Society of the Army of the Potomac facts for kids

The Society of the Army of the Potomac was a special group formed in 1869. It was made up of soldiers and officers who had served in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. This group helped them remember their time serving the country.

What Was the Society of the Army of the Potomac?

After the American Civil War ended, many soldiers wanted to stay connected. They also wanted to honor the brave people who fought for the Union. Because of this, several groups were started by veterans. Some of the most well-known groups were the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) and the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Other groups were also formed for specific armies, like the Society of the Army of the Cumberland.

In 1869, the Society of the Army of the Potomac was created. A famous general named Philip Sheridan was chosen as its first president. The Society also had 12 vice presidents. These leaders represented different parts of the army, like the various corps, the artillery, and the main staff.

Why Did the Society End?

The Society of the Army of the Potomac was only for the veterans themselves. Their children or grandchildren could not join after them. As the years passed, the Civil War veterans grew older and sadly passed away. Because no new members could join, the Society slowly became smaller. By 1906, it only had about 350 members left. The group held its very last annual meeting in 1927.

What Did Their Insignia Look Like?

The Society had a very fancy badge, called an insignia. It was made of gold by a company called Bailey, Banks and Biddle jewelers.

The insignia had several parts:

• At the top, there were two cavalry swords crossed over each other.
• Below the swords, there was a blue and white ribbon.
• Under the ribbon, two cannons were crossed.
• The main part was a six-pointed cross, colored red. On each point of the cross, there was a small badge from one of the army's corps.
• In the very center of the cross, there was a special seal. This seal showed a crescent moon, a star, and the letters "A" and "P" (for Army of the Potomac).

You can sometimes find copies of this insignia for sale online, but they are not made of real gold.

Famous Members of the Society

Many important leaders from the Civil War were members of the Society. Here are some of them:

• General Ulysses S. Grant
• General Philip Sheridan
• Lieutenant General Samuel Baldwin Marks Young
• Major General George Meade
• Major General Ambrose Burnside
• Major General Joseph Hooker
• Major General George McClellan
• Major General Daniel Butterfield
• Major General Joshua Chamberlain
• Major General George Custer
• Major General Abner Doubleday
• Major General Winfield Scott Hancock
• Major General Daniel Sickles