Again, a very interesting article in the January 3, 2010, Murfreesboro (Tn) Post.
In 1890, the GAR boasted 490,000 members in every state and several foreign countries. Each year between 1866 and 1949, a "National Encampment" was held, the last one being at Indianapolis where the few remaining veterans voted to retain all existing officers in place until the organization's dissolution.
Theodore Augustus Penland was the final commander. After the death of the last member, Albert Woolson, in 1956, the GAR was dissolved.
Penland was born January 23, 1849, in Elkhart County, Indiana, and was living in Portland, Oregon, when he died in 1950 at the age of 101.
There were eight other survivors at the time: Joseph Clovese, Hiram Randall Gale, Lansing A. Wilcox, Douglas T. Story, Israel Adam Broadsword, William Allen Magee, James Albert Hard and Albert Woolson.
THEODORE AUGUSTUS PENLAND
Penland saw limited military and no combat after entering the Army at the age of 16 in 1865. he served in Co. A, 152nd Indiana. He did do guard duty along the Potomac River and was discharged a few months later.
His father, John Penland, died of wounds received at the Battle of Stones River. He had enlisted as a private in Co. K, 57th Indiana on October 15, 1862, and was wounded at Stones River Dec. 31, 1862, when he was grazed in the stomach by a cannon ball.
He was left for dead, but managed to walk back to the field hospital holding his guts. Unfortunately, it was a mortal wound and he died January 4, 1863 at the age of 45 and is buried at the Stones River National Cemetery in grave 1444 Section D.
Not Finished Yet. --Old B-Runner
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