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Organized during the winter of 1865-66 at Springfield, III, chiefly through the activity of Dr. B.F. Stephenson, late surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. The first post was established at Decatur, III., in 1866. The ritual is secret. All soldiers and sailors of the U.S. army, navy and marine corps between April 12, 1861, and April 9, 1865, are eligible for membership, provided they have had an honorable discharge. The membership in 1893 was 407,781. National conventions have been held each year. The first commander-in-chief was Stephen A. Hurlbut, of Illinois. Grand army posts have been established in nearly every city in the North and West.