Spring Township near Elliottsburg in Perry County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Post-Civil War Traditions: Veterans' Reunions & Grand Army of the Republic (GAR Posts)

Perry County Bicentennial

— 1820 - 2020 —

Post-Civil War Traditions: Veterans' Reunions & Grand Army of the Republic (GAR Posts) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 23, 2024

1. Post-Civil War Traditions: Veterans' Reunions & Grand Army of the Republic (GAR Posts) Marker

Inscription.

Post-Civil War Traditions: Veterans' Reunions and Grand Army of the Republic (GAR Posts). Perry County Bicentennial.

1865: Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. , 1877: Southern Reconstruction ended. , 1898: Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Dedicated

, After the Civil War, many Perry County veterans were glad to be finished with the monotony of camp life and the horrors of battle. Yet before many years passed, they began to seek out other veterans and to renew the camaraderie of marches, camp, and battles., Accordingly, they had their first reunion in Newport in 1875. The celebration included bands and a veterans' parade. The reunions continued for decades, moving to different towns and increasing in festivities. By 1883, the day included a huge parade, balloon ascensions and fireworks. In 1887, six now-aging veterans of the Mexican War were also honored as well as Major George Shuman's blind, old mare which he rode during the Civil War., Into the early 1890s, the reunions sometimes included "sham battles." From Marysville to Blain, the veterans held planned skirmishes replete with veterans, small cannons, and guns with blank cartridges., Perhaps the grandest reunion, even despite "torrents of rain," with the dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in New Bloomfield in 1898. The forty-five-foot tall obelisk included three figures and naval and battle scenes. A cornerstone contained county newspapers, GAR post rosters, a rock from Devil's Den and even a peach taken from the Peach Orchard during the Gettysburg battle. This monument became the "crown jewel" of New Bloomfield., In the 1880s, veterans formed Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) posts, each given the name of a Perry County soldier who died during the war. For many years, GAR members honored veterans on Decoration (Memorial) Day with parades, services, and the laying of flowers on their graves. As the Civil War veterans passed, others took up their mantle and still today on Memorial Day we honor Perry County soldiers who now lie beneath the grass., [Sidebar:] , Perry County GAR Posts , Lt. David Geib Marysville GAR Post 188 . Lt. William Allison Duncannon Post 196 . Lt. Arnold Lobaugh Newport Post 297 . Captain John Q. Snyder Liverpool Post 408 . Sgt. John Johns New Bloomfield Post 448 . Elias Rice Landisburg Post 529 . Smauel Baker Blain Post 543

1865: Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.
1877: Southern Reconstruction ended.
1898: Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Dedicated

After the Civil War, many Perry County veterans were glad to be finished with the monotony of camp life and the horrors of battle. Yet before many years passed, they began to seek out other veterans and to renew the camaraderie of marches, camp, and battles.

Accordingly, they had their first reunion in Newport in 1875. The celebration included bands and a veterans' parade. The reunions continued for decades, moving to different towns and increasing in festivities. By 1883, the day included a huge parade, balloon ascensions and fireworks. In 1887, six now-aging veterans of the Mexican War were also honored as well as Major George Shuman's blind, old mare which he rode during the Civil War.

Into the early 1890s, the reunions sometimes included "sham battles." From Marysville to Blain, the veterans held planned skirmishes replete with veterans, small cannons, and guns with blank cartridges.

Perhaps the grandest reunion, even despite "torrents of rain," with the dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in New Bloomfield in 1898. The forty-five-foot tall obelisk included three figures and naval and battle

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scenes. A cornerstone contained county newspapers, GAR post rosters, a rock from Devil's Den and even a peach taken from the Peach Orchard during the Gettysburg battle. This monument became the "crown jewel" of New Bloomfield.

In the 1880s, veterans formed Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) posts, each given the name of a Perry County soldier who died during the war. For many years, GAR members honored veterans on Decoration (Memorial) Day with parades, services, and the laying of flowers on their graves. As the Civil War veterans passed, others took up their mantle and still today on Memorial Day we honor Perry County soldiers who now lie beneath the grass.

[Sidebar:]
Perry County GAR Posts
Lt. David Geib Marysville GAR Post 188 • Lt. William Allison Duncannon Post 196 • Lt. Arnold Lobaugh Newport Post 297 • Captain John Q. Snyder Liverpool Post 408 • Sgt. John Johns New Bloomfield Post 448 • Elias Rice Landisburg Post 529 • Smauel Baker Blain Post 543

Erected 2020 by Historical Society of Perry County. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • War, Mexican-American

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 23, 2024

2. Post-Civil War Traditions: Veterans' Reunions & Grand Army of the Republic (GAR Posts) Marker

• War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Perry County Heritage Trail in Pennsylvania. series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 40° 23.082′ N, 77° 17.849′ W. Marker is near Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania, in Perry County. It is in Spring Township. Marker can be reached from Shermans Valley Road (Pennsylvania Route 274) 0.4 miles east of Veterans Way, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2471 Shermans Valley Rd, Elliottsburg PA 17024, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Perry County at Gettysburg: Summer of 1863 (here, next to this marker); The Perry County Bicentennial Plaza (here, next to this marker); Building on the Past as We March into the Future (here, next to this marker); Post-Civil War Transformation (here, next to this marker); Most Visible Changes 1945-2020 (here, next to this marker); The Gring Lions (here, next to this marker); Forces of Change 1945-2020 (here, next to this marker); Transportation and Natural Resources (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elliottsburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 97 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.