The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization that was made up of the Union veterans of the American Civil War. My great-great-grandfather Alexander was a member of this organization. No doubt other ancestor were as well, but he is the only one I have proof of his membership. Here is a photograph of his GAR Medal.


According to a Wikipedia article the organization was founded in Decatur, Ill. on April 6, 1866. The main purpose of the GAR at the time of its foundation was to allow the veterans to keep in contact with each other. Their motto was “Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty.” During the organization’s initial years, political infighting among the departments almost resulted in the organizations collapse. The organization almost collapsed in the early 1870s; however, by the 1880s the organization had been reinvigorated and continued to thrive until the 1940s. Annual encampments of veterans were held from 1866 until 1949. The last Union veteran, Albert Woolson, died in 1956. The GAR was disbanded at this time, but their legacy lived on.

Several organizations sought to become the legitimate heir of the GAR, with the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) selected as the organization that would continue with the traditions and pledges established by the GAR. Any male descendant of a Union Civil War veteran can claim membership by proving his ancestry. This is fairly simple given the wide availability of genealogical and military records. If any of my kin would like information on how to join, please contact me and I’ll be glad to help you out.

I think it is more important than ever to protect our heritage and history. Too many people ignore their heritage and dismiss what our ancestors achieved. There is too much revisionism that occurs that does not seek the truth, only a specific political agenda. Our ancestors, not only the war veterans but every ancestor, endured many privations that we can only imagine. They did amazing things and they did horrible things. We owe these people and to our descendants to remember so mistakes of the past will not be repeated.

John Whitlock 1844-1922

John W. Whitlock was the third son of Johnson and Rebecca Whitlock. According to his obituary he was born on July, 4, 1844 in Fall Branch, Tenn.; however, his headstone states he was born in 1843. The family moved to Morgan County, Ill. in 1850 and settled west of Waverly. In 1862 he joined the 13th Illinois Cavalry with his brother, Amasa (aka Macey). Both he and Macey were mustered in at Camp Douglas, Ill. in Chicago. Although John initially was sick, he recovered and went on to serve the full three years of his enlistment. Here is a photo of John presumably taken around the time of his service, as well as image from his official records that contains his description.

During his term of service the 13th Ill. Cavalry saw extensive service in Missouri and Arkansas. There were three major engagements the regiment was involved in--Prairie D'Ane, Bayou Fourche, and Jenkins' Mill (click on the link to go to the National Park Service website for the battle summary). During this time John served as a cook, either for a company or the regiment. One interesting incident listed on his records is that in early 1864 he was charged $2.35 for lost "Ordnance and Ordnance Stores." Presumably he lost something list a pistol and ammunition. In January 1865 he was discharged upon completion of his three years of service. He presumably was paid the $100 bounty he was promised at that time.

After the war he returned to Morgan County and farmed. On January 9, 1868 he married Martha G. Wood in Sangamon County (according to the Illinois State Marriage Database). Martha died in 1914 and John died in 1922. They are buried together in Franklin, Ill. cemetery. Here is a photo of their headstone.

Apparently John and Martha had no children, or at least none survived them. None are listed on John's obituary and there are no other family records that state they had children.

According to John's obituary which was printed in the Feb. 16, 1922 Franklin Times he had moved to Franklin in 1895 and had been in poor health for the last nine years of his life. The obituary incorrectly lists his service with the 101st Ill. Infantry. This is probably attributable to the fact there was a John Whitlock who served in that regiment (John's brother and my great-great-grandfather Alexander served in that regiment).

The history of the 13th Ill. Cavalry is recounted here in the Illinois Adjutant General's Report. If anyone is interested you can download a free history of all the Illinois military units that served in the Civil War. Click here to download this pdf.

The Thirteenth Cavalry was organized at Camp Douglas, Illinois, in December 1861, by Colonel J.W. Bell.

Moved to Benton Barracks, Missouri, where the Regiment was armed and equipped. Moved for the field, in February 1862. Was on duty in southeast Missouri until June 1, 1862, when it joined General Curtis' army, at Jacksonport, Ark. Moved, with General Curtis through Arkansas, taking part in the skirmishes of the campaign, to Helena, Ark. Returned, with General Curtis, to Missouri, in the fall of 1862, and was engaged with General Davidson in the campaign of southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, driving Marmaduke and his command from the State.

In July 1863, the Regiment moved, with General Davidson's Cavalry Division, into Arkansas, taking part in the battles of Brownsville, August 24 and 25; Bayou Metre, 27th and 28th; Austin, August 31; and again at Bayou Metre, September 4. The Thirteenth was the first Regiment to enter Little Rock, on its capture, September 10, 1863, and was engaged in the pursuit of Price, to Red River.

In the spring of 1864, the Regiment accompanied General Steele in the expedition to Camden, taking prominent parts in the actions at Arkadelphia, Okolona, Little Missouri River, Prairie du Anne, Camden and Jenken's Ferry, during the month of April. After returning to Little Rock, the Regiment was engaged in many raids and scouts, and in skirmishing with the forces of Shelby and Marmaduke, defeating them at Clarendon and Pine Bluff. In the summer of 1864, the Regiment was stationed at Pine Bluff, in Colonel Clayton's Brigade, and engaged in scouting and picketing.

On January 25, 1865, the Cavalry Division having been discontinued, the Regiment was assigned to duty at the post of Pine Bluff. In April, detachments of the Regiment were sent to take possession of Monticello, Camden and Washington, leaving Headquarters at Pine Bluff. Mustered out August 31, 1865, and received final pay and discharge at Springfield, Ill., Sept. 13, 1865.

List of battles and skirmishes in which the Thirteenth Cavalry was engaged:

Pitman's Ferry, Ark., July 20, 1862; Cotton Plant, Ark., July 25, 1862; Union City, Mo., August 22, 1862; Camp Pillow, Mo., August 29, 1862; Bloomfield, Mo., September 13, 1862; Van Buren, Mo., December 21, 1862; Allen, Mo., January 17, 1863; Eleven Point River, Mo., March 26, 1863; Jackson, Mo., April 22, 1863; White River, Mo., April 23, 1863; Bloomfield (2d), Mo., April 24, 1863; Union City and Chalk Bluff, Mo., April 25, 1863; Bushy Creek, Mo., May 31, 1863; near Helena, Ark., August 8, 1863; Grand Prairie and White River, Ark., August 16, 1863; Deadman's Lake, Ark., August 17, 1863; Brownsville, Ark., August 24 and 25, 1863; Bayou Metre, Ark., August 27 and 28, 1863; Austin, Ark., August 31, 1863; Bayou Metre (second), Ark., September 4, 1863; Little Rock, Ark., September 10, 1863; Benton, Ark., September 11, 1863; Batesville, Ark., October 22, 1863; Pine Bluff, Ark., November 28, 1863; Arkadelphia, Ark., April 2, 1864; Okolona, Ark., April 3, 1864; Little Missouri River, Ark., April 4, 1864' Prairie de Anne, Ark., April 10, 11 and 12, 1864; Camden, Ark., April 15, 1864; Jenken's Ferry, Ark., April 30, 1864; Cross Roads, Ark., September 11, 1864; Mount Elba, Ark., October 18, 1864; Douglas Landing, Ark., February 22, 1865; Monticello, Ark., March 28, 1865.

Alexander Whitlock

My great-great-grandfather Alexander Whitlock was born in 1840 in Fall Branch, Tenn. In 1850 he and his family traveled by covered wagon to Morgan County, Ill. His father, Johnson J. Whitlock, bought a small farm near the town of Waverly where the family tilled the soil. In 1861 Alexander enlisted in the 14th Illinois Infantry (Volunteer). Unfortunately he became ill and was medically discharged some months later. It should be noted that many of the enlistees of both sides of the Civil War became sick after joining--the isolated life they lived on farms did not allow any sort of exposure to common illness, so these young men basically did not have a strong immune system with which to ward off sickness.

When Alexander regained his health he reenlisted in the Union Army, this time with the 101st Illinois Infantry (Volunteer). He served until spring 1863, participating in the campaign to capture Vicksburg, Miss. Alexander again became ill and was medically discharged a second and final time. He returned home to Waverly and married the girl next door--a 14-year old by the name of Mary Catherine Bowyer.

Mary's father, James E. Bowyer, served in the same company in the 101st as Alexander did. Both apparently served on the ram, Lafayette. James was killed at the Battle of Dallas, Georgia (also called New Hope Church) on May 25, 1864. This battle was part of the offensive to sieze Atlanta and the South. James was buried on site. Interestingly, his company commander, William Seymour, was my great-great grandfather Robert Seymour's brother. I know this because in James' official war record it shows Seymour's signature on the death certificate.

More on Alexander later.