he association of
the "boys in blue," was especially enthusiastic; and, capturing an old
army associate upon the train homeward, he poured into his ears such an
account of the new organization, that as soon as they reached New
Bedford, they went out into the highways, and summoned a sufficient
number of their comrades; and on that very day, Oct. 4, they organized
the first post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Massachusetts. This
still holds the initial number, Wm. Logan Rodman Post, No. 1, of New
Bedford. The charter fee was at once forwarded to provisional Commander
Devens, thus making sure of the coveted distinction.

A day or two later, these comrades organized a second post at Nantucket
and a third at Taunton. Comrade Cushman exhibited such zeal and
earnestness in this work that provisional Commander Devens insisted on
having that position formally transferred; and the latter therefore
resigned, and asked for the appointment of Mr. Cushman in his stead,
which was accordingly made. As in the case of the national history of
the Order, partially consequent thereon, but in a larger degree because
of the destruction of all the department records in the great Boston
fire, the early story of the Grand Army in Massachusetts is incomplete
in many details, but it appears certain that during the existence of the
provisional department under Comrade Cushman, ten posts were organized.
On the seventh of May, 1867, a permanent department was organized by a
delegate convention called at New Bedford, Commander Cushman being
elected Department, or, as then termed, Grand Commander.

Inspiring his new official associates with something of his own ardor,
Commander Cushman divided the state into ten districts, with a
recruiting officer to each, and the "missionary work" was so vigorously
prosecuted that the commander was able to welcome to the regular annual
encampment in January, 1868, the representatives of over forty posts,
with a membership of fully two thousand, while applications for nearly a
score of additional posts were nearly ready for consideration. During
the year 1867, a visit of Gen. P. H. Sheridan to Boston was made the
occasion of a torchlight parade of the posts of the Grand Army, and the
fine appearance made by the organization on this first public display
attracted general attention, and was doubtless one means of largely
increasing the membership.

As has been stated, on account of the careless compilation of r