Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS)- History

On April 15, 1865, as word of President Abraham Lincoln's deathspread throughout the country, three Union Army officer friends met in Philadelphiato discuss the tragic news. Rumors from Washington of a conspiracy to destroythe Federal government by assassination of its leaders prompted the threeofficers to form an organization that could help thwart future threats tothe national government.

A mass meeting of Philadelphia veterans was held on April 20, 1865 topledge renewed allegiance to the Union and to plan for participation inthe funeral arrangements for the President. The Philadelphia officers, whoserved as an honor guard for President Lincoln's funeral cortege,met again after the funeral was over to establish a permanent organizationof officers and former officers patterned after the Society of Cincinnatiestablished after the Revolutionary War. The name they chose, the MilitaryOrder of the Loyal Legion of the United States, first appearedin a notice calling a meeting on May 31, 1865 at Independence Hall.

Since its inception, the MOLLUS membership has included nearly 12,000 Civil War officers. At its zenith, the MOLLUS counted practically every prominent officeramong its ranks. Among them were Generals Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman;Lt. Generals Philip H. Sheridan, Nelson A. Miles and John M. Schofield;Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, George B. McClellan, Rutherford B.Hayes, George Armstrong Custer, David McMurtrie Gregg and Grenville M. Dodge;Admiral David G. Farragut; Rear Admirals Bancroft Gherardi and George W.Melville. In addition to Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes, OriginalCompanions Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley servedas Presidents of the United States.

With the eventual aging of the Original Companions, membershipwithin the MOLLUS was changed to provide for Hereditary Companions;descendants of eligible officers. There are currently four categories ofmembership: Hereditary, Junior, Associate and Honorary. Many Original Companionsof MOLLUS were also members of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Similarly, many Hereditary Companions of MOLLUS are currently also members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War,the legal heir to the GAR. Membership information may be obtained by going to our interactive Membership Information Request form.

Organizationally, the MOLLUS is composed of a National Commandery-in-Chiefand individual state Commanderies. There are currently 20 Commanderies. Additional information regarding the MOLLUS, its history, commanderies, membership, and activities may be obtained by going to our Web Site Index page.