberlain, Brevet Brigadier General George G. Meade, and Brevet Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, among others, with the goal of preserving the memories of the American Civil War and the Union Army. The organization was established in the aftermath of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the Surrender at Appomattox, with the aim of promoting unity and reconciliation among the United States Armed Forces and the American people. The Loyal Legion of the United States drew inspiration from the Society of the Cincinnati, founded by George Washington, Henry Knox, and Alexander Hamilton, and the Aztec Club of 1847, founded by Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and George B. McClellan.

● History

The Loyal Legion of the United States was formed in response to the American Civil War, which had resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 Union Army and Confederate States Army soldiers, including notable figures such as Stonewall Jackson, James B. McPherson, and John Sedgwick. The organization's founders, including Joshua Chamberlain, George G. Meade, and Winfield Scott Hancock, were all prominent Union Army officers who had fought in key battles such as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chancellorsville. The Loyal Legion of the United States was also influenced by the Grand Army of the Republic, founded by Benjamin F. Butler, Ambrose Burnside, and Joseph Hooker, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, founded by Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Philip H. Sheridan. The organization's early years were marked by the participation of notable figures such as Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur, who all played important roles in shaping the organization's mission and activities.

● Organization

The Loyal Legion of the United States is a non-profit organization with a national headquarters in Washington, D.C., and local commanderies in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The organization is governed by a national council composed of commanders and vice commanders from each of the local commanderies, including the Commandery of the State of New York, the Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, and the Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania. The Loyal Legion of the United States has also established relationships with other veterans' organizations, such as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, founded by Augustus G. Weissert, and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865, founded by Nellie M. Taylor. The organization's structure and governance are modeled after those of the Society of the Cincinnati and the Aztec Club of 1847, with the goal of promoting unity and cooperation among its members.

● Membership

Membership in the Loyal Legion of the United States is open to officers and enlisted men who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, as well as to their descendants and heirs. The organization also accepts associate members who are interested in preserving the history and legacy of the American Civil War and the Union Army, including historians such as Shelby Foote, James M. McPherson, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Notable members of the Loyal Legion of the United States have included Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, George B. McClellan, and Ambrose Burnside, as well as politicians such as Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur. The organization's membership has also included notable writers and artists, such as Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, and Thomas Nast.

● Activities

The Loyal Legion of the United States engages in a variety of activities aimed at preserving the history and legacy of the American Civil War and the Union Army. These activities include the collection and preservation of artifacts and documents related to the American Civil War, such as the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation. The organization also sponsors historical reenactments and commemorative events, such as the Gettysburg Reenactment and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park anniversary celebration. The Loyal Legion of the United States has also established relationships with other historical organizations, such as the National Park Service, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution, to promote the study and preservation of American history.

● Notable Members

The Loyal Legion of the United States has had many notable members throughout its history, including Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, George B. McClellan, and Ambrose Burnside. Other notable members have included Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur, as well as historians such as Shelby Foote, James M. McPherson, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. The organization has also had notable writers and artists as members, including Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, and Thomas Nast. The Loyal Legion of the United States has also been supported by notable philanthropists and business leaders, such as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan.

● Legacy

The Loyal Legion of the United States has played an important role in preserving the history and legacy of the American Civil War and the Union Army. The organization's activities have helped to promote unity and reconciliation among the United States Armed Forces and the American people, and have contributed to a greater understanding of the American Civil War and its significance in American history. The Loyal Legion of the United States has also inspired the formation of other veterans' organizations, such as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865. The organization's legacy continues to be felt today, with its commanderies and members remaining active in promoting the study and preservation of American history, including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Spanish-American War.

Category:American Civil War