List of Grand Army of the Republic posts in Kansas facts for kids

The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was a very important group for soldiers who fought for the Union (the North) during the American Civil War. After the war ended in 1865, many veterans joined the G.A.R. to stay connected, support each other, and remember their service. Think of it like a club for former soldiers.

The G.A.R. had local groups called "posts" all across the United States. This article is about the G.A.R. posts that were set up in Kansas.

The G.A.R. started its Kansas branch on December 7, 1866. Before that, there was a similar group called the Veteran Brotherhood. After a few years of being a bit disorganized, the Kansas G.A.R. officially got back on track on March 16, 1880.

Their first big statewide meeting, called an "encampment," happened in Topeka in 1882. The very last state encampment was held in Emporia in 1943.

Many Civil War veterans moved to Kansas after the war. Over 28,000 Union veterans lived there after 1865. At its busiest time in the late 1880s, the G.A.R. in Kansas had more than 19,000 members spread across 478 different posts! These posts were named after famous generals, battles, or even the towns where they were located.

Kansas G.A.R. Posts: A Look at Some of Them

Here are some of the first G.A.R. posts established in Kansas. There were many more, but this list shows how they were organized and named.

Abbreviations Used for Ranks

When you see these abbreviations, they refer to military ranks from the Civil War era:

• MG = Major General
• BG = Brigadier General
• Col = Colonel
• Ltc = Lieutenant Colonel
• Maj = Major
• Cpt = Captain
• Lt = 1st Lieutenant
• 2Lt = 2nd Lieutenant
• Sgt = Sergeant
• Cpl = Corporal
• Pvt = Private

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Kansas