Black Civil War Veterans Organize First G.A.R. Post #520

The G.A.R. was the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization formed by and for veterans of the Civil War, and no one else. The Gustavus V. Catto Post, No. 520, was the first name of the only GAR post formed by and for Black Civil War veterans in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Although it was not the case everywhere, in many places, the GAR was segregated. The Gustavus V. Catto post was later renamed the David R. Stevens post No. 520, and it operated with that name until the death of it’s last member, Ephraim Slaughter.

Curiously, I have had no luck finding any information on who Gustavus V. Catto may have been, leading me to wonder if the post was misnamed or the newspaper misprinted the name of Octavius V. Catto. The latter seems to be much more likely, given that almost all of the Black Soldiers who made up the post would have been very familiar with Catto’s first name.

All of the soldiers who are listed as elected officers for post No. 520 are buried in Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery.

New G.A.R. Post: Gustavus V. Catto Post, No. 520 Harrisburg Grand Army of the Republic

Colored Veterans Organize and Elect Their Officers

Last evening about twenty-five charter members of the new post of the Grand Army In this city Gustavus V. Catto Post, No. 520 assembled in the room of Post 08 for the purpose of organizing. Major Lowry, Junior Vice Commander of the Department of Pennsylvania, assisted by Post Commander Maloney, conducted the ceremonies. The latter were witnessed by many members of Posts 08 and 118.

The officers of Catto Post are as follows: Commander, Major J. W. Simpson; senior vice commander, William Burris; Junior vice commander, Henry Stevenson [Sigler]; quartermaster, Elisha Marshall; surgeon, Henry Jones; chaplain, Carter Wright; officer of the day, William Jones: officer of the guard, John P. Crabb; adjutant, William Washington; sergeant major, John Butler; quarter master sergeant, Thomas J. Miller.