The Won Cause

The Grand Army of the Republic formed after the Civil War as a way for former Union soldiers to remember their experiences, support each other, and find a place of belonging.  While some scholars have focused on racism and division in the GAR, Barbara Gannon, author of The Won Cause: Black and White Comradeship in the Grand Army of the Republic, the GAR represented one of the only places of the time blacks and whites were considered somewhat equal due to their sacrifice and bravery during the Civil War.

The GAR was and interracial group.  During a time when Jim Crow laws, segregation, and poll taxes were oppressing African Americans, the GAR stood for inclusion and representation for them.  While it did include them, the presence of all black GAR posts most likely means whites never fully embraced them in the integrated posts. Regardless, African Americans participated in the politics of the group on the state level. They nominated men for office in the organization and were also nominated themselves.  In a speech given by African American member, Comrade Smith, on being elected he stated, "You preach that in our order there is no color line; and to-day you have demonstrated the fact by your actions" (Gannon Kindle Location 500).  According to Gannon, GAR was one of the most prestigious organization there was during its time and the fact that so many white Americans were willing to accept blacks as equals in their group was incredibly important. This political and social equality was something African Americans could not experience anywhere outside the group.  In a speech delivered to an interracial GAR audience, Comrade Jacob Hector boasted, "I greet you and you greet me as comrades if the Grand Army of the Republic- the only association on this side of Heaven, where black men and white men mingle on a foot of equality" (Gannon Kindle Location 318).

The bond between white veterans and black veterans was created by the memories if their shared suffering during the Civil War.  The GAR was interracial because "it's members, both black and white, thought it should be" (Gannon Kindle Location 325).  These men fought together during the Civil War and the integration was based on that shared service and experience.  Gannon mentions "African Americans' place in the historic Memory of the GAR, the Civil War narrative articulated by members of this group, relied on the personal memory of white veterans who fought in the same battles and campaigns as their black counterparts" (Gannon Kindle Location 2166).  Most white Americans believed anyone who suffered for the Union cause during the Civil War deserved to be included in the GAR.  Memories of these sufferings "created enduring comradeship" (Gannon Kindle Location 2327).  Many suffered from disease, wounds, and psychological illness after the war, making this comradeship invaluable to them.  The charity work the GAR did for fellow veterans was also incredibly important for post-war veterans' well-being.  These veterans not only took comfort from their comradeship, "but they also found solace in their cause" (Gannon Kindle Location 2661).  Many GAR members had not yet forgiven the Confederates and took comfort in affirming with one another that the Union cause was just and the Confederates were wrong.

In former slave states, African American GAR members were not as easily accepted as in states who were free prior to the Civil War.  Gannon informs us that "Most black veterans had been born in the southern states, and many returned home after the war to former Confederate states" (Gannon Kindle Location 548).  Although black veterans were sometimes excluded from the white posts in the South, this was controversial, which suggests that most white veterans were committed to keeping GAR interracial.  The national GAR would get involved if black veterans were barred from joining a post.  White veterans in the South usually failed in trying to stop black veterans from joining the GAR.  Surprisingly, "African Americans in former slave states had more success achieving public office than their counterparts on antebellum free states" (Gannon Kindle Location 646).

"Many black veterans shared their fellowship with white veterans" in integrated posts, especially in large cities like Denver and Hartford (Gannon Kindle Location 1584).  Free states had more integrated posts than former slave states did.  Racial attitudes in the South made forming integrated posts there close to impossible.  Border states did sometimes have integrated posts and there were a few in former slaves states.  In Kentucky, one integrated post member told officials that "one of our delegates here today is a negro, and we have no member here for whose integrity and Christian character I have more respect" (Gannon Kindle Location 2012).  GAR members honored their dead comrades regardless of their race.  Integrated post members also cared for African American veterans' families after the comrade passed away.  Not only did integrated posts welcome different races, but also different social classes.  In order to join these integrated groups, African Americans had to risk rejection and white Americans had to stand up for their inclusion.

While African American veterans did join integrated posts, the also created their own all black posts which were usually "named after individuals prominent in the African America freedom struggle" (Gannon Kindle Location 1126).  These organizations were very important to the African American community.  Gannon posits that these organizations were formed not because of exclusion or pressure from mostly white posts, but "created and maintained by African Americans for their own purposes" (Gannon Kindle Location 720).  One reason these posts were created was "to challenge the notion of an all-white Civil War" (Gannon Kindle Location 770).  Black posts were also likely created because the provided more leadership opportunities for African Americans than white posts would.  Although they had their own posts, they were not isolated from white posts.  White and black posts often celebrated and mourned together.  Black and white veterans participated in social events, relief efforts, and other rituals.  Black veterans could not expect integrated groups to promote pro-black agendas.  Emancipation was enough for most white Americans; Constitutional equality was important to black Americans.  For most white Americans, segregation was not a pressing issue.

Memorial Day was especially important to black posts and was used to fight for their own version of Civil War Memory.  Black posts would participate in Memorial Day church meetings, graveside ceremonies, and parades.  White Americans often took note of these events.  Members decorated their comrade's graves and often took on the responsibility of decorating white soldier's graves in the South.  Parades were usually integrated and provided people with "inspiration and entertainment" (Gannon Kindle Location 1552).  These events helped black veterans to further fight the idea of the Civil War being an all-white war.

The three primary principles of the Grand Army of the Republic were "fraternity, charity, and loyalty" (Gannon Kindle Location 673).  The GAR was committed to instilling patriotic sentiment in the next generation.  This was true in both white and black posts.  Black posts do seen to have been more dedicated to following GAR guidelines.  They were more likely than white posts to purchase and wear uniforms.  Gannon argues that "Given the poverty of black veterans, purchasing a uniform required great sacrifice and indicated their devotion to GAR" (Gannon Kindle Location 807).  They also maintained their posts for a long time, demonstrating their dedication and resilience, and often had better attendance than white posts.  Due to a larger portion of illiteracy than white posts, black posts do seen to have had trouble keeping records and keeping up with paperwork.

Gannon asserts that more important than arguing over won or lost causes is remembering "the suffering and sacrifices of both the men who died and those who lived, including the black and white comrades of the GAR" (Gannon Kindle Location 272).   More important than convincing people of a won cause or discrediting a lost cause, it is necessary to recall "the interracial blood sacrifice that redeemed, transformed, and made possible the modern United States- the living legacy of the black and white comrades of the Grand Army if the Republic" (Gannon Kindle Location 3739).