The Won Cause by Barbara A. Gannon

The Won Cause is a book about black and white Civil War veterans and their comradeship in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—the Union Army’s largest veterans’ organization. You may not know the GAR, but you do know its modern counterparts: the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. The GAR was the precursor of these groups, the first nationwide veterans’ organization. It originated in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War when a handful of Union Army veterans formed the first GAR post, or local veterans’ group, in Decatur, Illinois. From these small beginnings, the GAR grew until it enrolled hundreds of thousands of black and white members in posts all across America. The GAR welcomed former soldiers and sailors who had received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army or Navy during the Civil War. During its heyday, the GAR was the nation’s largest social and charitable organization, with all the political power inherent in representing such a large membership. Remarkably, the largest and most powerful social organization of the nineteenth century was an interracial group.

What is the GAR?

African American GAR Posts

Clink on the above link for a list of the all-black posts identified in the book, The Won Cause, Appendix I. Others may have existed, but these are the ones that were found during this study. The list in incomplete for the very reason the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was unique: the GAR almost never officially labeled a post as “Colored.” The list is neither comprehensive nor necessarily error free. It relies on the GAR having recorded accurate information, such as the unit a veteran had served in during the Civil War. As a result, identifying African American posts and their location is an ongoing process. If you know of any black posts that I have not listed here, please use the “Contact Us” link and this table will be updated.

Integrated GAR Posts

Clink on the above link for a list of the all integrated posts identified in the book, The Won Cause, Appendix II. Other integrated posts may have existed, but these are the ones that were found during this study. The list is neither comprehensive nor necessarily error free. The record is likely incomplete because GAR members rarely described a post as interracial. As a result, identifying integrated posts and their location is an ongoing process. If you know of any integrated posts that I have not listed here, please use the “Contact Us” link and this table will be updated.

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