Scenes from Civil War New York: GAR Veteran
ECW is pleased to welcome back Jonathan W. White and Timothy Justin Orr, authors of New York City in the Civil War (Arcadia, 2025) with another scene from Civil War New York. Part of a series.
In April 1866, a cluster of Illinois veterans founded a fraternal organization of ex-Union soldiers called the Grand Army of the Republic. In addition to holding community events that features Union veterans, it became a fiercely political organization, dedicated to the Republican Party and to advancing the cause of political equality for African Americans. Although New York City remained heavily Democratic during the years of Reconstruction, the city welcomed the G.A.R. By the end of the century, the city hosted more than fifty G.A.R. posts, with dozens more in nearby Brooklyn. This image depicts a uniformed member of G.A.R. Post 307 (the Edwin D. Morgan Post). It was chartered on January 1, 1884, and headquartered at the Masonic Temple, 126th Street and Lenox Avenue.
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Today’s scene relates to “A City’s Memories of War,” Chapter Twelve in Jonathan and Tim’s book New York City in the Civil War, part of the Images of America Series from Arcadia Press.
Along with his heavily-worn “US” belt buckle – with part of the belt still attached – I have my great-great-grandfather’s Grand Army of the Republic badges, still in mint condition. I get the feeling he joined but never attended marches or meetings. I’d show them but there’s no way to upload photos here. Three years, eight months of service. His Captain wrote of him, “There was a never a finer or truer soldier than Sergeant Mani. He was always at his post and always done his duty.” His obituary in 1919 noted, “Thousands attended the funeral. He was known throughout the region as a man of the greatest integrity.”
Great story–thanks for sharing!