Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States

The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) is a nonprofit organization founded on April 15, 1865, in Philadelphia by three Union officers: Brevet Lt. Col. Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell, Lt. Col. Thomas Ellwood Zell, and Captain Peter Dirck Keyser. The organization was established in response to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and aimed to protect the national government and uphold the unity of the United States[1][3][5].

History

MOLLUS was patterned after the Society of the Cincinnati, established after the Revolutionary War. The first public meeting of MOLLUS took place on May 31, 1865, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Initially, membership was open only to commissioned officers of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who served during the Civil War and were honorably discharged[2][3]. In the years following its inception, commanderies were established in several states, beginning with New York on January 17, 1866[1][2].

Purpose and Activities

The primary goals of MOLLUS include:

• Cherishing the Memories of the Civil War: Preserving the memories and associations formed during the war and strengthening fraternal bonds among its members[3].
• Support for Military and Naval Science: Promoting the advancement of military and naval science[3].
• Social Support: Providing relief to the widows and children of its members[3].
• National Loyalty: Enforcing allegiance to the federal government and protecting American citizenship rights[3].

Membership

MOLLUS membership originally consisted of three classes:

1. First Class Companions: Original members who were Civil War officers.
2. Hereditary Companions of the First Class: Direct descendants of deceased Original Companions or eligible officers.
3. Second Class Companions: Descendants of living Original Companions or eligible officers. Later, a third class included civilians who provided significant service to the Union[1].

Today, MOLLUS operates primarily as a hereditary society, offering membership to male descendants of Civil War officers and those interested in supporting its mission[4][5].

Notable Members

MOLLUS has included nearly 12,000 Civil War officers among its ranks, including notable figures such as Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, Philip Sheridan, George Armstrong Custer, Winfield Scott Hancock, and five U.S. Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley[1][5].

Current Role

Though no longer a functioning military organization, MOLLUS continues to engage in commemorative activities, sponsor awards for ROTC cadets, and assist in historical preservation efforts[1]. The organization is structured around a National Commandery-in-Chief and various state commanderies[1][3].

[1] https://findingaids.library.nyu.edu/nyhs/ms2996_military_order_loyal_legion/ [2] https://suvcw.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/MOLLUS_Articles_art015.pdf [3] https://foundingforward.org/collection/the-military-order-of-the-loyal-legion-of-the-united-states-records/ [4] https://loyallegion.org [5] https://loyallegion.org/about/history/