The Aztec Club of 1847 is a military society founded in 1847 by United States Army officers of the Mexican–American War. It is a hereditary organization, including members who can trace a direct ancestral connection to those initially eligible.
The original Aztec Club occupied the yellow two-story structure left of the Metropolitan Cathedral shown in this contemporary Carl Nebel painting of General Scott entering Mexico City.
Photograph featuring members of the Aztec Club with guests, was taken at the mansion of Gen. Robert Patterson in Philadelphia during an anniversary dinner of the club on September 16, 1873. Seen in the photograph are former officers of both the Union and Confederate Armies, from left to right: (sitting on the front row) Gen. Fitz John Porter, Capt. Henry Coppee, Gen. Robert Patterson, President Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. George A.H. Blake, Gen. John G. Barnard (misidentified as I.G. Barnard), Gen. Oliver L. Shepherd, and Gen. William H. French; (second row) Governor Milledge L. Bonham, Gen. John J. Abercrombie, Surgeon John M. Cuyler, Gen. T.L. Alexander, Lt. Col. Frederick D. Grant (as a guest of the dinner), Gen. Orville E. Babcock, Capt. E.L.F. Hardcastle, Gen. William F. Barry, and Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox; (last row) Col. Charles I. Biddle, Gen. Zealous B. Tower, and Gen. Robert E. Patterson.
John B. Magruder in an 1848 painting
In 1867, Astor House (center) in New York City served as the meeting place for the Aztec Club.
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was composed of commissioned officers of the Regular or Volunteer Army, U.S. Navy, or U.S. Marine Corps who served during the American Civil War, or who had served and thereafter been commissioned and who thereby "had aided in maintaining the honor, integrity, and supremacy of the national movement" during the Civil War.
A membership medal given to an "Original Companion" (here, Capt. Edward Taylor of the 95th Ohio Infantry). The design of the medal remains unchanged.
A membership medal worn by Brevet Col. Perrin V. Fox of the 1st Michigan Engineers. His son later wore this medal as a descendant member. Descendant members wore a ribbon with a blue stripe in the center until 1935, when all members were entitled to use a red-center ribbon.
Enrollment certificate of Col. Charles Anderson, 93rd Ohio Infantry.