G.A.R. 1893 

27th National Encampment Ribbon


WORDS ON RIBBON 
  • 27th National Encampment   
  • G.A.R.
  • Camp Fires
  • Indianapolis
  • Sept 4 = 9 
  • 1893.


COLOR
  • Golden Yellow.  


MEASUREMENTS
  • Length - 6 1/4"
  • Width - Just a little over 2 1/4"

HISTORY
  • Date on this ribbon is September 4-9, 1893.  129 years ago.
  • The G.A.R. or Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization for Civil War Union veterans that started after the Civil War (1861 - 1865) to preserve the memory of soldiers who died in the war, and to protect the rights of the survivors. 
  • The peak of the G.A.R. was in 1900, with more than 400,000 nationwide members. 
  • The last annual G.A.R. convention was in 1949, in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Claypool Hotel.
  • The first annual G.A.R. encampment or convention, was held in Indianapolis in 1866, at Morrison Opera House at Meridian and Maryland Streets.  288 delegates from 11 states met to discuss issues, among them "state and national legislation for the education and maintenance for the orphans and widows of our deceased comrades, and maimed brethren." 
  • 1893, when the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (located on the Circle, downtown) was under construction, Indianapolis held the 1893, 27th G.A.R. encampment or convention.  At the time, this was like a city winning the Superbowl bid!  The 1893 encampment drew thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to the city.  
  • 1893, the G.A.R had 400,000 members.  In order to accommodate the 300,000 visitors to Indianapolis, tent villages were erected downtown to provide free housing to 45,000 soldiers.  Citizens were encouraged to let rooms in their homes. 
  • 1893, the statue of Victory, that now sits on top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, was removed from the crate for viewing. Thousands of people lined Meridian and Delaware Streets to see Civil War Veterans, at that time, in their 50s and 60s, march in the parade.  
  • The words on the ribbon, "Camp Fires" relates to, "Battle Chiefs of the Rebellion", in a 1893 National Encampment, Indianapolis literature souvenir.  "It is of the "bygones" of camps and battles of which veteran soldiers like to talk; and there is a romance about them all that disease and wounds cannot obliterate...not as they became in time of peace, gray, wrinkled, and infirm of step, though in heart and purpose soldier-like to the last."
  • The last annual G.A.R, the 82nd, was held in Indianapolis in 1949, there were only 16 remaining members, that once served nearly half a million veterans.  Six of the veterans, aged 100 to 108, made the trip to Indianapolis. Thousands watched the six "Grand Old Men" travel the parade route in automobiles. 

CONDITION
  • The ribbon has wrinkles, soiling, fabric openings, fabric frayed, rust and scratches on the metal.  


PACKAGING
  • Your antique G.A.R. ribbon will be very carefully packaged in an acid free sleeve, with an acid free backing board, along with additional cardboard for stability.

PAYMENT

  • Please submit payment within 2 days.
  • No returns please, sold as is. 

 

QUESTIONS

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